Chevrolet Traverse extended warranty: cost, coverage and plans
Why an extended warranty could make sense
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Chevrolet Traverses are known to have below-average reliability, which is why getting an extended warranty is a good idea to protect your purchase.
We’ll break down what a Chevrolet Traverse warranty covers, how much it costs, what your options are and whether a warranty is worth it in the long run.
All new Chevrolet Traverses come with a three-year/36,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty and a five-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty from the factory.
Jump to insightQuotes we received for an extended auto warranty on a 2021 Traverse ranged from $1,088.16 to $2,212.53 a year. That’s more expensive than the average cost of an extended warranty.
Jump to insightChevrolet has below-average reliability compared with other vehicles.
Jump to insightGetting an extended warranty on a Traverse gives you peace of mind and protection against repair bills once the factory warranty expires.
Jump to insightChevrolet Traverse extended warranty coverage
An extended auto warranty is an optional, paid extension of the factory warranty your Traverse comes with. For context, Chevrolet Traverses come with the following warranties from the factory:
- A three-year/36,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty
- A five-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty
Factory warranties follow the vehicle, not the owner. So if you buy a 2-year-old truck with 20,000 miles on it, you still have one year or 16,000 miles worth of factory bumper-to-bumper warranty remaining.
For an extended warranty on your Chevrolet Traverse, you have two options:
- Buy the official Chevrolet extended warranty, called Chevrolet Protection Plan.
- Buy a plan from a third-party extended warranty company, which allows you to take your truck to any ASE-certified mechanic for repairs.
Regardless of whether you go with an extended warranty from a dealer or a third-party provider, you’ll typically get the most value by purchasing whichever plan offers comprehensive, exclusionary protection (often called bumper-to-bumper or Platinum). These plans cover 90% or more of the parts on your vehicle. Less comprehensive Gold, Silver and powertrain plans are less expensive, but the coverage they provide may leave you no option but to pay out of pocket for pricey repairs.
Only 41% of Americans have enough in savings to pay for a $1,000 car repair out of pocket, and 13% say they have no way to handle a bill that large — even by borrowing.
Auto warranties only pay for repairs and replacements of specifically covered parts that fail from normal wear and tear, not from damage or accidents. Repairs generally aren’t covered under warranty if you don’t properly maintain the vehicle or you make aftermarket modifications.
In general, here are the differences between what a bumper-to-bumper warranty and a powertrain warranty cover:
| Warranty type | Typically covered | Not covered |
|---|---|---|
| Bumper-to-bumper | ||
| Powertrain | Parts that create power and deliver it to the wheels | Parts not related to the engine, transmission or drive axle |
Note that some extended auto warranty plans fall somewhere between bumper-to-bumper and powertrain coverage.
» LEARN: What to know about manufacturers’ extended warranties
How much does a Chevrolet Traverse extended warranty cost?
We were quoted $2,212.53 a year from olive for three years of bumper-to-bumper coverage for a 2021 Chevrolet Traverse registered in Austin, Texas, with 40,000 miles. From Endurance, the quote for similar coverage was $1,088.16 annually for 30 months of coverage for the same vehicle with the same mileage. Both quotes assumed a $100 deductible. Note that both of these are third-party extended auto warranty companies.
The “official” Chevrolet extended warranty is called Chevrolet Protection Plan, and it may cost less than a third-party option. Be sure to get a quote from your local Chevrolet dealer to compare your options.
In general, quotes for extended auto warranties vary based on coverage, vehicle, deductible, location and other factors. A 2022 Traverse with zero miles typically has cheaper extended warranty options than a 2020 model with 50,000 miles, for example.
For context, the average cost of an extended warranty is around $1,000 per year of coverage. The quotes we collected for our hypothetical 2021 Chevrolet Traverse were more expensive by comparison.
To be sure you're getting a good deal on an extended warranty, compare quotes from multiple providers.
Note that the quotes above were for comprehensive coverage and therefore more expensive. If you just need a powertrain warranty, the annual price will be lower.
Extended auto warranty providers may use varying language to describe plans. For example, Endurance provides 30 months and 40,000 miles of coverage with its plans — this is as of your vehicle's current age and mileage. Other providers may use the vehicle's original purchase date as the starting point for calculating coverage, so you'll have to subtract the age and mileage of your car (plus any remaining factory warranty) to determine the length of the coverage you're actually getting.
Is a Chevrolet Traverse extended warranty worth it?
Yes, a Chevrolet Traverse extended warranty is worth it. In general, an extended auto warranty is worth it if any of the following are true:
- Your vehicle has a bad reputation for reliability.
- The warranty costs less than you expect to spend on repairs.
- A big repair bill could hurt you financially.
- You don’t mind paying for peace of mind.
Chevrolet as a brand has below-average reliability, with J.D. Power ranking Chevrolet 4th out of 29 car brands for overall dependability.
As for the Traverse specifically, RepairPal gave it a 3 out of 5.
Many ConsumerAffairs reviewers reported issues with their Chevrolet Traverses.
“We owned the vehicle for only a week before all the electronics, and safety alerts on the vehicle started to glitch and not work,” wrote Paul, a ConsumerAffairs reviewer in Nevada. “It did not alert on the proximity for backing or objects in front of the vehicle, even the lane assist only worked now and then.”
We owned the vehicle for only a week before all the electronics, and safety alerts on the vehicle started to glitch and not work.”
Another reviewer, Matt from Vermont, told us that since he purchased his vehicle used, the “Traverse AC system broke ($600) had a partial transmission failure ($2k) rear driveshaft needed to be replaced ($1k), front suspension had to be completely replaced ($1,600).”
These stories from real customers mentioning issues with Chevrolet Traverse maintenance suggest that an extended warranty is a good idea. The likelihood of needing repairs and the prices we found for Chevrolet Traverse extended warranties means you’re likely to come out ahead by purchasing a protection plan.
Article sources
ConsumerAffairs writers primarily rely on government data, industry experts and original research from other reputable publications to inform their work. Specific sources for this article include:- J.D. Power, “Vehicle Dependability Slumps as Rate of Deterioration Increases, J.D. Power Finds.” Accessed Aug. 14, 2024.
- RepairPal, “Chevrolet Traverse Reliability Rating.” Accessed Aug. 14, 2024.
