The Buick Warranty Factory Coverage

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What IS Covered in the Buick Warranty

The offerings of the limited warranty are fairly standard in terms of how Buick has structured the coverage, but there are a few extras to know about.

Bumper-to-Bumper

All new Buicks that roll off the dealership lot will be covered by a standard bumper-to-bumper warranty that lasts for four years or 50,000 miles, whichever comes first. This portion of the factory warranty acts as a “catch-all” type of coverage, meaning most parts are included in its services.

The warranty works by repairing or replacing parts that are damaged due to factory defects. When a service is required, the warranty has no deductible and will generally cover the full cost of the service if it’s done at a local Buick dealer or by an authorized mechanic. This applies to any new vehicle from Buick as long as the warranty coverage is still in effect.

Powertrain

Beyond the comprehensive coverage, the Buick factory warranty also includes a smaller powertrain coverage. This portion is focused on the most important parts of a vehicle that keep it running. Therefore, it includes components like the engine, transfer case, drive axles, transaxles, water pumps, oil pumps, and other drivetrain components.

The powertrain coverage also lasts longer than the bumper-to-bumper coverage. Lasting six years or 70,000 miles, the warranty offers an extra two years and 20,000 miles once the comprehensive coverage runs out. This is good for lingering factory defects that may go unnoticed in the first few years of a vehicle’s life.

Extras

Beyond the main warranties, Buick also includes a few extra perks. The major addition to the warranty coverage is the 24-hour roadside assistance program. Under this program, certain roadside services, like free towing and rental car reimbursements, are available if you get stranded due to a factory defect while traveling.

The rental car reimbursement is a part of Buick’s Courtesy Transportation Program. Under this program, the company will either reimburse the expenses of a car or arrange alternative transportation whenever warranty repairs are required during the coverage period. The specifics of the alternative transportation are typically arranged with a local dealership and depend on the warranty information often found in the owner’s manual.

What’s NOT Covered in the Buick Warranty

While there is a lot to like about the new Buick factory warranty, there are also some drawbacks to keep in mind.

Maintenance Coverage

Although there is a lot of coverage for individual parts under the bumper-to-bumper warranty and powertrain limited warranty, Buick doesn’t offer much in terms of period and routine maintenance. In fact, the “factory defect only” policy limits the application of the warranty to just some basic service adjustments after a current model year Buick has been on the road for a few months.

In terms of money-saving value, there isn’t much for routine maintenance. Instead, you’ll likely need to pay out-of-pocket for routine expenses or find a separate extended warranty or protection plan that offers extra service options for such work.

Incidental Damage

The two primary warranty coverages don’t include much help for damage due to accidents, modifications, improper maintenance, or misuse. There is also limited coverage for uncontrollable damage such as issues due to bad weather. Once again, you will need extra coverage or the right auto insurance to cover these issues.

Great Things about the Buick Warranty

Buick’s main factory warranty shines above the competition in a couple of important ways. First and foremost, the length of the warranties is attractive considering the industry standard for a bumper-to-bumper warranty is just three years or 36,000 miles. Since factory defects can linger past this common timeframe, the extra length of the comprehensive and powertrain coverages offers a little extra peace of mind.

Second, the basic roadside assistance and courtesy transportation programs offer even more value when issues come up while on the road. While the services are limited, both programs have the potential to save you some frustration and money when the unexpected comes up while traveling.

Ugly Things about the Buick Warranty

The factory warranty matches most other factory coverages when it comes to the drawbacks. The main issue here is the limitations of the warranty itself. Since it doesn’t apply in all, or even the most common, circumstances, you won’t be able to take advantage of it in times when you really want to.

This is mainly caused by the focus on factory defects. It’s understandable that Buick would limit the scope of its warranty to things it can prevent, but some automakers do offer extra value to customers with additional coverages focused on maintenance or incidental costs. As a result, this is somewhat of a missed opportunity on Buick’s part.

Takeaway Value

The Buick warranty gets the job done in terms of offering basic assistance under certain conditions. There is a lot lacking when it comes to other types of damage and issues, but for factory defects, it excels at reducing or eliminating repair costs with no deductible. So, it’s hard to go wrong if you’re interested in buying a new Buick vehicle.

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