After buying a new or certified pre-owned Cadillac, you’re protected against any defective materials or parts with the Cadillac warranty. But what exactly does this warranty cover, and for how long?
This article will discuss the Cadillac warranty in detail, so you understand what is and isn’t covered. We’ll also go over the reliability of Cadillacs and whether it’s worth lengthening your factory coverage with an extended warranty.
After extensively researching the car warranty industry, our review team found the best extended car warranty providers based on coverage, affordability, and customer reviews. We recommend checking out a few of our top-rated providers to see which company may offer you the best coverage at the lowest price.
Cadillac Warranty Coverage Overview
Cadillac’s warranty protects against mechanical breakdowns during the first few years of ownership. The Cadillac warranty provides four years/50,000 miles of bumper-to-bumper coverage and six years/70,000 miles of powertrain protection, and a few other, smaller coverages.
Here’s a full breakdown of the warranty that comes with all new Cadillac vehicles:
| Cadillac Warranty | Coverage Term |
|---|---|
| Bumper-to-Bumper Limited Warranty | 4 years/50,000 miles |
| Powertrain Limited Warranty | 6 years/70,000 miles |
| Limited Parts Warranty | 2 years/unlimited miles |
| Limited Lifetime Parts Warranty | Full duration of ownership |
| Roadside Assistance | 6 years/70,000 miles |
| Courtesy Transportation | 6 years/70,000 miles |
As you can see, the Cadillac warranty includes a few moving parts, but its primary coverage hinges on the Bumper-to-Bumper Limited Warranty and Powertrain Limited Warranty. The bumper-to-bumper coverage offered by Cadillac protects you against most defects in materials or parts. The powertrain coverage explicitly protects your engine, transmission, and drive systems but only applies to 2013 and newer Cadillac models.
The Cadillac Bumper-to-Bumper Limited Warranty is transferable, but the Powertrain Limited Warranty is not. All parts and labor are included with no deductible.
Compared to other car warranties, the Cadillac warranty is particularly long. Most factory warranties only include 3 years/30,000 miles of bumper-to-bumper coverage and a 5-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty. However, besides length, the Cadillac warranty stands out because of its additional benefits.
Additional Perks
The Cadillac warranty comes with a few essential benefits, some of which are not offered by many other manufacturers or car warranty providers. These services include:
| Cadillac Warranty Benefit | Eligible Model Years | Benefit Length |
|---|---|---|
| Roadside Assistance | Model year 2013 and newer | 6 years/70,000 miles |
| Cadillac Premium Care | Model year 2019 and 2020 | 1 year/12,000 miles |
| Cadillac Premium Care | Model year 2017 and 2018 | 3 years/36,000 miles |
| Cadillac Premium Care | Model year 2011 to 2016, and 2017 XT5 models | 4 years/50,000 miles |
| Courtesy Transportation | Model year 2013 and newer | 6 years/70,000 miles |
| Courtesy Transportation | Model year 2012 and older | 5 years/100,000 miles |
Cadillac’s Roadside Assistance program is provided by Allstate and includes 24/7 coverage for lockouts, towing, refueling, and Dealer Technician Roadside services. Towing services do have additional fees, however.
Cadillac Premium Care covers maintenance visits for a length of time that varies based on your vehicle’s model year. Covered maintenance services include oil and filter changes, tire rotations, and multi-point inspections.
Every Cadillac is also equipped with OnStar® systems. The system can help with emergency assistance, hands-free calling, and more if you have an OnStar subscription.
What’s Not Covered Under the Cadillac Warranty
While the Cadillac warranty is extensive, it doesn’t cover everything. The factory warranty does not include coverage for:
- Routine maintenance services past your Cadillac Premium Care expiration
- Fluids used in repairs
- Damage resulting from vehicle alteration, collisions, or environmental incidents
- Damage due to improper fluid use or lack of proper maintenance
- Non-GM-installed parts
These exclusions are typical for most manufacturers’ warranties.
Cadillac Certified Pre-Owned Warranty
Certified pre-owned (CPO) Cadillacs must pass a 172-point inspection before selling. Still, to give drivers extra peace of mind, the manufacturer also includes a CPO Cadillac warranty with your purchase.
CPO Cadillac vehicles come with whatever coverage remains of their original Bumper-to-Bumper Limited Warranty. After that coverage expires, CPO vehicles receive a comprehensive 1-year/unlimited-mile limited warranty.
CPO Cadillacs also receive courtesy transportation coverage and 24-hour roadside assistance.
