Nissan Warranty Review
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The Nissan warranty acts as a guarantee that all Nissan-installed parts are free of defects. If you have a new or recently purchased Nissan, chances are the warranty is still in place. Understanding your Nissan warranty coverage could help to save you thousands of dollars in repair costs.
Some drivers choose to extend warranty coverage through the manufacturer or from one of the best extended auto warranty companies. This article will explore what is covered by the factory Nissan warranty and give you the information you need to decide if extended protection plans are the right choice for you.
Table of contents
How to Find Out If Your Nissan is Still Under Warranty
Nissans less than three years old are likely still covered under their original basic warranty. Older vehicles may still be covered by their Nissan powertrain warranty. To learn about the Nissan warranty coverage that may still be in effect for your vehicle, you can call any Nissan dealership.
If you provide your vehicle identification number (VIN), the dealership should be able to look up your car and tell you what warranty coverage is still in place.
Nissan Warranty Highlights
The Nissan warranty consists of two main parts: a bumper-to-bumper warranty that lasts for 3 years or 36,000 miles and a powertrain warranty that covers powertrain components like the engine of your Nissan for 5 years or 60,000 miles.
These warranties guarantee that nearly all Nissan-supplied parts are free from faulty materials or workmanship. Nissan will pay to repair or replace any covered part that fails due to normal use. Nearly all Nissan components are covered by this warranty with some exclusions.
Nissan Warranty |
Terms |
|---|---|
Basic Coverage (Bumper-to-Bumper) |
3 years/36,000 miles |
Powertrain Coverage |
5 years/60,000 miles |
Nissan Coverage Levels
Specific Nissan warranty information may differ by model, but the majority of new vehicles come with the coverage mentioned below. Nissan warranties offer peace of mind over your Nissan Altima, Rogue, Sentra, Maxima, Murano, Pathfinder, Titan, or even Versa. See your owner’s manual to be sure of what exactly is covered for your specific Nissan.
Here’s the full lineup of Nissan warranty coverage:
- Basic coverage: 3 years/36,000 miles
- Powertrain coverage: 5 years/60,000 miles
- Corrosion coverage (perforation): 5 years/unlimited miles
- Federal emission performance: 2 years/24,000 miles
- Federal emission defect: 3 years/36,000 miles
- Federal emission long-term defect: 8 years/80,000 miles
- Seat belt: 10 years/unlimited miles
- Key fob: 1 year/unlimited miles
- Wiper blades: 6 months/unlimited miles
In addition to component coverage, the Nissan warranty provides towing coverage, roadside assistance, and a trip interruption benefit, which reimburses travel costs if you experience a covered breakdown more than 100 miles from your home.
Nissan Warranty Repairs
Any repairs must be completed at an authorized Nissan dealership, and the following conditions are not covered:
- Routine maintenance services
- Accident or collision damage
- Normal wear and tear, including paint chips, dings, and scratches
- Damage from misuse
- Theft and vandalism
- Fire and other environmental damage
- Damage resulting from racing
- Damage from improper maintenance
Compared to other manufacturer car warranties, the Nissan warranty is fairly standard. The most comprehensive coverage level of the warranty—Basic Coverage—lasts for three years. This is a typical length for a manufacturer bumper-to-bumper warranty, though the best new car warranty coverage lasts much longer.
Should You Get Extended Warranty Coverage?
To help decide if an extended warranty is a good idea for your Nissan, consider your vehicle’s reliability and your warranty options. A highly reliable car may not benefit from warranty coverage, as it won’t need repairs often. You could end up paying more in premiums than your warranty pays out in covered repairs.
To determine vehicle reliability, our team looks to RepairPal. RepairPal analyzes customer reports to measure how often vehicles break down and what they typically cost to maintain.
Nissan performed relatively well in RepairPal’s most recent Reliability Rating. The brand was rated 4.0 out of 5.0 and ranked ninth overall out of 32 brands analyzed. The chart below provides a breakdown of Nissan’s reliability score, which considers average annual repair costs, frequency of unscheduled repairs, and the likelihood that a needed repair is considered “severe,” meaning it costs three times the average annual repair cost across all models.
Nissan |
Industry Average |
|
|---|---|---|
Average Annual Repair Cost |
$500 |
$652 |
Frequency of Unscheduled Repairs |
0.3 times per year |
0.4 times per year |
Probability of a Needed Repair Being Severe |
13 percent |
12 percent |
Nissan has a relatively low average annual repair cost. However, you may be able to find a vehicle service contract for less than $500 per year, which could make an extended warranty for your Nissan a good option. Average repair costs and RepairPal reliability ratings vary by model, so be sure to research your specific vehicle for more accurate information.
Nissan Reliability
The following chart shows some common Nissan repairs and their estimated costs, according to RepairPal. If you own a Nissan, you should have a plan for paying these costs should they arise, which can be done either by saving for the cost of repairs yourself or purchasing an extended warranty.
