Mazda 3 extended warranty: cost, coverage and plans

Mazda 3 extended warranty coverage

An extended auto warranty is an optional, paid extension of the factory warranty your 3 comes with. For context, Mazda 3s 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 Mazda 3, you have two options:

1. Buy the official Mazda extended warranty, called Mazda Protection Products VSA.
2. 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 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.

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:

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 Mazda 3 extended warranty cost?

We were quoted $765.88 a year from olive for three years of bumper-to-bumper coverage for a 2021 Mazda 3 registered in Austin, Texas, with 40,000 miles. From Endurance, the quote for similar coverage was $1,053.72 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” Mazda extended warranty is called Mazda Protection Products VSA, and it may cost less than a third-party option. Be sure to get a quote from your local Mazda dealer to compare your options.

In general, quotes for extended auto warranties vary based on coverage, vehicle, deductible, location and other factors. A 2022 3 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 Mazda 3 were less expensive by comparison.

While you may get a lower quote for a powertrain plan, the downside is your coverage will be significantly less comprehensive. If the damaged part doesn't create power and deliver it to the wheel (e.g., engine, transmission, drive axle), you'll likely have to pay out of pocket for repairs.

Some third-party providers start counting the coverage at the time when you purchase the plan. For example, if you get a 36-month, 185,000-mile plan from olive, you're covered for three years after purchasing the plan, or when your vehicle hits 185,000 total miles. Other providers may start the timer from the original purchase date of the car. In that case, you'll have to subtract the car's current age and mileage (plus any remaining factory warranty) from the length of the plan to determine how long coverage will last.

» LEARN: How to choose an extended car warranty

Is a Mazda 3 extended warranty worth it?

Yes, a Mazda 3 extended warranty is worth it. In general, an extended auto warranty is worth it if any of the following are true:

1. Your vehicle has a bad reputation for reliability.
2. The warranty costs less than you expect to spend on repairs.
3. A big repair bill could hurt you financially.
4. You don’t mind paying for peace of mind.

Mazda as a brand has average reliability, with J.D. Power ranking Mazda 7th out of 29 car brands for overall dependability. As for the 3 specifically, RepairPal gave it a 4.0 out of 5.

Many ConsumerAffairs reviewers reported issues with their Mazda 3s.

“I have a 2012 Mazda 3 with 58,000 miles,” said John in Ohio. “I purchased the vehicle brand new and have performed all required maintenance. I have to replace the entire transmission at a cost of $5,400.”

Kim in British Columbia also had a powertrain issue: “I had increasing problems with oil burning. I first noticed the problem when my car was still under warranty and mentioned it to the mechanic who said it was normal. My car slowly using more & more oil. I would check it weekly, at 8 years old and 138000 km putting in 1 liter of oil every 7-10 days. Last week had complete engine failure. Told I need a new engine.”

These stories from real customers mentioning issues with Mazda 3 maintenance suggest that an extended warranty is a good idea. The likelihood of needing repairs and the prices we found for Mazda 3 extended warranties means you’re likely to come out ahead by purchasing a protection plan.

» LEARN: Pros and cons of extended auto warranties