Nissan Warranty

An extended car warranty refers to mechanical breakdown coverage offered by a vehicle manufacturer. However, this term is often mistakenly used to describe coverage from third-party companies. Independent providers offer similar protection through vehicle service contracts, but we’ve used the terms interchangeably in this article for convenience.

Nissan continues to top lists for being one of the safest automakers on the market, but even the most sound vehicles can still experience mechanical breakdowns. To provide peace of mind on the road and ensure overall safety, a Nissan factory warranty is included with every new and certified pre-owned vehicle. 

In this article, we review the Nissan factory warranty from top to bottom, covering what’s included, what’s excluded, how long coverage lasts and the advantages of extending your coverage after your factory warranty expires. Read on to find out the strengths (and weaknesses) of your Nissan factory warranty.

Nissan Warranty Coverage

The Nissan factory warranty consists of a few separate coverages, the most important of which are a 3-year/36,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty and a 5-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty.

Before we get into the details, here’s an overview of Nissan New Vehicle Limited Warranty in 2021:

Bumper-to-Bumper Coverage

The first part of Nissan's New Vehicle Limited Warranty is the basic warranty, which is also called bumper-to-bumper coverage. Beginning on your car’s in-service date, this warranty covers any factory or workmanship defects that may cause a mechanical breakdown. It extends for 3 years or 36,000 miles, which is on the shorter side compared with other manufacturers’ factory coverage.

It covers repairs due to defects in materials and workmanship. Thousands of parts on the vehicle are covered, so the contract only lists exclusions. Here are a few example Nissan warranty exclusions:

• Normal wear and tear
• Cosmetic items
• Damage from lack of maintenance
• Corrosion from environmental events
• Improper charging of the hybrid battery
• Regular maintenance items
• Damage from alteration or modification
• Racing or competitive driving

A number of other Japanese brand warranties share the same terms, like the Subaru warranty and Acura warranty. Many brands offer 4-year/50,000-mile or 5-year/60,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranties.

Nissan Powertrain Warranty

The Nissan powertrain warranty covers parts in the engine, transmission and drive axle. It also includes safety systems like airbags. Seat belts are covered separately for 10 years/unlimited miles. The powertrain warranty uses a stated-coverage contract, which lists out every covered item. If something isn't in the contract, it's not covered. 

Like the Basic Limited Warranty, Nissan’s Powertrain Warranty limit definitely isn’t the longest we’ve seen. The Kia warranty, for example, provides powertrain coverage for up to 10 years.

Below are the parts covered by Nissan’s powertrain warranty:

• Engine
• Transmission
• Drive axle 
• Other related parts 

Note that this Nissan warranty covers all seals and gaskets in the engine. Some powertrain warranties only cover seals and gaskets if they need to be repaired in conjunction with another part, so Nissan’s powertrain warranty is fairly comprehensive.

If you’re driving a Nissan Leaf, the manufacturer’s electric model, your powertrain warranty also extends for 5 years or 60,000 miles, and it covers the vehicle’s electrical systems.

Nissan Hybrid Battery Warranty

Nissan covers hybrid systems for the same length as its powertrain plan. Some brands offer longer coverage for powertrain components, so that’s something to be aware of if you’re considering the Nissan Leaf or other hybrid. 

The hybrid battery is covered for 8 years/100,000 miles, which is a good length of coverage. If the power capacity dips below nine out of 12 segments before that period ends, Nissan will repair or replace the battery. 

Other Types of Coverage

New Nissan vehicles come with several additional warranty which include:

• Corrosion Coverage: Nissan's corrosion warranty covers sheet metal panels from rusting through with holes for 5 years/unlimited mileage. Whether the corrosion began on the inside or outside doesn't make a difference, but there needs to be a hole.
• Federal Emissions Coverage: This Nissan factory warranty covers your emissions systems based on federal guidelines and is made up of smaller emissions warranties based on defects and performance. If car fails a test and you face a fine, Nissan will reimburse you.Parts are also covered against failure for different lengths of time according to federal and state guidelines. coverage last anywhere from 2 years/24,000 miles to 8 years/80,000 miles. 
• Seat Belt Warranty: Any Nissan-made seat belts or associated seat belt components are covered for up to 12 years, free of charge.
• Adjustment Period: Services like wheel alignment and wheel balancing are covered for your first 12 months of ownership. The adjustments warranty includes wheel alignment and minor adjustments that don't require a replacement part. Key fob batteries are also included under this warranty. 

