The minute you drive your new or certified pre-owned (CPO) Lincoln off the lot, it’s covered by a manufacturer-backed warranty. Understanding your Lincoln warranty coverage is essential to saving money on costly repairs caused by defects in materials or workmanship.
In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the Lincoln new-vehicle warranty and the options available for certified pre-owned cars. Then, we’ll consider the best extended car warranty choices to see how Lincoln’s plans compare to those from third-party providers.
Lincoln Warranty Overview
All new Lincoln models come with a Ford Motor Company-backed new vehicle limited warranty, which combines four types of coverage. To keep your Lincoln warranty coverage valid, follow the manufacturer’s recommended maintenance schedule.
Lincoln New Vehicle Warranty |
Length of Coverage |
Type of Coverage |
---|---|---|
Bumper-to-Bumper Warranty |
4 years/50,000 miles |
Covers nearly all vehicle parts, including high-tech components |
Powertrain Warranty |
6 years/70,000 miles |
Covers the engine, transmission, and drive axle |
Safety Restraint Warranty |
5 years/60,000 miles |
Covers a vehicle’s seat belts and airbags |
Corrosion Warranty |
5 years/unlimited miles |
Covers sheet metal panels if they rust through |
The Lincoln warranty also comes with lifetime roadside assistance for the original owner. This benefit can’t be transferred to subsequent owners but comes with the following perks:
- Towing: Get towed up to 100 miles to your preferred Lincoln dealer.
- Flat tire changes: As your vehicle has a usable spare, you can get a flat tire changed when needed.
- Battery jump-starts: Have your car jump-started or towed to a dealer.
- Lockout assistance: You can get lockout assistance for free, though you’ll pay for key replacement services.
- Fuel delivery: Get up to two gallons of fuel delivered to your car up to twice per year.
- Winch-out services: Pulls vehicles back to a maintained road if they’re within 100 feet.
Additionally, the Lincoln warranty covers a few maintenance items for certain periods of time:
- Wiper blades: 6 months/unlimited miles
- Wheel alignments and tire balancing: 1 year/12,000 miles
- Brake pads and linings: 1 year/18,000 miles
What’s Not Covered By A Lincoln Warranty
A Lincoln manufacturer’s warranty explicitly leaves out coverage for certain repairs. Below are some of the main exclusions to a Lincoln warranty:
- Coverage of non-Lincoln parts
- Damages caused by improper maintenance
- Wear-and-tear items
- Maintenance such as oil changes and tire rotations
- Damage caused by accidents, theft, or vandalism
- Problems due to fires, extreme weather, and other environmental factors
- Issues caused by alterations, modifications, or tampering with the odometer or emissions systems
Certified Pre-Owned Lincoln Warranty
The Lincoln warranty for certified pre-owned (CPO) vehicles covers over 1,000 components for a total of 6 years/100,000 miles from the vehicle’s original in-service date. This Lincoln warranty protects your vehicle from damage as a result of material or workmanship defects and mechanical breakdowns, but it does not cover normal wear and tear.
Here is a list of components and systems covered by the Lincoln certified pre-owned warranty:
- Engine
- Transmission
- Front- and rear-wheel drive systems
- Steering components
- Brake components
- Front and rear suspension
- Electrical systems
- Air conditioning and heating
- High-tech components
- Emissions
- Factory audio system
- Safety systems
Do You Need An Extended Lincoln Warranty?
Lincoln extended warranty coverage isn’t required, but it’s usually a good idea for drivers who aren’t confident in their cars’ reliability. It’s also helpful for those who’d rather avoid unexpected and costly breakdowns and for motorists who want peace of mind while on the road.
One way to figure out if an extended Lincoln warranty is right for you is by assessing Lincoln’s reliability. RepairPal ranks Lincoln as the 24th most reliable out of 32 car brands, with an overall score of 3.0 out of 5.0 stars. In other words, the Aviator, MKZ, and Continental aren’t generally known as the most reliable vehicles.
Here’s how Lincoln compares to the rest of the industry for annual repair costs, the frequency of repairs, and the chance of needing severe repairs, which RepairPal defines as those that cost three times the average annual repair cost for all models.
Lincoln Average |
Industry Average |
|
---|---|---|
Annual Repair Cost |
$879 |
$652 |
Frequency of Repairs |
0.4 trips per year |
0.4 trips per year |
Chance of Severe Repairs |
15 percent |
12 percent |
Though Lincoln is on par with the industry average for the annual number of trips to the repair shop, the automaker’s cars have a higher likelihood of needing extensive and costly repairs. For this reason, most Lincoln owners should consider investing in either factory or third-party extended warranties.
Third-party extended warranty options from companies such as Endurance and CARCHEX usually offer stronger coverage at lower rates than Lincoln warranty choices from the automaker. That said, you’ll get genuine Lincoln parts with a factory extended warranty.
Lincoln Extended Warranty Overview
A Lincoln Protect Extended Service Plan could extend your Lincoln warranty coverage for up to 8 years/125,000 miles, whichever comes first. If you don’t need that much coverage, you can customize the length of your Lincoln extended warranty to protect your car from 3 to 8 years and from 36,000 to 125,000 miles.
Lincoln offers four tiers of extended service plans. Here’s what each Lincoln extended warranty plan covers:
- PremiumCARE: Covers over 1,000 components, acting as a bumper-to-bumper warranty
- ExtraCARE: Covers 113 components, including some coverage for high-tech parts
- BaseCARE: Covers 84 components, including the powertrain and a few additional systems
- PowertrainCARE: Covers 29 components, focusing on the engine, transmission, and drive axle
A Lincoln manufacturer’s extended warranty can only be purchased before the end of your new vehicle limited warranty. If your Lincoln’s original coverage has already expired or you’re looking for a cheaper and more flexible warranty plan, check out some of the industry’s most reputable extended car warranty companies.
Your Lincoln extended warranty comes with a standard $100 deductible, but you also have the option to choose $0, $50, or $200 deductible options. Typically, the higher the deductible, the lower your monthly premium, and vice versa.
All Lincoln extended warranty plans are transferable and come with the following services:
- 24-hour roadside assistance
- Rental car reimbursement
- Travel expense reimbursement
- Towing, lockout, and tire change services
Benefits Of A Third-Party Extended Lincoln Warranty
Investing in a third-party Lincoln extended warranty could be the right move if you’re looking for a simple way to protect yourself from expensive repair costs. We recommend weighing the pros and cons of a third-party warranty versus a Lincoln factory warranty to see which one works best for you. Below, we’ll compare these options side by side:
Third-Party Lincoln Warranty |
Lincoln Warranty from Manufacturer |
|
---|---|---|
Pricing |
Less expensive, with negotiable pricing |
Usually subject to dealer markups |
Coverage |
Custom coverage due to greater plan variety |
Set plans are tailored for Lincoln vehicles |
Covered repairs |
Covered repairs can be made at any licensed repair shop, including dealerships |
Covered repairs can only be made at Lincoln dealerships |
Claims process |
More involved claims process |
Lincoln handles claims directly |
Generally, third-party warranty providers offer better warranty coverage, more affordable choices, and extra flexibility compared to plans from automakers. Three of the top options worth checking out are Endurance, CARCHEX, and CarShield.
It’s always worth getting free quotes from providers to find out which warranty plans best match your budget and coverage needs. Compare third-party and factory options to find a Lincoln warranty that can affordably keep you safe on the road.