What Does the Ford Factory Warranty Cover?

A new Ford factory warranty generally covers defects in factory-supplied materials or workmanship during the applicable warranty period. For most new Ford vehicles sold in the United States, the New Vehicle Limited Warranty includes 3 years or 36,000 miles of bumper-to-bumper coverage and 5 years or 60,000 miles of powertrain coverage, whichever comes first.

That does not mean every repair your Ford may need is covered. Factory warranties are primarily designed to protect owners from manufacturing defects rather than routine maintenance, normal wear, accident damage, or problems caused by improper use.

Below, we'll explain the major parts of Ford's factory warranty, what is generally covered, what normally is not covered, and how coverage can differ for diesel, hybrid, and electric Ford vehicles.

Ford Factory Warranty at a Glance

Although coverage can vary by model, model year, powertrain, and vehicle configuration, current Ford vehicles commonly include the following warranty protection:

Warranty coverage varies by vehicle and model year. The warranty guide supplied with your Ford is the controlling document for your specific vehicle.

What Does Ford's 3-Year/36,000-Mile Bumper-to-Bumper Warranty Cover?

Ford's bumper-to-bumper coverage is the broadest portion of the New Vehicle Limited Warranty. It generally applies to factory-installed parts that malfunction or fail during normal use because of a defect in factory-supplied materials or workmanship.

Despite the name, "bumper-to-bumper" does not mean absolutely everything on the vehicle is covered under every circumstance. There are exclusions, maintenance items, wear items, and components that may have their own separate warranty terms.

Examples of systems that may fall under bumper-to-bumper coverage when the failure qualifies under the warranty can include:

• Electrical components
• Infotainment and factory-installed technology
• Air-conditioning and heating components
• Steering components
• Suspension components
• Factory-installed cameras and sensors
• Power windows, locks, and mirrors
• Interior electronic components
• Factory-installed audio equipment
• Various engine and drivetrain components

The key distinction is why the component failed. A covered component that fails because of a manufacturing defect may qualify for warranty repair. The same component damaged in a collision, through misuse, or because of an unrelated aftermarket modification may not.

What Does Ford's Powertrain Warranty Cover?

Once the 3-year/36,000-mile bumper-to-bumper period ends, many of the most important mechanical components may continue to receive protection through Ford's powertrain warranty.

For most current Ford vehicles, powertrain coverage lasts 5 years or 60,000 miles, whichever comes first.

Powertrain coverage generally focuses on major components associated with making the vehicle move, including qualifying parts within the:

• Engine
• Transmission
• Transfer case on applicable four-wheel-drive vehicles
• Drive system
• Axles
• Other specifically listed powertrain components

Powertrain coverage is not the same as bumper-to-bumper coverage. After the comprehensive warranty expires, components outside the covered powertrain may no longer qualify for factory warranty repair even though the vehicle is still inside the 5-year/60,000-mile powertrain period.

For a more detailed breakdown, see what Ford's powertrain warranty covers.

Does the Ford Factory Warranty Cover Labor?

For an approved warranty repair, Ford generally covers the repair, replacement, or adjustment of a covered defective component through an authorized Ford dealer without charging the owner for the covered repair.

The dealership first has to determine that the problem qualifies under the applicable warranty. A diagnosis alone does not automatically mean a repair will be covered.

What Isn't Covered by the Ford Factory Warranty?

A factory warranty should not be confused with a maintenance plan or vehicle insurance. It is intended primarily to address qualifying manufacturing defects.

Items or situations that are generally not covered simply because the vehicle is still under warranty can include:

• Routine oil and filter changes
• Tire rotations
• Normal brake wear
• Wiper-blade wear
• Routine fluid changes
• Scheduled maintenance
• Normal deterioration from use
• Collision damage
• Road-hazard damage
• Damage caused by misuse or abuse
• Damage caused by insufficient or improper maintenance
• Damage caused by certain modifications or aftermarket equipment
• Cosmetic damage that is not the result of a covered factory defect

Some components and wear items can have special warranty provisions of their own, so the exact reason for the failure and the vehicle's specific warranty guide matter.

