Ford Extended Warranty Review in 2024: Is It Worth It?

Ford owners who wish to continue repair service coverage on their vehicle after the expiration of the included warranties should consider a Ford Protect Extended Service Plan.

Sometimes mistakenly called “extended warranty plans,” products like the Ford Protect Extended Service Plan can help vehicle owners better plan for the financial impacts of unexpected high-cost repairs. The Ford Protect Extended Service Plan is 100% backed by the Ford Motor Company.

Pros and Cons

What is the Ford Protect Extended Service Plan?

Ford is careful to call its vehicle protection program what it is: A service contract plan. That’s what all of its competitors offer, too, but “extended warranty” has become a part of the language even though none of these products are extended warranties at all.

The Ford Protect Extended Service Plan takes over after the warranties that Ford includes with its vehicles have expired. Unlike some aftermarket service contract plans, Ford has been in this business for a long time. In fact, Ford has provided The Ford Protect Extended Service Plan to over 35,000,000 vehicle owners.

What is Covered by the Ford Protect Extended Service Plan?

(*) Estimated cost examples provided by Ford. “P” indicates partial coverage of this category.

Which Ford Protect Extended Service Plan is Right for Me?

Which plan matches your needs best is up to you to decide. Your Ford Protect Extended Service Plan advisor can assist you with information on which plans are available and at what cost based on your exact vehicle. Do be aware that one of the most common reasons plan owners are later dissatisfied is that they bought a low-cost plan that later did not cover a needed repair.

Additional Benefits Included in All Ford Protect Extended Service Plans

• Roadside assistance
• Rental car reimbursement if the vehicle requires an overnight stay (up to 10 days)
• Valid in Canada and Mexico as well as the USA
• Transferable if you sell your vehicle, boosting its value

PremiumCARE Plan From Ford Protect Extended Service Plan

PremiumCARE is the top-level of coverage offered by the Ford Protect Extended Service Plan. Ford says that this plan covers a very comprehensive list of over 1,000 components, parts, and systems in your Ford vehicle. What we like most about this plan is that it covers most systems “fully.” For example, only the Ford Protect PremiumCARE covers the Powertrain Control Module (PCM), which monitors the air/fuel mix to improve performance and fuel economy. By contrast, Ford’s other three plan options only cover partial systems. Here are the repairs that the Ford Protect Extended Service Plan as included:

• Engine
• Transmission
• Rear-Wheel Drive
• Front-Wheel Drive
• Steering
• Brakes
• Front Suspension
• A/C and Heating
• Electrical
• High Tech
• Rear Suspension
• Emissions
• Audio
• Safety

ExtraCARE Plan From Ford Protect Extended Service Plan

Ford’s ExtraCARE protection plan covers a list of 113 components and systems. Here is an overview of some examples of the important parts this plan will cover if they require repairs. Be aware that this plan is not nearly as comprehensive as the PremiumCARE plan:

• Transmission Internal Components
• Fuel Tank and Lines
• Gas Fuel Injectors and Fuel Lines
• Manifold (Exhaust and Intake)
• Oil Pump
• Radiator
• Thermostat
• Timing Chain (Gears or Belt) and Cover
• Turbocharger/Supercharger Unit (Factory Installed)
• Water Pump
• Power Steering Pump
• ABS Module
• Brake Calipers
• A/C Compressor and Evaporator
• Heater Core Assembly
• Instrument Cluster (Excluding Dash Pad)

BaseCARE Plan From Ford Protect Extended Service Plan

BaseCARE covers 84 components, according to Ford. Here are some of the common items you can expect to be covered:

• Transmission Internal Components
• Manifold (Exhaust and Intake)
• Oil Pump
• Thermostat
• Timing Chain (Gears or Belt) and Cover
• Turbocharger/Supercharger Unit (Factory Installed)
• Water Pump
• Power Steering Pump
• ABS Module
• Brake Calipers
• A/C Compressor and Evaporator

PowertrainCARE Plan From Ford Protect Extended Service Plan

PowertrainCARE only covers 29 components related to your engine, transmission, and power delivery systems. Here are some examples of what is included:

• Transmission
• Driveshaft
• Oil Pump
• Thermostat
• Timing Chain (Gears or Belt) and Cover
• Turbocharger/Supercharger Unit (Factory Installed)
• Water Pump

How Much Does a Ford Protect Extended Service Plan Cost?

