Extended Warranty

[SteveInSeattle]

I usually self insure, as well, but I plan on keep the Leaf for a long time and the Santa Rosa price was really superb, so I bought a plan. As with any insurance, if the actuaries do the pricing right the insurer makes a profit... So strictly speaking extended warranties are not good investments-- but it is a matter of risk tolerance and there are always outliers with any car-- so you are really insuring against being one of those outliers.

As far as what it covers, it does cover the car adequately.

 

[Volusiano]

I agree with everyone that the extended warranty is like buying insurance and it depends on people's level of tolerance in buying for peace of mind.

The only thing I don't agree with is the argument that we should buy extended warranty especially on the Leaf because it has a lot of new technologies that don't exist in ICE cars, and therefore the risk of something breaking on the Leaf is especially higher than that of current ICE cars. I just don't buy that argument at all.

The reasons for buying the extended warranty for the Leaf should not really be any different than the reasons for buying extended warranty from any other ICE cars.

Testimonies from posters about having to replace the navigation units from their Priuses, etc, and therefore have the extended warranty pay for itself, is good to know. But navigation units can exist in ICE cars just the same as in plug-in cars or EVs.

 

[mxp]

Don't fall for it...and if you just have to have an extended warranty check the pricing and info in the Wiki: http://www.mynissanleaf.com/wiki/index.php?title=Warranties,_Recalls,_Service_Bulletins,_Etc.

Especially check the pricing from Santa Rosa:
http://www.mynissanleaf.com/viewtopic.php?p=97366#p97366" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Start here to get more current info:
http://nissansantarosaservicecontracts.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

A lot of people buy the warranty from them rather than their local dealer.

Thanks for the summary of the links.

My previous vehicle had parts failing within the year the warranty expired. I'll definite buy from Nissan Santa Rosa when I am close to the 36k mileage.

Another Q: Besides the 36k miles, is there a "number of years" clause that one should observe to still be able to still qualify and purchase the extended warranty?

Thanks.

 

[richard]

Just requested a quote for the Gold $0 deductible warranty from Santa Rosa, and got back these quotes (this is for a LEAF that is between 12 and 36K miles):

1. LEAF Gold Preferred 24 Month 40,000 Mile Coverage: $306.00
2. LEAF Gold Preferred 39 Month 39,000 Mile Coverage: $315.00
3. LEAF Gold Preferred 36 Month 40,000 Mile Coverage: $324.00
4. LEAF Gold Preferred 36 Month 45,000 Mile Coverage: $390.00
5. LEAF Gold Preferred 39 Month 49,000 Mile Coverage: $411.00
6. LEAF Gold Preferred 48 Month 60,000 Mile Coverage: $450.00
7. LEAF Gold Preferred 36 Month 60,000 Mile Coverage: $494.00
8. LEAF Gold Preferred 60 Month 60,000 Mile Coverage: $786.00
9. LEAF Gold Preferred 60 Month 75,000 Mile Coverage: $826.00
10. LEAF Gold Preferred 72 Month 75,000 Mile Coverage: $970.00
11. LEAF Gold Preferred 60 Month 100,000 Mile Coverage: $1,030.00
12. LEAF Gold Preferred 84 Month 70,000 Mile Coverage: $1,121.00
13. LEAF Gold Preferred 72 Month 100,000 Mile Coverage: $1,147.00
14. LEAF Gold Preferred 48 Month 48,000 Mile Coverage: $1,293.00
15. LEAF Gold Preferred 84 Month 100,000 Mile Coverage: $1,437.00
16. LEAF Gold Preferred 96 Month 100,000 Mile Coverage: $1,497.00

Seems a bit higher than some quotes posted earlier. Did prices go up, or am I just unlucky?

 

[garygid]

Just days before my 36 months was over, I went online at Santa Rosa Nissan,
and registered and logged in to see their extended warranty prices immediately on-line.

I chose Gold over Silver because it covers "all" instead of "major" components,
96 month (a 5 year extension, apparently the maximum, which includes 100,000
miles), and $0 deductible instead of $100 (presumably per event) because it
was only $100 more. So, shy of $1600 for the extended warranty, noticably
less than some other dealers, and presumably (they say) the "real" Nissan coverage,
usable at any dealer.

