Atlantic Auto Group's Automotive Terminology Decoder: Demystifying Your Car's Warranty

It’s 2022, and by now we’ve all received one of those infamous spam calls: “Hello, I’m contacting you to talk about your vehicle’s extended warranty!” “Hi there, I’m calling about your upcoming expiring vehicle warranty!”  Those calls might be part of a phishing scam, but your car’s warranty is a genuine and real-deal thing if you’ve purchased it through the dealer.  So, how much do you know about your car’s warranty after all?

On today’s Atlantic Auto Group Decoder, we’re taking a look at the various ways your car may be covered by various warranty options.  Let’s take a look at what each of these terms means, so you can understand which ones apply to your vehicle or which are worth opting for in addition to default depending on your driving and lifestyle needs.

Each manufacturer offers different warranties which cover your new or preowned vehicle for repairs or replacements if your car experiences any breakages, malfunctions, or mishaps due to a fault in manufacturing.  This offsets any cost of repairs, replacements or adjustments that would normally fall to the customer, and instead is covered by the dealership or manufacturer.  It is important that you thoroughly understand and read  our various warranties; in some cases, you can void a manufacturer warranty or guarantee by making aftermarket or off-brand upgrades or adjustments to your vehicle.

It’s worth noting that these warranties do not and will not cover any errors made to your vehicle by you, the consumer, or a non-certified mechanic, or from wear-and-tear unless specifically noted in the warranty guidelines.  To prevent accidental violations of contract, many warranties stipulate that your car is regularly serviced by certified mechanics or dealerships to ensure no work violates your warranty.  We do not recommend making adjustments to your vehicle until after these warranty periods have passed, so you can receive your maximum claim benefit if any issues should arise.  If you are using your vehicle for commercial purposes or combined personal/commercial, you will need to double check the warranty parameters.

We’re here to help you navigate the ins and outs of vehicle ownership and leasing, you can count on us.  If you have any questions, our trusted staff and salespeople will be more than happy to assist you in finding the answers you need to get you out on the road in no time!

Check out the helpful terms and definitions below to understand the difference between various warranty options.

• Basic/Bumper to bumper warranty

  • A vehicle warranty that covers everything except items that are subject to wear and tear or replacement in the ordinary course of vehicle ownership, such as oil and air filters, wiper blades and brake pads. Tires and batteries are often excluded, but usually have their own warranty provided by the manufacturers of those items. Emissions equipment is required by Federal law to be covered for two years or 24,000 miles.

• Extended warranty

  • A vehicle warranty sold by the manufacturer of the vehicle or a third party that extends the vehicles basic warranty beyond its original 

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• Limited warranty

  • A vehicle warranty that is in effect for a specified number of years and/or miles driven.

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• Powertrain warranty (Drivetrain Warranty)

  • Also referred to as the "drivetrain warranty." A vehicle warranty that covers most of the parts that make the vehicle move, including the engine, transmission, drive axles and driveshaft. As with a basic warranty, "consumable" parts such as hoses and belts are not covered. However, most of the internal parts of the engine, such as the pistons and bearings, which are also subject to wear and tear, are covered by a powertrain warranty.

• Rust & corrosion warranty

  • A warranty that covers the repair or replacement of the vehicles sheet metal in the event of damage from rust or corrosion that is severe enough to cause a hole. Surface rust is not covered.

• Scheduled maintenance warranty

  • A warranty that covers service procedures recommended by the manufacturer at predetermined intervals to preserve and/or prolong the life of a vehicle.

• Technical Service Bulletin (“Secret Warranty)

  • Technical service bulletins (TSBs) are issued by the manufacturer for problems that affect the normal operation of the vehicle. Sometimes called "secret warranties," TSBs cover known problems and provide repair instructions for service technicians and accordingly are distributed to all of the manufacturer's dealerships.
    
    Unlike recall-related repairs, which are performed on a no-questions-asked basis, TSB repairs are made only to resolve problems that can be verified by dealer service technicians. And generally these repairs will be free of charge only if the vehicle is still under warranty.