Caricarz Guide To Vehicle Warranties – The Basics

Here’s a quick guide on vehicle warranties and what you ought to know about them on the surface...

Buying a vehicle is one of life's biggest decisions and surprisingly, many Malaysians partake in it without enough due diligence. While some of us are well-informed about standard nits and grits like financing and running costs, there’s one essential part that many still overlook: vehicle warranties.

Just like buying a new phone or laptop, every new car you buy comes with a warranty that covers certain parts of your vehicle from any mishaps. It essentially binds the automaker or manufacturer to repair or replace broken or faulty parts in your vehicle due to defects in the manufacturer’s design or installation.

National automakers like Perodua and Proton offers standard vehicle warranties with up to five years of coverage

In general, a standard manufacturer’s warranty covers the vehicle for a specific period of time and/or mileage cap. These vary from one automaker to another, but do keep in mind that standard vehicle warranty does not cover wear-and-tear parts like glass windows, seat covers, and tyres.

It is also crucial to note that, unlike vehicle insurance, manufacturers’ warranties do not cover any damages YOU caused to the vehicle.

Both Honda and Toyota offer standard vehicle warranties with a 5-year unlimited mileage coverage

Aside from the overall bumper-to-bumper (B2B) standard warranty, some manufacturers even provide additional warranties for specific parts, namely the powertrain. For example, mainstream automakers like Honda and Toyota provide standard B2B warranties for new vehicles covering both the powertrain and other parts of the car for five years with an unlimited mileage cap.

Chery Malaysia offers a separate optional warranty for its powertrain, covering up to 10 years or 1,000,000 KM of mileage, on top of the standard 7-year vehicle warranty

Meanwhile, other marques like Chery offer the standard warranty in two parts: one for the standard vehicle warranty, covering seven years or 150,000 KM, whereas the other specifically covers its powertrain components. Chery’s case, for up to 10 years or 1,000,000 KM. But do also note that the latter comes at additional costs too.

Brands under Bermaz Auto like Kia and Mazda are offered with an all-inclusive warranty with free services

Moreover, several automakers also stepped up their game by providing an all-inclusive warranty covering maintenance and service costs. Notable examples are brands under Bermaz Auto’s umbrella like Mazda, Kia, and Peugeot – all models under these brands come with a 5-year or 100,000 KM standard warranty plus a free all-inclusive service package lasting across the same period.

Apart from standard vehicle warranties, extended warranty packages are also offered by automakers. This essentially stretches the standard initial coverage for a longer period or mileage. Offered either during the vehicle purchase or after the standard warranty has expired, most extended warranties cover a wider range of damages to your vehicle, but sometimes at the cost of several exclusions.

Mercedes-Benz Malaysia (MBM) offers several extended warranty packages on top of its standard, all-inclusive 4-year unlimited mileage warranty.

In Malaysia, extended warranties are usually offered by luxury automakers in a bid to help customers further stretch their expensive vehicles’ lifespan. Some key examples include Mercedes-Benz Malaysia (MBM), which offers extended warranties of up to two years on top of its standard 4-year unlimited mileage standard warranty, with prices varying depending on model.

BMW Group Malaysia offers an option to extend its standard 2-year warranty to a 5-year one, both with unlimited mileage coverage

In contrast, BMW Group Malaysia also offers an extended warranty package that extends its 2-year unlimited mileage standard warranty to a 5-year one instead. While both German marques offer these extended packages at certain premiums, it is hard to argue with the stellar services and support these brands deliver that further enriches ownership experience.

While vehicle warranties generally cover your vehicle from any defects or damages caused by the manufacturers, it is still important to read all the terms and conditions – especially the fine print – so that you don’t break any clauses or prerequisites that may void your warranty claims. This includes modifying or replacing certain parts of your car with aftermarket ones during the warranty period, among many other things.

By days’ end, every car buyer must pay attention to vehicle warranties before signing on the dotted line. Doing so might save you from breaking the bank in worst-case scenarios. Aside from these two warranties we’ve discussed above, there’s more to cover on this broad topic, such as additional warranties for electrified vehicles, which we will cover in our next entry.