Mercedes Warranty Overview
Mercedes-Benz owners enjoy the company’s 4-year/50,000-mile factory warranty for new vehicles, which helps cover otherwise costly repairs and services.
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Motor1 Reviews Team Take:
- The Mercedes-Benz New Vehicle Limited Warranty is good for 4 years or 50,000 miles and includes coverage for powertrain systems, corrosion, and roadside assistance.
- Coverage for emissions control and hybrid battery systems varies by location.
- Mercedes vehicles have low reliability scores, so drivers may benefit strongly from factory warranty and extended warranty coverage.
Mercedes-Benz stands behind its cars and SUVs with a 4-year/50,000-mile warranty. This is a standard warranty length compared to other luxury brands and offers a reasonable term of coverage, but what does the Mercedes warranty pay for, exactly?
In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the Mercedes warranty and what options you have for extending warranty coverage, including contracts with some of the best extended car warranty providers.
Mercedes Warranty Coverage
The table below shows an overview of the 2024 Mercedes-Benz New Vehicle Limited Warranty.
| Mercedes Warranty | Years of Coverage |
|---|---|
| Basic Warranty (Bumper-to-Bumper and Powertrain) | 4 years/50,000 miles |
| Plug-In Hybrid Electric High Voltage Battery | 6 years/62,000 miles |
| Emission Performance/Control | Varies |
| Vehicle Service Parts and Accessories Limited Warranty | 2 years/unlimited mileage |
Mercedes’ manufacturer warranty covers most mechanical and electrical vehicle components for 4 years or 50,000 miles, whichever comes first. “Four years” means 48 months from the date you purchase the car. Mercedes includes the powertrain warranty, corrosion perforation warranty, and roadside assistance plan in that four-year warranty period.
Plug-In Hybrid Electric High Voltage Battery
The high-voltage battery limited warranty for Mercedes plug-in hybrid models provides coverage for up to 6 years or 62,000 miles. In some states (California, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, and Vermont), the battery for plug-in hybrid vehicles extends to 10 years/150,000 miles.
Emissions Control Warranty
Also, in California and states that follow its emissions regulations (the states listed above plus Delaware, Oregon, Pennsylvania, and Washington), certain parts of the emission control system are covered for 8 years/80,000 miles. These can include things like fuel injectors, intake manifolds, certain hoses and electronics, and other parts.
Vehicle Service Parts and Accessories Limited Warranty
In addition to the warranty provided by tiremakers, Mercedes covers tires against defects in material or workmanship for 12 months/12,000 miles. Within that period, a Mercedes dealer will replace a tire if it becomes “unserviceable” as long as at least 1.6 millimeters of tread depth remains. That’s pretty generous, especially considering that on some Mercedes vehicles, the tires can be quite expensive.
What’s Not Covered By The Mercedes Warranty?
Like most new vehicle limited warranties, the Mercedes-Benz warranty has some exclusions. As is typical among car brands, Mercedes does not cover:
- Wear-and-tear items, including brake pads and wiper blades
- Wheel alignment and balancing
- Glass
- Batteries for any remote controls, including the keyless entry system
Damage due to a lack of maintenance is also not covered. According to Mercedes, this could include using “non-approved” service parts and fluids.
It may sound like “common sense” not to drive through high water, but people often do it, and it can damage a car severely, even to the point of being “totaled” by an insurance company. Mercedes specifically says this damage will not be covered, nor will damage from extreme storm conditions, hail, or other environmental factors.
Mercedes is also specific about the warranty not covering damage to the vehicle’s paint, trim, upholstery, or convertible top caused by “airborne fallout,” which could include chemicals, tree sap, and road salt. Just as a point of comparison, Ford’s New Vehicle Limited Warranty covers damage to the car’s paint from “environmental fallout” for 12 months/12,000 miles.
The Mercedes warranty does not cover an alternative method of transportation while your car is getting repairs done. It also won’t cover lodging and travel costs, the loss of pay or any other economic loss. When a warranty spells it out like that, you can be pretty sure some customers have tried to make such claims against the warranty.
Mercedes CPO Warranty
Mercedes-Benz was among the first brands to offer a Certified Pre-Owned program for its used cars in the 1990s, and its current program is pretty picky about the cars it covers.
Mercedes-Benz certified pre-owned vehicles must be less than 6 years old and have less than 75,000 miles to qualify. They must also pass a 165-point inspection for certification. Pre-owned vehicles with identifiable structural damage or a problem shown in a Carfax Vehicle History Report are not approved for the CPO program.
Mercedes vehicles that do qualify for CPO get the remainder of the 4-year/50,000 mile New Vehicle Limited Warranty (if any) plus another 12 months/unlimited miles of comprehensive coverage. According to Mercedes, this coverage extends to the following:
- Powertrain
- Steering
- Suspension
- Brakes
- Electrical
- Climate control systems, and more
This warranty can be extended by one or two additional years, with unlimited miles in either case. As with the original new car warranty, normal wear on the brake discs and pads is not covered.
Do You Need A Mercedes Extended Warranty?
The Mercedes extended warranty offers excellent coverage that takes care of most components in your car, for up to 7 years/100,000 miles (from the vehicle’s original in-service date). Whether you need extended coverage or not depends on how reliable your Mercedes is and how comfortable you’d be paying for repair costs out of pocket if something went wrong down the line.
How Reliable Are Mercedes-Benz Vehicles?
Although Mercedes-Benz may be famous for high-quality vehicles, the brand doesn’t always rank highly with trusted industry sources – especially when compared to other brands like Lexus or Genesis.
