Is Nissan's extended warranty worth it? (2021)

The Nissan Extended Warranty allows you to continue the warranty after the factory warranty expires.

When purchasing an extended warranty for your Nissan, your choice of coverage will be limited to either a Nissan dealership service contract or a third-party extended warranty plan.

Read on for a full breakdown of the pros and cons for each respective extended warranty provider.

An extended warranty is a worthwhile investment for the longevity of your Nissan. Extended warranty coverage not only safeguards you against potential financial injury but also greatly improves your overall peace of mind.

In this review, we’ll give you a comprehensive Nissan owner’s guide to extended warranty options, coverage conditions, and warranty providers.

If you are ready to begin researching third-party companies and comparing Nissan extended warranty costs, kick-start the process by comparing free, no-obligation quotes from some of the best extended car warranty companies below.

Featured Extended Warranty Companies

We reviewed the industry’s top extended auto warranty providers, and here are our featured picks.

Best Overall

Best for Used Cars

Low-Cost Plans

Endurance

CARCHEX

Select Auto Protect

Get Quote

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Get Quote

(866) 990-3410

(866) 950-7122

(860) 294-4933

Nissan Extended Warranty Coverage

Gold Preferred Security+Plus

Silver Preferred Security+Plus

Powertrain Preferred Security+Plus

How Nissan’s Extended Warranty Coverage Compares

How Much Will a Nissan Extended Warranty Cost?

Nissan Extended Warranty: 3 Things We Like

Nissan Extended Warranty: 3 Things We Don’t Like

Why Do You Need An Extended Warranty?

Nissan Reliability & Repair Preparation

What’s Covered Under Nissan’s Factory Warranty?

Why Choose a Third-Party Extended Warranty for Your Nissan?

Our Top Recommendations for Extended Car Warranty Coverage

FAQ: Nissan Extended Warranty

Nissan Extended Warranty Coverage

Nissan extended warranty plans, better known as Nissan Security+Plus Extended Protection Plans, cover your vehicle after the expiration of the Nissan factory warranty, providing expanded coverage for up to eight years or 120,000 miles. Here’s a coverage breakdown for each of Nissan’s three Security+Plus preferred plans.

Nissan Extended Warranty

Coverage Terms

Gold Security+Plus

8 years/120,000 miles

Silver Security+Plus

8 years/120,000 miles

Powertrain Security+Plus

8 years/120,000 miles

Gold Preferred Security+Plus

The most comprehensive Nissan extended warranty, Gold Preferred covers more than 2,000 components across the powertrain, electronics and steering, axle-assembly, suspension, brake system, body/interior, climate control, and audio/navigation system. Gold protection automatically includes any additional coverage detailed in lower-tier Silver Preferred or Powertrain Preferred plans.

Silver Preferred Security+Plus

Nissan’s mid-level extended warranty offering, Silver Preferred protects over 1,400 vehicle components, with coverage concentrated on the engine, transmission, suspension, drivetrain, steering, and electronic systems. Similar to Gold Preferred, any supplementary Powertrain Preferred coverage inclusions are automatically rolled into Silver Preferred plans.

Powertrain Preferred Security+Plus

As a standard entry-level extended warranty, there’s not much that stands out about Nissan’s Powertrain Preferred plan. Like most powertrain plans, coverage under Powertrain Preferred is limited to key components in the engine, transmission, and drivetrain.

How Nissan’s Extended Warranty Coverage Compares

The chart below is handy for comparing the level of component coverage across each of Nissan’s three extended warranty tiers. As you can see, there is considerable variation in the number of covered components for each plan, even for critical vehicle systems like the engine and transmission.

Vehicle System

Gold

Silver

Powertrain

Engine

499

345

252

Transmission

454

370

321

Drive axle assembly

80

74

66

Braking system

105

59

21

Electrical units

358

269

20

Steering system

102

70

50

Suspension system

150

94

89

Climate control

134

87

20

Chassis/Interior

260

90

0

Audio/Video/Navigation

71

71

0

Source: Nissan

While this table gives you a general idea of what’s included in each plan, it doesn’t show you what’s not covered under a Nissan extended warranty. As a general rule of thumb, Nissan extended warranties have the following coverage exclusions:

Wear-and-tear parts like tires, brake pads, and wiper blades.

Damage resulting from DIY maintenance or irregular vehicle modifications.

Damage resulting from terrain and environmental factors, such as hail or chassis scarring.

