What the Mazda Warranty Can Offer You | Autance

What IS Included

If you take away the Mazda logo, the company’s factory warranty would look like its from any of the countless automakers that have the same terms. As a result, there aren’t too many surprises when it comes to the factory coverage you get with vehicles like the Mazda3 and Mazda6.

Bumper-to-Bumper

The main part of the Mazda factory warranty comes in the form of the bumper-to-bumper coverage. This comprehensive warranty is fairly standard in covering almost every part on a vehicle, including major engine/drivetrain components and secondary/minor systems. 

The coverage lasts for three years or 36,000 miles, whichever comes first. During this time, the most value from the factory warranty will come from this comprehensive warranty. Major and minor factory defects, alike, can come up almost anywhere on the vehicle if something wasn’t built or installed correctly. So, this warranty is most likely to kick in when issues come up.

Powertrain

The Mazda powertrain limited warranty offered with each new Mazda vehicle has a warranty period of five years or 60,000 miles, whichever comes first. Lasting an additional two years and 24,000 miles more than the comprehensive warranty, the limited powertrain warranty tends to kick in later on in a vehicle’s life when lingering defects can affect the major components on a vehicle.

This is an inclusionary-type of warranty, meaning the only powertrain components it covers are listed on the inclusion list. On this list, you will find major drivetrain components like the engine, transmission, axles, etc. Smaller internal parts, like gaskets and seals, are also covered under this portion of the factory warranty. 

Other

Mazda’s additional offerings are fairly sparse compared to most extended and third-party automotive warranties, but the company does offer a couple extra perks. More importantly, the automaker has additional warranties for any unique systems and designs that are on select models. 

For example, the company has a rotary engine warranty that lasts up to eight years or 100,000 miles for vehicles that have the RX-8 engine. This warranty covers all of the unique components that aren’t standard in the Mazda part supply. 

For all vehicles, Mazda offers a 24/7 roadside assistance program. This kicks in when defects arise while traveling away from home and matches the comprehensive and powertrain warranty lengths (three years/36,000 miles and five years/60,000 miles respectively). A basic free towing service to a nearby Mazda dealership (all around the United States) is generally included. 

What’s NOT Included

As a straightforward factory warranty, the Mazda coverage shares the same limitations as other automaker’s offerings. 

Maintenance Coverage

One area that can quickly get expensive is vehicle maintenance. Servicing a vehicle frequently can be a DIY project, but most Mazda owners don’t have the time or experience to get the job done. In this case, hiring a professional is possible but expensive. 

Like most automakers, Mazda doesn’t offer much for saving money on routine and basic maintenance services. Extra costs, like a basic oil change, will need to be paid out-of-pocket, unless you have a good alternative, like a third-party warranty or auto repair insurance, that includes the maintenance cost coverage.

Accidental Damage

If your new Mazda gets damaged in a wreck, from bad weather or through vandalism, don’t make the assumption that the factory warranty will cover the costs of repairs. Like any factory warranty, Mazda’s coverage is meant to cover issues the company can control, namely defects. 

If the company created the issue to begin with, it will usually pay to fix it. The same cannot be said for anything it can’t protect the car against. Therefore, you will need additional coverage or to pay out-of-pocket for any repairs needed after incidental damage has happened. 

The Good

The Mazda coverage may be basic and standard, but it does a good job of giving customers some money-saving value, especially if you want to drive one of the company’s unique vehicles. This is the advantage Mazda offers with component-based warranties like the rotary engine coverage. Without it, component repairs and replacements would be even more expensive than usual due to uncommon design.

Beyond the specialized coverage, Mazda stays competitive with other automakers offering the same terms and lengths. Combined with the basic roadside assistance, you can count on saving a little money if part failures arise, just as long as the main cause is a factory defect instead of normal wear and tear or accidental damage. 

The Bad

If you aren’t a fan of the standard factory terms most automakers offer, you probably won’t be a fan of the Mazda coverage either. The standard three years and 36,000 miles, for example, is good enough to cover a portion of likely factory defects, but it isn’t great. 

The fact that Mazda has matched important additions, like roadside assistance, to the short bumper-to-bumper warranty is also a major drawback. Some automakers at least match the assistance to the powertrain warranty so you can get the extra two years or so (and an additional few thousand miles) of travel protection.

Takeaway Value

We usually don’t recommend buying a vehicle just for the factory warranty alone unless it really can save you money. In Mazda’s case, we say buy a Mazda model and the factory warranty only if you really like the company’s vehicles. It’s a good warranty for the basic coverage it offers, just don’t expect anything beyond the basics.