Ford Warranty: Coverage, Ford Protect Plans and Claims

Every new Ford rolls off the lot with one of the most straightforward factory warranties in the industry — but “bumper-to-bumper” does not mean everything is covered forever. A ford warranty is actually a bundle of separate coverages with different time and mileage limits.

The 3-year/36,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty, the 5-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty, plus corrosion, safety restraint, and EV-component coverage — this guide breaks down every piece, the Ford Protect extended plans, what is excluded, and how to make a claim.

Quick Answer: Ford Warranty at a Glance

Ford’s New Vehicle Limited Warranty covers defects in materials or workmanship for 3 years or 36,000 miles (bumper-to-bumper) and 5 years or 60,000 miles for the powertrain. Safety restraints run 5 years/60,000 miles, corrosion perforation 5 years/unlimited miles, hybrid/EV unique components 8 years/100,000 miles, and roadside assistance 5 years/60,000 miles.

Ford Protect extended service plans (PremiumCARE, ExtraCARE, BaseCARE, PowertrainCARE) extend coverage up to 8 years/150,000+ miles. Warranty work must be done at a Ford dealer.

Official Policy Verification & Source Check

How We Check This Policy: We read Ford’s official warranty coverage pages and the Ford Protect extended-service-plan literature — not dealer hearsay or forum posts. Coverage starts on the vehicle’s in-service (sale) date, and every limit below is “whichever comes first.”

Ford Bumper-to-Bumper Warranty: 3 Years / 36,000 Miles

The New Vehicle Limited Warranty — what everyone calls bumper-to-bumper — covers repair or replacement of defective parts in materials or workmanship for 3 years or 36,000 miles, whichever comes first, starting on the sale date. It covers nearly the whole vehicle: engine, transmission, electronics, suspension, steering, air conditioning, and factory-installed tech.

What surprises owners: wear-and-tear items have their own shorter schedules. Brake pads and linings run 12 months/18,000 miles, wiper blades 6 months/unlimited miles, and wheel alignment and tire balancing 12 months/12,000 miles. Tires themselves carry a separate 3-year/36,000-mile warranty through the tire manufacturer. The bumper-to-bumper warranty is also the clock that Ford Protect extended plans build on.

Ford Powertrain Warranty: 5 Years / 60,000 Miles

The powertrain warranty covers the parts that make the vehicle move — engine, transmission/transaxle, and driveline components — for 5 years or 60,000 miles. It is the coverage that matters most for big-ticket failures: a transmission replacement can cost $4,000–$7,000 out of pocket, which is exactly the bill this warranty exists to absorb.

One nuance buyers miss: the powertrain warranty covers defects, not maintenance. Skipped oil changes that lead to sludge, or a transmission abused by towing beyond ratings, can still be denied. Keep service records — dealers ask for them on borderline claims.

Other Factory Ford Warranty Coverages

Beyond the two headline warranties, your Ford factory coverage includes several parallel coverages, each with its own clock:

Does the Ford Warranty Cover the Battery on Electric Vehicles?

Yes. Ford’s hybrid and electric vehicles carry an 8-year/100,000-mile warranty on unique electrified components, including the high-voltage battery, electric motors, and power electronics. That is separate from — and longer than — the standard bumper-to-bumper coverage, and it is the single most important warranty on a Mustang Mach-E or F-150 Lightning.

Ford Roadside Assistance: What’s Included

For 5 years or 60,000 miles, Ford provides 24-hour roadside assistance: towing (up to $100 per occurrence), battery jump-starts, flat-tire changes, lockout assistance, and out-of-fuel delivery. Call Ford Roadside at 800-241-3673. If a breakdown strands you 100+ miles from home, travel-expense reimbursement up to $1,000 for five days may apply.

Ford Protect Extended Service Plans

When the factory warranty expires, Ford Protect — 100% backed by Ford Motor Company and honored at Ford dealers in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico — picks up. Four tiers let you match coverage to budget:

PremiumCARE is the exclusionary “covers everything except a short list” plan — 1,000+ components, the closest thing to extending bumper-to-bumper. ExtraCARE covers 113 components across major systems (engine, transmission, steering, brakes, AC, high-tech, emissions). BaseCARE covers 84 core components — the budget powertrain-plus option. PowertrainCARE is engine-and-drivetrain only, the cheapest way to insure against a transmission failure.