Standard maintenance services such as tire rotations, brake pad replacements, and oil changes.

Damage resulting from general negligent care, such as ignoring routine maintenance checks or over-stressing the powertrain.

How Much Will a Nissan Extended Warranty Cost?

The following table breaks down five key factors affecting Nissan extended warranty costs:

Cost Factor

Influence on Premium Cost

Deductible Choice

The cheaper your deductible, the more expensive your premium. Unfortunately, Nissan only offers two extended warranty deductible options: $0 and $100.

Provider Choice

Third-party extended warranty providers are usually more affordable than manufacturer-backed extended warranty providers.

Existing Coverage

You’ll receive discounted premiums if your car’s extended warranty is stacked alongside the Nissan factory warranty.

Coverage Selection

More comprehensive extended warranty plans will have more expensive premiums

Vehicle Age & Model

Extended warranty premiums will cost considerably more for older Nissan cars or Nissan models with well-known reliability issues.

Nissan also offers a Consumer Financing Plan for new car owners who wish to bundle their warranty premiums alongside their auto loan. With no income or credit requirements, Nissan’s payment-free financing plan can sound like a dream come true. In reality, dealership programs that package your auto loan and extended warranty together are almost always some kind of trap. In this case, bundling your car loan and warranty will mean you’ll need to pay interest on both.

Nissan Extended Warranty: 3 Things We Like

With three different tiers of extended warranty coverage, Nissan owners shouldn’t have too much trouble finding a plan which aligns with their budget and coverage requirements.

As a Nissan Security+Plus warranty holder, you’ll also benefit from perks including trip interruption benefits, multi-day rental car reimbursement, 24/7 emergency roadside assistance, towing services, and premium customer support.

Nissan Security+Plus warranties have longer-than-average term limits, with coverage usually lasting for up to 8 years or 120,000 miles.

Nissan Extended Warranty: 3 Things We Don’t Like

Covered repairs and maintenance work will not be approved unless your vehicle was serviced by an authorized Nissan mechanic or dealership. As a result, car owners with a Nissan extended warranty may have to abandon long-standing service relationships with their local mechanic.

Outside of general plan selection, Nissan does not allow further customization of their extended warranty plans. Being unable to customize your component coverage can leave your vehicle dangero

Nissan will not approve repair coverage if the service technicians find prior evidence of non-genuine component replacement. This condition can be a big inconvenience if you perform DIY maintenance or wish to make aftermarket modifications to your vehicle.

Why Do You Need An Extended Warranty?

Buying an extended warranty can be a hard decision. A 2018 study from Pegasystems has revealed only 47% of U.S. vehicle owners actually hold an extended warranty. Unsurprisingly, the most commonly cited reason car owners gave for not having an extended warranty was the additional upfront cost in the form of premium payments.

We understand shelling out extra money is the last thing car owners want to do. However, when the factory warranty expires, it’s important to save money in the long run if you plan on keeping your car. If you live in an area with hot summers or cold winters (or both), there are even certain seasonal repairs to consider as your Nissan accumulates miles.

If you’re considering a Nissan extended warranty, you’ll need to take the brand’s reliability and factory coverage into account.

Nissan Reliability & Repair Preparation

According to RepairPal, Nissan owners pay an average of $500 in maintenance and repair costs per year, which is lower than the $652 industry average. In terms of reliability, RepairPal gives Nissan vehicles a 4.0 out of 5.0-star rating, placing them in ninth place out of 32 car brands.

Despite the company’s well-deserved reputation for durability and reliability, Nissan vehicles are not immune to defects or mechanical breakdowns. Unsurprisingly, the probability of your vehicle having mechanical issues increases significantly after the factory warranty expires. If your vehicle isn’t protected by an extended warranty during this period, you can quickly end up owing thousands of dollars in uncovered repair and service costs.

To illustrate just how quickly costs can rack up, we’ve listed some of the most common repair costs for three of the most popular Nissan models currently on the market:

Nissan Rogue: Replacing the continuously variable transmission (CVT) unit is a particularly common issue and will cost between $4,000 and $7,000.

Nissan Altima: Replacing the power steering bracket will cost between $906 and $1,137.

Nissan Sentra: Replacing the ignition switch will cost between $125 and $275.

Despite the company’s well-deserved reputation for durability and reliability, Nissan vehicles are not immune to defects or mechanical breakdowns. A Nissan extended warranty can help protect your vehicle for the miles ahead.

