GMC Sierra extended warranty: cost, coverage and plans
Why an extended warranty could make sense
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GMC Sierras are known to have average reliability, meaning an extended warranty might be worthwhile for long-term ownership or high-mileage driving.
We’ll break down what a GMC Sierra warranty covers, how much it costs, what your options are and whether a warranty is worth it in the long run.
All new GMC Sierras 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 Sierra ranged from $1,088.16 to $2,723.12 a year. That’s more expensive than the average cost of an extended warranty.
Jump to insightGMC has average reliability compared with other vehicles.
Jump to insightGetting an extended warranty on a Sierra gives you peace of mind and protection against repair bills once the factory warranty expires.
Jump to insightGMC Sierra extended warranty coverage
An extended auto warranty is an optional, paid extension of the factory warranty your Sierra comes with. For context, GMC Sierras 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 GMC Sierra, you have two options:
- Buy the official GMC extended warranty, called GMC 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.
A ConsumerAffairs investigation found that only 41% of American drivers surveyed had enough cash to cover a $1,000 repair bill, and 13% of respondents had no way to handle a repair bill that large, even with credit.
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.
Note that auto warranties only pay for repairs and replacements of parts that are specifically covered and fail from normal wear and tear. They don't cover damage from accidents or aftermarket modifications. In general, repairs also aren’t covered under warranty if you don’t properly maintain the vehicle.
In general, here are the differences between what a bumper-to-bumper warranty and a powertrain warranty cover:
| Warranty type | Typical coverage | 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 GMC Sierra extended warranty cost?
We were quoted $2,723.12 a year from olive for three years of bumper-to-bumper coverage for a 2021 GMC Sierra 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” GMC extended warranty is called GMC Protection Plan, and it may cost less than a third-party option. Be sure to get a quote from your local GMC dealer to compare your options.
In general, quotes for extended auto warranties vary based on coverage, vehicle, deductible, location and other factors. A 2022 Sierra with zero miles typically has cheaper extended warranty options than a 2020 model with 50,000 miles, for example.
Extended warranty pricing varies significantly among providers. Compare quotes from multiple companies to ensure 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 GMC Sierra were more expensive by comparison.
It's worth mentioning that a "Gold" or powertrain extended warranty can keep costs lower, but it comes with risks. Lower-level plans only cover a fraction of the parts that a comprehensive plan does, which can leave you frustrated when you have to pay out of pocket for certain 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 GMC Sierra extended warranty worth it?
Yes, a GMC Sierra 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.
GMC as a brand has average reliability, with J.D. Power ranking GMC 18th out of 29 car brands for overall dependability. As for the Sierra specifically, RepairPal gave it a 3.5 out of 5.
Many ConsumerAffairs reviewers reported issues with their GMC Sierras.
“I bought a new 2017 GMC Sierra,” said Luis in San Antonio. “I noticed some irregularities with the transmission at times while driving. Specifically the truck would plunge forward while braking on a hill. The plunge was significant and I took the truck in a few times to the dealership. They claimed that they needed to reset the computer and the problem should work itself after driving. Unfortunately, the problem persisted and now I was told I needed a new transmission. But since the warranty had expired passed 67,000 miles I was responsible for the entire cost of replacement.”
I was told I needed a new transmission. But since the warranty had expired passed 67,000 miles I was responsible for the entire cost of replacement. ”
Samuel in Oklahoma also had powertrain issues: “My 2021 GMC Sierra Denali had to have new lifters ordered at 5000 miles. I had a complete engine failure on a brand new vehicle.”
“I recently passed 50,000 miles on my pickup,” wrote Tami, a reviewer from California. It is just out of warranty. The air conditioner condenser went out and when they were fixing that they showed me the radiator that is leaking and has to be replaced.”
These stories from real customers mentioning issues with GMC Sierra maintenance suggest that an extended warranty is a good idea. The likelihood of needing repairs and the prices we found for GMC Sierra extended warranties means you’re likely to come out ahead by purchasing a protection plan.
Additionally, a bumper-to-bumper warranty might make sense on newer models (2014 and beyond) with more creature comforts and electronics that can have issues.
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, “GMC Sierra Reliability Rating.” Accessed Aug. 14, 2024.
