TRD Pro Warranty - To Buy or Not to Buy

I am just about to purchase a 2021 TRD Pro. Another FB group recommended I look here b/c there are threads that discuss buying one from a different dealer or going a different route that will save alot of money.

I have searched but didn't find what the other group was recommending so I apologize for asking if I'm missing the thread. My Pro was just delivered last night and I am picking it up later today (a couple of weeks earlier than forecasted).

I have had great luck with my 2012 Tacoma so I would normally not buy the warranty. Since the 2021's have ALOT more electronics than my 2012 Tacoma, I am considering an extended warranty.

1. What are your thoughts on the extended warranty?
2. Is it better to buy it now or closer to the factory warranty expiring (36k miles)?
3. What should a Toyota extended warranty (~125k miles, or close to it) cost?
4. Can I buy this from a different Toyota dealer at a lower cost?

Thank you for your advise, especially last minute.

 

Does Toyota offer an extended warranty? I was under the impression that they were all aftermarket warranties, which are usually pretty crappy.

I feel like you buy a Toyota so that you don't need a warranty. I have no interest in paying for an additional warranty for my new 4Runner, personally. Though I suppose if the cost was very low ($1000 or so), some peace of mind could be attained?

 

Good Questions

I have no idea. I know on Honda’s about 15 years ago a 7yr/75k warranty which was Honda warranty not some knock of company from over seas was $1,700. This extended the bumper to bumper protection. So it was straightforward.

This was unlike a Ford warranty I bought and each warranty type offered you had to be a Philadelphia attorney to understand what was covered versus what was not.

Be aware of these knock offs. If it’s not from the manufacturer it’s garbage.

 

You can typically find the same OEM Toyota warranty through other dealers for a fraction of the cost.

 

I tell this story every time I get an opportunity regarding vehicle warranties.

I had a 2011 Toyota Tacoma where I bought an extended bumper to bumper warranty. It cost a few grand but I figured why not, it was my first brand new vehicle.

Years later the head unit (radio) began to flicker randomly. I went to the dealership to use my bumper to bumper warranty. After they pulled up my warranty they discovered that the head unit was not covered, but the associated wiring harness was? Wtf.

So basically I think extended warranties are garbage. If you read into what they actually cover it is very very specific and does not include everything. If you want it go for it, but keep your expectations realistic and read the fine print!

 

Years ago I bought a Taurus for work purposes and bought a Ford warranty up to 75k. At 74,800 miles engine lights go on, I take it to dealer and they say it’s a fluke and turn lights off and say no worries. At 75,100 miles a few week later lights back on. I am told I have major exhaust and emissions issues and it’s $3,000 to fix. I said you guys just turned off these damn lights as a fluke a few weeks ago. They say sorry you’re out of warranty. I call BS on it. Then I say I am not paying and going somewhere else. They charge me $250 in fees to get my keys as a “diagnostic fee”.

I found an independent shop and turns out I needed a weld on the exhaust pipe and some fuel cleaner for $300 and I drove another 25,000 miles.

After complaining to ford customer relations I finally got my $250 back. But come on what BS.

This issue was there under the 75,000 mile mark and should have been covered by warranty then.

It takes years to earn a customer and only minutes to lose one. Obviously that experience left a bad taste in my mouth.

I am sure all manufacturers and dealers have treated customers similarly. It’s just very unfortunate.

 

Just my 2 cents... I do not and have never purchased an extended warranty of any kind. I self-insure for that sort of stuff. Years ago, I started taking the cost of an offered extended warranty on anything I purchased (cars, electronics, appliances, etc) and I added it to a separate savings account to be used in the event of a failure. I have over $12,000 in that account right now.

 

Extended warranties are like insurance. We only purchase the OEM ToyotaCare. No third party. All dealerships mark these way way up. Always negotiate. Also read what is covered. I have found service departments won't check and say "nope not covered". Found with the Platinum care just about everything except wear items is covered.

 

If you're like me someone will probably call you this week about your extended warranty anyway, lol.
On a more serious note: I hate automotive extended warranties but for a different reason. When I owned my shop I got a few customers who came in with extended warranties. At the time my labor rate was around $65 an hour. The warranty companies only paid $40 per, so I ended up having to explain to my customers that they would have to pay the difference. The problem was, they had been told originally that their warranty paid for everything. So it ends up in their minds, that the warranty company is the good guy and I'm overcharging. There was no changing their minds either.

 

Exactly. If you’re going to purchase one, make sure you read the fine print on what’s covered.

I have Toyota 100k I got for free because dealership screwed me over on some stuff.

 

I had the platinum extended warranty on my 2020 AG 4runner Pro. That is the best one to cover pretty much everything. But since I’m waiting for my 2021 LunaRock tundra Pro I canceled my warranty and got back almost what I paid for it. There was no reason to keep it on my 4runner Pro since I’m trading it in.