Common Nissan Repair |
Estimated Repair Cost |
|---|---|
Catalytic converter replacement |
$1,271 to $1,387 |
Fuel pump replacement |
$811 to $1,193 |
Timing belt replacement |
$445 to $583 |
Suspension shock or strut assembly replacement |
$397 to $446 |
While all of the above repairs are covered by the Nissan warranty, they may not be covered by an extended warranty. Be sure to carefully read any warranty contract before you buy it to be certain what is and is not covered.
Nissan Extended Warranty Overview
A Nissan extended warranty can be purchased from the dealership when you buy your new Nissan vehicle. Nissan owners may also be able to purchase an extended warranty after leaving their Nissan dealer, so long as your original three-year Nissan warranty is still in place.
Nissan offers three levels of extended warranty protection, called Security+Plus® vehicle service contracts. These contracts can extend warranty protection up to 8 years/120,000 miles.
- Powertrain Preferred: Covers the engine, transmission, front-wheel drive, and rear-wheel drive
- Silver Preferred: Includes everything covered by the Powertrain Preferred plan, along with nearly 700 additional components such as the suspension, steering, air conditioning, braking system, and many electrical components
- Gold Preferred: Provides exclusionary coverage that protects virtually all major components, except for normal maintenance services and some other exclusions
All plans come with roadside assistance and other benefits. As with the factory Nissan warranty, Nissan extended service plans require that you take your vehicle to a licensed Nissan dealership or service department for all covered repairs.
Certified Pre-Owned Nissan Warranty
Nissans that are less than six years from the original in-service date and with less than 80,000 miles on the odometer are eligible to be re-sold as certified pre-owned (CPO) vehicles. CPO Nissan warranty coverage includes a 7-year/100,000-mile limited warranty that’s similar to basic factory coverage, protecting most Nissan-supplied vehicle components (with some exceptions).
The CPO Nissan warranty also includes 24-hour emergency roadside assistance, a rental car reimbursement, and a towing benefit.
Benefits of a Third-Party Nissan Warranty
If your original bumper-to-bumper Nissan warranty has already expired, it is too late to purchase an extended warranty directly from the manufacturer. However, a third-party Nissan warranty can be purchased at any time. Some aftermarket car warranty providers even offer plans specifically tailored for older vehicles.
Third-party warranties generally let you take your car to any certified repair facility, allow for more customizable coverage options, and provide more expansive benefits. Third-party warranties are also often less expensive than manufacturers’ extended warranties. The downside is that manufacturer warranties are tailored specifically to certain makes, while third-party warranties are not.
To see how much an extended Nissan warranty could cost from a top-rated provider like Endurance or CARCHEX, click below for free quotes.
Methodology
- Price: Comparing providers can be difficult due to the many factors that influence cost. To determine this score, we employ a secret shopper analysis using different vehicles, mileages, warranty plans, and locations.
- Coverage: A wide variety of coverage is essential to support the differing needs of customers. We take into account the number of extended car warranty plans available, term limits, exclusions, and additional benefits.
- Customer Service: The level of customer service and care provided by an extended warranty company is an important consideration. Our review team sifts through customer reviews and complaints from reputable sources such as the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and Trustpilot. We also consider the responsiveness of each company’s customer service team based on our secret shopper analysis.
- Reputation: Good extended warranty providers consistently provide quality experiences. Our team takes into account BBB ratings and the company’s history of reliable service when giving this score.
- Transparency: Customers value a commitment to open and honest communication when it comes to vehicle service contracts. Our team of experts takes into account the availability of money-back guarantees and sample contracts.
Q & A
How long is the Nissan factory warranty?
The Nissan factory warranty lasts for 3 years or 36,000 miles, whichever comes first. Nissan’s warranty also includes powertrain coverage for 5 years or 60,000 miles.
What is covered under the Nissan powertrain warranty?
The Nissan powertrain warranty covers the engine, transmission, transaxle, drivetrain, and restraint system. Nissan’s powertrain warranty lasts for 5 years or 60,000 miles.
What is Nissan’s bumper-to-bumper warranty?
Nissan’s bumper-to-bumper factory warranty is called Basic coverage and lasts for 3 years or 36,000 miles, whichever comes first. The warranty promises to pay for repairs or replacements for any Nissan-installed component that fails because of faulty materials or workmanship.
Does the Nissan warranty cover tires?
The Nissan warranty does not cover tires.
Stephen Kenney is a writer and editor who focuses on car insurance, auto financing, and vehicle shipping services. He's a graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill and has experience covering categories ranging from travel to sports to environmental sustainability. In his free time, Stephen enjoys going on long-distance runs, trying out new recipes, and exploring his adopted hometown of Cincinnati.
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