GMC Warranty Overview
The GMC warranty offers bumper-to-bumper coverage for 3 years/36,000 miles and powertrain coverage for 5 years/60,000 miles, plus roadside assistance.
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Motor1 Reviews Team Take:
- GMC’s bumper-to-bumper warranty lasts for 3 years/36,000 miles and covers the entire vehicle except for a list of exclusions.
- GMC offers a powertrain warranty of 5 years/60,000 miles on all vehicles except heavy-duty diesel Sierras which get 100,000 miles.
- According to RepairPal, GMC has slightly higher annual repair costs than the industry average.
All GMC vehicles come with a GMC warranty that includes 3 years/36,000 miles of bumper-to-bumper coverage and 5 years/60,000 miles of powertrain coverage. Keep reading to learn exactly what is covered by the GMC factory warranty and what this could mean for your wallet.
If you plan to own your vehicle for a long time, you may decide that you’re interested in extending your warranty coverage. If you need extended protection for your GMC vehicle, we recommend getting quotes from the providers that topped our list of best extended car warranty companies.
GMC Warranty Coverage And Terms
All new GMC vehicles come with standard warranties that include bumper-to-bumper and powertrain coverage, rust protection, corrosion protection, roadside assistance, and more.
You don’t have to do anything to receive this coverage. It This vehicle service contract comes with every newly purchased or leased GMC vehicle. Keep in mind that a GMC warranty won’t cover damage caused by an accident, improper maintenance, or misuse. If you use non-branded parts that create a problem, there is no coverage for that either.
Let’s break down each plan under GMC’s warranty to see what’s included and what’s not.
| GMC Warranty | Terms |
|---|---|
| Bumper-to-Bumper | 3 years/36,000 miles |
| Powertrain | 5 years/60,000 miles |
| Corrosion | 3 years/36,000 miles |
| Rust-Through | 6 years/100,000 miles |
| Emissions | Varies |
| Roadside Assistance | 5 years/ 60,000 miles |
Bumper-To-Bumper Limited Warranty (3 Years/36,000 Miles)
GMC provides a bumper-to-bumper warranty with no deductible. This comprehensive coverage extends across the entire vehicle for repairs – including parts and labor – with only a short list of exclusions. The covered components are guaranteed against defects in workmanship or material. This warranty also provides towing to the GMC dealer. If you sell the vehicle, it transfers automatically if still within the term length.
Powertrain Limited Warranty (5 Years/60,000 Miles)
The fully transferable powertrain warranty covers the essential systems of your vehicle with no deductible. For both the GMC 2500 and 3500 Sierra Heavy Duty (HD) trucks with Duramax turbodiesel engines, the coverage is automatically extended to a 5-year/100,000-mile plan.
Parts covered with the powertrain warranty include:
- Engine
- Transmission/transaxle
- Transfer case
- Drive systems (axle shafts, bearings, propeller shafts, universal joints, and constant velocity joints)
The following exclusions apply to GMC’s powertrain warranty:
- Sensors
- Wiring
- Connectors
- Hoses
- Clutch
- Pressure plate
- Transmission control module
Courtesy transportation is also available for the duration of your bumper-to-bumper or powertrain coverage. If your vehicle requires repairs during the warranty terms, you can be reimbursed for certain transportation expenses. For more information about exclusions, refer to the Limited Warranty and Owner Assistance Information booklet.
Corrosion Protection (3 Years/36,000 Miles)
This warranty covers all body and sheet metal components of your vehicle from corrosion. With the warranty, GMC recommends refraining from applying any extra rust-inhibiting material to the vehicle.
Rust-Through Protection (6 Years/100,000 Miles)
This coverage handles repairs should the body sheet metal rust through and form a hole. For the first three years, corrosion is specifically covered under the previous warranty and should prevent a hole from wearing through if repairs are made promptly.
Complimentary Maintenance Visit
The first maintenance appointment for a new GMC vehicle is covered as part of the warranty plan. During a maintenance appointment, coverage includes an oil change, tire rotation, and vehicle inspection.
If you’ve recently purchased a used vehicle and want to see if the factory GMC warranty is still valid, you can look up this information on the automaker’s website. Simply create an account in GMC’s My Owner Center to look up the warranty status.
Do You Need Extended Coverage On Your GMC?
As your factory GMC warranty plans expire – or ideally, long before that – you need to decide what to do next. A GMC extended warranty is a way to have vehicle protection in the long run, but it’s important to choose great coverage. The following questions sections should help you determine if a GMC extended warranty is right for you.
Are You Keeping Your Car?
If you plan to keep your vehicle for a long time, you want to make sure you have the coverage you need to avoid expensive repairs. On the other hand, you don’t necessarily want to write off a warranty if you plan to sell the vehicle. In fact, an extended auto warranty that is transferable can help make your vehicle more appealing to potential buyers.
GMC Reliability And Cost Of Repairs
GMC is ranked 3.0 out of 5.0 in terms of reliability by RepairPal. This puts the automaker at 22nd out of 32 ranked car brands, so it’s not considered one of the most dependable manufacturers. According to the site, GMC owners pay $744 per year for maintenance and repairs, which is more expensive than the national average of $652. The question probably isn’t whether or not you will experience an issue – it’s how expensive that issue will be.
