Should I Purchase Extended Warranty

[minispeed]

I see you have a MINI, minispeed. I thought you might.

We have one too (actually we have 3, 2 of them classics). Our MINI is a 2004 Cooper with 67,000 miles on it. You know, the first gen with the Midland gearbox. We've had zero trouble with ours (yet, touch wood), but I'll bet there are a lot of owners who wished they'd had an extended warranty to cover that gearbox!

In fact, transmission troubles have plagued almost every car we've owned for the last 15 years (admittedly all Fords except the MINI), and those are very expensive repairs out of warranty, even at an independent shop.

Now, OK, so the LEAF doesn't have a transmission per-se, but I still think the peace of mind an extended warranty provides is worth the money. YMMV.

I still have my 78 mini, first car that was my own. I had an older brother so got the joy of the shared car when the parents are in the room and him acting like it's his car as soon as they left. I didn't count that in any of the repairs because..... it's British, extended warrantees would be worth it with them but I would be in the 70s they wouldn't have sold them for that reason LOL. Also I've built it into a race car which I wish I hadn't now since I never drive it. I would love to do an electric conversion on it and will look for used Smart EDs in a few years time. The rear subframe comes off with the suspension in place (at least on the ICE version) which should make it easy to weld into the roll cage/body and use with as many stock parts as possible. I might also do iMiev for the quick charge but it may be more complicated.

My 2004 was a cooper s in part because of the transmissions. I worked at the dealer then and knew about the 5spd problems early on. Yes there are a lot of people who would have benefited from an extended warrantee on that car but my point is that for it to be worth it in the long run you have to look at more than was it worth it on each car? If over 25 years most people will have 3 to 8 cars. Lets assume the normal warrantee for all cars is 3 years. The people with 8 cars will probably never be out of regular warrantee, the people with just 3 if they got a warrantee on all of them would probably only have it for 18 to 21 of those 25 years, and the extended part you paid for is actually only 9 to 12 of those. At $1200-1700 a pop that's $3600-$5100. People who have a more normal 5 cars would get coverage for the full 25 years with around 10 years on the extended. Same price range that's $6000-$8500.

This is assuming 3 years standard, but most of the very expensive stuff, ie transmission, will be covered under a powertrain warrantee and probably be 5 years.

You would have to be a very unlucky person to come up on top getting a warrantee on all your cars. Also if you keep up on reading about your car almost all of the problem cars that people would benefit from with an extended warrantee have the issue come up well before your regular warrantee will expire. A smart buyer can then choose to get out of his/her car earlier than they planned because the warrantee is about to expire and into something else. If you don't buy the warrantee and no major problems are surfacing on other peoples cars you keep it longer.

I bought the warranty on mine, but I ground them hard on the price. Paid $1200 for the 100K warranty. My thinking was that unlike ICE cars, there is likely no 3rd party mechanic I can take the car to when outside of warranty. Knowing from past experience, a car dealership will work you over on any out of warranty repair, so I was just scared of that prospect. The more I think about it though, it may have been an incorrect approach because I will likely turn the car in or sell it at around 45K miles, so in that case I'll only be out of the bumper to bumper warranty by 9K miles and still be inside of the powertrain warranty. On the slim chance that a replacement battery is $3K or less in a few years and keeping the leaf becomes a considerable option, maybe it would be worth it.

There are no 3rd party mechanics with this specialty because there aren't enough cars out of warrantee yet. For some there may never be in the life cycle of this car depending on where you are. In California, Washington, Atlanta, and other high sales areas as soon as enough of the cars are out of warrantee they will pop up. Most of the first to break into this market will probably be of a very high calibre of mechanic too. The kind that loves to learn and tinker and fix and is passionate about EVs. I doubt the first few specialists will be in for a quick buck.

As the cars get even cheaper you'll probably start to see the current EV conversion shops use these cars as parts vehicles for conversions (see my above comment). The knowledge needed to do that will spin off into being able to fix them too.

 

[JPWhite]

I have a 2012 Leaf I purchased 12-13-11 so the warranty expires in 4 days. I want to know whether it would be appropriate to purchase an extended warranty. I can get 84 months/70,000 miles for just under $1,700 that is transferable upon sale. I expect to keep the car another 18 months or so. The car only has 11,000 miles and has been problem free with the exception of the 12 volt battery needing replacement two times for unknown reason.

