Acura’s Extended Warranty Has Some Compelling Features | Autance

What IS Covered in the Acura’s Extended Warranty

Acura vehicles that are model year 2015 and newer with less than 50,000 miles on the odometer are eligible for Acura’s extended warranty, which is known as Acura Care. You have the option of choosing the type and length of coverage you want with up to eight years/120,000 miles of protection. There is a deductible for some of the plans.

The Acura Care service contract is transferable to a private party should you decide to sell your vehicle while it’s still under warranty. You are allowed to cancel Acura Care at any time for any reason. You will receive a 100-percent refund if you cancel the plan within 60 days. After that, refunds are prorated. 

Factory-trained technicians at authorized Acura dealerships make all repairs and replacements using genuine, Acura-authorized parts. Regular maintenance services can be carried out at non-Acura facilities as long as you keep proof that maintenance has been performed.  

Acura Care is exclusionary coverage, which means the entire car from top to bottom is covered except for items that are specifically listed by the manufacturer as “not covered.” Covered items include the engine, transmission, drive axle system, rear differential, power steering rack, brakes, electrical, air conditioning and heating, suspension, and adaptive technologies. 

Added Perks

All vehicles with Acura Care come with 24-hour roadside assistance. This includes towing, battery jump start, flat tire assistance, fuel delivery, and lockout services. Acura Care includes a family plan, which provides roadside assistance benefits for up to five Honda or Acura passenger vehicles or Honda motorcycles registered to the same household. 

If you need access to a vehicle while your Acura is being serviced for a warranted repair, the automaker will provide a rental car up to $45 a day for a maximum of six days. In the event that your Acura breaks down over 100 miles from home, Acura will provide trip interruption benefits, which includes $100 a day for food and lodging for up to three days. 

You can also take advantage of the automaker’s concierge service, which can help you with emergency cash advances, insurance claim assistance, shipment of personal replacement items, and so on. Acura also provides its customers with personalized travel plans that feature custom maps, directions, the location of the nearest Acura dealers, and so on.

What’s NOT Covered in the Acura Extended Warranty

While the Japanese automaker provides nearly comprehensive coverage, there are some exclusions. The extended Acura warranty does not cover tires, maintenance items, glass, or upholstery. It does not cover damage due to improper repairs or towing, vehicle abuse or misuse, alteration/modification with aftermarket performance parts, or failure of parts not authorized by Acura or Honda.

Several exhaust system components are excluded as well as repairs that are made without prior authorization. The warranty will not cover damage due to environmental conditions, such as fire, theft, vandalism, rust, corrosion, or vermin.

Computer, navigation, and entertainment systems that stop working because of changes in technology are also excluded.

The Advantages of the Acura Extended Warranty

What’s great about Acura Care is that it provides some peace of mind after your factory bumper-to-bumper and powertrain warranties expire after four years/50,000 miles and six years/70,000 miles, respectively.  With the option of purchasing up to eight years/120,000 miles of coverage, you should be adequately protected if a factory-related defect surfaces.

Also, the coverage itself is nearly comprehensive. As the automaker boasts, the extended warranty covers potentially costly repairs for “virtually every component on your vehicle.” This includes the timing belt, water pump, and constant-velocity joints.

Acura Care’s travel protection is an added bonus. If you are not mechanically inclined and your vehicle breaks down due to a flat tire or some type of mechanical issue, help is provided through roadside assistance, which is available 24/7. The automaker also provides trip-interruption benefits and rental car reimbursement if your vehicle requires covered repairs.

We also like that Acura’s vehicle service contract is transferable to a new owner, which can increase the car or SUV’s resale value. And if you choose to cancel the plan, you can do so anytime you want. 

The Drawbacks of the Acura Extended Warranty

One of the downsides of Acura Care is that there are some restrictions. The extended car warranty doesn’t cover normal maintenance (oil changes, new wiper blades, brake discs, etc.) or damage caused by environmental factors, such as fire or flooding. 

Also, the manufacturer’s warranty only covers genuine authorized Acura parts; this limits the aftermarket alterations you can do. While you can use a local mechanic, the repair must be authorized by Honda (Acura’s parent company), and Acura parts must be used. 

In addition, Acura Care focuses on mechanical and electrical coverage. Things such as upholstery, carpeting, and window glass, are not covered. Some of the Acura Care plans also include a deductible, which means that if something goes wrong, you still have to pay a set amount of cash per visit.  

Takeaway Value

An extended warranty like the one provided by Acura can be very comforting. If you want to avoid unexpected repair costs related to your vehicle’s mechanical and electrical parts, it’s worth considering. You can receive up to eight years/120,000 miles of protection for nearly comprehensive coverage.

However, you have to pay extra for an Acura extended warranty. Also, most factory-related defects manifest within the first few years of a vehicle’s service life. After that, repairs tend to be age-related. Ultimately, it’s up to you to decide whether the extended coverage is worth the additional cost.