Ford Escape extended warranty: cost, coverage and plans
Why an extended warranty could make sense
+2 more
Ford Escapes are known to have average reliability, so extended warranty options could offer extra protection against unexpected repairs as the vehicle ages.
We’ll break down what a Ford Escape warranty covers, how much it costs, what your options are and whether a warranty is worth it in the long run.
All new Ford Escapes 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 Escape ranged from $1,039.80 to $2,723.12 a year. That’s more expensive than the average cost of an extended warranty.
Jump to insightFord has average reliability compared with other vehicles.
Jump to insightGetting an extended warranty on an Escape gives you peace of mind and protection against repair bills once the factory warranty expires.
Jump to insightFord Escape extended warranty coverage
An extended auto warranty is an optional, paid extension of the factory warranty your Escape comes with. For context, Ford Escapes 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 car 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 Ford Escape, you have two options:
- Buy the official Ford extended warranty, called Ford Protect Extended Service Plan.
- Buy a plan from a third-party extended warranty company, which allows you to take your car to any ASE-certified mechanic for repairs.
A ConsumerAffairs investigation found most drivers couldn't afford to cover a $1,000 repair bill with cash, and 13% had no way to pay a bill that large, even with credit.
In either case, you’ll generally 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 may be cheaper, but they tend to cover fewer parts per dollar.
Auto warranties don't cover damage or accidents, and repairs generally aren't covered if you don't properly maintain the vehicle or you make aftermarket modifications. They only pay for repairs and replacements of specifically covered parts that fail from normal wear and tear.
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 Ford Escape extended warranty cost?
We were quoted $2,723.12 a year from olive for three years of bumper-to-bumper coverage for a 2021 Ford Escape registered in Austin, Texas, with 40,000 miles. From Endurance, the quote for similar coverage was $1,039.80 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” Ford extended warranty is called Ford Protect Extended Service Plan, and it may cost less than a third-party option. Be sure to get a quote from your local Ford dealer to compare your options.
In general, quotes for extended auto warranties vary based on coverage, vehicle, deductible, location and other factors. A 2022 Escape with zero miles typically has cheaper extended warranty options than a 2020 model with 50,000 miles, for example.
Prices for an extended auto warranty can vary a lot. Get quotes from multiple providers to be sure you're getting a good deal.
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 Ford Escape were more expensive by comparison.
Our quotes were for a base model vehicle, but a more expensive trim can raise the price of your plan. For a lower price, you can opt for a powertrain plan or one that covers less than a bumper-to-bumper warranty. Just be aware that coverage limits can lead to a frustrating situation in which you're left paying out of pocket for repairs.
Remember that some extended warranty plans, particularly those from manufacturers, start from the date that the original owner purchased the car. In such a case, if you're getting a "seven-year/100,000-mile" warranty and the factory warranty is three-year/36,000 miles, you're really paying for four years or 64,000 miles (whichever comes first) of additional coverage.
Is a Ford Escape extended warranty worth it?
Yes, a Ford Escape 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.
Ford as a brand has average reliability, with J.D. Power ranking Ford 23rd out of 29 car brands for overall dependability. As for the Escape specifically, RepairPal gave it a 4.0 out of 5.
For model years 2014 and beyond, a bumper-to-bumper warranty might be a good idea to protect against big repair costs for transmission or electronics failures, which are somewhat common for the Escape.
Ford maintenance is fairly pricy, suggesting that an extended warranty is a good idea. While the Escape itself is OK in terms of reliability, an extended warranty could make sense if you’d like the peace of mind against big-ticket repairs.
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, “Ford Escape Reliability Rating.” Accessed Aug. 14, 2024.