How to Check If You Have a Cadillac Warranty
If your Cadillac is less than four years old, it may still be covered under the Cadillac warranty. To find out, locate your vehicle identification number (VIN) and call your local Cadillac dealership. A service representative can look up your VIN and provide you with your warranty information.
Your VIN can be found either in your owner’s manual or in the vehicle itself. Most manufacturers print the VIN under the driver’s side windshield or inside the side door.
Is an Extended Warranty Worth It for Cadillac Vehicles?
If you want to protect your vehicle after your Cadillac warranty expires, you may consider an extended or vehicle service contract. But do you need the extra coverage?
An extended car warranty can be a sound financial investment for some Cadillac drivers, but not all. An extended warranty will protect you from costly repairs in the event of a mechanical breakdown after your factory warranty expires. It may be best to skip an extended car warranty for drivers with a highly reliable vehicle and a budget set aside for repair costs.
However, it can be challenging to plan and budget for unexpected repairs. To better understand a manufacturer’s reliability, let’s look at data collected by RepairPal. RepairPal uses customer reports to determine common repairs and their average costs for each car brand.
According to RepairPal, Cadillac earned a 3.0 out of 5.0 rating for its overall reliability, ranking it average. Here’s a breakdown of Cadillac’s RepairPal reliability score:
| RepairPal Reliability Factor | Cadillac Average | Industry Average |
|---|---|---|
| Average Annual Repair Cost | 783.0 | $652 |
| Frequency of Repair Shop Visits | 0.4 visits per year | 0.4 visits per year |
| Chance of a Severe Repair* | 17% | 12% |
*A “severe” repair, in this case, refers to a repair that costs at least three times the average annual repair cost across all models.
RepairPal’s data suggests it may be worth looking into an extended car warranty. Luxury cars like Cadillacs tend to have higher repair bills due to their specialty parts and high-tech systems.
The only way to know whether a Cadillac extended warranty would be worth it for your vehicle is to get a warranty quote. It will probably be a good investment if you’re offered a price you think would be cheaper than paying for repairs out of pocket.
Cadillac Extended Warranty Overview: Conclusion
If you want to extend your Cadillac warranty, you can purchase a plan from the manufacturer or an independent warranty company.
Two Cadillac extended warranty options are sold by the manufacturer: an Extended Limited Warranty and a Protection Plan. The Extended Limited Warranty extends your original bumper-to-bumper warranty by 2 years/20,000 miles. This plan must be purchased at the time you buy your vehicle.
Cadillac’s Protection Plan comes in Platinum and Silver levels. The Platinum Protection Plan acts as a bumper-to-bumper extended warranty, covering components other than those explicitly listed in your contract, like routine maintenance and wear-and-tear parts. The Silver Protection Plan covers your powertrain components, your electrical, steering, brakes, air conditioning, and seals and gaskets.
Benefits of a Third-Party Cadillac Warranty
One option for Cadillac drivers is purchasing an extended car warranty from General Motors. However, there are a few benefits that come with independent extended warranty coverage, such as:
- More coverage options to choose from
- Lower prices
- More flexibility in terms of repair facilities
- More extensive added benefits
For Cadillac drivers, we recommend looking into Endurance and CARCHEX. These two providers topped our list of the best warranty providers of 2021 thanks to their comprehensive plan options, excellent customer service reviews, affordable prices and, strong industry reputations.
You can read our Endurance warranty review and CARCHEX review for more information, and click below to receive a free, non-committal quote from each provider.
How We Rate Car Warranty Companies
While there are multiple qualities that make a warranty company successful, our review team focuses on those we believe are the most important for consumers:
- Cost: Cost can be difficult to compare between providers because so many factors impact vehicle service contract pricing. To determine our cost score, we perform a secret shopper analysis for a variety of vehicles and plans and consider available deductibles.
- Coverage: Our team of experts looks at the number of extended warranty plans available, as well as term limits, exclusions, and added benefits like roadside assistance. Ratings also take into account the availability of maintenance coverage.
- Reputation: It’s important that an extended car warranty company is able to meet its claims obligations. Companies with a strong rating from the BBB score well in this category. Established providers with a long history of reliable service also receive positive marks.
- Customer Experience: We listen to real customer sales calls and comb through reviews on sites like the BBB to learn about customer experiences. Warranty companies with a low volume of complaints score well in this area. We also consider the availability of mobile apps and chat features.
*Data accurate at time of publication.