Does Ford's Warranty Cover Oil Changes and Maintenance?

No, routine maintenance is generally not included simply because your Ford is under the factory warranty.

Oil changes, tire rotations, filters, scheduled inspections, and other normal maintenance are ordinarily the owner's responsibility unless the vehicle has a separate maintenance plan or another program that specifically covers those services.

Keeping up with required maintenance is important because damage caused by neglected maintenance may not qualify for warranty coverage.

Does Ford's Warranty Cover Brake Pads and Tires?

Normal brake-pad wear is generally considered a maintenance or wear issue rather than a manufacturing defect. If a component has an actual defect, however, different coverage rules may apply.

Tires are also unusual because they may be subject to both Ford warranty provisions and a separate warranty from the tire manufacturer. Owners should check the warranty information supplied with their particular vehicle and tires.

Are Ford Diesel Engines Covered Longer?

Some diesel components receive longer factory coverage than the standard powertrain warranty.

For example, current Ford Super Duty trucks equipped with a Power Stroke diesel engine list 5-year/100,000-mile diesel engine component coverage.

This does not mean every component on a diesel Super Duty receives 100,000 miles of coverage. The longer period applies to specified diesel engine components covered by that portion of the warranty.

What Warranty Does a Ford Hybrid Battery Have?

Ford hybrid vehicles can have separate warranty coverage for high-voltage hybrid components.

Current Ford F-150 PowerBoost hybrid vehicle listings, for example, identify an 8-year/100,000-mile hybrid battery warranty.

Because hybrid warranty provisions can differ by model and model year, owners should check the warranty information for their exact vehicle rather than assuming every hybrid Ford has identical coverage.

What Warranty Does a Ford EV Battery Have?

Battery-electric Ford vehicles also receive separate coverage for their high-voltage battery and electric-vehicle components.

For the current Ford Mustang Mach-E, Ford lists the high-voltage battery as covered for 8 years or 100,000 miles, whichever comes first. Ford also specifies a minimum battery-capacity provision during that period.

EV owners should review the Battery Electric Vehicle Warranty Guide for the precise terms, exclusions, covered components, and battery-capacity requirements for their vehicle.

Does a Ford Warranty Cover Rust?

Ford provides corrosion protection, but there is an important difference between ordinary surface rust and corrosion that meets the requirements of Ford's perforation warranty.

Many current Ford vehicles include 5-year/unlimited-mile corrosion perforation coverage. Certain models may also list separate coverage relating to aluminum body panels or paint adhesion.

The exact condition must meet Ford's warranty requirements. Surface corrosion caused by chips, scratches, environmental exposure, accident damage, or other outside influences should not automatically be assumed to qualify.

Does Ford Include Roadside Assistance?

Many new Ford vehicles also include Ford Roadside Assistance for 5 years or 60,000 miles.

Roadside Assistance is separate from the warranty itself, but it can provide useful help during the initial ownership period. Available services can include qualifying towing, jump-start assistance, flat-tire help, fuel-delivery assistance, and lockout assistance, subject to Ford's program terms.

When Does the Ford Factory Warranty Start?

The warranty period generally begins on the vehicle's warranty start date rather than simply the day a particular owner happens to buy the vehicle.

This becomes especially important when purchasing a used Ford that may still have remaining factory coverage. A two-year-old Ford with 20,000 miles, for example, may still have some original factory warranty remaining, but the exact amount depends on when the original warranty period began.

How Do I Know if My Ford Is Still Under Warranty?

The easiest way to determine the remaining factory warranty is to use your vehicle's VIN and check the warranty information for that specific Ford.

A Ford dealership can also review the VIN and help determine:

• The original warranty start date
• Current mileage-based eligibility
• Remaining factory warranty
• Applicable powertrain coverage
• Diesel, hybrid, or EV coverage when applicable
• Whether a particular repair may qualify for warranty consideration

Remember that Ford warranties use both a time limit and a mileage limit. Coverage typically ends when either limit is reached first.

For a closer look at warranty length, see how long a Ford warranty lasts.