Nissan Roadside Assistance

We especially like Nissan’s roadside assistance perk. Included in your Nissan factory warranty, roadside assistance services are available 24/7 through a simple, toll-free call to the manufacturer. This service covers:

• Towing to the nearest dealership
• Flat tires
• Dead batteries
• Emergency fuel delivery
• Lockouts
• Trip interruption reimbursement

Because this service is attached to Nissan’s Basic Limited Warranty, it only lasts for 3 years or 36,000 miles, whichever comes first.

All Nissans come with roadside assistance for 3 years/36,000 miles, whichever comes first. Here's what that service includes: 

• Flat tire service
• Jump-starts
• Towing (collision and breakdown)
• Fuel delivery
• Lockout service

Nissan awards you points when you visit a service center that you can use for future services and Nissan accessories. Nissan also has a spread of apparel if you're into the brand’s racing heritage.

Does the Nissan Factory Warranty Transfer?

Yes, the Nissan factory warranty does transfer to any subsequent, individual owners. Nissan notes that no action needs to be taken by the original owner for the warranty to transfer, so it sounds like you’re off the hook for any transfer fees.

What’s Not Included in the Nissan Factory Warranty?

The Nissan factory warranty is comprehensive, but as with any car warranty, it has some exclusions. Because a car warranty aims to protect you against mechanical breakdowns and factory defects, it won’t protect you from damages caused by:

• Misuse
• Normal wear and tear
• Racing or competitive driving
• Theft or vandalism
• Accidents, collisions or towing
• Repairs from unauthorized mechanics
• Alterations or modifications
• Glass breakage
• Environmental factors

The Nissan factory warranty will also not cover any scheduled maintenance costs other than the services outlined in the Adjustment Period warranty. Any covered repairs will need to occur at your local Nissan dealership. Based on our research, there are a little over 200 dealerships in the U.S.

Nissan CPO Warranty

If you purchase a certified pre-owned (CPO) Nissan, a version of the Nissan factory warranty will still be included. Unlike the Nissan factory warranty for new cars, the CPO coverage only provides one limited warranty that lasts for up to 7 years or 100,000 miles from the car’s original in-service date.

While seven years sounds like a long time for coverage, the oldest CPO Nissans are six years old, so you may end up with only one year of coverage depending on the age of the vehicle you buy.

The Nissan CPO Limited Warranty covers over 600 components, including your:

• Engine
• Transmission
• Transfer case
• Drivetrain

The CPO Nissan factory warranty comes included with the purchase of a vehicle, but it has a $100 deductible you’ll need to pay per repair shop visit.

Additional CPO Nissan Warranty Perks

The CPO Nissan factory warranty includes quite a few perks that last the duration of your coverage:

Additionally, you’ll receive a three-month free trial of SiriusXM satellite radio. 

The Nissan CPO warranty is also transferable to any subsequent individual purchasers throughout the 7-year/100,000-mile coverage period.

Do You Need An Extended Warranty For Your Nissan?

The main benefit of an extended warranty is peace of mind that a number of repairs are covered, whether you are stranded close to home or hundreds of miles away on a road trip. 

Is A Nissan Extended Warranty Worth It?

The choice to purchase an extended warranty for your Nissan should depend on a few factors, like your car’s reliability and how long you intend to drive it.

If you have a very reliable Nissan that hasn’t shown any signs of mechanical failure, an extended car warranty may be an investment to skip. However, if your car isn’t so reliable, or if you want to increase your Nissan’s resale value down the line, getting a few extended warranty quotes is probably a good idea. You might also consider your ability to pay for repairs outright. An unexpected $500 repair might not faze some Nissan drivers, but for many others, this isn’t a feasible amount to cover out of the blue.

Essentially, you’re making a monthly payment for the provider to cover certain repairs. Both Nissan and third-party providers can pay repair facilities directly, so you don't need to deal with any paperwork when you have a mechanical breakdown. 

Are Nissans Reliable?

Nissan generally performs well across car reliability surveys. However, Nissan's warranty is among the shortest in the industry. If you want to cover repair costs beyond the factory warranty, you’ll have to look at extended warranty options.

While reliability can vary from model to model within a car brand, here’s a general idea of Nissan’s reliability based on data from RepairPal:

As mentioned, the data above gives a good overview of Nissan’s reliability, but you may have a better or worse experience with your vehicle's repairs, which you should factor into your decision to purchase an extended warranty.

Nissan Maintenance Cost

According to RepairPal, Nissan drivers pay about $500 per year for maintenance and repairs. Even with occasional CVT problems, that's a lower number than the industry average of $652.

Here are a few repairs you might encounter as a Nissan owner (from RepairPal data):

Some of the repairs above, like the head gasket replacement, would be covered under Nissan’s powertrain warranty until 5 years/60,000 miles. However, it's unlikely you’d need a new head gasket before that time. 

