Car Manufacturer Warranties, Explained for Owners

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A factory warranty is the carmaker's promise to fix certain defects for a set time or miles, whichever comes first. It comes with the price of a new car. It does not pay for normal wear, damage, or routine upkeep. You can use any shop for maintenance and still keep it, as long as you keep your records.

AutoNetwork gives car education, not legal advice. We do not sell warranties or service contracts. Your warranty booklet and contract are the final word.

Checked against the cited official sources on October 27, 2026.

Warranty terms change by brand and model year. Read the warranty booklet for your own car before you act.

Short answer: A factory warranty is the carmaker's promise to fix certain defects for a set time or miles, whichever comes first. It comes with the price of a new car. It does not pay for normal wear, damage, or routine upkeep. You can use any shop for maintenance and still keep it, as long as you keep your records.

Sources: FTC — Auto Warranties and Auto Service Contracts (https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/auto-warranties-and-auto-service-contracts; checked 2026-10-27)

The problem

You paid for a new car. Then a warning light comes on, and you are not sure what is covered. Some people pay for repairs the carmaker should have fixed. Others fear that an oil change at a local shop will void their coverage. Roosevelt has spent 40 years on both sides of the service desk. This guide shows you what the warranty really says.

Roosevelt's plan

Find your terms. Read the warranty booklet or the brand's warranty page for your model year. Write down each coverage and when it ends in years and miles.
Keep every record. Save receipts for oil changes, tire rotations and repairs, with dates and miles. The FTC says a claim can be denied without them.
Report problems early. Take the car in while it is still covered. Ask for a repair order that lists your complaint in your words.

Sources: FTC — Auto Warranties and Auto Service Contracts (https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/auto-warranties-and-auto-service-contracts; checked 2026-10-27)

1. What a factory warranty is

The FTC calls an auto warranty a promise to fix certain defects or malfunctions for a set time after you buy. A new car's warranty is part of the price. You do not pay extra for it.

Most coverage runs for a number of years or miles, whichever comes first. If your warranty is 3 years or 36,000 miles and you drive 36,000 miles in two years, it ends at two years.

A warranty covers defects in parts or how the car was built. It is not insurance. It does not pay for crash damage, worn brake pads, tires, or oil changes.

Sources: FTC — Auto Warranties and Auto Service Contracts (https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/auto-warranties-and-auto-service-contracts; checked 2026-10-27)

2. The main types of coverage

Brands split coverage into parts, and each part can end at a different time. These are the common names you will see.

Basic or bumper-to-bumper: covers most parts of the car. It is usually the shortest.
Powertrain: covers the engine, transmission and parts that move the car. It is usually longer.
Corrosion or rust: covers rust that eats a hole through a body panel.
Emissions: required by federal law (see section 3).
Roadside help: some brands include towing or jump-starts for a set time.
EV and hybrid battery: a separate warranty on the high-voltage battery (see section 4).

Sources: Hyundai — America's Best Warranty (https://www.hyundaiusa.com/us/en/assurance/america-best-warranty; checked 2026-10-27); Tesla — Vehicle Warranty (https://www.tesla.com/support/vehicle-warranty; checked 2026-10-27)

3. The federal emissions warranty

Federal law sets a floor for emissions parts on new cars and light trucks. Under the Clean Air Act, emissions coverage lasts the first 2 years or 24,000 miles.

Three major parts get longer coverage: 8 years or 80,000 miles. Those parts are the catalytic converter, the electronic emissions control unit, and the onboard emissions diagnostic device.

Some states and some brands give more. Check your own warranty booklet for the full list.

Sources: Clean Air Act, 42 U.S.C. § 7541 — emissions warranty periods (https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/42/7541; checked 2026-10-27)

4. EV and hybrid battery warranties

The battery is the most costly part of an EV. That is why brands give it its own warranty, often longer than the basic one.

Read two things: how long it lasts, and what counts as a failure. Some brands also cover lost range. Tesla, for example, promises the battery will keep at least 70% of its capacity during the warranty.

