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Is lifetime max care warranty worth it

41K views 128 replies 65 participants last post by  pcardoza 
#1 ·
IVe been reading the reviews about the warranty but looking for newer feedback. My jeep is a 2015 with 31k miles. As most of us here, I've done many upgrades ( which would not be covered under the warranty). Is it still worth buying the warranty? My insurance company gave me mechanical breakdown insurance with a $500 deductible for anything major that is not working and no longer covered by warranty. I've done some checking around and the lifetime warranty is about $2500.
 
#3 ·
IVe been reading the reviews about the warranty but looking for newer feedback. My jeep is a 2015 with 31k miles. As most of us here, I've done many upgrades ( which would not be covered under the warranty). Is it still worth buying the warranty? My insurance company gave me mechanical breakdown insurance with a $500 deductible for anything major that is not working and no longer covered by warranty. I've done some checking around and the lifetime warranty is about $2500.
I've never heard of that but it would seem as though you have it covered (In a manner of speaking).
 
#4 ·
IVe been reading the reviews about the warranty but looking for newer feedback.
Many of the extended warranty threads are not that old and you can find current information in them. The best price right now for the lifetime with a $100 ded. is $2,315.

When I bought one back in 2013 the price was $1,850. We figure on keeping our Jeep for at least 10 years. That comes out to less than 55-cents per day. Well worth it, IMHO.

You said that you've done many upgrades. If you put a lift on it you can forget about any suspension warranty coverage. If you've messed with the engine you can forget about any engine warranty. And the list goes on. If you plan on lots of upgrades or mods then an extended warranty probably will not do you much good.
 
#39 ·
I went with it on mine ....

I bought that lifetime w/$100 deductible warranty, right around that $2,315 price, for my Rubicon Unlimited last year.

My viewpoint on it is that while yes, I'm definitely going to (and have already done) a lot of modifications to my Jeep, few of them would be warranty "deal breakers". I just added a pair of Truck-Lite LED headlights, for example. If I ever had some sort of electrical issue to file a warranty claim on, I could just swap the original factory headlights back in first, if I had any concerns they'd complain about them. And surely, there are no issues from adding my rock sliders/side steps.

I have no plans to add a lift kit, but agree that if you do, the warranty starts becoming much more questionable. At the same time though? I think buying a Rubicon becomes more questionable too, if you're going to do a lot of suspension mods. (You're paying more for a lot of stuff you're just going to be taking back off the Jeep.....)

At the end of the day? Not so sure I would have bought the ext. warranty if I was just getting a basic Wrangler Sport. But considering the extras and the extra price markup for a loaded Rubicon Unlimited, it became more of an investment to me. I don't want to be stuck making these monthly payments 4 years from now AND get a big bill for a head gasket issue on the engine or whatnot.
 
#5 ·
Why pay for repairs before you need them? Essentially, that's what you're doing. Smart people invest that money and then pay only for repairs when they're needed. I always find it amusing that when those that got a warranty have something fixed, they exclaim they were lucky they had the warranty. Hey, the problem was going to happen regardless if you had it or not, and don't forget, you already paid for that repair prior to it happening. Like any insurance, you gamble. Sometimes you come out ahead, sometimes you lose. But the deck is stacked against you and typically the 'house' always wins.
 
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#6 ·
This is true, but you have to look at the cost of repairs these days. The oil filter housing which is prone to cracking if not very careful is a 1600$ fix by it's self. We bargained for the warranty, but plan to have the jeep a long time.
 
#7 ·
I purchased it because the bumper-to-bumper warranty for new JKU's is only 1 year. The 3-year warranty is a limited basic warranty. I actually had to sign a separate sheet specifically for this because Jeep changed their warranty and they needed buyers to acknowledge the change. Jeep must have the worst warranty in the industry. lol
 
#9 ·
I opted for it because I plan to keep the jeep forever, it's my daily drive right now so modifications are at a minimum, she's mostly stuck, with new wheels and tires in the works, probably no lift kit. Just a personal choice for now. Maybe a budget boost with pucks or a leveling kit. Despite it being a Wrangler, it's still newer with more electronics/computers in it and I know those can be pricey, figured why not, it was $2,000 and I want to keep this baby as long as I can, first new car, I'm in my late 20s, it'll stick with me for as long as I can hold onto it.
 
#11 ·
Is lifetime max care warranty worth it?
totally worth it, you pay them money now so they can deny your claims at a later date because there is this speck of mud here, a butterfly there...etc...
it is a wonderful way for organizations to make money...

as for the oil filter housing? does it really cost $1600? for a bit of plastic?
anyone got any spec's on the housing? I will go mill one out of some 6061 or some such and sell it for $2500 ea... seems it would be a good upgrade...
 
#12 ·
From what I remember reading on here, it is not the price of the part, it is all the crap that has to come off the engine to get to it.
 
