Did your extended warranty pay off?

[Jebruns]

New here, but I'm on other Ram forums. Been trying to decide if I should get an extended warranty for my Ram. I don't really want to get into the specifics about years/miles/company in this thread. I've read some great threads here about that kind of stuff already. Just looking for a real high level response. I expect it to turn out mostly that is has not paid off, but still curious. If you've had several over the years, just respond about your most recent Ram one, if possible.

Thanks

 

[Ltngdrvr]

Mine paid off, but it is not available anymore, FCA stopped offering it.

 

[AH64ID]

On average people lose money, they have to or the warranty wouldn’t be offered.

 

[brucejohnson]

No different than health insurance for your body, or playing the one armed bandits. It "may" come in handy IF one of those covered, expensive items fail. Legal gambling, protection or fleecing. Depending on which shoe drops when.
I have hit all three...lost a few, broke even, and made out like a bandit. With the newer vehicles it has mostly been in my favor due to expense of repairs.

 

[TRAMPLINEMAN]

Mine was paid off many times over. I would never buy a new vehicle nowadays without one. I know many on here and elsewhere have never needed one, and that’s great for them, but some of us haven’t been so lucky. I’d rather have it and not need it than need it and not have it.

 

[Jebruns]

On average people lose money, they have to or the warranty wouldn’t be offered.

Yes, I understand that, thanks. But that is a question for another thread.

 

[Ram4Sam]

Actually, in a way, the FCA max care warranty will pay off. If you make it to the end of the contract period and never file a claim against it, they will refund your purchase price......or it will pay for covered repairs up to 120,000/ 8 years if you buy the big dog warranty. Lots of other stuff in there,

• $35 First Day Rental*
• $35/Day Car Rental Allowance*
• $100 Towing Allowance*
• $100 Roadside Assistance*
• $600 Key Fob Repair/Replacement*
• $1,000 Trip Interruption*
• Given the amount of voodoo electronics these new trucks have and the cheapo components FCA uses, over the course of 8 years, you could easily blow light years past the cost of the policy......
• Or if you get lucky and get a good truck, get your money back......

Sam

• 
  

 

[JackFate]

Have max care & I will say that staying in full compliance is costly. I do all labor and nearly everything Mopar ( not oil ) every 6 months I’m required to change all sorts of things even if I don’t even move it . I do move it but basically only to keep things lubed and dried , and 100 mile outing every 3-4 wks. If I’d not purchased the warranty I’d do things MUCH differently. At this time I’ve not used the extended warranty. My turbo actuator was replaced under emissions 5/50,000

 

[Badunit]

On average people lose money, they have to or the warranty wouldn’t be offered.

100% correct. Statistically it is a financial loser for the buyer. But one thing it does is limit your exposure. You pay a medium/nominal amount up front to ensure you will not get stuck paying a large repair bill later.

I don't like extended warranties because I would have to follow their rules, document everything, cross my t's and dot my i's until it was over. My truck will feel like a loaner or a lease, not mine to so with what I want, when I want, how I want, with no one to answer to but myself. I don't like having the warranty overlord hanging over my head. In many ways I am happier after the factory warranty expires. Until then, I feel I have to play by their rules to get the standard warranty coverage I paid for with the truck.

 

[Jebruns]

Have max care & I will say that staying in full compliance is costly.

I'd have to do all that anyway. Mine is certified pre-owned, so the power train warranty is already at 7yr/100K, and I only have 24K on it now. So I'd just be buying a bump up to Max care for the same period, really. But that's not really what I'm asking about here.

But a side question brought on by what I quoted. Has anyone that has had to use the extended warranty ever had to prove all the requried maintenance was done right on schedule? I've read that is not a common occurrence with the Mopar warranty.

 

[TRAMPLINEMAN]

100% correct. Statistically it is a financial loser for the buyer. But one thing it does is limit your exposure. You pay a medium/nominal amount up front to ensure you will not get stuck paying a large repair bill later.

I don't like extended warranties because I would have to follow their rules, document everything, cross my t's and dot my i's until it was over. My truck will feel like a loaner or a lease, not mine to so with what I want, when I want, how I want, with no one to answer to but myself. I don't like having the warranty overlord hanging over my head. In many ways I am happier after the factory warranty expires. Until then, I feel I have to play by their rules to get the standard warranty coverage I paid for with the truck.

I had the Maxcare on my ‘14. I did all my own maintenance and kept records/receipts. My truck had a ton of emission and electrical problems thru out it’s warranty life. My truck was constantly at the dealer. Never once did they ask for any kind of records. I never felt like the truck wasn’t mine either. I lifted the truck myself, built and installed bumpers and ran a monitor thru out the warranty. Dealer never questioned any of it or blamed any of it on the vehicle troubles.