What’s Covered Under Nissan’s Factory Warranty?

Nissan’s driveaway vehicle protection plan, the Nissan New Vehicle Limited Warranty, is a fairly straightforward factory warranty. Under a Nissan factory warranty, new vehicle owners are guaranteed comprehensive bumper-to-bumper coverage for three years or 36,000 miles, whichever comes first. In addition to its industry-standard bumper-to-bumper warranty, Nissan’s New Vehicle Limited Warranty also features the following coverage plans and extensions:

Powertrain Warranty: For 5 years or 60,000 miles, Nissan will cover repairs or defective component replacement in the engine, drivetrain, transaxle assembly, and transmission system.

Corrosion Warranty: For 5 years and unlimited miles, Nissan will cover the cost of repairs arising from perforation in your car’s chassis or body sheet panels.

Seat Belt Warranty: For 10 years and unlimited miles, Nissan will cover replacement and repair costs for your entire seat belt system.

Adjustment Coverage: For 1 year or 12,000 miles, Nissan will cover the cost of wheel alignment and axle balancing adjustments.

Federal Emissions Control Warranty: There are 3 levels for the Federal Emissions Control Warranty: 2-year/24,000-mile Performance coverage, 3-year/36,000-mile Defect coverage, and 8-year/80,000-mile Long Term Defect coverage.

California Emissions Control Warranty: Depending on your residency and vehicle model, you may be eligible for additional emissions control coverage provided by the state of California.

Why Choose a Third-Party Extended Warranty for Your Nissan?

Despite the convenience of purchasing a Nissan extended warranty at the dealership, shopping for an extended warranty from a third-party provider can often get you a cheaper and more comprehensive plan. Here are three reasons why you should consider a third-party extended warranty for your Nissan:

Affordability: Because they are not affiliated with any one auto company, independent extended warranty providers can compete for customers at a much larger market scale. The result? More affordable and more flexible pricing.

Repair facility flexibility: If you choose a third-party extended warranty provider, you’ll be free to service your vehicle at nearly all certified auto repair shops, not just the Nissan dealership. However, you can still have repairs made at a dealership if you’d prefer.

Coverage customization: Third-party extended warranty providers typically build in more leeway for plan negotiation and coverage customization. For some high-end plans, the warranty holder is free (to a point) to personally adjust coverage length and conditions, even to the level of individual vehicle parts.

Our Top Recommendations for Extended Car Warranty Coverage

To find the best vehicle service contract, it pays to get quotes from several providers. Price-conscious customers will likely want to check for themselves how Nissan’s extended warranty costs compare to competing third-party providers. Our research found that CarShield has the best prices, but our Endurance review and CARCHEX review explain why we think these two companies are also excellent options. You can get a free, personalized quote from each company below.

Featured Extended Warranty Companies

We reviewed the industry’s top extended auto warranty providers, and here are our featured picks.

Best Overall

Best for Used Cars

Low-Cost Plans

Endurance

CARCHEX

Select Auto Protect

Get Quote

Get Quote

Get Quote

(866) 990-3410

(866) 950-7122

(860) 294-4933

FAQ: Nissan Extended Warranty

Does Nissan offer a CPO warranty?

Yes, if you have purchased a used Nissan, you may be eligible for Nissan’s certified pre-owned (CPO) warranty. Under a conventional Nissan CPO warranty, you will receive powertrain coverage for seven years or 100,000 miles (with the coverage term starting from the vehicle’s original date of purchase).

Does a Nissan extended warranty cover long-term CVT issues?

Nissan’s first-generation CVT system has a very poor reputation for reliability. Despite being rolled out way back in 2002, Nissan owners still complain about jerky acceleration, whining engine noises, and stuttering gear shifts. In fact, persistent problems with the CVT system became so bad that Nissan was forced to double CVT coverage for 2003 to 2010 Nissans to 10 years or 120,000 miles.

Can you cancel or transfer a third-party extended warranty?

Yes, you can cancel or transfer third-party extended warranty contracts. There is usually a small fee for either transaction, around $50.

Can you negotiate third-party extended warranty costs for Nissans?

Yes, if you are a Nissan car owner, you can be happy to know that you can negotiate premium or deductible fee adjustments with a third-party provider. In most cases, if you can prove that the cost of the reseller warranty is lower than the equivalent third-party plan, then the third-party supplier will be happy to match or exceed the price.