Lifetime powertrain warranty?

[TacoMax26]

I'm making a deal with my dealer and they are offering me a lifetime powertrain warranty for free and toyoguard platinum for $699.

Does the powertrain warranty actually works?
Does the toyoguard platinum worth to have it?

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[Will721]

First I'll touch on toyoguard; its just a prepaid maintenance plan. It will cover tire rotations, oil changes, various filter replacements, stuff like that. Whether its worth it to you depends on you. Its obviously going to be cheaper to DIY. Probably also cheaper to have a non dealer shop do the work. It also only covers replacements at Toyotas intervals so if you want shorter oil change gaps, you foot the bill. It does not cover other routine maintenance like brake changes, timing sets, ect. But your pre-paying to have the dealer do the work, usually at a discounted rate.



Lifetime warranties are going to be specific to that dealer. You will have to read the fine print to see the terms and stipulations there. Typically, lifetime does not mean forever. It usually means the lifetime they expect the components to last. I.e. 150k-200k miles. They also usually require the dealer performs all service, at Toyotas recommended intervals. That's not free either. So when Toyota recommends a timing set be replaced, or plugs, coils, ect., you pay the dealer to do that work at those set points with oem parts. Some may also have a buyout clause, meaning that they can choose to either repair the vehicle or buy it back if they deem it not worth the cost of repair.

However, because its dealer specific you have to read the contract to see if its worth it. Some claim the "lifetime" is for as long as you own it. Those dealers are betting that you are the average owner and are going to trade in at 4-5 years and drive under 15k miles a year. Thats only 75k miles and the odds of you needing that warranty are slim to none. If you plan on keeping the truck forever it may be totally worth it depending on the stipulations of the contract.

 

[Mercedes]

Without reading the contracts, it seems like the offer is $700 for two oil changes, two tire rotations.

Studying one site, https://exploresetoyota.com/toyoguard/ , the interior and exterior cosmetic protection is someone in the back with a $4 bottle of something, spraying that inside and outside the truck. "Battery protectant". Someone spritzing the battery terminals with protectant.

There are different levels of exterior protection, which could include waxes, sealants, ceramic coatings and Paint Protection Film. If you're interested in those products and what they can do for you, I'd stop by a local detailer or business that works with those products. A good exterior paint sealer like CarPro Reload is $36 a bottle. PPF runs into the thousands of dollars.

For interior protection, I am using a Weathertech liner on the rear bench seat; that cost $175 and will last the life of the truck.

Battery terminal protectant can be bought at any parts store for a few dollars a can. That one can will last you for many years.

Rental car and roadside assistance are also part of the package. You'd have to ask yourself how much you'd use those services. And wonder how responsive their service would be, depending on where and when you need it.

That leaves two years of oil changes and tire rotations, which could mean as few as two of each.

Studying the lifetime warranty, I could think of three points:

- It's a Toyota. They literally wrote the book on Quality Control. Problems with a new vehicle would be seen early on and covered by the factory powertrain warranty, recall or Technical Service Bulletin. If you follow the maintenance schedule and use factory or quality aftermarket parts, the truck will have a long and happy life, even if out of warranty

- All of the web sites I reviewed mentioned, "as long as you own your vehicle.". Probably non-transferable

- Powertrain coverage is not vehicle coverage. Engine, transmission and differential. That's about all I'd expect. In comparison, I'm attaching Ford's most comprehensive extended warranty, so you can see all the other things that can break. Ford's plans are factory-backed, can be used at any dealer and are transferable between owners. I mention these things just to highlight some of the differences between the plan being offered to you and other manufacturers

So I'd pass. Just the truck. No dealer add-ons.

 

[maxx075]

For $700 I'll come change your oil and rotate your tires 2x for free.

 

[Will721]

Oh, I forgot about the roadside and rental car in my original post. That might be worth absolutely nothing to you, check with your auto insurance company. Most insurance policies include free roadside/tow now. Many also include rentals.

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