As your car passes 60,000 and 90,000 miles milestones, the risk of an expensive repair increases. If your car has that kind of mileage, it would be a good idea for you to have a few thousand dollars set aside in a bank account for repairs. There's always a chance you could encounter a $1,000 or $2,000 repair. 

Some drivers still experience problems with the CVT system on later models, as well. For some drivers, it makes more sense to purchase an extended warranty instead of saving that amount. An extended warranty can lessen the impact of expensive repairs on your budget. 

Do You Already Have Nissan Factory Warranty Coverage?

If you didn’t purchase your vehicle directly from the dealership, you may not know the status of your Nissan factory warranty. We outline a few steps below so that you can find the warranty information you need.

How Do I Check My Nissan Warranty?

1. Locate your vehicle identification number (VIN). A series of letters and numbers, your car’s VIN acts as its social security number. Documents like insurance cards, car titles and even sometimes the Nissan owner’s manual may have the VIN printed on them. If you don’t have those papers at the ready, check your Nissan. The VIN is often displayed under the driver’s side windshield or the inside of the driver’s side door.
2. Call the Nissan dealership. Most Nissan dealers should be able to look up your car based on its VIN and can let you know the status of your Nissan factory warranty.
3. When in doubt, check CARFAX. If calling a dealership isn’t an option, you can use your VIN to search CARFAX for your car’s warranty information. Often, a CARFAX Vehicle History Report also includes car warranty details.

Nissan’s Extended Warranty

After your Nissan factory warranty expires, the manufacturer’s extended warranty options can continue to protect you against mechanical issues for up to 8 years or 120,000 miles. There are three Nissan Security+Plus Extended Protection Plans to choose from, including:

Nissan's extended warranty options are called protection plans. There are three options to choose from: 

• Gold Preferred: Exclusionary coverage for over 2,000 components
• Silver Preferred: Covers over 1,500 components
• Powertrain Preferred: Covers over 800 components

All of Nissan’s vehicle protection plans are transferable, cancelable and include additional benefits.

Nissan Extended Warranty Roadside Assistance

All plans include roadside assistance, trip interruption and rental car coverage. Plans max out at 120,000 miles for new cars and 124,000 miles for used cars. You can get more details by checking out our Nissan extended warranty review. 

Nissan offers a few other protection options, including: 

• Key replacement
• Prepaid maintenance
• Lease wear and tear
• Appearance protection
• Tire and wheel protection
• Paintless dent repair

Comparing Extended Warranty Options

After deciding to purchase an extended warranty, or vehicle service contract, for your Nissan, the next step is deciding which protection plan is best for your vehicle’s needs and your budget. The manufacturer-backed Nissan extended warranty is one option.

Nissan's extended warranty options have some advantages, but there are a few downsides, as well. For example, the company's protection plans require you to visit a dealership for all repairs. On the bright side, your car will get genuine Nissan parts. But if you have to fix anything else in conjunction with a covered repair, a dealership is probably the most expensive place to do so.Third-party providers like Endurance and CarShield allow drivers to go to any shop with a certified mechanic for repairs. There are over 30,000 of them.

While Nissan offers three different coverage options, many extended warranty companies offered more than that. For example, CARCHEX plans come in five main varieties. In terms of mileage, third-party plans can cover Nissans much longer than Nissan itself. CARCHEX also stands out here, with coverage for up to 250,000 miles. 

When you research providers, read sample contracts and compare coverage from multiple companies. Then compare quotes from a handful of the best extended car warranty companies. You can also find extended protection plans with benefits like trip interruption coverage and roadside assistance as you shop around. These benefits make breakdowns a less of a hassle.

Best Aftermarket Nissan Extended Warranty

We’ve reviewed the best extended car warranty companies and recommend beginning your research by looking into our top three recommended providers: Endurance, CARCHEX, and CarShield. You can start getting free, personalized quotes from these companies right away by clicking below.

Benefits of a Third-Party Extended Warranty

A manufacturer’s vehicle service contract is not the only way to extend your Nissan factory warranty coverage. You can also purchase an extended warranty from other reputable extended car warranty companies.

A third-party warranty often gives drivers better flexibility than a manufacturer warranty. For example, third-party providers offer:

• More coverage options
• Ability to have repairs done at any licensed repair facility rather than just a dealership
• More choices for older cars, like an extended warranty for cars over 100,000 miles
• Flexible payment plans
• More deductible options

Whether you’re leaning toward manufacturer coverage or a third-party plan to extend your Nissan factory warranty, it’s always best to seek out quotes from multiple providers.

Nissan Manufacture Warranty: FAQ