Lincoln Warranty Review
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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As luxury vehicles, Lincolns can be expensive to maintain. Thanks to the Lincoln warranty, certain repairs are covered for the initial duration of your ownership. However, this warranty does not last forever.
This article reviews what is and is not covered by the Lincoln warranty, how long the Lincoln warranty lasts, and how Lincoln owners can extend their warranty coverage.
Table of contents
Lincoln Warranty Highlights
Lincoln Warranty |
Term Length |
What’s Covered |
|---|---|---|
Bumper-to-Bumper Coverage |
4 years/50,000 miles |
Most electrical and mechanical vehicle components, with some exceptions |
Powertrain Coverage |
6 years/70,000 miles |
Powertrain components such as the engine, transfer case, transaxle, and transmission |
Safety Restraint System Coverage |
5 years/60,000 miles |
Safety belts and airbag supplemental restraint system (SRS) |
Corrosion Coverage |
5 years/unlimited miles |
Rust and corrosion damage that results in the perforation of exterior sheet metal |
Hybrid Unique Component |
8 years/100,000 miles |
Hybrid vehicle electric drivetrain system as well as specified components |
Defective tires are also protected by factory warranty and are replaced on a pro-rata basis depending on the miles on the odometer. Reimbursement rates for tires on covered Lincoln vehicles are as follows:
- 1 to 12,000 miles: 100 percent
- 12,001 to 24,000 miles: 60 percent
- 24,001 to 36,000 miles: 30 percent
- 36,001 to 50,000 miles: 15 percent
Some factory-installed maintenance items are also covered by the Lincoln warranty. These include:
- Wiper blades: Covered for 6 months/unlimited miles
- Wheel alignments and tire balancing: Covered for 12 months/12,000 miles
- Brake pads: Covered for 12 months/18,000 miles
In order to keep your Lincoln warranty valid, it is important that you service your Lincoln according to the factory-recommended maintenance schedule. All repairs must be performed at an authorized dealership using only original manufacturer parts.
Lincoln Warranty Exclusions
The following items are excluded from Lincoln factory warranty coverage:
- Damage from accidents, collisions, theft, riot, or vandalism
- Environmental damage
- Damage caused by alteration or modification, including the use of aftermarket lift kits
- Regular maintenance services, including oil changes and vehicle inspections
- Wear-and-tear items like clutch linings and air filters
To see a full list of exclusions, contact your local Lincoln dealer.
Lincoln Warranty Benefits
In addition to providing protection for the majority of Lincoln vehicle components, all Lincoln warranties come with additional benefits. These include:
- 24-hour roadside assistance
- Towing
- Flat-tire changes
- Battery jump-starts
- Lockout assistance
- Fuel delivery
- Winch-out services
These benefits are included for the lifetime of the vehicle for the original owner. Subsequent owners have these benefits only as long as the factory powertrain warranty is still in effect.
Coverage offered by the Lincoln warranty is good compared to other providers. The bumper-to-bumper warranty length is longer than that of most providers (which typically covers the vehicle for only three years). The safety restraint warranty is also a nice benefit, as these systems aren’t covered by many other factory warranties.
Certified Pre-Owned Lincoln Warranty
Certified pre-owned (CPO) Lincolns are also protected by a manufacturer’s warranty. Lincoln CPO warranty coverage lasts for 6 years from the original Lincoln new-vehicle limited warranty start date, or up to 100,000 miles total on the odometer.
Coverage is similar to the Lincoln bumper-to-bumper warranty and includes the cost of parts and labor to repair or replace covered components. In total, over 1,000 components are covered in systems such as the:
- Engine
- Transmission
- Steering
- Braking
- Suspension
- Air conditioning and heating
- Electrical
- Emissions
- Factory audio systems
- Safety systems
CPO warranty coverage is transferable if you sell your CPO Lincoln. This may help increase the resale value of your vehicle on the open market.
How to Find Out If Your Lincoln Is Still Under Warranty
If your Lincoln is a 2016 model or newer, you may still be covered. Older Lincolns would no longer be covered by the Lincoln bumper-to-bumper warranty. Model year 2014 and newer Lincolns may still be covered by the Lincoln powertrain warranty. However, even newer Lincolns may not have warranty protection if they have accumulated enough miles.
