Buy Extended Warranty after 36,000 Miles?

Ezekiel2517 · January 4, 2017

My truck is a 2014 GMC Crew Cab Z71 4x4. I recently hit 3 years and 36k miles, almost exactly at the same time. I figured I did not need an expensive extended warranty because my truck has the 100k powertrain warranty that should take care of all the really expensive stuff.

Then at 38K miles my AC Condenser got a leak and had to be replaced. And mt 4wd actuator died and got stuck in 4WD Hi.. My dealership was good and got GM to pay for all of the A/C except for $200. The 4WD was covered under the powertrain warranty. All of this is fine and well, except that he told me that the AC would normally run about $1400.

Now I feel like this truck is a financial time bomb waiting to happen.

Are there any affordable options to buy an extended warranty after 36k miles? I am sure there are some dealers out there who offer better options and prices than others. I would prefer the real GM warranty. The dealership also said Ally was good.

Any help or advice is appreciated. Thanks.

Andy Seibel · January 4, 2017

read the fine print of the "extended warranty"

there is A LOT of stuff not covered.

I was tricked into buying one when i bough my truck. will never do it again.

Silverado Steve · January 4, 2017

I'm pretty sure, you cannot buy an extended warranty past your 3yr/36K Warranty, at least through GM.

KARNUT · January 4, 2017

The best time if you want it is when you buy new. Like buying life insurance cheap at 20 not at 50.

Cowpie · January 5, 2017

I have gotten over the extended warranty game. I don't buy extended warranties anymore for anything.

Mikeb52r · January 5, 2017

Funny thing is there is an advertisement for extended warranties under the OP's post. At least on my computer at the time of writing this.

WarrantyDirect.Com offering "Bumper to bumper extended warranties". Not endorsing them or any information on them, just the advertisement I saw.

Extended warranties are a gamble and usually pay off in the warranty companies favor. I have never needed one but my last truck the cam went out at 48K miles, three months after the 5 year limit. GM threw me a bone and paid half of the tab because I had all the receipts from the oil changes I had performed on the truck (dealerships and at Firestone). But it was still a hefty bill to pay. So with this truck, I went ahead and got one that would go for ten years and 100K miles.

diyer2 · January 5, 2017

Extended Warranty.

Extended Screwing IMO in most cases.

crushNchowda · January 5, 2017

All depends on your driving habits & the truck's options I guess.....but I think its a waste of $$$ particularly since you have the 100k powertrain warranty.

If you had a Denali w/ all the bells & whistles & used them all the time then maybe it'd make sense....the magride shocks WILL cost big $$$ WHEN they fail....

Donstar · January 5, 2017

You are facing a common, yet tough, decision. Extended warranties are expensive and you pay a substantial price for the "peace of mind". My past two gm 1500's were virtually trouble free for years after their factory warranties. They had the usual repairs like brakes but nothing I would have needed an extended warranty for or that cost nearly as much as an insurance premium. I didn't buy an extended warranty on my current truck either. If I end up with major repairs post warranty, I won't have any regrets. I don't think you are taking a big gamble if you pass on extended warranties. The insurance companies are offering it to you at a price that makes sure their profit margins are met. Ultimately this is a decision you have to make and neither choice is wrong. I "gamble" with extended insurance on automobiles and toasters but not on health and life!

bndawgs · January 5, 2017

you would be better off just setting aside a small emergency fund for your truck in a money market account and keeping it there until you need it.

15 Z71 · January 5, 2017

you would be better off just setting aside a small emergency fund for your truck in a money market account and keeping it there until you need it.

That's exactly what I did. They wanted almost 2000 for mine. I will take my chances.

Ezekiel2517 · January 5, 2017

That is what my original approach was. And may still be. I agree that $2k is absured when the powertrain is already covered. But I think I just got real nervous after my first major repair happened less than 2k miles out of warranty.

15 Z71 · January 5, 2017

That is what my original approach was. And may still be. I agree that $2k is absured when the powertrain is already covered. But I think I just got real nervous after my first major repair happened less than 2k miles out of warranty.

What needed repaired? How much did it cost?

JimCost2014 · January 5, 2017

the thing that most people don't think about is you buy the extended warranty, say for 5 years, 100,000 miles. you do not even have to use it till after 3 years or 36,000 miles, so you paid full price of something that is really only good for 24 months or 66000 miles. it is not a bad idea to purchase one after the factory warranty is done, because you can choose the coverage you want, months and miles.

Ezekiel2517 · January 5, 2017

I had the AC condenser replaced. To be fair they got GM to pony up for most of the cost. But that was a one time thing they said. Had I not got assistance he said it was about $1400.

In my experience with GM air conditioners here in the humid gulf coast, well, they suck. In the GMC sonoma I had in college I replaced the AC five times over its 205k mile life. I could replace the whole system it in a few hours then go get it charged. But that was when things were more mechanical than electronc like they are now.

Just looking for options to see if i can hedge my bets. But it so far I have not seen any reasonable options.