What Does the Lexus Warranty Cover?
Auto manufacturers offer protection against mechanical breakdowns through extended car warranties. While similar coverage from third parties is available, this coverage is technically considered a vehicle service contract–not an extended warranty. However, we've used both terms interchangeably in this article for simplicity.
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If your Lexus experiences a mechanical failure within your first few years of ownership, there is a good chance the repair will be covered under your Lexus warranty. Knowing what is and is not covered by the Lexus warranty can help you save hundreds or even thousands of dollars on repair costs.
This article explains the coverage provided by the Lexus warranty and how long this coverage lasts. We’ll also explain how drivers can extend their warranty coverage and if such an extension is worth it.
Table of contents
Lexus Warranty Highlights
Like most manufacturer warranties, the Lexus warranty is divided into several individual warranties, the most notable of which are a basic bumper-to-bumper warranty that lasts 4 years/50,000 miles and a powertrain warranty that lasts 6 years/70,000 miles.
The full lineup of new-car warranty coverage from Lexus includes:
Lexus Warranty |
Term Length |
What’s Covered |
|---|---|---|
Basic Warranty |
4 years/50,000 miles |
Covers most vehicle components, excluding wear-and-tear items, regular maintenance services, and non-mechanical parts such as glass, bumpers, and upholstery |
Powertrain Warranty |
6 years/70,000 miles |
Covers powertrain components like the engine, transmission case, transaxle, and transfer case |
Hybrid Warranty |
8 years/100,000 miles |
Covers hybrid-specific components |
Hybrid Battery Warranty |
10 years/150,000 miles |
Covers the hybrid battery |
Corrosion Perforation Warranty |
6 years/unlimited miles |
Covers sheet metal body components if they rust through |
Parts Warranty |
1 year/unlimited miles |
Covers individual Lexus parts after factory installation |
Lexus owners are also able to have their wheels aligned and balanced (if necessary) at no cost in the first year or 12,000 miles.
Lexus warranty coverage acts as a guarantee against defects in materials or workmanship. The manufacturer will pay to repair covered components if they break down from normal use, but any damage that is the result of an accident, improper maintenance, misuse, or neglect is not covered under a Lexus warranty.
Compared to other manufacturer warranties, the Lexus warranty offers standard coverage. Most manufacturers provide basic, powertrain, and corrosion warranties. Although they’re shorter than some of the best new car warranties, Lexus’ basic and powertrain warranty lengths are slightly longer than standard factory-backed warranties. Typical basic coverage lasts for three years, and powertrain coverage lasts for five years. Lexus owners have an extra year of protection for both.
Certified Pre-Owned Lexus Warranty
Certified pre-owned (CPO) Lexus vehicles are also protected under warranty. All CPO Lexus vehicles come with any remaining Basic Warranty coverage, plus another 2 years/unlimited miles of bumper-to-bumper Lexus warranty coverage.
If your CPO vehicle is no longer protected under its original warranty, you will still be covered from bumper to bumper for 2 years/unlimited miles from the date on which you purchase your CPO Lexus.
Lexus CPO warranties also include:
- Complimentary maintenance for the first 2 years/20,000 miles
- 24-hour roadside assistance including towing reimbursement
- Complimentary loaner cars while your vehicle is being repaired
- Trip interruption service if you break down far from home and have to stay overnight
How to Find Out If Your Lexus is Still Under Warranty
The best way to find out if your Lexus is still under warranty is to call a Lexus dealership. If you provide your vehicle identification number (VIN), any Lexus dealer can look up your car in its system to tell you which Lexus warranties are still in effect.
If your Lexus is newer than four years old, chances are it is still covered under its original warranty. You can consult your owner’s manual for further clarification without contacting a dealership.
Should You Get Extended Warranty Coverage?
Car warranties are intended to act as guarantees that an automaker has produced a quality product. As such, the manufacturer does not expect covered components to fail within the duration of a warranty. Many vehicle issues may occur only after your Lexus warranty has expired.
However, There are options to extend your Lexus warranty to cover later repairs, but are they worth it? One way to find out is by looking at your Lexus' reliability. That way, you can get an idea of how much owners of your vehicle typically pay in repair costs.
Lexus Reliability
When considering an extended warranty, one thing to take into account is your vehicle’s reliability. For that, RepairPal is a good source of information. RepairPal collects driver-reported data to determine reliability scores for many vehicle manufacturers. The site determines reliability scores by evaluating the following criteria:
- Average annual repair cost
- Frequency of unscheduled repairs
- Probability of needing a severe repair
In this case, “severe” refers to any repair that costs more than three times the average annual repair cost for all models, or $1,956.
Lexus ranks seventh out of 32 brands with an overall reliability score of 4.0 out of 5.0. The chart below shows a detailed breakdown of Lexus reliability, according to RepairPal.