Some GMC repairs you might encounter over the life of your vehicle include:
| Model | Repair | Average Cost |
|---|---|---|
| GMC C1500 | Ignition switch replacement | $271 to $348 |
| GMC R1500 Suburban | Intake manifold gasket replacement | $848 to $929 |
| GMC Sierra 3500 Classic | Starter replacement | $557 to $601 |
Do You Have The Money To Cover Repairs?
The repair costs above are simply estimates. The table doesn’t show figures for more expensive repairs, like the replacement of your engine or transmission. A transmission replacement is actually the most common repair in vehicles over 100,000 miles, according to Jessica Campbell, Director of Marketing at Endurance Warranty. If your vehicle has multiple issues in a short period of time, you might quickly find yourself with thousands of dollars in car repair costs trying to figure out how you are going to pay for them.
If, after answering these questions, you find that a GMC extended warranty is the best option for you and would provide peace of mind, it’s time to consider where you are going to buy the coverage.
GMC Protection Plans
The GMC Protection Plan comes with three levels of coverage: Platinum, Silver, and Powertrain. The Platinum protection plan is an exclusionary contract similar to the GMC factory warranty. Silver is a mid-level plan, while Powertrain plan just protects the most important systems.
You can choose different time and mileage limits up to 8 years/100,000 miles with these plans. There are multiple deductible options, and each plan comes with roadside assistance.
On top of these plans, GMC also offers:
- GAP Coverage
- Tire & Wheel Protection
- Pre-Paid Maintenance
All of these are available for an additional fee and must be purchased at the dealership.
Limitations And Exclusions
It’s important to read through the fine print of GMC Protection Plans to see what is and isn’t covered. Here are a few of the parts not covered by GMC Protection Plans:
- Battery
- Transmission clutch assembly
- Audio equipment and speakers
- Carpet/upholstery
- Brake drums and rotors
- Exhaust components
The following exclusions also apply to a GMC extended warranty or Protection Plan:
- Repairs must be done by an authorized GM dealership, which includes GMC, Chevrolet, Buick, and Cadillac.
- Having any parts replaced outside of the dealership can void your warranty.
- If a breakdown occurs because of a lack of routine maintenance, you aren’t covered.
What GMC Drivers Are Saying
In 2023, we surveyed 1,000 vehicle owners across the U.S. who had purchased an extended warranty from the manufacturer. Of the GMC drivers we polled, 100 percent expressed some level of satisfaction with their coverage, and 86 percent would consider purchasing the same level of extended coverage from again.
One driver with a GMC Canyon with under 50,000 miles reported being pleased with her plan, saying, “I had a faulty part and had to have it replaced, and the extended warranty covered the cost.”
Coverage was the most important factor this driver considered when shopping for a vehicle protection plan, although she also took note of cost, contract transparency, and ensuring she was purchasing from a reputable source.
Benefits Of A Third-Party Extended Warranty
As you examine your coverage options, you may want to look into third-party warranty providers. These providers most commonly act as brokers, offering a variety of coverage plans from various warranty administrators. There are also third-party companies that are direct providers.
Some of the benefits to using a reputable third-party extended warranty company include:
- Complete protection: Third parties provide just as much extended warranty coverage as manufacturer’s warranties, if not more. You can choose the protection plan that covers the components you want.
- No dealership markup: Dealers sometimes mark up the price of a warranty. Many also require you to purchase your extended warranty at the time of the vehicle purchase, which doesn’t give you much time to consider your options. However, this is not the case with GMC.
- Flexible repair options: Third-party companies allow you to have your vehicle repaired at other repair shops aside from the dealership.
- Buy anytime: You can purchase an extended warranty before your factory GMC warranty expires or long afterward. Most of the time, you will receive a lower price when you purchase earlier.
- Additional perks: Many aftermarket plans provide benefits such as roadside assistance, towing services, rental cars, and trip interruption services. Read through the terms of the plans you are considering to ensure you get what you need.
You never know the warranty costs until you get a personalized quote. That’s why we recommend getting one from at least two companies. Then you can truly compare your options side by side.
How To Pick A Warranty Company For Your GMC
We’ve already done research on the top third-party warranty companies in the industry. Our team conducted a survey in 2023 of 1,000 people across the country who had purchased extended warranty plans in the past. These respondents expressed which third-party provider they purchased a warranty from and for what reasons.
Below, you can see that CarShield was the most popular third-party company in our survey, followed by Carchex and Endurance.
When you shop for a warranty plan, consider the following factors to find the best option:
- Term length
- Company reputation
- Coverage and exclusions
- Number of mechanics to choose from
- Claims process
- Ability to cancel coverage
- Ability to transfer coverage
- Quotes process
Our team found that average monthly rates with independent warranty companies are between $120 and $135 on average. We secret shopped with more than 40 providers, using popular makes and models to gather our data.
GMC Warranty: FAQ
Below are a few frequently asked questions about GMC warranty coverage:
How long is the warranty on GMC cars?
GMC offers a new vehicle limited warranty for 3 years/36,000 miles and a powertrain warranty for 5 years/60,000 miles. Heavy-duty diesel engines get 5 years/100,000 miles of coverage.
Is GMC extended warranty worth it?
A GMC extended warranty can be worth it considering the brand has slightly higher average maintenance and repair costs than the industry standard.
Does GMC have a 100,000-mile warranty?
GMC offers a 5 years/100,000-mile warranty on GMC Sierra 2500 and 3500 Series Heavy Duty (HD) trucks with Duramax turbodiesel engines
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.