#13 ·
I've never had a bad experience with getting factory warranty work done. With the other 2 Jeeps and other cars/trucks/SUV's I've owned. They have all been great actually, never questioned and my vehicles were always washed afterwards. Since the lifetime warranty is Mopar, I feel great about it knowing I don't have to deal with a 3rd party.
 
#16 ·
If you build one, I am sure you could sell them. I think it is so stupid to have a part that sits on a hot motor to be made out of plastic.
 
#20 ·
IVe been reading the reviews about the warranty but looking for newer feedback. My jeep is a 2015 with 31k miles. As most of us here, I've done many upgrades ( which would not be covered under the warranty). Is it still worth buying the warranty? My insurance company gave me mechanical breakdown insurance with a $500 deductible for anything major that is not working and no longer covered by warranty. I've done some checking around and the lifetime warranty is about $2500.
Put the $2,500 in the bank instead of giving it to someone else. Next time you go to BestBuy and get a TV, put the amount of money of the cost of the extended warranty for the TV in the bank...do this every time you get offered an extended warranty. When you buy insurance, get the highest deductible possible and put the delta of the cost of lowest deductible and the highest deductible in the bank. When something needs fixing, take the money out of the bank...self insure, over time you'll end up ahead.

Warranties are offered because the companies offering them make money, in the long term.
 
#52 ·
I agree 100%. While I don't necessarily bank the money literally, the theory still remains the same. The money stays with me and they don't get it. I am at the cashier at Best Buy with a new TV.
Cashier: Would you like to buy the extended warranty with that?
Me: It comes with a 1 year warranty.
Cashier: Yes, but you never know it might break after the year.
Me: If you don't think this TV will last 2 years, then I don't want to buy it.
Cashier: No, It will last over 2 years.
Me: Then what do I need the extended warranty for?
Cashier: Uh.. Duh...:nonono:
On any electronics and most other products, if there is a manufacturing defect 98% of them will show up in the first year if not right away.

Only once I bought a extended warranty on a new Nissan. 1 year later I was washing the car and the paint came off the front bumper. Took it to the dealer and they denied coverage saying that I must have bumped it into something.

My dealer threw in a lifetime power train warranty for free when I bought my Rubicon. Right up front I have to keep all maintenance records from certified mechanics. (no back yard work) No modifications. No accidents. And then it has to be a manufacturing defect - not just worn out. So they won't be replacing the motor when it eventually starts burning oil. And they get to make the final call.
 
#23 ·
IVe been reading the reviews about the warranty but looking for newer feedback.
Many of the extended warranty threads are not that old and you can find current information in them. The best price right now for the lifetime with a $100 ded. is $2,315.

When I bought one back in 2013 the price was $1,850. We figure on keeping our Jeep for at least 10 years. That comes out to less than 55-cents per day. Well worth it, IMHO.

You said that you've done many upgrades. If you put a lift on it you can forget about any suspension warranty coverage. If you've messed with the engine you can forget about any engine warranty. And the list goes on. If you plan on lots of upgrades or mods then an extended warranty probably will not do you much good.
It's my understanding that if you have mods and you use mopar parts they are covered under this warranty.
 
#25 ·
Pros and cons.
I've replace heads, transmissions, transfer cases seat covers, headlights, rust, components, steering parts, mega engines parts, rear ends over the years.

Blow a head gasket. Blow a head gasket and fry your engine. Kill your tranny. Oops what happened to the transfer case? HUGE money to replace this stuff when all you have to do is flip them your warrant card and go. Plus the first 7 years you get a rental car or money towards it I don't remember with Jeep.

Warranty doesn't cover wear items.

Zero brainer for me, I let the manufacture worry about it not me.
Money well spent if you're going to keep the vehicle.

Also if your vehicle needs a costly repair and its old and decrepit, if the repair cost more than the vehicles worth they give you a check for the blue book amount for your vehicle.


Some say put the money in the bank then later pay to fix it..um yea, I'm going to do that..I DON'T THINK SO!!!
 
#27 ·
how many engine mods did you have?
how many drivetrain mods did you have?
this is a jeep forum after all, and jeeps exist to be modded...
and they covered those mods under warranty?
now, that is a good warranty...
 
#28 ·
I've owned many vehicles in the 30plus years I've been driving. Twice I had major work that was needed...new tranny in one car and AC compressor in another (AC compressor is probably not considered major...) In both cases these items were covered by the original mfg warranty.

Sold a couple of vehicles with 200k plus miles on them and around 15 years old at the time. My Cummins currently has over 190k on it... I've spent money modding it to meet my needs for carrying my cab over and towing my Jeep...these modded parts would not be covered by the original mfg warranty or an extended warranty.