Cars over 6000 miles or purchased from another dealer are required to get a
rather complete inspection, which my local Nissan dealer does for $110.
Santa Rosa Nissan sends the inspection checklist, which even has a special LEAF
section, unlike the 95 point checklist form that they link to online.

Never having had any service (except the manditory 1 and 2 year battery check),
and with the Brake Fluid turning brown, I had my local dealer change the fluid before
the inspection, so it all went well. Now, I have to send the signed contract, the
inspection report, and a copy of the service invoice/summary back to Santa Rosa.

They required me to have all the firmware updates done (they did three: P12131,
P12730, and P32270), which apparently include some earlier updates, since I
never had even the first (April 2011) update done for my LEAF.

CAUTION: Since I was having the inspection done a few days after the 36 months,
if my LEAF had needed any repair, it might NOT have been covered. So, best to
get the inspection done BEFORE your initial 36 months expire.

If I have even one major warranty repair in the next 5 years, the covered expense
will most likely more than exceed the cost of the policy and inspection (about $1700).

Maybe not a perfect decision for everyone, but I seems prudent for me.
Cheers, Gary

 

[KLS]

I agree with everyone that the extended warranty is like buying insurance

No. It IS insurance, or maybe more accurately a prepaid repair contract. It is NOT a warranty. There is no way to extend the factory warranty unless the factory chooses to do that, usually in case of a major PR problem. Warranties leave the consumer pretty well protected under U.S. warranty law. The service contract is weaker being under contract law.

Yes, it certainly is peace-of-mind insurance. The Nissan Security+Plus® extended vehicle service contracts (note that the dealership web page accurately never calls it a warranty) cover exactly what the fine print in the contract says it'll cover if you meet the requirements the fine print in that contract places on you.

 

[mxp]

Just days before my 36 months was over, I went online at Santa Rosa Nissan,
and registered and logged in to see their extended warranty prices immediately on-line.

I chose Gold over Silver because it covers "all" instead of "major" components,
96 month (a 5 year extension, apparently the maximum, which includes 100,000
miles), and $0 deductible instead of $100 (presumably per event) because it
was only $100 more. So, shy of $1600 for the extended warranty, noticably
less than some other dealers, and presumably (they say) the "real" Nissan coverage,
usable at any dealer.

Cars over 6000 miles or purchased from another dealer are required to get a
rather complete inspection, which my local Nissan dealer does for $110.
Santa Rosa Nissan sends the inspection checklist, which even has a special LEAF
section, unlike the 95 point checklist form that they link to online.

Never having had any service (except the manditory 1 and 2 year battery check),
and with the Brake Fluid turning brown, I had my local dealer change the fluid before
the inspection, so it all went well. Now, I have to send the signed contract, the
inspection report, and a copy of the service invoice/summary back to Santa Rosa.

They required me to have all the firmware updates done (they did three: P12131,
P12730, and P32270), which apparently include some earlier updates, since I
never had even the first (April 2011) update done for my LEAF.

CAUTION: Since I was having the inspection done a few days after the 36 months,
if my LEAF had needed any repair, it might NOT have been covered. So, best to
get the inspection done BEFORE your initial 36 months expire.

If I have even one major warranty repair in the next 5 years, the covered expense
will most likely more than exceed the cost of the policy and inspection (about $1700).

Maybe not a perfect decision for everyone, but I seems prudent for me.
Cheers, Gary

Hi Gary,
Thanks for sharing about the details and process for purchasing the Extended Warranty.

I didn't realize there was the additional inspection routine for $110. Is this a standard inspection pricing from all nationwide Nissan dealers?

I have avoided the software updates as I didn't want to alter the behavior of the current 2011 model with all its nuances. If I want the extended warranty, is there another way around the inspection? What if I bought the Extended Warranty from the original dealer I purchased the vehicle from? Will the additional inspection routine still be required?

Thanks!

