Acura Extended Warranty Overview
The Acura extended warranty, known as Acura Care, can provide coverage on new and pre-owned models for up to 8 years/120,000 miles.
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Motor1 Reviews Team Take:
- Acura offers several extended warranty plans for both new, pre-owned, and used cars. Coverage can last up to 8 years or 120,000 miles – whichever comes first.
- Benefits include roadside assistance, trip interruption benefits, rental car reimbursement, and concierge services.
- Third-party extended warranty plans can provide more flexibility, month-to-month contracts, a wider network of repair shops, and lower prices versus a plan from an Acura dealer.
If you’re buying a new Acura, chances are the last thing on your mind is the cost of repairs down the line. The dealer takes care of most of your repair woes for the first few years of ownership, thanks to Acura’s factory warranty. But once that expires, you’re on your own and will need to find a way to deal with the bills. Your options are to pay out of pocket, purchase an extended warranty from Acura, or buy an extended warranty from a third-party provider.
After spending over 1,475 hours researching the best extended warranty providers, we’ve reviewed and compared these options with Acura’s manufacturer-backed extended warranty. In this article, we’ll take a close look at the coverage, benefits, and costs associated with the Acura extended warranty. We’ll also discuss the pros and cons of manufacturer-backed and third-party extended warranties.
What Does An Acura Extended Warranty Cover?
Acura’s extended warranty is called Acura Care®. You’ll find six levels of coverage through Acura Care that cater to models of different ages. The maximum coverage period for all plans is 8 years/120,000 miles.
These plans are known as:
- New Vehicle Coverage
- Pre-Owned Vehicle Coverage
- Certified Additional Coverage
- Certified Used Additional Coverage
- Certified Used Powertrain Coverage
- Powertrain Coverage (used vehicles only)
While this coverage is primarily for Acura models, vehicles from other automakers can benefit from the New Vehicle Coverage, Pre-Owned Vehicle Coverage, and Powertrain Coverage plans. Acura notes that some benefits start from the purchase date of your Acura Care vehicle service contract, but repair coverage starts once your New Vehicle Limited Warranty expires.
Acura Care Plans
The New, Pre-Owned, Certified Additional, and Certified Used Additional Coverage plans cover nearly all components in your car. The table below showcases the main parts and systems covered by all four plans:
| Vehicle System | Components Covered |
|---|---|
| Drivetrain | Engine, transmission, differential, front and rear axles |
| Electrical | Computer, electronics, and the electrical system |
| Chassis | Suspension, steering, and brake systems |
| Heating and cooling | Air conditioning, heating, and cooling systems |
| Acura accessories | Audio, communication devices, and additional accessories |
The Powertrain and Certified Used Powertrain Coverage plans only cover the following:
- Engine
- Drive axle
- Transmission
- Seals and gaskets
- Fluids associated with a covered repair
Acura Care Benefits
All Acura extended warranties come with a standard roster of benefits, including:
- Roadside assistance: This benefit covers towing services, battery jump-starts, tire changes, lockout assistance services, and fluid and fuel deliveries.
- Trip interruption benefits: If you suffer a breakdown 100 miles or more from home, you’re given up to $300 a day for a maximum of three days for food and lodging.
- Rental car reimbursement: If you need alternative transportation while your car is in the repair shop, you’ll get $45 a day for a maximum of six days for a rental.
- Concierge services: An uncommon benefit in the industry, this 24/7 service can help you book a hotel, assist with airline ticket information, arrange a rental car, and more.
- Transferable coverage: You can transfer your extended warranty plan to a new owner if it’s still in effect.
Acura Extended Warranty Exclusions
Like most other extended warranties, Acura vehicle service contracts don’t cover certain vehicle components. You’ll need to consult a sample contract from your dealership for the full list of exclusions, but some include:
- Maintenance services
- Upholstery
- Carpeting
- Glass
- Wear-and-tear items
- Tires and wheels
How Much Does An Acura Extended Warranty Cost?
If you’re interested in how much a manufacturer-backed Acura warranty is, you’ll need to contact your local, authorized Acura dealer for more information. While Acura provides limited information about its extended warranty online, there’s no official information provided about costs.
