Volvo Warranty: Coverage And Terms
The Volvo warranty includes 4 years/50,000 miles of bumper-to-bumper and powertrain coverage, plus 8 years/100,000 miles of hybrid drivetrain coverage.
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Motor1 Reviews Team Take:
- The Volvo limited warranty of 4 years/50,000 miles is average for the industry – some companies offer 5 years/60,000 miles while others offer 3 years/36,000 miles.
- Volvo includes powertrain coverage within the limited warranty, while other companies offer extra powertrain protection.
- You can get more coverage through Volvo Increased Protection or third-party providers.
Volvo warranty coverage combines powertrain and bumper-to-bumper warranty coverage into one 4-year/50,000-mile new-car warranty. In this article, we’ll explain what this means and how it compares to other manufacturers’ factory warranties.
If you want to lengthen your Volvo warranty coverage, you can purchase an extended auto warranty from Volvo or a third-party extended car warranty provider.
Volvo Warranty Overview
In our study of 35 brands’ warranties, we ranked Volvo’s warranty around mid-pack. On the whole, it’s a solid warranty. As with some other luxury car brands, Volvo’s basic new-car warranty runs for 4 years/50,000 miles, whichever comes first.
But, similar to the Mercedes warranty, Volvo’s powertrain coverage also lasts 4 years/50,000 miles. In contrast, some mainstream and luxury brands provide longer powertrain warranty coverage. For example, Genesis, Hyundai’s luxury brand, gives 10 years/100,000 miles powertrain coverage. Cadillac, Lexus, and Lincoln provide 6 years/70,000 miles of powertrain coverage.
A longer warranty does not necessarily mean a better car, though, so don’t judge any brand on this factor alone.
Volvo’s new vehicle warranty is comprehensive, making repairs free of charge for anything covered, with no deductible.
Volvo Warranty Summary
| Volvo Warranty | Coverage Length |
|---|---|
| New vehicle limited warranty (includes powertrain coverage) | 4 years/50,000 miles |
| Long-term emission defects and performance (catalytic converter, engine control module, and onboard diagnostic system) | 8 years/80,000 miles |
| Short-term emission defects and performance | Federal: 2 years/24,000 miles, but also covered by Volvo’s 4-year/50,000 miles new vehicle warranty |
| Seat belts and supplemental restraint systems (air bags) | 5 years/unlimited miles |
| Adjustments | 1 year/12,000 miles |
| Battery | 4 years/50,000 miles |
| Roadside assistance | 4 years/unlimited miles |
| Corrosion protection | 12 years/unlimited miles |
Emission warranties differ in California and states that follow its emission regulations, essentially providing longer-term coverage.
Volvo Hybrid Warranty
Starting in 2023, all new Volvo models sold in the US have some form of hybrid or electric powertrain. The three options are mild hybrid vehicles (which don’t need to be plugged in), plug-in hybrids, and fully-electric vehicles.
In addition to the hybrid lithium-ion battery, the Volvo hybrid warranty covers a dozen other major powertrain and driveline components for 8 years/100,000 miles. Any one of those would be expensive to replace if it was out of your pocket.
Corrosion Warranty
Volvo’s warranty includes 12 years/unlimited miles of coverage against corrosion perforation, meaning rust-through. Volvo, like many brands, defines that as a body panel rusting through from the inside out.
Among other carmakers, only Audi, BMW, and Mini (which is part of BMW) offer this level of corrosion protection. Whether this is important could depend on where you live. If you live and drive in areas where a lot of salt is used on roads in winter, or if you live near the ocean, corrosion can still be an issue in modern vehicles, no matter how well they’re protected at the factory. Keeping a vehicle clean, including underneath, can be even more critical in such areas.
Volvo Quality And Reliability
Brand loyalists may recall Volvo’s engaging and award-winning advertising from the 1960s and 1970s, which touted durability, including protection against corrosion. How do those attributes measure up to Volvo’s new cars? For starters, cars were a lot simpler a half-century ago. And today, numerous industry studies help consumers easily research vehicle quality and dependability. These two attributes are not the same, although the two are certainly connected.
