Does anybody have this or used it? I'm not one for buying extended warranties at all, but I've found some pretty reasonable prices online for this warranty. I've read some on other sites, and generally people seem to be pretty happy with this warranty. Though you always find some people that think it's a rip off. I fully understand what this does and does not cover. And I prefer to fix my stuff on my own, but we bought a Durango for a family car and I have no intentions of ever doing any mods. And for about $2300 (plus $100 deductible) I would never have to touch it, other than general maintenance. This is a lifetime Bumper to Bumper warranty. Which covers Electronics, and that's a big plus that just might sell me on it. So has anybody on here had experience with the Max Care warranty?P.s. They also state in small print, if the repairs cost more than the book value of the vehicle, they will just give you the value of the vehicle and you keep the vehicle. So they aren't putting transmissions in a vehicle that is rusted out with 467,000 miles on it. Lol

when I bought my Highlander I spent about $2,000 for the extended warranty, covered B2B for 7 years, 84,000 mi instead of 3/36, maintenance also covered, etc. and has lots of computerized stuff that cost a fortune if it goes South. had to get a new tail gate that ran about $1,000 so I figure I got my moneys worth. :)but check the fine print, which I guess you did.bumpy

For $2300 and a lifetime warranty B2B I'd jump all over it if I was planning on keeping the vehicle for 10 years or so. With that being said I've never ever had a serious mechanical or electrical malfunction on any of my rigs. But the new stuff (2010) is not cheap with all the electronic tie ins. Our 11 year old Honda Accord has needed nothing but small stuff (alternator and door locks)in 118,000 miles. My 94 Ranger 190,000+ needed nothing. My 06 Frontier with 60,000 needed nothing. Those were older vehicles and not quite as electrically driven as newer ones, so that's why I'd jump on it. Mechanically I wouldn't worry about much. It's the elec that's worrisome.

SRT20, your description is correct, including the details on the fine print. I jumped on this last year when I bought a new 2013 Grand Caravan. This is a Mopar warranty, not some questionable aftermarket thing. I have not had a reason to use it and hopefully never will, but I am very glad I bought it and would definitely do it again for the peace of mind.

It may or may not be worth buying.In 2003 we bought a new Toyota Camry, the dealer tried to sell us an extended warranty, I believe it was 7 years 100,000 miles. I did not purchase the warranty. Eleven years and 123000 miles later we still have the Camry and it runs great.Other than oil changes, I bought tires, brakes and a battery. It has the original exhaust system.In my case the extended warranty would have been a waste of money.If it had been a lifetime warranty maybe I would have given it some consideration.

Do you have to have maintenance work done at the dealer? Oil changes etc.

Dodge lifetime Maximum Care warranty | Good Sam Community

26 Replies

mtofell1
Explorer
Jun 04, 2014
I know there is an ever 5 year "inspection" at a dealer which is free. I plan to have mine serviced at the dealership for the time being so I should be fine. I'm already wondering how it's going to go when the dealer starts pushing things like flushing brake fluid and other optional maint. stuff that isn't in the manual. If it's covered for life I don't know why I'd spend any money on it until it breaks but we'll see.
milo
Explorer II
Jun 04, 2014
Also have seen some of these forever programs where you had to follow a strict maintenance program or it would void it.
mtofell1
Explorer
Jun 03, 2014
There's also a big part of the statistics that favor people selling the vehicle as the Lifetime is non-transferable. If a person keeps the vehicle it can pay off for them. Like everyone else I intend to and I kept my last one for a long time. We'll see....

I do agree that these are obviously money makers for the manufacturer otherwise they wouldn't be selling them. But I'm also in the camp of willing to pay for the peace of mind. My rig is paid for by my company (which I'm part owner) so it's a predictable expense which is nice. I have a much easier time budgeting a one time expense of the purchase cost as opposed to potentially huge surprises.
Skid_Row_Joe
Explorer
Jun 02, 2014
Fast Mopar wrote:
Fordlover wrote:
These plans are just insurance with another name. They are money makers for the vendors or they wouldn't sell them. The peace of mind they offer would be the determining factor for me, if you trust the statistics they are a bad buy probably 80+ percent of the time.

Yes, but that is also true for car insurance, health insurance, homeowner's insurance, and fire extinguishers.

