Are Wheel Bearings Covered Under Warranty?

Wheel bearing warranty coverage

Wheel bearings are generally covered by either your car’s powertrain warranty or bumper-to-bumper warranty. Factory car warranties exist to help protect you against parts failing prematurely.

How long your wheel bearings are covered depends on your car’s manufacturer and its policies. Most car makers, such as Toyota and Chevrolet, cover them under your powertrain warranty, which lasts longer. But some others, like General Motors (GM) brands, cover them under your bumper-to-bumper warranty.

Keep 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, car insurance should pick up the tab instead.

» LEARN: What does a car warranty cover?

Powertrain warranty coverage

Powertrain warranties typically cover wheel bearings as part of the drive system, which includes axle shafts, bearings, hubs and related components. Most powertrain warranties last 5 years/60,000 miles, though some manufacturers, like Kia, offer extended coverage of 10 years/100,000 miles.

Coverage can vary by drivetrain configuration. For example, on front-wheel-drive vehicles, only the front wheel bearings may be covered under the powertrain warranty, while all-wheel-drive vehicles would have both front and rear bearings covered.

Popular car brands that include wheel bearing coverage under the powertrain warranty include:

• Kia: Includes hub and wheel bearings under their 10-year/100,000 miles powertrain warranty
• GMC and Chevrolet: Cover axle shaft bearings and hubs under their 5-year/60,000 miles powertrain warranty
• Toyota: Covers front hub and bearings, CV joints and related drivetrain components under their 5-year/60,000 miles powertrain warranty

Bumper-to-bumper warranty coverage

Some manufacturers specifically place wheel bearings under bumper-to-bumper coverage rather than powertrain warranties, which can significantly affect how long your wheel bearings are protected.

Bumper-to-bumper warranties are typically shorter than powertrain warranties, so you should check which warranty category covers your wheel bearings when shopping for a vehicle.

Bumper-to-bumper warranties typically last 3 years/36,000 miles for most manufacturers, though luxury brands and some mainstream manufacturers offer longer coverage.

Popular car brands that cover wheel bearings under the bumper-to-bumper warranty only include:

• GM brands (Cadillac, Chevrolet, Buick, GMC): Starting with 2010 model year vehicles, sealed wheel bearing assemblies and hub and bearing assemblies were removed from powertrain coverage and placed under bumper-to-bumper warranty only. This means wheel bearings on these newer GM vehicles are covered for three to four years instead of the longer five- to six-year powertrain warranty period.
• Audi: Offers 4 years/50,000 miles of bumper-to-bumper coverage, and wheel bearings are included under their front suspension coverage in their extended warranty plans, indicating they're treated as suspension components rather than powertrain parts.

Certified pre-owned (CPO) warranty coverage

Most CPO programs include wheel bearing coverage as part of their powertrain or comprehensive warranty packages. You’ll typically get an extra year or two of powertrain and/or bumper-to-bumper coverage with a CPO warranty.

Keep in mind that CPO warranties typically start from the vehicle's original in-service date (when it was first registered as new), not from when you purchase the used vehicle. CPO programs generally require vehicles to be less than 5 years old with under 50,000 to 80,000 miles.

» MORE: Car warranty guide: what you need to know

Wheel bearing warranty exclusions and limitations

Wheel bearing warranties only cover failures due to defects in materials or workmanship, not wear and tear or damage from accidents, curbs, potholes or improper use. Environmental factors like mud, road salt, sand or water that damage the bearing seals and grease are typically not covered.

Common exclusions across all warranty types include:

• Damage from accidents, neglect, abuse, misuse, theft, vandalism, weather or collisions
• Preexisting conditions — if bearings are already worn when you purchase extended coverage, they won't be covered
• Misuse such as driving over curbs, overloading or racing
• Lack of proper maintenance according to the manufacturer's recommended schedule
• Issues caused by aftermarket modifications, especially oversized or wider-than-standard tires

Additionally, you must maintain proper service records and follow the manufacturer's maintenance schedule to keep warranty coverage valid. If you cannot prove regular maintenance was performed, your warranty claim may be denied.

Does your extended warranty cover wheel bearings?

Wheel bearings are 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.

A ConsumerAffairs reviewer from Virginia reported that her extended warranty covered a wheel bearing issue:

“One of the wheel bearings in the rear went out on my 2017 Nissan Rogue SV. [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.”

We checked with some popular extended warranty providers to see which offered wheel bearing coverage.

Signs you need new wheel bearings

Recognizing the warning signs of failing wheel bearings can help you address the problem before it leads to more serious damage or safety issues. Here are the most common symptoms:

• Grinding, humming or growling noise: A loud noise that increases with vehicle speed, often described as a grinding or humming sound coming from the wheel area
• Wheel wobble or looseness: Excessive play in the wheel when you try to move it back and forth, which you can check by jacking up the vehicle
• Uneven tire wear: Abnormal or premature tire wear patterns, particularly on one side of the vehicle
• Vibration in the steering wheel: Shaking or vibration that worsens at higher speeds, felt through the steering wheel or vehicle floor
• ABS warning light: The antilock brake system (ABS) light may illuminate on your dashboard if a wheel bearing affects the ABS sensor
• Pulling to one side: Your vehicle may pull to the left or right while driving, similar to alignment issues

If you experience any of these symptoms, have your wheel bearings inspected by a qualified mechanic as soon as possible. Driving with worn wheel bearings can be dangerous and may cause further damage to your vehicle's suspension and braking systems.

How much does it cost to fix your wheel bearings?

According to RepairPal, the typical cost to replace a single wheel bearing ranges from $346 and $505. That means that replacing all four wheel bearings could cost from around $1,400 to around $2,000.

Labor will affect costs most, with RepairPal reporting a range of $224 to $329 for labor and $122 to $176 for parts.

Fortunately, unlike with tires, you don’t have to replace your wheel bearings in pairs. If only one needs replacement, you won’t have to shell out $1,000-plus.

Your vehicle's make and model and the type of wheel bearing you need will largely affect costs. Parts and labor costs vary by repair shop, as do local taxes and fees. Your car may also need related repairs. Account for these added costs when budgeting for a wheel bearing replacement.