Are Wear and Tear Items Covered Under Dealer Extended Warranties?
Wear and tear items are components expected to wear out through normal use. Understanding how warranties treat these items prevents unexpected out-of-pocket expenses.
Commonly Excluded Wear Items
Almost always excluded: brake pads and shoes, clutch discs, wiper blades, light bulbs, filters (oil, air, fuel, cabin), belts and hoses, spark plugs and wires, batteries, and tires. These are considered normal maintenance.
Sometimes Covered Wear Items
Depending on plan level, these may be covered: brake rotors and drums (if failed, not just worn), clutch hydraulics, shocks and struts, wheel bearings, CV joints and boots, and exhaust components. Premium plans may include some of these items.
The Failure vs Wear Distinction
Key distinction: gradual wear is not covered; sudden failure may be. Example: brake pads wearing thin from use isn't covered. A brake caliper seizing and causing damage may be covered. Shock absorbers slowly losing effectiveness isn't covered; a shock mount breaking is.
Enhanced Wear Coverage Plans
Some providers offer separate 'wear coverage' or 'maintenance plans' covering items like brakes and wipers. These are different from mechanical breakdown warranties and carry additional cost. Evaluate whether they provide value for your situation.
Key Takeaways
- Normal maintenance items are almost never covered
- Sudden failures may be covered even for 'wear' components
- Premium plans cover more borderline items
- Separate maintenance plans exist for wear items
Frequently Asked Questions
Are brake rotors covered if they're warped?
It depends. Warping from normal heat cycling isn't covered. Damage from a covered caliper failure typically is. The cause determines coverage.
What about suspension bushings?
Bushings are often considered wear items and excluded. Premium plans may cover them if they fail prematurely or catastrophically rather than through gradual deterioration.
Do any warranties cover tires?
Extended warranties typically don't cover tires. Tire protection is usually sold as a separate product (often called 'tire and wheel protection').