[Front222]

Folks.. sorry for the barrage of questions on my first join day!:surprise: We just bought our son a 2015 Frontier SV with approx 21K miles on it. It still has the remainder of the factory warranty.

We had it checked out pre-purchase by an independent mechanic and there was a very small oil leak in the valve gasket.. which we will bring to Nissan soon. That was all he found

We did research, and for the most part, the reliability on this vehicle is good. Would the folks on here who have owned these vehicles recommend an extended warranty?

I called a few companies, and they were ridiculously priced.. $2500 to $3000... Bumper to Bumper. After doing some research on this site, saw one post where one person claimed they got a 60K B to B for $550! Has anyone come close to this? I know it has a 60K powertrain but wonder if the B to B is worth it to extend beyond 36K miles?

Any recommendations?

TIA
F222

 

[m_bisson]

This applies to all vehicles, not just Frontiers... those extended warranties are never worth it. They usually only add an extra 2 years, so you get 5 total instead of 3. That means, to break even, you need a major issue to occur in years 4 or 5 of the warranty. If you think a 3000 dollar repair will be needed in years 4 or 5, why not just set that money aside?

 

[invasion08]

Save your money like m bisson said.

 

[FFTR]

After reviewing the warranty Nissan has 3/36 bumper to bumper and 5/60 powertrain. I decided not to go for the extended warranty. I figured I could keep that amount in the bank in the event I have a failure that is not covered by Nissan.

I also elected not to get the pre paid maintenance plans. My reason is I don't drive that much. Doubt I will have 60,000 in 8 years.

It is a personal choice. Insurance is like gambling. Your betting by purchasing the extended warranty that you will have enough failures to cover the cost and then some. Nissan is betting their product will not fail within the time of the warranty.

 

[rpcraft]

The only part I found worth it was reducing it down to where it includes oil changes and basic stuff (like tire rotation) and the only reason I did that was because I sometimes drive a lot and when you blast off 4000 to 5000 miles in a month I like the option of walking in and having an oil change done as often as I like, so long as its over 3000 miles. I never once got a complaint out of my dealership even though at times I was quite early for oil changes (by 1500 miles or so because I was changing before going on an extended trip somewhere that was going to put me way over my change mileage). It ran out around 75,000 miles and since then I found myself delaying the oil change a bit but to my credit I only just hit about 81,000, but I usually use nothing but Mobile 1 synthetic (and that is what the dealership used as well) so if I push it a 1000 or so over I figure the motor's pretty well broken in now, lol.

 

[Skibane]

After reviewing the warranty Nissan has 3/36 bumper to bumper and 5/60 powertrain. I decided not to go for the extended warranty. I figured I could keep that amount in the bank in the event I have a failure that is not covered by Nissan.

That's a smart move.

Extended warranty companies don't offer their products out of the goodness of their hearts - They're offered to make a profit.

The only way to make a profit is by taking in more money on policy sales than they pay out in warranty claims, on average.

In actual practice, they take in A LOT more money than they pay out - which is why they're so lucrative for dealerships.

They are profit-inflators, pure and simple.

 

[BCBrian]

When I picked up my X, the finance guy talked me into the extended warranty but he let it slip that I could cancel it at any time and get a refund. He was PISSED when I came back about a month later and canceled it! Nissan gave me a full refund of the $3500 purchase price.

The main reason I decided to cancel it was the horror stories I read about other folks having their claims denied because of modifications. Since I started modifying my rig immediately, it just didn't make sense to risk $3500 on a warranty that might be worthless anyway.

 

[street sweeper]

i recently purchased a subaru and the factory extended warranty almost seemed worth it. covered everything except brake pads, tires and wiper blades for 7 years/100k miles to be replaced at a subaru dealership with oem parts. I believe the $3500 option included the maintenance plan as well.

But it would have added like $50 a month to my payment and i hope to have no major issues under 100k miles. It was however prorated refundable and transferable to another subaru if i traded the current car in on another new subaru.