As part of our 1,475 hours of research on extended warranties, we gather quotes from various providers to get a better understanding of average costs. We found that the average extended car warranty costs about $3,026 in total. See the table below for average cost estimates broken down further by coverage type.
| Extended Warranty Type | Average Total Cost |
|---|---|
| Exclusionary | $3,124 |
| Mid-Level | $3,060 |
| Powertrain | $2,893 |
Note that these estimates are based on the average of several top providers in our industry-wide review. You may end up paying more for a manufacturer-backed extended warranty plan for an Acura as it’s a luxury brand. Your vehicle’s make, model, mileage, and age are also influencing cost factors.
Is An Acura Extended Warranty Worth It?
If your vehicle is brand new, an Acura extended warranty may not be worth it right now. As soon as you drive your new Acura off the lot, you’re covered under its 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty, which offers bumper-to-bumper warranty protection, plus a 6-year/70,000-mile powertrain warranty.
However, once you hit the time or mileage limit, you’ll need to say goodbye to your factory warranty. You may want to consider extended warranty coverage when you’re approaching your warranty expiration. You should also consider how likely it is that your Acura will break down – in other words, it’s good to know your Acura’s mechanical reliability.
Deciding whether to pull the trigger on an extended car warranty is personal and depends primarily on your risk tolerance. Extended warranties can provide peace of mind if you’re risk-averse. You pay a fee up front, and if your car breaks down, all you pay is the deductible.
Acura Reliability
Acura is Honda’s luxury brand, and just like its parent company, Acura has a reputation for reliability. For example, RepairPal ranks Acura 2nd out of 32 total car brands for reliability, right behind Honda itself.
However, this is in deep contrast to Acura’s performance in the J.D. Power 2023 U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study℠, where Acura fell below the industry average. According to the study, Acura suffered 211 problems per 100 vehicles, which put it as the 21st most reliable brand out of 32 auto manufacturers.
Acura Maintenance Cost
Despite Acura’s reliability, Acura vehicles are still subject to breakdowns and will need repairs like any other car. When that happens, here’s what RepairPal estimates you can expect to pay:
| Vehicle | Replacement | Estimated Repair Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Acura TSX | Power seat motor replacement | $1,219 to $1,256 |
| Acura ZDX | Wheel replacement | $704 to $718 |
| Acura MDX | Seat heater replacement | $629 to $672 |
| Acura TLX | Steering knuckle replacement | $605 to $662 |
Repairing an Acura is significantly cheaper than most vehicles, which is good news for owners. RepairPal listed the average Acura repair cost at $501 a year, while the average across all brands is $652.
Acura Factory Warranty
When comparing quotes and coverage, it’s important to understand what protection you may already have under your Acura manufacturer’s warranty. Each new car comes with the following:
- New Vehicle Limited Warranty: 4 years/50,000 miles
- Powertrain Limited Warranty: 6 years/70,000 miles
- Various Emissions Warranties: Up to 7 years/70,000 miles
- Seat Belt Limited Warranty: 15 years/150,000 miles
- Rust Perforation Limited Warranty: 5 years/unlimited miles
Acura also provides coverage for accessories and replacement items, such as general parts, 12-volt batteries, and exhaust components. If you have a certified pre-owned Acura, your warranty is extended by 2 years and up to 100,000 miles. Note that Acura does not cover cosmetic issues or the cost of regular maintenance.
Acura Limited Factory Warranty Coverage
The factory warranty also provides limited coverage for the following:
- Original batteries for key fobs and remotes for six months
- Original wiper blade inserts for six months
- Wheel balancing and alignment for 1 year/12,000 miles
- Air conditioner refrigerant for 2 years/24,000 miles
Acura Vs. Third-Party Extended Warranties
Acura’s extended warranty has its perks, but owners may enjoy a few more benefits if they purchase an extended warranty from a third-party provider. Most importantly, third-party providers offer more freedom of choice and greater flexibility.
When you have an extended auto warranty from Acura, you’ll need to service your vehicle at authorized Acura dealerships if you want to benefit from your contract. While you’ll be guaranteed genuine Acura replacement parts installed by factory-trained technicians, you’ll have less flexibility with repairs. Because most third-party providers have a more extensive network of authorized service centers, chances are you’ll be able to find one even if you’re far from home.
