Are wheel bearings covered under warranty?
Coverage can vary
Kids love singing, “The wheels on the bus go round and round.” But what happens when the wheels on your car no longer go round and round?
Well, if that happens, there may be an issue with the wheel bearings, which help connect your wheels to your car. And if the wheel bearings get damaged, you’ll have to repair or replace them immediately.
Keep reading to understand which warranties cover the cost of fixing your wheel bearings and how much repairs might cost if they’re not covered.
Wheel bearings are usually covered under warranty, but the details can vary.
Jump to insightIf your car still has powertrain coverage, that should be enough to get your wheel bearings fixed as long as the issue wasn’t caused by regular wear and tear.
Jump to insightIf you have to pay out of pocket for new wheel bearings, it shouldn’t break the bank, though.
Jump to insightWheel bearing warranty coverage
Wheel bearings are often covered by a car’s warranty. However, whether or not your wheel bearings are covered depends on your car’s manufacturer and its policies. For example, wheel bearings generally shouldn’t need to be replaced until after your car’s warranty has expired. Then again, warranties exist to help protect consumers against parts failing prematurely.
Also, bear in mind that damage caused by car accidents will not be covered under warranty, no matter what kind of coverage you have. If you are involved in an accident, someone’s car insurance may pick up the tab instead.
» LEARN: What does a car warranty cover?
What types of warranties cover wheel bearings?
Wheel bearings are generally covered by either your car’s bumper-to-bumper or powertrain warranty, which is good news. (If your car has a powertrain warranty, it typically lasts longer than your bumper-to-bumper coverage.)
Wheel bearings are also covered under most extended warranties since they tend to offer at least powertrain coverage. Just be aware that an extended warranty won’t help with preexisting conditions. For example, if you were already having issues with a wheel bearing before you purchased your extended warranty, the problem will likely not be covered.
“One of the wheel bearings in the rear went out on my 2017 Nissan Rogue SV,” wrote a reviewer from Virginia. “[The shop] called the warranty personnel, talked to them and got everything situated. I'm very satisfied. When I went to Nissan and showed them the warranty, they said they never dealt with Omega. They never turned a claim in or talked to anybody about that. They never heard of that warranty before. But they were pleased with the way Omega handled everything.”
» MORE: Car warranty guide: what you need to know
Does your extended warranty cover wheel bearings?
We checked with some popular extended warranty providers to see which offered wheel bearing coverage.
| Warranty provider | Plans offering wheel bearing coverage |
|---|---|
| Endurance | Superior |
| American Dream Auto Protect | Platinum |
| olive | Complete Care |
| Omega Auto Care | Exclusionary and Used Stated |
| Toco Warranty | Yellow and above |
| Concord Auto Protect | Premium |
How much does it cost to fix your wheel bearings?
Fortunately, fixing or replacing a wheel bearing without warranty coverage shouldn’t break your budget.
According to RepairPal, the typical cost of repairing wheel bearings ranges between $279 and $363. Just know that costs can vary depending on the type of car and whether you need the part repaired or replaced.
FAQ
Is a wheel bearing covered under an extended warranty?
If you have an extended powertrain warranty, it may or may not cover wheel bearings. It all depends on your specific policy. If you already have a policy in place, you should carefully read the agreement to see if wheel bearings are covered. If you are in the market for a new policy, you can compare different coverage levels to see which one covers wheel bearings.
What is the average life of a wheel bearing?
Unlike other car parts, wheel bearings are not designed to wear out at specific, regularly timed intervals. Instead, these bearings are damaged over time. This can happen if you get into an accident or hit a curb or pothole. Sometimes mud, road salt, sand or water can get inside the seal and affect the grease in the wheel bearing. This can cause issues that will require a repair or a new set of wheel bearings.
If you have wider or larger tires than normal, you may need to replace your wheel bearings more often than if you had original equipment manufacturer (OEM) specific tires. In general, wheel bearings can last up to 150,000 miles, but this depends on how you drive. For example, if you get into a car accident, your wheel bearings may be damaged.
Can you still drive on a bad wheel bearing?
If you have a bad wheel bearing, you should stay off the roads until you can get to a mechanic. If your wheel bearing has been damaged, then it could cause you to lose a wheel or lose control of your steering.
You should probably get the car towed to the mechanic instead of attempting to fix it yourself. The cost to get it towed may or may not be included in the warranty, depending on specific terms. You should also call before to let your mechanic know that you’ll be bringing the car in for what you suspect is a bad wheel bearing.