I'm hoping some of the older leaf owners out there can share some insights on any major issues out of warranty.

Thanks,

I believe in OEM extended warranties, but not at that price!! That's a rip off.

Try Nissan of Santa Rosa, they sell via the web and should be able to cut that price in half.

I've had the window master switch replaced under the extended warranty. So there's $300 back out of my $1200 investment and I'm still covered for another 40,000 miles. You also get a free rental if the car is kept in for more than a few hours. I went with the zero deductible.

3rd party warranties aren't typically worth it, tend to be scams half the time. If you do buy one, stick with Nissan security+.

 

[Arddrea]

I just purchased a used (off lease) 2012 with 22K and 11 months on the base warranty (per car fax at least).

This is directed at the Nissan plus holders.

I'm curious if the extended warranty covers the mandatory annual inspection (to maintain battery warranties).

Two does the warranty have a fixed payment to service like HMOs / home insurance? The reason I ask is like IL doctors, dealers charge way more then their service is worth (like $180 for an oil change).

I’ll be honest the mechanics in the area around Elgin, IL I have zero respect for. The best “mechanic” I have met is an uncertified homeless grease monkey, this doesn’t reflect that he is great but how utterly horrible the so called “certified professional” mechanics are. I have gotten to the point I cringe when I have to allow another persons wrench touch my equipment and I wish there was a way I could do this inspection and data upload myself but an extended warranty that covers both the mandated inspection and the resulting damage done by the local morons at the dealership maybe a good idea if the cost is around $750 like the guy above stated.

 

[JPWhite]

I'm curious if the extended warranty covers the mandatory annual inspection (to maintain battery warranties).

No. The first two are free and there is a charge thereafter.

Two does the warranty have a fixed payment to service like HMOs / home insurance? The reason I ask is like IL doctors, dealers charge way more then their service is worth (like $180 for an oil change).

If you mean is there a deductible? That depends on what you buy. You can buy a zero deductible, which is my preference, but it costs more than a warranty that comes with a deductible of $50 or $100 per visit.

BTW oil changes are not covered, just items that fail. Regular maintenance for parts that wear out such as engine oil, filters, tires, 12v battery are at your expense.

The warranties cover repair items, they are not welfare.

 

[Arddrea]

BTW oil changes are not covered, just items that fail. Regular maintenance for parts that wear out such as engine oil, filters, tires, 12v battery are at your expense.

The warranties cover repair items, they are not welfare.

The problem is regular maintenance as you state above you can do yourself. Under Magnuson–Moss Warranty Act any "maintenance" that is required to maintain a warranty that can only be done by the warrantor is supposed to be covered by the warranty this is the reason the first two checks are free. Someone said the + is an extension of the of the base bumper to bumper meaning the battery check should be covered. If Nissan wants to comply with Federal Law and not provide the checks free they need to give the consumer the option to upload the Consul 4+ reports themselves.

 

[JPWhite]

BTW oil changes are not covered, just items that fail. Regular maintenance for parts that wear out such as engine oil, filters, tires, 12v battery are at your expense.

The warranties cover repair items, they are not welfare.

The problem is regular maintenance as you state above you can do yourself. Under Magnuson–Moss Warranty Act any "maintenance" that is required to maintain a warranty that can only be done by the warrantor is supposed to be covered by the warranty this is the reason the first two checks are free. Someone said the + is an extension of the of the base bumper to bumper meaning the battery check should be covered. If Nissan wants to comply with Federal Law and not provide the checks free they need to give the consumer the option to upload the Consul 4+ reports themselves.

I wonder if it is true that only Nissan can do the battery check? The Nissan Consult 4 diagnostic tool is offered for sale online by a variety of vendors for under $400 so theoretically another shop could perform the check, or indeed you yourself.

Also it would be a mistake to expect an extended warranty to be identical to the original 'bumper to bumper' warranty. For example, body work that causes squeaks/rattles would be repaired under the original warranty but not under an extended warranty. Extended warranties are not true bumper to bumper. The Security+ warranties are pretty good, certainly much better than most 3rd party warranties, but by no means as good as the original warranty.

 

[nerys]

I fully plan to put well over 100,000 miles on my leaf in 3 or 4 years.

so MY issue is my "warranty" is more like a 2.5 year warranty not a 5 year warranty because I will put 60,000 miles on it in 2.5 years or less.

I was not aware I could purchase one of these warranties OUTSIDE of the purchase of the car???