For quality, you might consider the renowned J.D. Power Initial Quality Survey, which considers problems that owners have experienced with new cars in the first 90 days of ownership. How a vehicle ranks in that study can indicate if you’ll be making trips back to the dealer for repairs under the warranty. Unfortunately, Volvo ranked last out of 33 mainstream vehicle manufacturers on the 2023 J.D. Power U.S. Initial Quality Study℠.
It’s probably more critical to consider the J.D. Power Vehicle Dependability Study, which surveys owners about problems in 77 areas for 3-year-old vehicles. Problems at this stage could signal repairs you might have to start paying for yourself when Volvo’s 4-year/50,000-mile warranty coverage runs out. Volvo performed better on the 2023 J.D. Power U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study℠, where it placed 23 out of 31 brands.
Volvo Repair Costs
New cars are complex, and repairs can be too. We checked with RepairPal for estimates on several repairs for the Volvo XC90 and XC60 SUVs, the brand’s most popular models.
| Model | Replacement | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Volvo XC90 | AC compressor replacement | $1,216 to $1,372 |
| Volvo XC90 | Trailing arm replacement | $179 to $202 |
| Volvo XC90 | Head gasket replacement | $2,124 to $2,579 |
| Volvo XC60 | Intake manifold gasket replacement | $441 to $527 |
| Volvo XC60 | Tie rod replacement | $193 to $205 |
You likely won’t have to worry about repairs like these right away, but breakdowns become more likely as your car ages. Our team asked the Director of Marketing at Endurance Warranty, Jessica Campbell, what the most common issues are.
“Transmissions are the most common repair claim, followed by water pumps. Repair costs can vary widely depending on several factors, including vehicle type, model, age, and the complexity of the individual repair.”
Extending Volvo Warranty Coverage
Should you wish to have the peace of mind of extended warranty coverage on a new or certified pre-owned Volvo, the company’s dealers can offer Volvo Increased Protection (VIP) plans. You also have the option to buy a third-party extended car warranty on your own.
Volvo’s VIP contracts offer up to an additional 7 years or 150,000 miles (from original in-service date), whichever comes first. This means your vehicle can be covered for 11 years in total.
Volvo VIP plans offer three coverage options: Powertrain, Gold, and Platinum. Choices for the deductible, the portion the customer pays toward each covered repair, range from $0 to $250. Choosing a higher deductible reduces the warranty’s upfront cost but makes out-of-pocket costs for covered repairs higher.
The VIP Platinum plan includes everything in the other VIP plans plus more. There is a pretty long list of non-covered items, however, as detailed in the official brochure.
What Volvo Owners Think
In January 2024, our team surveyed 220 vehicle owners from high-income households who had purchased a luxury manufacturer extended warranty. Volvo was included in the survey and had 20 respondents.
Most Volvo owners were satisfied with their extended warranties. Here are a few thoughts they shared:
- “I am actually very satisfied and have had no issues, but it’s very nice knowing if something goes wrong I’m covered. It’s a nice, relaxing feeling.”
- “I’m very satisfied. Getting service under warranty was very easy, and it was reasonably priced.”
- “Overall it helped to extend the initial warranty and covered several major repairs that happened when mileage got higher from use.”
What Do Volvo’s Extended Warranties Cost?
The cost of VIP contracts vary based on the following:
- Volvo model
- Age and mileage of vehicle
- Deductible amount selected
- Terms selected
The actual warranty prices are set by Volvo dealers. We found a Volvo extended warranty that ranges between $1,882 and $5,412 at one dealer. In our 2024 survey, Volvo owners reported paying between $1,000 and $4,000 on average. About 55% of the respondents paid between $2,000 and $4,000. You can compare your Volvo warranty quotes to this to see if you’re getting a good deal.
