The Most Important Details of the Jeep Extended Warranty

What IS Included

Jeep doesn’t stray too far from the original factory warranty in terms of coverage. However, you will find a couple of differences worth noting if you are interested in expanding your factory coverage at your local Jeep dealership.

Basic Coverage

The base of the extended warranty from Jeep is a component coverage program that combines the standard coverage of the original bumper-to-bumper and powertrain warranties. Coverage comes primarily from the Mopar Vehicle Protection plans that support all new and used Jeep vehicles (and other models from the automaker’s sister brands).

There are two primary plans that Jeep offers owners for extra peace of mind when it comes to unexpected issues: Maximum Care and Added Care Plus. Both are covered by the Mopar protection services and include repairs/replacements using genuine Mopar parts done by certified technicians.

The Added Care Plus program is the basic powertrain extension that can last up to eight years (minimum five years) and 60,000, 75,000, 85,000, 100,000, or 125,000 miles depending on what you choose for the length. The main parts covered here include the engine, transmission, steering, drive systems, brakes, suspensions, air conditioning, and more.

For maximum coverage, the aptly named Maximum Care plan is an exclusionary service contract that includes almost all of the parts on a vehicle (except for a few accessories and wear items). The plan can last between two to eight years and 60,000 or 125,000 miles.

Extras

In addition to the primary plans that replicate the powertrain and bumper-to-bumper original warranty coverages, the extended service contracts also include a few extra, yet standard, perks in the mix. These extras generally work when unexpected issues arise while on the road and often come with some limitations in terms of distance and issue scope.

The main roadside assistance, which includes things like towing, kicks in when a factory defect keeps the Jeep from working 100 miles or more away from your home. There is also a trip interruption component in both warranty plans that will cover up to $1,000 for lodging, meals, and rental car expenses while traveling. All of these extras, however, expire before the extended warranty at the 100,000-mile mark.

What’s NOT Included

The Jeep extended warranty has a few limitations that can decrease the money-saving value of the coverage for you.

Accidental Damage

Most factory warranties don’t kick in when the vehicle gets damaged in some way that’s beyond the factory’s control. This means you won’t get much assistance from the Jeep extended warranty if your vehicle is damaged by bad weather, vandalism, or general wear and tear. Instead, you will likely need to pay out-of-pocket for the repairs of such damage.

The warranty does, however, kick in when there is an issue due to poor workmanship or materials. In these cases, someone at the factory made a mistake, and the automaker will be ready to fix the problem and cover the costs of the repairs if necessary.

General Maintenance

Like incidental damage, the Jeep extended warranty doesn’t offer much support for wear and tear issues. Even the costs of the work that can prevent wear and tear aren’t covered. Replacements for wear items, like brake pads, and routine maintenance tasks, like oil changes, fall outside of the warranty’s primary coverage scope.

The Good

There is a lot of value in the way that Jeep has structured its extended warranty program. Offering two plans with multiple length options (time and mileage) means customers have the ability to choose what kind and amount of coverage best suits them for their unique budget. This is a common strategy for third-party warranty providers but is rare for major automakers.

The two basic Jeep warranty plans alone give drivers the ability to extend just the powertrain coverage from the original warranty or to go all out with the comprehensive coverage. The fact that the basic extra perks are included in both plans also means that owners don’t have to choose based on the extras. This sets the focus squarely on the component coverage, so the driver can find the best coverage for their particular vehicle.

The Bad

Jeep has made a few questionable calls when it comes to the eligibility of older vehicles and the length of some of the extra perk services. In both cases, these calls reduce the money-saving value a standard extended warranty like Jeep’s can provide.

For example, the four-year eligibility requirement to get the extended coverage means you can only apply when the powertrain warranty in the original factory coverage hasn’t expired. If you try to get the warranty coverage after that timeframe, you’ll likely need to find a third-party provider instead.

Finally, Jeep effectively reduces how long you can take advantage of some of the extra perks by capping them at the 100,000-mile mark. Since a Jeep vehicle will ideally last long after this point, it just means drivers won’t be as protected as the vehicle actually ages to this point.

Takeaway Value

The Jeep extended warranty is a good option to think about buying when it comes time to address the expiration of your factory warranty. While you have to act fast before the original warranty expires, it has a lot of good potential and options for you to choose from to get a customized feel with your warranty coverage.