 

[Tuesdak]

My first warranty paid for itself many times over. Bought a used simple 1/2 ton work truck, V6, auto, 2WD, manual door locks, and manual windows. Drove it 3 times before buying it and initially refused the warranty: because a simple basic truck what could go wrong? Cut price for it in half so WTH got it for $800. Trans burned up the first week I owned it. "Something went "BANG!!!" this morning and then smoke. Drove fine when I test drove it." Was the difference between the dealer patching it or the warranty buying a reman. The trans slipping caused the engine to overspeed and 30 days later bad knock and glitter in the pan - spun a main bearing. Reman engine... Then radiator for being clogged with cotton fuzz. Last every item on the belt drive was replaced eventually, PS pump, AC compressor, idlers, alternator many times. Was glad to see that truck traded off when that day came. (The aftermarket 6 disc CD player I put in it was fixed under the Good Guys 5 year warranty many times until they had to buy me a another new one. Cursed Lemon truck I swear. )

You don't want to talk about companies here, but, it matters as a bad warranty co. will not cover anything and be a total waste of money. Some shops will tell you to "GET LOST!" and take the Toilet Paper waste of OUR time warranty with you. Just saying Fidelity SUCKS.

The MOPAR warranty I have already covered car rental for my 2018 RAM due to parts taking a few days to get.

 

[sag2]

I'd have to do all that anyway. Mine is certified pre-owned, so the power train warranty is already at 7yr/100K, and I only have 24K on it now. So I'd just be buying a bump up to Max care for the same period, really. But that's not really what I'm asking about here.

But a side question brought on by what I quoted. Has anyone that has had to use the extended warranty ever had to prove all the requried maintenance was done right on schedule? I've read that is not a common occurrence with the Mopar warranty.

Generally speaking proof is only required on a genuine Mopar warranty if there is some reason to believe that lack of maintenance caused the failure. I think most of us here change fluids on some type of regular basis, so the chance of being denied for a lube related failure are pretty slim. All the rest of the stuff (electrical, other mechanical parts) do not require any customer maintenance so those are a non-issue. I should note that FCA is sending independent inspectors out on major failures to protect their interests. If you keep records of parts purchased and a written record of times/dates of service you will be fine. But remember if you are skipping services and it fails you may not get the repair done under the service contract. Oil samples do not lie, so just do the services and you will not have troubles.
The aftermarket warranties are another story. They will try everything in their power to deny coverage.

 

[HVAC2]

I had max care on a 2015 ED. It saved the purchase price of the plan as I recall by over double. We even maxed out on hotels and meals on one claim.
When we bought the 18 CTD, got the 8 yr120k or the deal would not have been done.

 

[Ltngdrvr]

But a side question brought on by what I quoted. Has anyone that has had to use the extended warranty ever had to prove all the requried maintenance was done right on schedule? I've read that is not a common occurrence with the Mopar warranty.

I had a huge amount, dollar-wise, of warranty work on my maxcare and they never asked for any maintenance records.
As was said elsewhere, at least on one of the big warranty jobs, they had to have the warranty inspector out at least two times, during the MONTH that they had my truck in the shop, to look it over and give the 'OK' to proceed with the repair.

 

[HVAC2]

Another issue is parts availability and the incredible tech shortage. FCA couldn't find a reluctor ring. Took 5 weeks. We were in Gillette Wyoming. Tech quit.
Didn't see the truck for over 2 months. Max care covered rental cars hotels and meals. At least most of it. So when they break and you are on the road it can be a challenge.

 

[endoscott]

Tech shortage is really troubling. And yet all of the vocational programs in HS are long gone. Too bad. My FIL spent 30 years building up a nice machine shop teaching program and the minute he retired they auctioned everything off and closed it up. I guess everyone "needs" a college degree now. For free of course.

 

[HVAC2]

I spent over 30 years trying to find quality HVAC contractors for the largest mfg. It's been a problem for decades. I see no solution. Fully electric vehicles have thousands of fewer parts. Maybe our only solution

 

[brucejohnson]

I guess everyone "needs" a college degree now. For free of course.

Like in the "Arts", or Underwater Basket Weaving (Geoducks)? So they can act like a mechanic (or whatever they want to be at the moment) without having to know anything relevant?

 

[R.Taylor]

MaxCare on my 06 paid for itself twice over. All kinds of stuff... TIPM, Front and rear wheel bearings/seals, Rear main crank seal, Steering box, Power Steering pump, REC Nav head unit (twice), Rear window glass slider motor, Sunroof motor, Front upper/lower ball joints, Drivers power seat motor. Just the stereo head unit would have been $1600 x 2.

Now with my 2019 3500... I have MaxCare 8/125 with a $200 deductible, Paid $2850 for it in Nov of 2019 when I took delivery of the truck. I went to Chysler warranty direct and showed the salesman the price online, They matched it... Done deal. Later I learned that I showed him the quote price for a 2019 2500..... not a 3500, Well, That saved me some coin cause the 2019 3500 MaxCare 8/125 was priced at $3250 . I just now looked at Chrysler Warranty Direct and they are quoting $4735 for a MaxCare 8/125 with a $200 deductible, Daaaaaaammmmmmnnnnn they went up in price.

I paid $2150 for my 8/100 MaxCare on the 06' in 2008 when it had 18k on the odo.... That was directly from my servicing dealership. I did not know of Chrysler Warranty Direct back then (they may not have even been around). I bought the truck from Craigslist in August 2007... Paid $30k cash private party... It had 11,800 on the odo. The original window sticker price was $58k.