The current round of extended power train warranties started in 1999 when Hyundai Motor America established a 10-year/100,000-mile limited power train warranty on its products imported and sold in the U.S. At the time Hyundai needed something. Sales were down, but the vehicles were much better than their reputation. The long power train warranty was used as a marketing tool to let potential buyers know the cars were better and that the importer/distributor was willing to stand behind them for 10 years.
Hyundai's sister company Kia Motors America followed suit with an identical 10-year/100,000-mile power train warranty, then Isuzu raised the bar with a 10-year/120,000-mile limited power train warranty. General Motors followed with its 5-year/100,000-mile warranty and now here comes Chrysler with a "Lifetime" power train warranty.
The extended power train warranties are marketing tools designed to make buyers feel more secure about the vehicles they are buying. In truth, the expensive-to-repair-or-replace power trains in most modern cars and light trucks should last 100,000 miles or more — if they are maintained properly.
The fine print in the new Chrysler "Lifetime" power train warranty (there is always fine print) is that the warranty is non-transferable which means only the first person to buy or lease the vehicle can take advantage of the program and who leases or owns a vehicle for a lifetime? There is also a provision for a mandatory (but at no cost) power train inspection every five years that must be conducted within 60 days of the warranty start date. And, of course, performance enthusiasts who purchase SRT vehicles are excluded from the lifetime warranty program along with police agencies and fleet operators.
This "lifetime" power train warranty sounds impressive — until you read the fine print. And that's just how the marketing gurus at Chrysler Group want it. The number of motorists who will be able to take advantage of the "lifetime" power train warranty will be very, very small.
