What Car Warranties Cover

By Amy E. Feldman

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - Fiat Chrysler announced last month that it was reducing the powertrain warranty it offered on new cars from a 100,000 miles to 60,000 miles. Which sounds bad. But what does it really mean? What do the different types of warranties actually cover?

Most new cars come with two types of warranties: a bumper to bumper general warranty and a powertrain warranty.

A bumper to bumper warranty usually covers the basic systems of a car, the electric system, fuel system, air conditioning and so on. But don't be fooled into thinking everything is covered from one end to the other. It usually excludes parts that are expected to wear down like brake pads, oil filters, and wipers.

Similarly, don't think that a powertrain warranty will mean free repairs. It usually just covers the engine and transmission and moving parts that lead to the wheels, like the driveshaft and constant velocity joints.

But, different companies offer different coverage, so ask.

It's hard to get a straight answer from a car dealer but it's easier to get an answer before you plunk down your money than after you have to fix what you thought was covered.