Our Manufacturer Extended Warranty Survey
In 2023, we surveyed through Pollfish 1,000 consumers across the country who had purchased an extended warranty from the manufacturer. Several respondents had Honda warranties, but no one had an Acura warranty. That said, here are some general trends from the survey:
- When asked about cost, the most popular answer was that respondents paid between $1,000 and $2,000 for a plan (34 percent). This was followed by the $2,000 to $3,000 range (22 percent of respondents).
- 48 percent of respondents bought comprehensive coverage while 34 percent bought mid-level coverage and 11 percent bought powertrain coverage.
To get more insight into an Acura extended warranty, we followed this up with another survey in January 2024. This time, we polled 220 car owners from high-income households who had purchased an extended warranty from a car manufacturer. Acura was included in the survey, with 20 respondents having bought an extended warranty from the automaker. Here are some of the positive comments these respondents had for their Acura vehicle protection plans:
- “I am very satisfied with my warranty coverage because it helps me to take care of my car and provides me with the necessary improvements in my car.”
- “I am very satisfied because it gives me the best warranty coverage and I don’t have to stress about anything relating to my car.”
- “It’s great, and they make sure I have whatever I need no matter what.”
Acura Extended Warranties: Bottom Line
This article provides an overview of Acura’s extended warranty offerings, looking at plan options, benefits, exclusions, and costs. While this extended warranty will give you peace of mind and save you money, we recommend checking out some third-party providers.
Acura Extended Warranty Vs. Endurance
Our team has spent over 1,475 hours of research on extended warranties. We’ve mystery shopped for quotes, combed over thousands of customer reviews, and surveyed thousands of past and present extended warranty owners. Endurance is one of the best extended warranty companies we’ve researched. We gave it our Best Coverage award for its wide range of coverage options and additional perks compared to the competition.
In October 2023, our team conducted a survey of 1,000 consumers who had purchased an extended warranty to learn about their experiences. More than half of the respondents said that coverage matters most when purchasing an extended protection plan. If you agree with the majority, Endurance is worth considering in your search for a vehicle protection plan.
See the table below to see how Endurance and Acura extended warranties compare. If you’d like to learn more about our review methodology, read more here.
| Acura
Extended Warranty | Endurance
Extended Warranty | |
|---|---|---|
| Start Date | Limited | Any time |
| Maximum Miles of Coverage | 120,000 | 200,000+ |
| # of Plan Options | Acura Care | 6 levels of coverage |
| Transferable | ✓ | ✓ |
| Deductible | Varies | $0+ |
| Trip Interruption | ✓ | ✓ |
| Roadside Assistance | ✓ | ✓ |
| Repair Network | ~250 | > 30,000 facilities nationwide |
| Cancellation Policy | Full refund in 60 days,
prorated afterward | Refund if within 30 days,
prorated refund afterward |
| Availability | Must purchase from local dealer | Free, instant quote online |
Acura Extended Warranty: FAQ
Here are some frequently asked questions about Acura:
What is the Acura extended warranty period?
An extended warranty through Acura Care can last up to 8 years or 120,000 miles, whichever comes first. Exact warranty periods will depend on your chosen plan. Contact an authorized dealership near you to learn more about the options available to you.
Which Acura models are covered by the extended warranty?
Acura provides extended warranty coverage for all models under the name. It even provides a special line of vehicle service contracts that provide protection for non-Acura vehicles.
How much does an Acura extended warranty cost?
Acura doesn’t freely disclose how much their extended warranties cost on average, so you’ll need to contact a dealership for a quote. We found that the average cost for an extended warranty is $3,026 among the top third-party providers in our industry review.
Methodology
In an effort to provide accurate and unbiased information to consumers, our expert review team collects data from dozens of extended auto warranty companies to formulate rankings of the best providers. Companies receive a score in each of the following categories, as well as an overall weighted score out of 5.0 stars.
- Industry Standing: Warranty providers with a history of strong business practices and endorsements from experts receive the highest scores in this category.
- Coverage: This rating is based on types of extended warranty plans available, coverage terms, and added benefits like roadside assistance.
- Cost: Our research team reviews sample quotes for a variety of plans and vehicles. Companies with lower prices per year of coverage receive the best scores.
- Transparency: This score takes into account contract transparency and the availability of a money-back guarantee.
- Customer Service: We comb through customer reviews and perform our own shopper analysis to get a sense of the responsiveness and helpfulness of each warranty company.
*Data accurate at time of publication.