It's a roll of the dice, on whether you'll come out on the extra cost. With some of the disasters I've read about on just this thread, I'd buy it.
Fast_Mopar
Explorer
Jun 02, 2014
Fordlover wrote:
These plans are just insurance with another name. They are money makers for the vendors or they wouldn't sell them. The peace of mind they offer would be the determining factor for me, if you trust the statistics they are a bad buy probably 80+ percent of the time.

Yes, but that is also true for car insurance, health insurance, homeowner's insurance, and fire extinguishers.
Fordlover
Explorer
Jun 02, 2014
These plans are just insurance with another name. They are money makers for the vendors or they wouldn't sell them. The peace of mind they offer would be the determining factor for me, if you trust the statistics they are a bad buy probably 80+ percent of the time.
Skid_Row_Joe
Explorer
Jun 01, 2014
mtofell1 wrote:
Skid Row Joe wrote:
Is it a "Lifetime Warranty, " or an "extended warranty?"

If it's an extended warranty, it has a specific time/mileage deadline that it expires. If it's a lifetime warranty, those get cancelled by the manufacturer after a few years.

Back in the late '80s Ford had a service gimmick that stated; "Pay once for your Ford car or truck's repair parts and labor, then never pay again." Well, that was a great program they discontinued after about 3 years. So, no, the gimmick was only accurate, until they ended the program.

Chrysler dealers are pushing the Lifetime Warranty where they stand behind it for life. Well, that's only until they end the program.

There is no such thing as a true Lifetime Warranty program, as it is advertised. Don't be fooled.

Their way out is that when the repair exceeds the "average" value in the NADA book they pay you the value and they are done. Otherwise, it's lifetime as far as all of the documentation they gave me states. fwiw.... I don't think they can just "end" the program.

Well, Ford ended the; "Pay Once For Parts and Labor, Then Never Pay Again." I know, because that's why I kept the same '80 Lincoln Town Car for 14-years and nearly 300,000 miles. They rebuilt the carb on the Lincoln three times that I am aware of. Two times free, on-the-house, because of their program. They ENDED the program, so I got rid of the car and switched brands. So, yes, programs all have an end-time - after the "gimmick value" costs them too much money. Ha!
NC_Hauler
Explorer
May 31, 2014
:)..No Larry, this one is my "retirement truck".....When the Dealership gave me the 7 yr 100,000 miles Chrysler Max Care plan in July of 13', to me and the wife, that pretty much sealed the deal...I've alway's taken care of anything I own...it was the way I was brough up, whether I owned it a year or two or 10...Figure as much money as we put in these new trucks or homes, or just about anything you purchase now a day's, it would be silly to not maintain them and take good care of them. Mine is a year old with 15,000 miles on it and it looks like it could have come off the show room floor:)...no new trucks in my forseeable future... 2 yrs two months till retirement:)
larry_barnhart
Explorer
May 31, 2014
NC Hauler wrote:
mtofell1 wrote:
NC Hauler wrote:

Unless I missed it, I haven't seen what truck you own...Is it a gasser or a diesel? Just curious because I know Chrysler doesn't offer a "life time" warranty on Ram truck equipped with a diesel engine.

6.4 Hemi gas - when I was price shopping on the various dealer sites to buy the warranty they always asked if it was diesel so you're probably right.

Yeah, gas engine equipped trucks can get life time warranty...
Best I've seen on a diesel equipped Ram truck is 8 yr, 120,000 warranty if not mistaken. Again, mine is 7yr. 100,000 mile bumber to bumber, zero deductible. I've had the truck a little over a year and now have 15,000 miles on mine....

If you take good care of your old truck it might last until the 2015 models arrive. You probably think I am kidding,:S
NC_Hauler
Explorer
May 31, 2014
mtofell1 wrote:
NC Hauler wrote:

Unless I missed it, I haven't seen what truck you own...Is it a gasser or a diesel? Just curious because I know Chrysler doesn't offer a "life time" warranty on Ram truck equipped with a diesel engine.

6.4 Hemi gas - when I was price shopping on the various dealer sites to buy the warranty they always asked if it was diesel so you're probably right.

Yeah, gas engine equipped trucks can get life time warranty...
Best I've seen on a diesel equipped Ram truck is 8 yr, 120,000 warranty if not mistaken. Again, mine is 7yr. 100,000 mile bumber to bumber, zero deductible. I've had the truck a little over a year and now have 15,000 miles on mine....