Lexus Average |
Industry Average |
|
|---|---|---|
Average Annual Repair Cost |
$551 |
$652 |
Frequency of Unscheduled Repairs |
0.5 repairs per year |
0.4 repairs per year |
Probability of Needing a Severe Repair |
8 percent |
12 percent |
Lexus scores very well for reliability. The chances that an unscheduled repair will be needed are low. However, owners still may choose to purchase extended warranty coverage for the added peace of mind it brings.
The following chart shows some common Lexus repairs and estimated costs for those repairs, according to RepairPal.
Common Lexus Repair |
Estimated Repair Cost |
|---|---|
Oil pump replacement |
$863 to $1,013 |
Ignition coil replacement |
$190 to $221 |
Head gasket replacement |
$2,737 to $3,425 |
Powertrain control module replacement |
$1,149 to $1,168 |
If you are a Lexus owner, you should be prepared to pay for some of these costs over your vehicle’s lifetime. If bills from these repairs would leave you financially strained, an extended warranty may be one way to finance repair costs.
Lexus Extended Warranty Overview
- Extra Care Platinum: Covers your vehicle from bumper to bumper, similar to the Lexus Basic Warranty
- Extra Care Gold: Covers many vehicle parts, excluding various suspension and transmission parts, electronics, and more
- Extra Care Powertrain: Covers Lexus powertrain components
Drivers can choose between a $0 or $100 disappearing deductible.
Lexus extended warranty coverage includes roadside assistance, substitute transportation reimbursement, and travel protection. These warranties are transferable and can be canceled within 30 days for a full refund, minus a $50 processing fee.
Benefits of a Third-Party Warranty for Your Lexus
An extended Lexus warranty is not the only way to lengthen your Lexus protection. If you have an older Lexus and your factory warranty coverage has already lapsed, you can purchase an extended warranty from a third-party provider.
Not all third-party providers provide quality coverage, which is why it’s important to research any company with which you plan to do business. Our review team has investigated a large number of providers and determined the best extended car warranty companies in the industry.
Reputable extended car warranty companies offer several benefits over a manufacturer extended warranty, such as:
- Lower cost
- Longer coverage terms
- Coverage beginning at any time
- Coverage for older vehicles
- More comprehensive benefits
If a third-party extended warranty interests you, start comparing free quotes from reputable extended car warranty providers like Endurance and CARCHEX—the industry’s top providers—using the buttons below.
Methodology
- Price: Comparing providers can be difficult due to the many factors that influence cost. To determine this score, we employ a secret shopper analysis using different vehicles, mileages, warranty plans, and locations.
- Coverage: A wide variety of coverage is essential to support the differing needs of customers. We take into account the number of extended car warranty plans available, term limits, exclusions, and additional benefits.
- Customer Service: The level of customer service and care provided by an extended warranty company is an important consideration. Our review team sifts through customer reviews and complaints from reputable sources such as the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and Trustpilot. We also consider the responsiveness of each company’s customer service team based on our secret shopper analysis.
- Reputation: Good extended warranty providers consistently provide quality experiences. Our team takes into account BBB ratings and the company’s history of reliable service when giving this score.
- Transparency: Customers value a commitment to open and honest communication when it comes to vehicle service contracts. Our team of experts takes into account the availability of money-back guarantees and sample contracts.
Q & A
How long is the Lexus warranty?
The Lexus Basic Warranty covers the majority of Lexus-installed components for up to 4 years or 50,000 miles, whichever comes first. Lexus powertrain warranty coverage, which protects just the engine, transmission, drive axles, and related parts, lasts for 6 years/70,000 miles.
Does Lexus offer an extended warranty?
Lexus offers several extended warranty options that range from basic powertrain coverage to a full bumper-to-bumper vehicle service contract. These Lexus warranties come with benefits including 24/7 roadside assistance, substitute transportation reimbursement, and travel protection.
Should I buy a Lexus extended warranty?
Lexus vehicles have high RepairPal reliability scores and an estimated annual repair cost of $551. However, for customers who want to guard against the possibility of a potentially pricey repair, an extended warranty can bring peace of mind.
What does the Lexus Certified warranty cover?
The Lexus Certified warranty, or L/Certified warranty, covers most CPO Lexus parts and components, acting as an extension of the vehicle’s original bumper-to-bumper Lexus warranty. If a covered component breaks down as the result of normal use, Lexus will pay to repair or replace that component. Damage caused by an accident, misuse, or neglect is not covered.
Stephen Kenney is a writer and editor who focuses on car insurance, auto financing, and vehicle shipping services. He's a graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill and has experience covering categories ranging from travel to sports to environmental sustainability. In his free time, Stephen enjoys going on long-distance runs, trying out new recipes, and exploring his adopted hometown of Cincinnati.
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