Are extended warranties generally worth it?

[tubby]

On our last 4 vehicles, we bought an extended warranty and even extended the extended warranty on 2 of the vehicles. The warranties easily paid for themselves. 1 of them was a 2013 Ford F150 Platinum and the other was a 2014 Dodge Durango Citadel. Obviously, we hung onto them for a long time since they are both great vehicles. I understand you may not think that is a correct statement since we had parts go out and had to use the warranties.
Here is what I believe is a good summary of this topic. Some items have been mentioned already.
Since the battery is already covered for 8 years, whether to get an extended warranty for your Ford F150 Lightning depends on a few key factors:

1. Coverage of Other Components: The extended warranty may cover things like the powertrain, electrical systems, or high-tech features, which could be expensive to repair. If these areas are a concern, the extra protection might be worth considering.
2. Cost of Repairs: Electric vehicles (EVs) can be costly to fix outside of warranty. Even if the battery is covered, other parts may not be. The extended warranty could shield you from unexpected repair costs.
3. How Long You Plan to Keep the Truck: If you plan to keep the truck for many years beyond the standard warranty, the extended warranty might offer peace of mind. However, if you plan to sell or trade the vehicle within the battery warranty period, it might not be worth the extra cost.
4. Driving Habits and Conditions: Consider how hard you’ll be using the truck. If you anticipate heavy use, especially for towing or off-road driving, more components could wear down sooner.
5. Existing Warranty Coverage: Most Ford warranties cover the first 3 years or 36,000 miles for the basic warranty and 5 years or 60,000 miles for the powertrain. The extended warranty fills in gaps once these expire.

You could also explore third-party warranties for different options and cost comparisons. In the end, it’s a balancing act between peace of mind and the likelihood of costly repairs outside standard coverage.

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[RocketGhost]

Can we count on Ford to continue to update our software after the initial warranty expires?

Yes. You'll keep getting available software updates after your warranty expires.

 

[Madtroniks]

I prefer to buy the OEM warranty over third party when possible.

Sometimes you can find dealers online who sell lots of extended warranties by keeping their markup low.

I would try to get a couple quotes from dealers and see who has the best price and terms for you.

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