Hyundai’s Warranty Rises Above the Competition | Autance

What IS Included

Hyundai’s new vehicle limited warranty, which includes bumper-to-bumper and powertrain coverage, handles repairs or replacement of any component manufactured or installed by the automaker that is defective in material or factory workmanship. 

As is common with many automakers, Hyundai includes additional time and mileage limits for the powertrain warranty.

Bumper-to-Bumper

The bumper-to-bumper warranty covers Hyundai vehicles for up to five years or 60,000 miles, whichever comes first. It’s meant to protect nearly everything, from the body to the electrical systems.

Hyundai’s bumper-to-bumper warranty coverage is a bit better than the industry standard, which is three years and 36,000 miles. The automaker provides an additional 24,0000 miles of protection in case you need it. 

However, there are some restrictions on some Hyundai parts:

• Air conditioner refrigerant charge: one year, unlimited miles
• Paint: three years or 36,000 miles
• Battery: three years, unlimited miles (100 percent coverage for two years, unlimited miles; after two years and within three years, 25 percent of the cost of the battery and 100 percent of the labor cost are covered)
• Radio and audio systems, including the compact disc player, DVD player, navigation system, and Bluetooth: three years or 36,000 miles 
• Wear items such as belts, brake pads, and linings, clutch linings, filters, wiper blades, bulbs, fuses: one year or 12,000 miles 
• Adjustments: one year or 12,000 miles

Powertrain

The 10-year, 100,000-mile powertrain protection covers repair or replacement of powertrain components, which includes selected engine and transmission/transaxle parts. This coverage lasts much longer than the bumper-to-bumper coverage. However, it applies to the original owner only for 2004 model year and newer vehicles. Prior model years have different restrictions.

Subsequent owners (even if you transfer the vehicle to immediate family members) have powertrain components coverage under the five-year, 60,000-mile new vehicle limited warranty. Commercial use vehicles, such as taxis and route delivery or delivery service cars, are not included.

Roadside Assistance

One perk offered by Hyundai is its 24-hour roadside assistance. It’s available for five-years or unlimited miles. Assistance can be transferred to a new owner, and it covers towing for inoperable disablements, including accidents, as well as battery jump starts, flat tire changes, lockouts, and refueling.

Other

The automaker offers a lifetime hybrid battery warranty on all new hybrid models. If the lithium-ion polymer battery fails, Hyundai will replace the battery and cover recycling costs for the old battery free of charge.  However, this only applies to the original owner. Subsequent owners receive a 10-year or 100,000-mile warranty beginning at the original new vehicle sale date.

Hyundai also covers corrosion of original Hyundai body sheet metal for seven years, unlimited mileage. Hyundai will replace or repair rust holes in the body panel but not surface corrosion through this perforation coverage. 

The automaker also includes a one-year/12,000-mile replacement parts and accessory limited warranty that covers the replacement of any Hyundai genuine replacement part.

If you have a federal emission defect, Hyundai’s eight-year, 80,000-mile federal emission and performance warranty covers it. This includes major emissions control components such as the catalytic converter, engine control module, and onboard emissions diagnostic device. 

Other EPA Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) emissions warranty parts are covered under the five-year, 60,000-mile new vehicle limited warranty. The California emission control systems warranty lasts for seven years or 70,000 miles. It applies to vehicles manufactured to California specifications and registered in California, Connecticut, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, or Washington.

What’s NOT Included

The Hyundai factory warranty is quite comprehensive due to its bumper-to-bumper, powertrain, and additional coverage, but it doesn’t cover everything. Similar to other automakers, there are certain circumstances in which the warranty does not offer support. 

Exclusions

The warranty does not cover normal maintenance services such as cleaning, engine tune-ups, lubrication, oil/fluid changes, filter changes, antifreeze coolant replacement, wheel alignment, and tire rotation unless they’re part of a warrantable repair at an authorized dealership or facility.

It also excludes normal use and wear and tear of parts such as spark plugs, brake pads/linings, filters, wiper blades, bulbs, and fuses (with the exception of halogen bulbs, which are covered up to three years or 36,000 miles). 

The warranty does not cover vehicles that have been improperly maintained, misused or abused, modified or altered, or have been flooded or contaminated by water. Vehicles subjected to acid rain, tree sap, winter storms, rodents, or other environmental conditions are excluded as well. In addition, the warranty does not cover tires, which are handled by a separate tire manufacturer warranty. 

The Good

One of the best things about Hyundai Assurance is both the bumper-to-bumper and powertrain coverages are much longer than what most other automakers provide. The industry’s average of three years and 36,000 miles is adequate and should cover most defects, but it’s great to have that peace of mind that comes with a lengthy warranty such as the one Hyundai provides. 

Also, the overlapping coverage between the two types of warranties extends the usefulness of the Hyundai coverage. After the limited warranty expires, the powertrain coverage continues for several thousand additional miles.

The lifetime hybrid battery warranty on all new hybrid models is a bonus for original owners, and the added roadside assistance is also very convenient. It’s nice to have a backup in case you run out of gas, get a flat tire, or accidentally lock yourself out of your car. This can come in handy, particularly if you’re on a road trip and far from home.

The fact that the bumper-to-bumper warranty is transferable to a new owner is also a plus. This can increase the appeal of your vehicle if you decide to sell it within the length of the warranty.

The Bad

Overall, Hyundai provides a very good new vehicle limited warranty. However, like nearly all factory warranties, it has some limitations. While it’s comprehensive in the parts that it covers, it doesn’t cover them in all situations. Exclusions include major modifications, maintenance costs, weather damage, and general wear and tear.

Also, if you decide to sell your vehicle, the powertrain coverage is limited to the scope of the bumper-to-bumper warranty. A subsequent owner will only have five years or 60,000 miles if a defect occurs with engine and transmission/transaxle components.

Takeaway Value

Hyundai Assurance is better than many other automakers’ coverage, giving you more value in the long run. Its limitations also put it on par with the industry, so it doesn’t lose points on that front.

If you want a new Hyundai, you will be largely protected should something unexpectedly occur within the first few years of the vehicle’s service life.