Car Talk phoned the Ford Protect Extended Service Plan customer service line and found the agent extremely helpful and forthcoming with information. We learned that it is much less expensive to purchase a Ford Protect Extended Service Plan before the expiration of the included Ford Powertrain warranty. We also learned that the company will not provide any quotes, or even estimates for vehicles older than 5-years or 60K miles over the phone. To obtain a price or estimate for a vehicle outside that window requires that you bring the vehicle to a Ford dealer in person. Only a Ford dealer can offer prices for older vehicles, and only in person with the vehicle present. Ford conducts a full inspection prior to offering coverage or pricing.

Our agent also told us that the longest term is variable by plan. The PremiumCARE and ExtraCARE plans expire at 11 years or 120K miles. However, the BaseCARE and PowertrainCARE plans can be purchased for vehicles with up to 125K miles. At that point, a Ford Protect Extended Service Plan can be purchased with a duration of two years or 24K additional miles.

We phoned Ford Protect Extended Service Plan, but the company refused to offer us example prices. However, we found an online calculator courtesy of a Ford Dealership that helps to provide example pricing. Note that our price examples vary based on the duration of the plan and the deductible. All of our examples are for a 2018 model year vehicle with 60,000 miles on the odometer and we selected Massachusetts as our example state. Ford Protect’s customer service agent did tell us that the plan costs vary from state to state.

How to File a Ford Protect Extended Service Plan Claim?

There is no need to file a claim for reimbursement when using the Ford Protect Extended Service Plan. All one needs to do is bring their Ford vehicle to any dealer, and the plan’s terms will be applied to any appropriate repair. In the event that a breakdown occurs farther than 50 miles from a Ford dealer, the vehicle will be towed to the nearest ASE-Certified mechanic by Ford’s roadside assistance vehicle. That mechanic will be paid directly by the Ford Protect Extended Service Plan.

Is My Car Eligible for a Ford Protect Extended Service Plan?

• If your vehicle is older than 11 years or has more than 120,000 miles, a Ford Protect Extended Service Plan of the PremiumCARE or ExtraCARE levels are not offered.
• Vehicles older than 59 months or which have more than 60K miles must be inspected by a Ford dealer to see if they qualify for a plan.
• The Ford Protect Extended Service Plan may not cover some commercial-use vehicles or those used for plowing.
• Modified vehicles (lift kits, hot rods) are not offered coverage.
• Vehicles that have not been fully maintained according to the owner’s manual are not eligible.

Most Common Reasons Why Ford Protect Extended Service Plan Claims Are Rejected?

According to the agent we spoke to at the Ford Protect Extended Service Plan customer service line, the single most common reason a repair claim would not be covered is if the plan contract does not include the required repair. Like all such plans, a vehicle that is modified may be excluded from coverage. Your contract will have a complete list of the repairs covered. You must also maintain your vehicle according to the Ford owner’s manual and have proof that you did so. Otherwise, your plan may be invalidated.

Customer Reviews of Ford Protect Extended Service Plan

Positive Reviews

An interesting review we read of the PremiumCARE plan at Reddit was posted by a Ford mechanic. It included, “As a tech, I hate seeing cars with premium care come in with small issues because 9/10 the part is covered. As a customer though, it does help you quite a bit.”

Negative Reviews

We found two negative 1-star reviews of the Ford Protect Extended Service Plan at the Better Business Bureau website. The first included the summary, ”It was explained to me that they denied the claim because I could not show a store receipt from when I purchased any oil or oil filters.”

The second 1-star review said, “Ford Protect Premium canceled my policy and will not fix my truck due to aftermarket parts on my front end which has nothing to do with my engine issue.” You be the judge if these owners kept their end of the bargain.

Should You Get a Ford Protect Extended Service Plan Extended Warranty?

Purchasing an extended service plan is akin to paying for service up front in the hopes that you’ll manage to claim more in repairs than you paid for the plan. Car Talk created a decision tree to help shoppers understand the choice. Check out our nifty infographic.

If you’re driving a Ford year and model that has a reputation for good reliability, the chances are pretty good that you’re going to pay more for the Ford Protect Extended Service Plan than the repair costs you’d pay if you just wrote a check for it. But, if you don’t have money in the bank to cover an unexpected $3,400 repair, you’re going to wish you had signed up.

If you own a Ford that has less-than-stellar reliability, or one that is notable for expensive repairs on a regular basis, then a service contract should be a part of your purchase of that vehicle. One example might be a vehicle equipped with Ford's PowerShift dual-clutch automatic transmission. Many owners have had difficulty with this transmission. Although Ford extended the warranty on that system, a Ford Protect Extended Service Plan can protect you after it ends.

Read our full recommendations for the Best Extended Warranty Companies here.