Battery terms can differ by model, even within one brand. Tesla lists 8 years with 100,000, 120,000 or 150,000 miles, based on the model. Hyundai lists 10 years or 100,000 miles on its hybrid and electric battery, for first and later owners.

Normal slow loss of range over time is expected. A warranty usually pays only when the loss passes the stated limit. See our EV battery guide for how to check battery health.

Sources: Tesla — Vehicle Warranty (https://www.tesla.com/support/vehicle-warranty; checked 2026-10-27); Hyundai — America's Best Warranty (https://www.hyundaiusa.com/us/en/assurance/america-best-warranty; checked 2026-10-27)

5. Brand examples (verified on each brand's site)

These two brands show how much terms can differ. We list only what we could confirm on the brand's own page. Always check your model year.

Hyundai: 5 years or 60,000 miles basic. 10 years or 100,000 miles powertrain, for the first owner only. 10 years or 100,000 miles on the hybrid or electric battery.
Tesla: 4 years or 50,000 miles basic. 8 years on the battery and drive unit, with 100,000 to 150,000 miles by model and at least 70% capacity kept. 12 years and unlimited miles on body rust holes.

6. Your rights: you choose the shop

The FTC says you do not have to use the dealer for maintenance or repairs to keep your warranty. It is against the law for a dealer to deny coverage only because someone else did your routine work.

Aftermarket or recycled parts do not void your warranty either. But if a bad part, or a part put in wrong, damages a covered part, that repair can be denied. The FTC says the dealer or carmaker must prove the part caused the damage.

One exception: if the warranty gives you free work or free parts, the carmaker can pick the shop or the parts for that free work.

Sources: FTC — Auto Warranties and Auto Service Contracts (https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/auto-warranties-and-auto-service-contracts; checked 2026-10-27)

7. Why claims get denied

The FTC warns that the company may ask for your maintenance records. Without them, a claim might be denied.

No proof of oil changes or scheduled care.
Damage from a crash, flood, misuse or racing.
A part that simply wore out, like brakes or wipers.
Coverage that already ended by time or miles.
A modification that caused the failure.

Sources: FTC — Auto Warranties and Auto Service Contracts (https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/auto-warranties-and-auto-service-contracts; checked 2026-10-27)

8. Used cars, second owners and certified pre-owned

Coverage often stays with the car when it is sold, but not always. Hyundai's 10-year powertrain coverage is for the first owner only. Later owners get shorter powertrain terms.

Certified pre-owned cars often get extra coverage from the brand. Tesla, for example, adds 1 year or 10,000 miles after the basic warranty ends on its certified cars.

When you buy used, ask for the date the car was first sold. The clock starts then, not when you buy it.

9. How to file a claim, and what to do if it is denied

Take the car to a dealer for that brand. Describe the problem clearly. Get a repair order with the date and miles, even if they cannot find the problem.

If a claim is denied, ask for the reason in writing. Then contact the brand's customer care line and ask for a case number. Keep copies of everything.

If the same defect keeps coming back, read our Lemon Law guide. State lemon laws may give you more rights.

Sources: FTC — Auto Warranties and Auto Service Contracts (https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/auto-warranties-and-auto-service-contracts; checked 2026-10-27)

Owner records checklist

Warranty booklet or a saved copy of the brand's page for your model year
Date the car was first sold and the miles at that time
Receipts for every oil change, rotation and inspection
Every repair order, with dates, miles and your complaint
Names and case numbers from calls to the brand

Sources: FTC — Auto Warranties and Auto Service Contracts (https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/auto-warranties-and-auto-service-contracts; checked 2026-10-27)

What to say

When you bring the car in: "Please write my complaint on the repair order just as I said it, with today's miles. Is this covered under my warranty?"
When told outside service voids coverage: "The FTC says using another shop for maintenance does not void my warranty. Here are my records."
When a claim is denied: "Please give me the reason in writing, and the part of the warranty you are relying on."

