Chevy’s Factory Warranty Offers Standard Protection | Autance

What IS Included

Chevy’s warranty covers repairs, including parts and labor, on all new Chevrolet vehicles. Repairs are performed using new, remanufactured, or refurbished parts. Owners are required to take their vehicles to a Chevrolet dealership for service.

Bumper-to-Bumper Coverage

The complete vehicle is covered for the first three years or 36,000 miles, whichever comes first, and there is no deductible for eligible warrantable repairs. This warranty is intended to cover nearly everything, from the body to the electrical systems. 

Chevy will even tow your vehicle to the nearest authorized dealership if it breaks down as a result of a warranted defect. 

Chevy’s parent company, General Motors, covers tire defects under the bumper-to-bumper warranty coverage. Defective tires are replaced free of charge, or consumers are given a prorated deal based on the mileage of the tires.

The new vehicle limited warranty also covers the following items up to 7,500 miles if they are defective: audio system cleaning, brake pads/linings, clutch linings, coolants and fluids, limited slip rear axle service, and wiper inserts. 

Powertrain Coverage

Powertrain coverage is for five years or 60,000 miles for most Chevy vehicles. The 2500 and 3500 Series HeavyDuty (HD) pickups equipped with 6.6L Duramax turbo-diesel engines are protected for five years or 100,000 miles, as are certain commercial fleet and/or government vehicles.

Engine coverage includes items such as the cylinder head, timing gears, oil pump, seals, gaskets, flywheel, water pump, engine mount, and turbocharger. Timing belts and related components are covered until the first scheduled maintenance.

Diesel component coverage includes components such as the cylinder block and heads, intake and exhaust manifolds, timing gears, flywheel, fuel pump, seals, gaskets, parts of the emissions reduction system, fuel injection control module, fuel filter assembly, and fuel temperature sensor.

Transmission and transaxle coverage includes the torque converter, seals, gaskets, electrical components, and actuators connected to the transmission, such as the slave cylinder. 

Transfer case coverage includes all internally lubricated parts, mounts, seals, gaskets, electrical components internal to the transfer case, and actuators connected to the transfer case.

It’s worth noting that the powertrain limited warranty is fully transferable to a new owner with no fees and no deductibles.

Emission Control System

For gasoline engines and car diesel engines, emission control systems are covered for the first two years or 24,000 miles. Specified major components are covered for the first eight years or 80,000 miles. 

Defects and performance for heavy-duty truck emission control systems are covered for the first five years or 50,000 miles. Chevy’s 6.6L Duramax turbo-diesel engines are also covered for the first five years or 50,000 miles.

Electric and Hybrid Vehicles

In addition to the bumper-to-bumper coverage, Chevrolet will cover certain components on the Chevrolet Volt, Bolt EV, and Malibu Hybrid for eight years or 100,000 miles. This includes the drive motor battery, regenerative braking system, electric/hybrid drive unit, and other electric/hybrid components.  

Additional Coverage

Chevy also provides corrosion protection for the first three years or 36,000 miles and rust-through coverage for the first six years or 100,000 miles.

If you purchase or lease a 2020 Chevrolet, the first maintenance visit is free within one year or 12,000 miles (2018 models get two free maintenance visits within two years or 24,000 miles). This includes a 27-point vehicle inspection and four-wheel tire rotation, except for dual-rear-wheel models, Corvettes, and select Camaros.

All new Chevy owners can take advantage of the automaker’s 24-hour roadside assistance program for the lifespan of the powertrain or hybrid warranty. This includes towing, lockout service, flat tire changes, fuel delivery, jump starts, and mobile EV charging.

What’s NOT Included

Chevy does not cover slight noises, vibrations, or other normal characteristics related to a vehicle’s operation or cosmetic or surface corrosion due to chips or scratches in the paint. Like many factory warranties, Chevy doesn’t cover vehicle damage caused by collisions, fire, improper maintenance, modification, or environmental conditions, such as tree sap or lightning. 

There are numerous exclusions in the powertrain coverage, including sensors, wiring, electrical connectors, coolant hoses, heater core, starter motor, pressurized fuel system, injectors, engine/powertrain control module, clutch and pressure plate, transmission control module, transfer case control module, wheel bearings, drive wheel front and rear hub bearings, locking hubs, and the drive system control module.

The limited warranty does not cover normal wear and tear of tires or road hazard damage, such as punctures due to potholes or curb impacts. It also doesn’t cover tires that are improperly inflated or mounted, misused, altered, or involved in an accident, collision, or fire.

Truck bedliners naturally move during normal operation, but Chevy will not cover paint finish damage due to this movement. The automaker will also not cover factory spray-in bedliners that lose their shine or fade.

The Good

One of the best things about Chevy’s warranty is that it’s quite comprehensive. Even though new vehicles don’t typically exhibit major problems during the first few years on the road, the warranty provides some peace of mind should something unexpectedly go wrong.

We also like the fact that the powertrain warranty is transferable and that Chevy will pay for towing should your vehicle break down as a result of a warranted defect. The automaker also includes one or two complimentary maintenance visits, depending on the model year.

In addition, the added coverage for electric and hybrid vehicles is a big plus because items such as batteries can fail as the vehicles age. The eight-year/100,000-mile coverage is more than enough to address these types of issues should they occur.

Finally, Chevy’s around-the-clock roadside assistance is very convenient. If you’re on a road trip and get a flat tire or accidentally lock your keys in your vehicle, the automaker will help get you back on your way free of charge.

The Bad

One of the drawbacks with Chevy’s factory warranty is something that’s systemic—it contains a lot of exclusions. This is a common theme among most automakers. While the manufacturer’s warranty covers a large number of components, it also has some limitations. For example, it won’t protect against weather damage, general wear and tear, or major modifications. 

Also, Chevy’s bumper-to-bumper mileage and time limitations are quite short compared to some of its competitors, which are not uncommonly five years or 60,000 miles long. If you drive frequently, you will exceed Chevy’s mileage limit within a short period of time. 

Fortunately, the powertrain warranty overlaps the bumper-to-bumper coverage, so at least you’ll have more protection when it comes to the engine and transmission.

Takeaway Value

If you’re in the market for a new Chevy, your vehicle will be largely protected with its factory warranty. While there are some exclusions, the bumper-to-bumper and powertrain warranties cover all the major components, so you shouldn’t have to worry about being stuck with an expensive repair bill.

Even though the new vehicle limited warranty is on par with the industry standard, it’s still rather short in duration. However, the three years or 36,000-mile coverage is enough to get you through the time period in which most vehicles prematurely fail due to manufacturer defects.