#Warranty

New vehicles are pretty darn complicated these days. Besides all the exterior cameras, the fancy infotainment screens, and the distance-pacing cruise control systems, there are the less obvious areas where the average new car of today is vastly more sophisticated than the new car of yesteryear. Engines are built to tighter tolerances than ever before, and are more highly strung and precisely controlled to meet ever-tightening emissions requirements. Transmissions are more complex, with more ratios – unless your new ride has a CVT, which is arguably an even more sophisticated piece of tech. Even vehicle bodies have gotten more advanced, with aluminum alloy growing more prevalent and the introduction of ever-more sophisticated exterior lighting assemblies.

There’s no question that warranty coverage is one of the main reasons many people buy a brand new car rather than test their luck on the secondhand market. Knowing that you’ll have peace of mind for the first several years of ownership, at the very least – and in some cases, as long as a decade – makes it worth paying that new car premium.

What if you could accurately detect engine problems in just seconds without disassembling a single component? This sounds like the purview of a superhero or clairvoyant, but nearly anyone can do it, no cape or special powers required.

Warranties are often advertised as a fix-everything safety net, but are they actually useful?

Gad Elmoznino has been a Tesla die-hard since day one. He jumped in early, buying a Roadster and reserved a Model S the same day. Today he owns both and couldn’t be happier with either of the luxurious, sporty electric cars.

The “redneck” comedian Jeff Foxworthy used to joke about how safe of a driver his grandmother was, but as soon as she got behind the wheel of a rental car, all bets were off. It’s a commonly held belief that motorists abuse borrowed vehicles, taking out pent-up aggression on hired Impalas from Hertz. When it comes to buying a used car are second-hand rentals a smart choice, or something to be avoided like a holiday in North Korea?

Just yesterday we reported that Saab has announced that it will not honor any warranties effective immediately and they also advised their dealers to sell off the remaining cars ‘as is.’

After filing for bankruptcy on Monday morning, Saab is now suspending all warranty coverage on its North American cars.

The mighty Ford Raptor is indestructible, right? Sadly, it only looks that way: owners are reporting a drastic frame bending problem that threatens to destroy their trucks—and in one case, Ford refuses to honor its warranty.

For now, this plan is only available in Europe through authorized Ferrari dealers, but will soon be coming across the Atlantic. The coverage will include all necessary parts and labor and would also include oil and brake fluids. The warranty, which is offered on the 458 Italia, California Spyder and the FF, is attached to the vehicle, so if the car is sold within the first seven years, the new owner will benefit from this warranty also.

General Motors has just announced that later this month, the Cadillac Shield program will be put in place. This is an extensive warranty service which includes oil changes and tire rotation for the first four-years or 50,000-miles, and a five-year, 100,000-miles powertrain warranty, including 24/7 roadside assistance.

OnStar’s Directions and Connections plan is also included for one-year and it now comes with its own smart phone app. Cadillac will also have its own special app, which will help owners locate their car in a parking lot, among other things.

Hit the jump to read the full press release:

General Motors is throwing its weight behind the Chevrolet Volt’s battery system by offering an 8-year, 100,000 mile warranty on the battery pack.

According to a report from the Pentastar nuts over at AllPar, Chrysler will be dropping its lifetime powertrain warranty on almost all of its vehicles. But it’s not all bad news.