Does the Ford Factory Warranty Pay for Every Mechanical Failure?

No. A mechanical failure occurring during the warranty period is not automatically a warranty repair.

The dealership must determine whether the failure resulted from a condition covered by the applicable Ford warranty. A manufacturing defect may qualify, while damage caused by improper maintenance, an accident, outside contamination, misuse, or another excluded cause may not.

This is why diagnosis matters. Two vehicles can have the same failed component but have different warranty outcomes depending on why the component failed.

Will Aftermarket Parts Void My Ford Warranty?

Installing an aftermarket part does not necessarily mean every warranty on the entire vehicle disappears. However, damage caused by an aftermarket component or modification may not be covered by Ford.

For example, if an unrelated accessory is installed and the transmission develops a legitimate manufacturing defect, the mere presence of the accessory does not automatically establish that it caused the transmission problem. On the other hand, if a modification causes or contributes to the failure being repaired, warranty coverage for that repair can become an issue.

Owners making significant powertrain, suspension, electrical, tire-size, tuning, or other modifications should understand the possible warranty implications before making the change.

What Happens When the Ford Factory Warranty Expires?

After the applicable factory warranty expires, future repairs normally become the owner's responsibility unless another form of coverage applies.

Owners who want additional protection can consider a Ford Protect Extended Service Plan. These plans are separate from the Ford New Vehicle Limited Warranty and can extend protection for specified components beyond the original factory warranty period.

Before purchasing additional coverage, learn more about whether Ford Protect is worth it and what a Ford extended service contract covers.

Ford Factory Warranty FAQ

How long is the basic Ford factory warranty?

For most new Ford vehicles, the basic bumper-to-bumper warranty is 3 years or 36,000 miles, whichever comes first.

How long is Ford's powertrain warranty?

Most current Ford vehicles include powertrain coverage for 5 years or 60,000 miles, whichever comes first.

Does Ford's factory warranty cover the engine?

Yes, qualifying engine defects may be covered under the bumper-to-bumper warranty and then under applicable powertrain coverage. Only specifically covered components and qualifying failures are included.

Does Ford's factory warranty cover the transmission?

Qualifying transmission components are included in Ford's powertrain coverage. The standard powertrain period on most current Ford vehicles is 5 years or 60,000 miles.

Does the Ford warranty cover electronics?

Many factory-installed electronic components can be covered during the bumper-to-bumper warranty period when the problem results from a covered defect. Certain systems may have separate terms or exclusions.

Are oil changes included with a new Ford warranty?

No. Routine oil changes are maintenance rather than factory warranty repairs. Separate maintenance plans or programs may provide maintenance coverage.

Does Ford pay for warranty repairs?

When a repair is approved under the applicable Ford warranty, covered parts and labor are generally handled through the warranty according to Ford's terms.

Can I take my Ford to any Ford dealer for warranty work?

Ford warranty repairs are generally performed by authorized Ford dealerships. A dealer can inspect the vehicle, diagnose the problem, and determine whether the repair qualifies under the applicable warranty.

How can I check my Ford warranty?

Your VIN can be used to review the warranty information associated with your specific vehicle. A Ford dealership can also help determine the vehicle's warranty start date and remaining coverage.

Questions About Your Ford Warranty?

If you're unsure whether a problem with your Ford may be covered by the factory warranty, contact the service team at Chuck Anderson Ford in Excelsior Springs, Missouri. We can review your vehicle information, inspect the concern, and help determine which Ford warranty coverage may apply.

Your vehicle's model year, mileage, warranty start date, equipment, and the cause of the problem can all affect coverage, so checking the specific vehicle is always more reliable than relying on a general warranty description.

Return to the Ford Ownership Resource Center to learn more about Ford warranties, Ford Protect, maintenance, Ford Rewards, connected features, and long-term Ford ownership.

Warranty information on this page is provided as a general guide for U.S.-market Ford vehicles and may change. Coverage varies by model, model year, vehicle configuration, warranty start date, and other factors. Always refer to the Ford warranty guide applicable to your specific vehicle for complete terms, limitations, and exclusions.