Questions buyers ask

What does a factory warranty cover?

It covers repairs for defects in parts or how the car was built, for a set time or miles. It does not cover wear, damage, or routine care.

Sources: FTC — Auto Warranties and Auto Service Contracts (https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/auto-warranties-and-auto-service-contracts; checked 2026-10-27)

Is the factory warranty free?

Yes. The FTC says a new car's warranty is included in the price.

Sources: FTC — Auto Warranties and Auto Service Contracts (https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/auto-warranties-and-auto-service-contracts; checked 2026-10-27)

What is the difference between bumper-to-bumper and powertrain?

Bumper-to-bumper covers most parts and is usually shorter. Powertrain covers the engine, transmission and parts that move the car, and is usually longer.

Does an oil change at a local shop void my warranty?

No. The FTC says a dealer cannot deny coverage only because someone else did your routine work. Keep your receipts.

Sources: FTC — Auto Warranties and Auto Service Contracts (https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/auto-warranties-and-auto-service-contracts; checked 2026-10-27)

Do aftermarket parts void my warranty?

No. But if a bad or badly installed part damages a covered part, that repair can be denied. The FTC says they must prove the part caused it.

Sources: FTC — Auto Warranties and Auto Service Contracts (https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/auto-warranties-and-auto-service-contracts; checked 2026-10-27)

How long is the federal emissions warranty?

2 years or 24,000 miles. The catalytic converter, emissions control unit and onboard diagnostic device get 8 years or 80,000 miles.

Sources: Clean Air Act, 42 U.S.C. § 7541 — emissions warranty periods (https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/42/7541; checked 2026-10-27)

How long is an EV battery warranty?

It depends on the brand and model. Tesla lists 8 years with 100,000 to 150,000 miles. Hyundai lists 10 years or 100,000 miles. Check your model year.

Does the EV battery warranty cover lost range?

Some do, up to a limit. Tesla covers its battery if it falls below 70% of its capacity during the warranty. Normal slow loss is expected.

Sources: Tesla — Vehicle Warranty (https://www.tesla.com/support/vehicle-warranty; checked 2026-10-27)

Do EVs have a powertrain warranty?

EVs have no engine, but brands cover the drive unit and battery. Tesla covers both for 8 years, with miles based on the model.

Sources: Tesla — Vehicle Warranty (https://www.tesla.com/support/vehicle-warranty; checked 2026-10-27)

Is a used EV's battery still covered?

Often, if the time and miles have not run out. Hyundai says its hybrid and electric battery coverage applies to later owners too.

Sources: Hyundai — America's Best Warranty (https://www.hyundaiusa.com/us/en/assurance/america-best-warranty; checked 2026-10-27)

Does my warranty transfer when I sell the car?

Often, but some parts do not. Hyundai's 10-year powertrain coverage is for the first owner only.

Sources: Hyundai — America's Best Warranty (https://www.hyundaiusa.com/us/en/assurance/america-best-warranty; checked 2026-10-27)

When does my warranty start on a used car?

Usually on the date the car was first sold or put in service, not the day you buy it. Ask for that date.

Why would a warranty claim be denied?

Common reasons are missing service records, damage, normal wear, coverage that ended, or a modification that caused the failure.

Sources: FTC — Auto Warranties and Auto Service Contracts (https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/auto-warranties-and-auto-service-contracts; checked 2026-10-27)

What if the same problem keeps coming back?

Keep every repair order and read our Lemon Law guide. State lemon laws may give you more rights.

Without records and a clear view of your terms, you may pay for repairs that should be free.

With your terms in hand and your records saved, you walk into the service desk knowing what you are owed.

Next steps

Sources

FTC — Auto Warranties and Auto Service Contracts — checked 2026-10-27
Clean Air Act, 42 U.S.C. § 7541 — emissions warranty periods — checked 2026-10-27
Hyundai — America's Best Warranty — checked 2026-10-27
Tesla — Vehicle Warranty — checked 2026-10-27