Nissan of Santa Rosa will sell me a warranty on my existing leaf????

which is the best? ie what covers the most for the most miles. 100,000 miles 150,000 would be even better. zero deductible.

what is the best "nissan" warranty? my pre certified has the manufacturer warranty and it comes with a 7 year 70,000 miles precertified nissan warranty.

what does that mean? what does that cover? what does that not cover? they were very "unclear" about all this.

is there an extended warranty that will cover the traction battery especially degradation?

 

[TimLee]

...
is there an extended warranty that will cover the traction battery especially degradation?

The battery has an eight year, 100,000 mile warranty against failure.
But there is no warranty available for capacity degradation on 2011 and 2012 other than the five year, 60,000 mile, 66.25% capacity warranty that Nissan added as part of the still pending class action settlement.

 

[JPWhite]

I fully plan to put well over 100,000 miles on my leaf in 3 or 4 years.

so MY issue is my "warranty" is more like a 2.5 year warranty not a 5 year warranty because I will put 60,000 miles on it in 2.5 years or less.

I was not aware I could purchase one of these warranties OUTSIDE of the purchase of the car???

Nissan of Santa Rosa will sell me a warranty on my existing leaf????

Yes. Extended warranties can be purchased from any Nissan dealer. Nissan issued warranties require a pre-inspection by a Nissan dealer for cars that are currently in service (new cars do not need a pre-inspection). This pre-inspection is NOT a "multi-point" inspection, it is more extensive. Pre-inspection costs about $100. Nissan of Santa Rosa will send inspection forms to take to a local Nisan dealer to be completed by the dealer during inspection. If the car "fails" on any inspection points then remedial action will probably be required at your expense prior to the issuing of the warranty.

which is the best? ie what covers the most for the most miles. 100,000 miles 150,000 would be even better. zero deductible.

what is the best "nissan" warranty? my pre certified has the manufacturer warranty and it comes with a 7 year 70,000 miles precertified nissan warranty.

what does that mean? what does that cover? what does that not cover? they were very "unclear" about all this.

Gold Preferred Security+ warranty is Nissan's most comprehensive warranty. What is "best" is a personal choice. I prefer zero deductible but others may have a different point of view. I believe the upper warranty limit is 84 months/100,000 miles.

I would not consider any warranty that was not issued by a major OEM such as Nissan, too many scams from 3rd parties. It sounds like you have a 7yr/70,000 warranty already. The paperwork issued with the warranty should detail what is and is not covered. Alternatively visit http://www.vadennissanservicecontra...rityPlus-Component-Coverage-Guide-2013-R6.pdf and http://www.vadennissanservicecontracts.com/warranty/faq.html?cid=9if your warranty is a Nissan one. Google is a great resource.

is there an extended warranty that will cover the traction battery especially degradation?

No.

 

[nerys]

oh so these warranties run concurrently?

I thought if I bought a 100,000 mile warranty I would get 170,000 miles. 70k of my existing warranty and 100k for the "purchased" warranty ??

if they are not back to back but concurrent what is the point? what does it cover that my 7/70 doe snot cover?

 

[JPWhite]

oh so these warranties run concurrently?

I thought if I bought a 100,000 mile warranty I would get 170,000 miles. 70k of my existing warranty and 100k for the "purchased" warranty ??

if they are not back to back but concurrent what is the point? what does it cover that my 7/70 doe snot cover?

Not exactly concurrent but an extension I suppose is the best way to describe it - if that is even an option for an existing warrantee holder. I do not believe Nissan will warrant a car past 100,000 miles at any price. An exception might be if you buy a replacement traction battery, that would get a new 100,000 individual warranty from time of installation, but not the rest of the car.

You already have an extended warranty. It seems you may have buyers remorse in not opting for 100,000 miles up front. I'm sure they can figure out a way to add it. For a fee.... You may end up having to terminate/cash-in the existing warranty (at a loss) and buying a new one. You have to ask yourself is it really worth that much trouble for 30,000 miles of coverage?

Your situation is pretty unique. I'd call Nissan, what we say here isn't worth a hill of beans if Nissan don't concur.

 

[mwalsh]

Gold Preferred Security+ warranty is Nissan's most comprehensive warranty.

BTW, it appears that in some instances these warranties may not show up in Nissan's computers (mine does not), so be sure to carry your extended warranty booklet with you should you need service under it.