When I bought my 2015 Mazda CX-5 we were given a lifetime powertrain warranty but only if the dealership we bought if from did all the oil changes. It is actually for 1,000,000 miles. Has anyone had any experience with using these warranties? Were there any loopholes that it didn't cover?
The biggest loophole is that the dealer has to do all the oil changes. For me, and many many others, that would be a hassle. And impossible at times: like when on a long trip what do you do? Make sure the fine print doesn't disallow you going somewhere else when you can't to get to them. That's his first out and he knows it as people will give up on the hassle of going back to that same dealer.
They doubtless can void warranty for owner abuse: a big loophole is what they may consider abuse. I've known people to have their factory warranty voided when the dealer found they'd performed mods that made them believe the car was used for racing, which is abuse. It was their judgment but they are the ones holding all the cards and this isn't even a factory warranty so they have little incentive to let it slide, like Mazda Corp. might. You're left fighting it out in court.
Read carefully what it covers: probably only internals. Engine accessories (fuel pump, injectors, coils, emission controls and sensors, alternator) suspension parts (shocks, struts, bushings, CV joints, etc.) will probably be excluded and those are the things that fail. Failure due to loss of oil (a cracked oil pan or transmission housing) may also be excluded. Modern engine and transmission internals are extremely reliable: you'll give up on the car for those other things going bad way before you wear out or break any p'train internals. When going beyond 130K miles/10 years I've found those other things break and wear out with increasing frequency. Electricals: contacts fail, wires chafe, condensation, salt dust takes it's toll.
You have to have something you're very fond of to keep a car in longer, fixing all those little things along the way. And better by handy or the repair bills add up super quick. So this is his second 'out' on that warranty: he knows very few people will keep the car beyond 100K, much less 130K, when those little problems start to hassle.
I just don't believe any of those extended warranties are worth their price. Consider that I've never gotten one for any of my vehicles. So adding together all the money I've saved on those warranties over the years with interest I have a very nice reserve fund right now. I could use that for a complete powertrain replacement in my CX5 if it ever needed it.