However from what i have heard of 3rd party warranties they hardly offer enough coverage and are not the easiest to use. IE not covered everywhere and only use certain parts or have high deductibles.

 

[The other Sean]

It all depends on the price and how many miles it adds. Mine was $1200 and was going to take me to just under 100K miles. I had my rear differential assembly replaced to the tune of $4400 and that was covered by the extended. So, I made out great. Had the warranty been more money, I probably wouldn't have bought it. If I was buying a 2wd without a locker, I probably wouldn't have spent $1200 on a warranty. But, I was buying a fully loaded 4WD with a rear locker, so I saw it as more things that could go wrong.

 

[Cusser]

This applies to all vehicles, not just Frontiers... those extended warranties are never worth it. They usually only add an extra 2 years, so you get 5 total instead of 3. That means, to break even, you need a major issue to occur in years 4 or 5 of the warranty. If you think a 3000 dollar repair will be needed in years 4 or 5, why not just set that money aside?

Not only do I agree with staying away from extended warranties completely, so does Consumer Reports. Save that money in a separate, dedicated account. Most folks will be way ahead doing this. So don't get any warranty you have to pay for, and don't extend either.

Mechanic here on radio show says he always has to fight with such companies as well. Like them denying a radiator or alternator replacement because someone failed to get a transmission service....

 

[The other Sean]

Not only do I agree with staying away from extended warranties completely, so does Consumer Reports. Save that money in a separate, dedicated account. Most folks will be way ahead doing this. So don't get any warranty you have to pay for, and don't extend either.

Mechanic here on radio show says he always has to fight with such companies as well. Like them denying a radiator or alternator replacement because someone failed to get a transmission service....

Interesting. The service writer said he made one call to the warranty company, they ok'd the new rear end assembly and a rental car for me on the spot. A $1200 warranty covered a $4400 repair and a 2 day car rental.

 

[Zedbra]

Well, I am one of those that seriously consider extended warranties and what they truly offer. On my last two vehicles, I bought the extended warranty each time.

On my truck, the extended warranty I bought was 7 years on drive train (some other small things too) and 125k kilometres for $2200 I believe, might have been less; it also included free towing to a Nissan dealer should their be a break-down and seeing as how I live in a big big province with few dealers, that was a bonus. Four days before my warranty expired, I ended up getting my entire rear diff, calipers, axles all replaced under that extended warranty and saved myself about $4g.

On my VW, the extended warranty was $2000 for 7 years 125k as well, but had a caveat that if you never used it, you got it all back minus $500. The flywheel grenaded itself, taking out the tranny and that $2g was worth every penny.

So, YMMV but I generally consider extended warranties as just part of the price and never think about it again.

 

[Archer22]

I have two experiences I can share that might help. My wife bought a three year old '05 Explorer Sport Trac, I already had an '04 purchased the same year. Over the 4 years I owned mine, other than routine maintenance I only had to replace the EGR valve. My wife's truck on the other hand, she bought an extended bumper to bumper warranty for like $950. She owned her truck for 7 years. She had just about everything go wrong on her truck that you can imagine. She got every bit out of her warranty and then some. They probably dumped $5k into repairs for that measly $950 warranty she purchased. It was worth it in her case.

On the other hand. I purchased my first new vehicle in 2012, also the first vehicle I purchased without "adult supervision" (lol). The dealership convinced me to buy a 3 year extended bumper to bumper warranty beyond the factory warranty to the tune of about $3200 carried over on my loan. Over the 4 years I owned that car, I had exactly ZERO problems with it even when trying to find something to turn in. I ended up paying that car off last August and buying my frontier the next month. For me, it was $3200 down the drain.

To each his own. I would find purchasing a warranty for a used car to be far more beneficial than on a new car nowadays. I didn't buy an extended warranty with my new frontier.