Plans run up to 8 years and 150,000+ miles from the original in-service date, with deductible options and interest-free financing up to 30 months. Ford also sells a Continued Service Plan (up to 14 years/160,000 miles) after a Ford Protect plan ends, plus maintenance plans and add-ons like TireCARE, DentCARE, and Windshield CARE. Pricing is set by dealers — build a quote on the Ford Protect site or call 1-877-794-6434.

What the Ford Warranty Does Not Cover

Factory warranties cover defects — not everything that can go wrong:

• Excluded Routine maintenance. Oil changes, filters, wiper blades (beyond 6 months), and scheduled service are on you.
• Excluded Wear-and-tear items. Brake pads, clutch linings, and tires wear out by design — covered only under their short separate schedules, if at all.
• Excluded Damage and misuse. Accidents, off-road abuse, racing, overloading, and aftermarket modifications that cause a failure are excluded.
• Excluded Neglect. Failures traceable to missed maintenance — sludge from skipped oil changes is the classic denial.
• Excluded Non-Ford parts labor. Damage caused by non-Ford parts or unauthorized repairs can void related coverage.
• Excluded Environmental damage. Salt, chemicals, bird droppings, and flood damage are not defects.
• Excluded Commercial use surcharges. Standard terms assume personal use; some commercial applications need different coverage.

How to Make a Ford Warranty Claim

1. Book with any Ford dealer — warranty work must be performed by an authorized Ford dealership; independent shops cannot bill Ford warranty.
2. Bring your VIN and service records. The dealer verifies coverage by VIN and in-service date; maintenance records help on borderline claims.
3. Get a written diagnosis. Ask the service advisor to confirm the repair is covered under warranty before authorizing work.
4. Repairs use Ford-authorized parts installed by factory-trained technicians — a genuine advantage over third-party warranties.
5. Escalate if denied: ask for the denial in writing with the specific exclusion cited, then contact Ford Customer Service at 1-800-392-3673.

For roadside emergencies, call Ford Roadside at 800-241-3673 — 24 hours, within your 5-year/60,000-mile window.

Is the Ford Warranty Transferable?

Yes — and this is one of the most-searched questions about the brand. The factory coverage transfers automatically to subsequent owners; the remaining time/mileage goes with the car, which protects resale value. Ford Protect extended plans are also transferable to a private buyer, a strong selling point in a private-party sale.

Ford Blue Advantage Certified Warranties

Buying used from a Ford dealer? Ford Blue Advantage adds warranty on top of any remaining factory coverage: Gold Certified includes 12 months/12,000 miles of comprehensive coverage plus 7 years/100,000 miles of powertrain coverage from the original in-service date, while Blue Certified adds 3 months/4,000 miles. Both include a $100 deductible per visit after factory coverage ends and 24-hour roadside assistance.

Ford Warranty FAQs

Conclusion

The factory Ford coverage is genuinely strong: 3 years/36,000 miles bumper-to-bumper, 5 years/60,000 miles on the powertrain, 8 years/100,000 miles on EV components, and 5 years of roadside assistance — all transferable, all serviced by factory-trained technicians with genuine parts.

The honest gap: everything expires, and modern repair bills don’t care about your warranty clock. If you keep your Ford past year three, price Ford Protect before the 3/36 runs out — that is when terms are longest and prices lowest. Explore warranty details at ford.com and build your Ford Protect quote before you need it.

Sources: ford.com (official warranty coverage pages), fordprotect.ford.com (official Ford Protect plan literature: PremiumCARE, ExtraCARE, BaseCARE, PowertrainCARE, Continued Service Plan).

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only. Ford may change warranty terms, plan names, and coverage at any time. Confirm current terms in the Warranty Guide that came with your vehicle or with an authorized Ford dealer before purchasing or filing a claim.