Volvo CPO Warranties
“Certified by Volvo” pre-owned vehicles come with a 5-year/unlimited miles “exclusionary coverage” warranty from the car’s original in-service date. What that really means is another year of coverage beyond what might be remaining of the original new vehicle warranty, with unlimited miles for that year and with certain exclusions. There is no deductible for this coverage, and Volvo also throws in a three-month trial to SiriusXM radio.
You can also buy Volvo’s VIP Platinum contract tailored for its CPO vehicles. Terms go up to 10 years, and the deductible choices are $0 and $100. The cost of these extended warranties depends on the same factors as for new Volvos. However, if you want a Volvo VIP contract on a certified pre-owned Volvo, you must buy the warranty at the same time you buy the car. So, it pays to compare Volvo’s extended warranties with those of third-party companies before you buy a certified pre-owned Volvo.
Our Recommendation For Volvo Extended Warranties
Take some time to evaluate your own warranty needs and choices. Remember, if you’re looking at a Volvo certified pre-owned vehicle, it especially makes sense to do your warranty research before buying the car.
Here are a few advantages of third-party warranty plans:
- A provider may allow you to buy coverage even after the factory warranty has run out.
- Aftermarket warranties are usually available for a lower cost than the factory extended warranties and offer financing options.
- Compared to Volvo’s three-tier program choices (Powertrain, Gold, Platinum), you’ll often find an even wider selection among third-party warranties.
- Aftermarket warranties also let you choose a deductible, usually $0 or $100, to suit your budget.
A third-party warranty company, such as Endurance, pays directly for covered repairs at many thousands of auto repair facilities across the country, from local independent shops to national chains and franchises. Volvo, meanwhile, requires that covered repairs be made at its own dealerships.
Our top-rated aftermarket extended car warranty providers give you other benefits with most plans, including roadside assistance, towing allowance, and car rental reimbursement. Like Volvo’s extended warranty, these providers also include interruption coverage that reimburses you for lodging and meals if a breakdown occurs more than 100 miles from home.
Volvo Warranty: Bottom Line
Volvo covers the whole car against manufacturing defects for 4 years/50,000 miles. After that, you’re on the hook for repairs as the car gets older. Compare extended warranty companies to offset unexpected repair costs.
Volvo Auto Warranty: FAQ
Below are frequently asked questions about Volvo warranties:
Some Volvo models have large, expensive tires. Does the warranty cover these?
Volvo says tires on its vehicles are covered under their respective manufacturers’ warranties and that any claims and adjustments must be handled through those companies’ authorized service outlets. Some brands do cover tires for a portion of their vehicle warranties in addition to the tiremakers’ warranties.
What else doesn’t the Volvo warranty cover?
Like many brands, Volvo’s warranty does not cover wear-and-tear service items, including (but not limited to) filters, fuses, belts, brake pads, brake rotors, wiper blades, shock absorbers, floor mats, upholstery, and carpeting.
Does that mean brakes are not covered?
Volvo’s 4-year/50,000-mile warranty covers the brakes against defects that cause a failure. What’s not covered is normal wear and tear on brake rotors and pads. Volvo may cover wear and tear under a 12 month/12,000-mile “Adjustment” period of coverage that’s included with the warranty, however.
Is anything else covered under the adjustment period?
Yes, some labor-only adjustments are covered for that period, including wheel balancing, window regulator adjustment, and hood adjustment.
Volvo’s warranty booklet mentions some requirements about the correct fuel to use. What happens if I don’t follow those?
Volvo specifies using gasoline that contains no more than 10 percent ethanol. Depending on what part of the country you live in, you may see higher concentrations of ethanol available, such as 15 percent. The ethanol percentage should be indicated on a filling station’s pumps. If you don’t see it or are not sure, ask a station employee.
If I need repairs covered by the warranty, do I have to take my new Volvo to the dealer that sold me the car?
No, you can take your vehicle to any authorized Volvo dealer. Some language in the Volvo warranty booklet could be confusing, however. Volvo “recommends” you bring your vehicle to the dealer that sold it to you for warranty repairs, stating that “they are most familiar with your car, its service history, and your driving habits.”
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.