 

[tumbleweed]

A few people are glad they bought one; a lot of people are glad they didn't.

I had one on a Toyota and tried to use it twice, they weaseled out both times. Anyone who buys one of these had better read and understand the "mouse print". Mine definitely didn't cover the things I was told it would. I haven't bought an extended warranty or a Toyota since.

 

[OutFrontFrontier]

Waste of money on the Frontier. Now my old Audi A4, Yes, definitely, W/O a doubt get the warranty!!!

 

[Colo.Frontier]

Well, I'm one of those who like it, especially if it's a factory backed ext. warranty. Had one on my 2000 Dodge Dakota, didn't buy it until the last time the truck was in for service on the original warranty. It covered me to 100K. Paid $1600 for it, it paid for itself, sort of. You have to read the fine print, the one I bought did not cover the heater core, literally the only item not covered............and the first item to fail. $900 P&L to replace. Ok, that sucked. Few months later the rack and pinion developed a leak, with the warranty $100 deductible, without the warranty would have been $1,200 P&L through the dealer, $1,000 through an Indy. At the same time, the rear main seal started to leak. Paid the $100 once and Dodge took care of it. Without the warranty, rear main would have been a $400 repair. Few months later the front cover developed a leak and the idler pulley started squeal, $100 deductible and Dodge fixed it all, without, $600 P&L. My truck was heavily modded, Dodge never balked at covering anything that was not modified, or, that they couldn't prove failed because of a mod.

When I bought my Frontier, I bought a factory warranty, the dealer through in a pre-paid maintenance contract for 3 oil changes. I'm currently at 39K, obviously beyond the 36K bumper to bumper. Just got the truck back from Nissan, $50 deductible and they replaced two backup sensors that failed and a leaky valve cover gasket. My truck is also modified, in fact it was while installing my Volant CAI that I noticed the leak.

 

[Front222]

Thanks all.. after all considered, we did not go with the warrant. He's socking away the $50/ month it would have cost him in case he needs it later...

 

[Pelican_Flyer]

Folks.. sorry for the barrage of questions on my first join day!:surprise: We just bought our son a 2015 Frontier SV with approx 21K miles on it. It still has the remainder of the factory warranty.

We had it checked out pre-purchase by an independent mechanic and there was a very small oil leak in the valve gasket.. which we will bring to Nissan soon. That was all he found

We did research, and for the most part, the reliability on this vehicle is good. Would the folks on here who have owned these vehicles recommend an extended warranty?

I called a few companies, and they were ridiculously priced.. $2500 to $3000... Bumper to Bumper. After doing some research on this site, saw one post where one person claimed they got a 60K B to B for $550! Has anyone come close to this? I know it has a 60K powertrain but wonder if the B to B is worth it to extend beyond 36K miles?

Any recommendations?

TIA
F222

That was probably me. I got my extended warranty through USAA, which is a financial services group catering to military, veterans and their families. In general, extended warranties are not recommended, but for the price (I got mine for just under $550) and it is a manufacturer's wrap, meaning it is bumper-to-bumper for the full 60K miles that Nissan covers the powertrain. I don't want to sounds like a commercial, but USAA and the company underwriting the warranty have a solid reputation. If you have access to USAA (and some credit unions and other affiliate-type financial institutions may also have something like this) you may want to check out their website or call them.

I know that Pentagon Federal Credit Union does similar and I'm sure others do too. Most commercial (retail) extended warranties are not worth the money. It is well worth the time and effort to research it. Good luck to you and you son.

 

[Colo.Frontier]

BTW, as anyone who mods their vehicle is aware, the dealer cannot deny warranty service on a modded vehicle, unless they can prove the mod caused the failure. Falls under Magnuson-Moss act. The only caveat to this, if you have any type of tuner installed, they do have the right to deny service as long as the tuner is active. Any time my vehicles go to the dealer for service, I turn off the tuner to prevent issues.