The easiest way to find out if your Lincoln warranty is still active is to check your owner’s manual. Manuals for Lincoln vehicles can be found online at Lincoln’s website.
You can also call a Lincoln dealer and provide a service representative with your vehicle identification number (VIN). A dealership should be able to look up your vehicle and tell you what kind of coverage you have, if any.
Should You Get Extended Warranty Coverage?
Lincoln Reliability
RepairPal is a website that assigns vehicles reliability scores based on their average annual repair costs, frequency of unscheduled repair shop visits, and the severity of needed repairs. Data for each category is based on a large volume of customer reports.
Lincoln vehicles have an overall RepairPal Reliability Rating of 3.0 out of 5.0, and the manufacturer ranks 24th out of 32 brands surveyed. According to RepairPal, the average annual repair cost for Lincoln vehicles is $879. The average cost across all manufacturers is $652.
Lincolns are luxury vehicles, which means that replacement components can be costly. Overall, these cars are relatively expensive to maintain. While Lincolns score about average for the frequency of needed repairs, the chances that repairs will be considered severe is higher than other manufacturers. Of course, not all Lincolns are equally reliable. See the chart below for a breakdown of reliability ratings for specific Lincoln models.
Lincoln Model |
Reliability Rating |
Average Annual Repair Cost |
|---|---|---|
Lincoln Town Car |
4.0 out of 5.0 |
$632 |
Lincoln MKC |
3.5 out of 5.0 |
$853 |
Lincoln MKZ |
3.0 out of 5.0 |
$831 |
Lincoln MKX |
3.0 out of 5.0 |
$811 |
When considering an extended warranty, try to estimate whether you would be able to pay for repairs out of pocket as needed. Though severe issues may be unlikely to occur, breakdowns are always a possibility. You don’t want to be on the hook for an unexpected repair bill that you are unable to pay. The chart below lists some common Lincoln repairs and their costs, according to RepairPal.
Lincoln Model |
Common Repair |
Average Repair Cost |
Covered by Lincoln Warranty? |
|---|---|---|---|
Lincoln Town Car |
Air conditioning compressor replacement |
$493 to $687 |
✓ |
Lincoln MKC |
Head gasket replacement |
$1,719 to $2,200 |
✓ |
Lincoln MKZ |
Transmission replacement |
$4,946 to $5,276 |
✓ |
Lincoln MKX |
Fuel pump replacement |
$875 to $1,312 |
✓ |
If you’d be able to cover these repairs as they arise, you may not need extended Lincoln coverage. However, if you’d prefer to finance for them over time, a Lincoln protection plan is one way to do so.
Lincoln Extended Warranty Overview
- PremiumCARE: Covers over 1,000 components and is most similar to new vehicle warranty coverage
- ExtraCARE: Covers 113 components and includes full coverage for steering and brakes and partial coverage for the engine, transmission, rear-wheel drive, front-wheel drive, suspension, air conditioning, electrical, and high-tech components
- BaseCARE: Covers 84 components and includes full coverage for steering components and partial coverage for the engine, transmission, rear-wheel drive, front-wheel drive, brakes, front suspension, air conditioning, and electrical components
- PowertrainCARE: Covers 29 components and includes partial coverage for the most important powertrain components, such as the engine, transmission, rear-wheel drive, and front-wheel drive
Lincoln extended warranties are available for any Lincoln still protected by the 4-year/50,000-mile new vehicle limited warranty and can be purchased from any Lincoln dealership.
If you know your Lincoln warranty has already expired, you won’t be able to get extended coverage from the manufacturer. However, you can still get a plan from one of the best extended warranty companies in the industry.
Benefits of a Third-Party Lincoln Warranty
The Lincoln extended warranty is not your only option for lengthening protection for your Lincoln vehicle. You also have the option to purchase an extended vehicle protection plan from a third-party provider such as Endurance or CARCHEX.
While manufacturer extended warranties guarantee the use of trained technicians and original equipment manufacturer (OEM) parts, a third-party extended warranty has its own advantages. These include:
- Coverage for older vehicles
- Coverage that can be purchased at any time
- More plan options
- Longer contract terms
- Lower prices
We’ve examined every major extended car warranty company, assessing factors like customer reviews, costs, and coverage details. Based on this research, we’ve narrowed down some of the best providers in the industry.
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.
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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