In my Cummins/Dodge Ram, I'm building my tranny that has 190k miles on it...building it for heavy towing in the mountains would not be covered by any warranty...

My point is, most repair work required will happen during the original mfg warranty period and any modifications done won't be covered and may very well void a warranty...sure there is some broken parts that occur later, but very little.

If you are replacing engines in your vehicles, you either are very unlucky or you don't understand how to operate/treat your vehicles...
 
#30 ·
Here's another way to look at the question of: is it worth spending $2,500 for an extended warranty?

Dealerships offer extended warranties because it's a high profit revenue stream and they make money.

External companies that provide extended warranties do so because they are a high profit product and they make money. These companies pay salaries, pay G&A expenses, advertising expenses, pay cost of services performed (warranty repair work) and still make money after all of these expenses are paid. These companies would not be in business if they paid more on warranty repairs than what is paid to them in contract fees, i.e., the $2,500 fee paid by the person buying the extended warranty.

Sure there will be some who financially benefit from spending $2,500 on an extended warranty, but there will be far more that will loose money.
 
#38 ·
Here's another way to look at the question of: is it worth spending $2,500 for an extended warranty? Dealerships offer extended warranties because it's a high profit revenue stream and they make money. External companies that provide extended warranties do so because they are a high profit product and they make money. These companies pay salaries, pay G&A expenses, advertising expenses, pay cost of services performed (warranty repair work) and still make money after all of these expenses are paid. These companies would not be in business if they paid more on warranty repairs than what is paid to them in contract fees, i.e., the $2,500 fee paid by the person buying the extended warranty. Sure there will be some who financially benefit from spending $2,500 on an extended warranty, but there will be far more that will loose money.
same can be said for any kind of insurance which this essentially is, life insurance, health insurance, homeowners insurance etc. they all have overhead, and they're all in the business of making money. And yet we all buy insurance. Sure some of it is forced upon us by law. But most people don't think twice about buying homeowners insurance. So yep. Your completely right it's a bit of a gamble. And probably not for everyone depending on how long you plan on keeping it around. My last wrangler was 20 when I stopped driving it. It was a reliable vehicle with no major breakdowns and I still crunched the numbers and would have come out ahead. And at the end they probably would have cut me a check for the blue book value of the jeep. But again it was 20. If people think they'll get a return when it's only 10. Well perhaps not.
 
#34 ·
With Chrysler's stellar reputation for quality and reliability, I find it hard be believe anyone would want and extended warranty.
 
#43 ·
Companies make money off of these warranties because Americans 1) get tired of their cars and want a new one every few years, and 2) when they do decide to sell they trade it in to a dealer and the warranty goes poof! or they forget to tell the new buyer and they don't make any claims.

My last car died at the age of fifteen with 225k miles, and yes, I got a check from the manufacturer (Subaru).
 
#44 ·
One other benefit is that you never have to empty your bank account to do a repair when it is empty anyway. Sometime those unexpected repairs can really jack up your finances. It is similar in concept to not having crash insurance on your Jeep and totaling it. A financial shock that might have you riding the bus.
 
#48 ·
You've failed to grasp one of the points of this whole conversation. You wouldn't empty your bank account if you put the money you were going to spend on a warranty into a separate account specifically for the repairs of the vehicle.
 
#47 ·
My understanding is that these "lifetime" warranties have extensive quid pros in the fine print. Periodic dealer inspections and limitations on modifications being the most problematic. If you fail to comply with the inspection requirements, your claim can be denied.

For me, these warranties fail on both economic and convenience criteria.

R
 
#79 ·
When I bought my 13 last year, the dealer gives lifetime warranty with every purchase for free. Fine print says all maintenance work must be done at their shop. We all know how dealer pricing compares to a mechanics shop. I have to keep and provide all the records and other fine print.
 
#50 ·
I am opting not to buy one. The local dealership will do anything not to repair it, and will always ask for diagnostic fees and other crap upfront. I have vowed not to step foot on their lot again in my lifetime, and looking at their Yelp reviews many others feel the same way. I would rather bank it on the off chance I have an issue, the frustration of having to drive an hour or two away to get warranty work done now, just adds to the aggravation.
 
#54 ·
I also bought into my first ever EW with my 2015 WW.

I did a lot of research up front. Chrysler is betting that I won't own the jeep long term. If I trade it, sell it, total it or have it stolen, the warranty ends. Then Chrysler automatically wins.

I have no plans to part ways with mine and I put a lot of commuting miles on it. Given the fact tat wranglers hold value so well, I expect it'll be a very long time before I reach the buyout point on my vehicle.

Given the quality reputation that Chrysler has, I'm confident that over 200k or more miles, I'll recoup well over my $2500 "investment".... And yes, I keep all maintenance very well documented. At today's $100-plus per hour labor rates, it wouldn't take many warranty claims to pay off.
 
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