Hyundai Tucson extended warranty: cost, coverage and plans
Why an extended warranty could make sense
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Hyundai Tucsons 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 Hyundai Tucson warranty covers, how much it costs, what your options are and whether a warranty is worth it in the long run.
All new Hyundai Tucsons come with a five-year/60,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty and a ten-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty from the factory.
Jump to insightQuotes we received for an extended auto warranty on a 2021 Tucson ranged from $1,227.96 to $1,293.48 a year. That’s more expensive than the average cost of an extended warranty.
Jump to insightHyundai has average reliability compared with other vehicles.
Jump to insightGetting an extended warranty on a Tucson gives you peace of mind and protection against repair bills once the factory warranty expires.
Jump to insightHyundai Tucson extended warranty coverage
An extended auto warranty is an optional, paid extension of the factory warranty your Tucson comes with. For context, Hyundai Tucsons come with the following warranties from the factory:
- A five-year/60,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty
- A ten-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty
Factory warranties follow the vehicle, not the owner. So if you buy a 4-year-old truck with 20,000 miles on it, you still have one year or 40,000 miles worth of factory bumper-to-bumper warranty remaining.
For an extended warranty on your Hyundai Tucson, you have two options:
- Buy the official Hyundai extended warranty, called Hyundai Protection Plan VSC.
- 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.
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. Repairs also aren’t typically 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 Hyundai Tucson extended warranty cost?
We were quoted $1,293.48 a year from olive for three years of bumper-to-bumper coverage for a 2021 Hyundai Tucson registered in Austin, Texas, with 65,000 miles. From Endurance, the quote for similar coverage was $1,227.96 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” Hyundai extended warranty is called Hyundai Protection Plan VSC, and it may cost less than a third-party option. Be sure to get a quote from your local Hyundai dealer to compare your options.
In general, quotes for extended auto warranties vary based on coverage, vehicle, deductible, location and other factors. A 2022 Tucson 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 Hyundai Tucson were more expensive by comparison.
Prices for an extended auto warranty can vary a lot by company. Shop around to make sure that you're not getting overcharged.
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.
Keep in mind that some extended auto warranties start from the original owner's purchase date of the vehicle. So if the factory warranty lasts for four years and 50,000 miles, a six-year/100,000-mile plan may only provide two additional years or 50,000 additional miles of coverage.
Is a Hyundai Tucson extended warranty worth it?
Yes, a Hyundai Tucson 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.
Hyundai as a brand has average reliability, with J.D. Power ranking Hyundai 13th out of 29 car brands for overall dependability.
As for the Tucson specifically, RepairPal gave it a 4.0 out of 5. Many ConsumerAffairs reviewers reported issues with their Hyundai Tucsons.
Sharie in Virginia reported engine issues: “I have a 22 Tucson with less than 50k miles. The vehicle has broken down twice in 7 days with a check engine light. First time I took it back to the dealership they said it was a damaged cylinder #4. And it was repaired. Broke down the second time the dealership advised they knew #1, 2, 3 cylinders were going to malfunction as the technician could see the damage.”
Then on 70k mileage the engine failed for no reason and I had to change the engine.”
“I bought a 2016 Hyundai Tucson and first on 30k mileage,” said a reviewer in California. “I had to change the dual clutch because it failed. Then on 70k mileage the engine failed for no reason and I had to change the engine.”
Tim in Ohio said his “2017 Tucson rusted apart. Front converter cost $4000 to fix 90,000 miles.”
These stories from real customers mentioning issues with Hyundai Tucson maintenance suggest that an extended warranty is a good idea. The likelihood of needing repairs and the prices we found for Hyundai Tucson 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, “Hyundai Tucson Reliability Rating.” Accessed Aug. 14, 2024.