For example, the J.D. Power 2023 U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study℠ surveyed problems in three-year-old vehicles across 32 car manufacturers. Mercedes was found to have a staggering 240 problems per 100 cars, which is far more than the industry average of 186.
Many people turn to Consumer Reports for automotive reliability information, and this publication scored Mercedes even lower, at 29 out of 30 brands. Notably, Consumer Reports left out Fiat, Jaguar, Land Rover, and Maserati due to insufficient survey data. Still, these low reliability rankings make Mercedes-Benz a brand more prone to mechanical malfunctions after a few years.
Mercedes-Benz Repair Costs
A Mercedes extended warranty can be expensive, but so can your Mercedes maintenance cost. According to RepairPal, these are some part replacement costs for various Mercedes-Benz models:
| Model | Part Replacement | Average Cost Range |
|---|---|---|
| Mercedes-Benz S550 | Window regulator replacement | $706 to $815 |
| Mercedes-Benz C300 | Seat heater replacement | $788 to $840 |
| Mercedes-Benz GLE350 | Head gasket replacement | $1,914 to $2,297 |
| Mercedes-Benz E400 | Alternator replacement | $1,176 to $1,591 |
Mercedes Vs. Aftermarket Extended Warranties: Which Are Better?
An extended warranty from Mercedes can be very beneficial, but you have other options that may work better. Aftermarket warranty providers offer more options to help you gain added peace of mind if you buy a higher-mileage car, and usually for a lower cost.
In 2023, our team conducted a survey of 1,000 drivers who purchased manufacturer-backed extended warranty coverage. Of those surveyed, only a small percentage of drivers reported owning vehicles from automakers like Mercedes-Benz. However, 26 percent of those drivers indicated they would consider purchasing third-party extended warranty coverage over a manufacturer option.
One driver with a Mercedes vehicle with between 100,000 and 150,000 miles said, “I found it helpful. Claims were straightforward. Bumper-to-bumper [coverage] gave me peace of mind.”
Repair Facilities
With a Mercedes-Benz extended limited warranty, you must have your car repaired by an authorized Mercedes-Benz dealership. With an aftermarket warranty, you can take it to a Mercedes dealer or just about any licensed repair facility. That can be a major convenience if your car breaks down far from the nearest Mercedes dealer.
Of nearly 160,000 auto repair facilities in the United States, only about 375 are Mercedes dealers. Note that with third party extended warranties, however, there is no guarantee that a repair facility will use genuine Mercedes-Benz parts during services.
Coverage Options And Term Limits
A third-party extended auto warranty provider like Endurance can offer more flexible plans and up to 8 years of coverage or more than 200,000 miles. Third-party warranties are available to cover original owners as well as CPO models after the Mercedes warranty has expired.
Endurance, CarShield, and Carchex all offer five or more basic coverage plans if you feel you don’t want to cover the entire car. Because you can find plans that cover less, they’re often significantly less expensive than comprehensive plans.
For example, the Endurance Secure level can offer essential coverage for the powertrain and a few other essentials – which are the most expensive parts of the vehicle anyway. A Mercedes extended warranty only comes with a full-coverage plan.
It’s more common for independent providers to offer full-scale bumper-to-bumper warranties and powertrain warranties as separate coverage options. You can check out their major differences below:
Which Independent Warranty Providers Are The Best?
We conducted a warranty survey in 2022, where 1,000 respondents answered questions about their experiences with buying extended warranties. Of those 1,000, 56 percent got their warranty from CarShield. The other two providers in the top three were Endurance and Carchex.
Although it comes down to personal preference as far as what type of warranty you purchase for your Mercedes-Benz vehicle, our research shows that most consumers who purchase with a third-party provider mostly choose one of those three providers.
The price of independent warranty coverage varies but averages around $3,000 according to our mystery shopping. Our team shopped with more than 40 extended warranty providers and found average monthly rates to be between $120 and $135 across plans and vehicle types.
Mercedes Warranty: Bottom Line
The Mercedes-Benz warranty covers most of your vehicle (including the expensive powertrain components) for 4 years/50,000 miles. Given that J.D. Power and other sources don’t find Mercedes-Benz as reliable as other brands, your Mercedes vehicle is more likely to suffer mechanical breakdowns after a few years, making an extended warranty a wise investment.
You can get an extended warranty from Mercedes up to 7 years/100,000 miles, or find more options from a third-party warranty company like Endurance, CarShield, or Carchex. Make sure to gather quotes from these companies before making a decision.
Mercedes Warranties: FAQ
Below are some frequently asked questions about Mercedes-Benz warranties:
How long is the factory warranty on a Mercedes-Benz?
The Mercedes-Benz manufacturer’s warranty covers repairs for the majority of the vehicle’s mechanical and electrical components for 4 years or 50,000 miles, whichever comes first.
What does my Mercedes-Benz warranty cover?
The Mercedes-Benz warranty covers repairs for most vehicle parts should they break down as the result of a manufacturer defect or through normal use. This means that damages caused by an accident or misuse are not covered. Certain wear-and-tear parts such as brake pads, wiper blades, bulbs, fuses, and shock absorbers are also not covered.
Is it worth getting a Mercedes extended warranty?
A Mercedes extended warranty can help offset the cost of expensive repairs and may be a good idea because the Mercedes brand is not known to be especially reliable. You can purchase an extended warranty through the Mercedes dealership or from a third-party provider. Third-party extended warranty contracts are typically less expensive and have more options for coverage.
How much is a Mercedes extended warranty?
The cost of a Mercedes extended warranty can vary depending on your particular model and coverage choice. Drivers we surveyed reported paying between $1,000 and $2,000, although online reviews often indicate higher rates.
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.
