Honda Pilot extended warranty: cost, coverage and plans
Why an extended warranty could make sense
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Honda Pilots are known to have average reliability, and an extended warranty offers extra protection against unexpected repairs as the vehicle ages.
We’ll break down what a Honda Pilot warranty covers, how much it costs, what your options are and whether a warranty is worth it in the long run.
All new Honda Pilots 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 Pilot ranged from $1,028.16 to $765.88 a year. That’s less expensive than the average cost of an extended warranty.
Jump to insightHonda has average reliability compared with other vehicles.
Jump to insightGetting an extended warranty on a Pilot gives you peace of mind and protection against repair bills once the factory warranty expires.
Jump to insightHonda Pilot extended warranty coverage
An extended auto warranty is an optional, paid extension of the factory warranty your Pilot comes with. For context, Honda Pilots 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 SUV 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 Honda Pilot, you have two options:
- Buy the official Honda extended warranty, called Honda Care.
- Buy a plan from a third-party extended warranty company, which allows you to take your vehicle to any ASE-certified mechanic for 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.
Whether you get a third-party plan or a warranty from a dealer, a plan that offers comprehensive, exclusionary protection (often called bumper-to-bumper or Platinum) will provide the most value. These plans cover almost all the parts on your vehicle. Less comprehensive plans (e.g., Gold, Silver, powertrain) may be cheaper, but they also cover fewer parts per dollar.
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 | 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 Honda Pilot extended warranty cost?
We were quoted $765.88 a year from olive for three years of bumper-to-bumper coverage for a 2021 Honda Pilot registered in Austin, Texas, with 40,000 miles. From Endurance, the quote for similar coverage was $1,028.16 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” Honda extended warranty is called Honda Care, and it may cost less than a third-party option. Be sure to get a quote from your local Honda dealer to compare your options.
In general, quotes for extended auto warranties vary based on coverage, vehicle, deductible, location and other factors. A 2022 Pilot with zero miles typically has cheaper extended warranty options than a 2020 model with 50,000 miles, for example.
To be sure you're getting a good deal on an extended warranty, compare quotes from multiple providers.
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 Honda Pilot were less expensive by comparison.
Bumper-to-bumper warranties often go by names like "Platinum" or "Complete Care." Lower-tier plans are usually cheaper, but they cover fewer parts per dollar. Based on customer reviews, many people are disappointed by the coverage limits on these plans, so we suggest a bumper-to-bumper warranty for most situations.
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 Honda Pilot extended warranty worth it?
Yes, a Honda Pilot 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.
Honda as a brand has average reliability, with J.D. Power ranking Honda 19th out of 29 car brands for overall dependability. As for the Pilot specifically, RepairPal gave it a 3.5 out of 5.
Some Honda model years have catalytic converter and transmission issues at higher mileage (180,000-plus). Also, replacing the vehicle’s timing belt regularly is essential to avoid catastrophic engine failure. However, this is considered a wear-and-tear part, so it’s unlikely to be covered under warranty unless it was well under the service interval to change when it failed.
Honda maintenance is inexpensive, as a general rule of thumb, but so is the price of an extended warranty on a Pilot. If you value the peace of mind afforded by a vehicle protection plan against the price of a big repair, getting a warranty is worthwhile.
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, “Honda Pilot Reliability Rating.” Accessed Aug. 14, 2024.
