Toyota Warranty Review: What is Included & Covered? (2023)

Aug 18, 2023

Alex is a MarketWatch Guides team writer that covers automotive and personal finance topics. She’s worked as a content writer for over a dozen car dealerships across the U.S. and as a contributor to several major auto news websites.

Rashawn Mitchner is a MarketWatch Guides team editor with over 10 years of experience covering personal finance, loans, insurance and warranty topics.

*Based on data from our users; 10/1/2022 – 3/1/2023

When purchasing a new Toyota, you’re making an investment in a brand that offers reliability and value. However, even the most dependable vehicles break down occasionally, which is when the Toyota warranty comes in handy.

In this article, we at the MarketWatch Guides Team will take an in-depth look at the coverage that comes with all new Toyotas, as well as what protection you may have if you purchase a used vehicle. We’ll also explain whether you may want to consider coverage from the industry’s best extended car warranty providers to keep you protected long-term.

*Based on data from our users; 10/1/2022 – 3/1/2023

When purchasing a new Toyota, you’re making an investment in a brand that offers reliability and value. However, even the most dependable vehicles break down occasionally, which is when the Toyota warranty comes in handy.

In this article, we at the MarketWatch Guides Team will take an in-depth look at the coverage that comes with all new Toyotas, as well as what protection you may have if you purchase a used vehicle. We’ll also explain whether you may want to consider coverage from the industry’s best extended car warranty providers to keep you protected long-term.

The MarketWatch Guides Team is committed to providing reliable information to help you make the best possible decision about a warranty for your vehicle. Because consumers rely on us to provide objective and accurate information, we created a comprehensive rating system to formulate our rankings of the best extended car warranty companies. We collected data on dozens of auto warranty providers to grade the companies on a wide range of ranking factors. After 500 hours of research, the end result was an overall rating for each provider, with the companies that scored the most points topping the list.

Learn more about our methodology.

The Toyota warranty is the manufacturer’s guarantee that your vehicle will run as expected for your first few years of ownership. If there are any defects in the materials or workmanship that cause your vehicle to break down, your factory warranty will pay for repairs and replacement parts. The two most important parts of the Toyota warranty package are a 3-year/36,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty and a 5-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty.

Compared to other manufacturers, Toyota’s warranty is on the short end of the spectrum. For example, some automakers, like Kia and Hyundai, offer bumper-to-bumper coverage for 5 years/60,000 miles and powertrain coverage for 10 years/100,000 miles.

Here’s an overview of the full Toyota warranty package that comes included with all new vehicles:

Toyota Warranty

Warranty Length

Basic Coverage

3 years/36,000 miles

Powertrain Warranty

5 years/60,000 miles

Corrosion Perforation Warranty

5 years/unlimited miles

Emission Control Warranty

3 years/36,000 miles to 8 years/80,000 miles

Restraint Systems Warranty

5 years/60,000 miles

Accessories Warranty

3 years/36,000 miles

Hybrid Battery Warranty

10 years/150,000 miles

Each part of the Toyota warranty covers specific components. These are outlined in-depth in the warranty booklet that comes with your vehicle and that can also be accessed via the Toyota website. Here’s a general breakdown of the coverages that make up the Toyota warranty:

Many car manufacturers offer roadside assistance as part of the factory warranty, Toyota included. Each new Toyota car comes with ToyotaCare, which covers regular maintenance for 2 years/25,000 miles, as well as towing and 24/7 roadside assistance for the same span of time and unlimited miles.

While plenty falls under the scope of a factory warranty, there are some explicit exclusions laid out by the manufacturer. Here are a few examples of things not covered by the Toyota warranty:

Toyota requires all used vehicles to undergo a 160-point inspection — hybrid vehicles are subject to a 174-point inspection — to determine eligibility as a Toyota Certified Used Vehicle (TCUV).

If a car is approved to be sold as part of this program, it comes with the following certified pre-owned (CPO) Toyota warranty coverage:

If you purchase a used car from a private seller rather than a CPO vehicle from a dealership, it won’t be covered by the TCUV warranty, but it may still be covered under its original factory coverage. To find out, you’ll want to check with your local dealership. Call with your vehicle identification number (VIN) handy, and a representative can look up your car’s Toyota warranty details.

As mentioned, the Toyota warranty is short compared to the coverage offered by some other manufacturers. This is one reason you may be considering a Toyota extended warranty to give you long-term protection and peace of mind.

Before deciding whether to spring for an extended Toyota warranty, you should consider the reliability of your vehicle and how much you may spend annually on repairs.

The J.D. Power 2021 U.S. Vehicle Dependability StudySM ranks Toyota fourth out of 33 car brands surveyed for reliability. In the 12-month survey period, Toyotas experienced just 98 mechanical issues per 100 vehicles, which is much lower than the industry average of 121 issues.

When it comes to how much these repairs cost, our team of experts turns to the vehicle repair cost-estimation site RepairPal. RepairPal ballparks the annual repair cost of a Toyota to be $441 on average, which is again lower than the industry average of $658 per year.

Another thing to think about is your personal finances — do you have the funds to pay for an extended car warranty? What about for a large, unexpected repair bill? Here are a few of the most common Toyota repairs and what they cost, according to RepairPal:

Common Toyota Repair

Average Cost

Power steering pump replacement

$371 to $655

Exhaust manifold replacement

$917 to $1,113

Valve cover gasket replacement

$227 to $288

Rack and pinion leak

$749 to $1,537

Starter replacement

$319 to $409

You’d be footing the bill for one of these common repairs if it’s needed after your original Toyota warranty expires. If you can handle any of these expenses out of pocket, then you probably don’t need an extended warranty. However, about 40% of Americans can’t cover a $400 emergency expense. If you’re in this boat, an extended warranty can be a great way to budget for repairs over time.

Toyota dealerships provide extended warranties called Toyota Vehicle Service Agreements. With three tiers of protection — Platinum, Gold and Powertrain — customers are able to choose the plan that best suits their needs. Here are a few key details of Toyota extended warranty plans:

Based on a survey our team conducted in 2022, just over half of 1,000 respondents said they purchased an extended warranty through a manufacturer while only 23% purchased through a third party provider.

If you’re not keen on going through a Toyota dealer for an extended warranty, there are some positives of going with an independent, reputable extended car warranty company. Here are some advantages:

Source: Automoblog

Our team of warranty experts has reviewed the industry’s best extended car warranty providers. Like with finding the best auto insurance rates, the easiest way to get the lowest price for an extended warranty is to compare free quotes from multiple companies. You can click below to start getting personalized, non-committal quotes from the industry’s leading warranty providers.

*Data accurate at time of publication.

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