What is covered under car warranty?

By Ané Theron

Most new cars come with some kind of warranty, but generally speaking, it differs from one manufacturer to the next with regards to time frame, and what is covered.

With a warranty, the manufacturer basically promises to repair or replace a defective component within a certain time-period. (In other words, it’s specifically for mechanical breakdown claims.) These items usually include the engine and gearbox, fuel systems, sensors, and audio systems. But don’t think that you can drive your car like a maniac and expect that certain components that suffer will be fixed free of charge. Usually, wear-and-tear items like tyres, brake pads, the clutch (and clutch plate) will not be covered. Driver abuse could even void the warranty in its entirety, and so could fitting generic parts. It’s advisable to ask the dealer exactly what is covered and what isn’t. The car’s booklet/user guide should have this information handy.

If buying from a private seller, do your research online or call a dealership for the fine print. Also, does the car have full service history? Was it serviced as per the manufacturer’s instruction?

Hyundai is a manufacturer who have recently extended their standard warranty to a seven-year/ 200 000km warranty, but it is also subject to specific terms and conditions. The 7-year warranty covers all internal engine, gearbox and gearbox-parts, drive lines and drive couplings, differentials, suspension hub bearings and axle shafts. However, clutch components are only covered for up to 20 000 km. The pressure plate benefits from the full extended warranty. Fortunately, Hyundai’s basic 5-year warranty does cover steering, braking and exhaust components, as well as suspension- and electrical parts.

As for Opel: “All new Opel vehicles come standard with a 5-year or 120,000 km warranty, whichever occurs first, for complete peace of mind. The warranty covers free of charge ‘bumper to bumper’ or any unforeseen costs related to any product, warranty-related concern, components and labour, excluding normal wear items and routine servicing.”

“The warranty will be valid and honoured if vehicles are serviced at an Opel Dealership within the specified service intervals. This is to ensure that the vehicles, components and updates are maintained or performed (e.g. filters and oil replaced at the correct time) as per schedule to ensure that the vehicle will continue to serve you with reliability, economy and component durability. Always ensure you fully understand your vehicle’s warranty terms (available in the warranty & service guide booklet inside the vehicle) and servicing requirements along with the importance of maintaining a full service history (stamped service book records) at an Opel Dealership throughout the lifespan of the vehicle.”

If you are unsatisfied with the cover you’re getting with your new (or used) car, you can perhaps look into purchasing an extended warranty. Toyota is now offering a more comprehensive extended warranty that does indeed cover some wear-and-tear items, through their Toyota Genuine Extended Warranty:

“From 1 July 2017, all new Genuine Extended Warranty customers will enjoy cover for the replacement of one set of shock absorbers, one clutch kit (i.e. clutch plate, pressure plate and release bearing) as well as one instance of brake disc skimming, a result of normal wear and tear.  In addition to this, failure of major components (i.e. engine, drivetrain and differentials) resulting from wear and tear will also be covered subject to limits determined by the vehicle's mileage.”

For all warranty-related issues and questions, visit the manufacturer’s website first, or get in touch with a sales agent.