 

[maini]

Here are the latest numbers from Santa Rosa

$0 Deductible
PRICING VALID UNTIL June 30th, 2014
LEAF Gold Preferred 24 Month 40,000 Mile Coverage: $306.00
LEAF Gold Preferred 39 Month 39,000 Mile Coverage: $315.00
LEAF Gold Preferred 36 Month 40,000 Mile Coverage: $324.00
LEAF Gold Preferred 36 Month 45,000 Mile Coverage: $390.00
LEAF Gold Preferred 39 Month 49,000 Mile Coverage: $411.00
LEAF Gold Preferred 48 Month 60,000 Mile Coverage: $450.00
LEAF Gold Preferred 36 Month 60,000 Mile Coverage: $494.00
LEAF Gold Preferred 60 Month 60,000 Mile Coverage: $786.00
LEAF Gold Preferred 60 Month 75,000 Mile Coverage: $826.00
LEAF Gold Preferred 72 Month 75,000 Mile Coverage: $970.00
LEAF Gold Preferred 60 Month 100,000 Mile Coverage: $1,030.00
LEAF Gold Preferred 84 Month 70,000 Mile Coverage: $1,121.00
LEAF Gold Preferred 72 Month 100,000 Mile Coverage: $1,147.00
LEAF Gold Preferred 48 Month 48,000 Mile Coverage: $1,293.00
LEAF Gold Preferred 84 Month 100,000 Mile Coverage: $1,437.00
LEAF Gold Preferred 96 Month 100,000 Mile Coverage: $1,497.00

$100 Deductible
PRICING VALID UNTIL June 30th, 2014
LEAF Gold Preferred 39 Month 49,000 Mile Coverage: $330.00
LEAF Gold Preferred 48 Month 48,000 Mile Coverage: $361.00
LEAF Gold Preferred 36 Month 60,000 Mile Coverage: $393.00
LEAF Gold Preferred 48 Month 60,000 Mile Coverage: $574.00
LEAF Gold Preferred 60 Month 60,000 Mile Coverage: $618.00
LEAF Gold Preferred 60 Month 75,000 Mile Coverage: $640.00
LEAF Gold Preferred 72 Month 75,000 Mile Coverage: $763.00
LEAF Gold Preferred 60 Month 100,000 Mile Coverage: $809.00
LEAF Gold Preferred 84 Month 70,000 Mile Coverage: $880.00
LEAF Gold Preferred 72 Month 100,000 Mile Coverage: $886.00
LEAF Gold Preferred 84 Month 100,000 Mile Coverage: $1,135.00
LEAF Gold Preferred 96 Month 100,000 Mile Coverage: $1,197.00

 

[garygid]

As I recall, Santa Rosa Nissan adds $100 if the odometer is over some
value, perhaps 6600 miles, or some such.

Generally, they also require a very comprehensive inspection. There
is a standard form, which even has a special section for LEAF features.
Some dealers do this inspection for $110. My local dealer said that
complete up to date firmware was required for this inspection.

YMMV, if course.

 

[Stanton]

Looks like the extended warranty prices HAVE gone up, but not a lot. I went back to my original documentation folder to see what/how much I paid for. In September 2011 I purchased a:

Gold Preferred 84 month/70k mile plan with a $50 deductible (looks like there were only $0 and $50 options back then) for $816.

I don't normally buy extended warranties either, but my rationale was I'm buying new technology from (basically) a single-source vendor; I assumed that only Nissan would be able to both source the parts AND perform the repairs on certain Leaf sub-systems for several years to come.

 

[mwalsh]

As I recall, Santa Rosa Nissan adds $100 if the odometer is over some
value, perhaps 6600 miles, or some such.

Generally, they also require a very comprehensive inspection. There
is a standard form, which even has a special section for LEAF features.
Some dealers do this inspection for $110. My local dealer said that
complete up to date firmware was required for this inspection.

YMMV, if course.

IIRC from when I bought mine, the inspection is only required when you get too close to the expiration of the factory warranty, either by time or mileage. I bought in the September prior to my January expiration @ around 32k miles and did not need the inspection. I purchased through Vaden Nissan out of GA, who specialize in selling these plans over the Internet. You might want to give them a call for some clarification:

http://www.vadennissanprotectionplans.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

 

[cracovian]

It looks like Vaden is hundreds of $$$ more than Santa Rosa (even after the additional $100 for mileage) now.