Toyota 4Runner extended warranty: cost, coverage and plans
Why an extended warranty could make sense
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Toyota 4Runners are known to have above-average reliability, meaning an extended warranty might be worthwhile for long-term ownership or high-mileage driving.
We’ll break down what a Toyota 4Runner warranty covers, how much it costs, what your options are and whether a warranty is worth it in the long run.
All new Toyota 4Runners 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 4Runner ranged from $648.85 to $1,028.16 a year. That’s less expensive than the average cost of an extended warranty.
Jump to insightToyota has above-average reliability compared with other vehicles.
Jump to insightGetting an extended warranty on a 4Runner gives you peace of mind and protection against repair bills once the factory warranty expires.
Jump to insightToyota 4Runner extended warranty coverage
An extended auto warranty is an optional, paid extension of the factory warranty your 4Runner comes with. For context, Toyota 4Runners 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 Toyota 4Runner, you have two options:
- Buy the official Toyota extended warranty, called Toyota Extra 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.
Most Americans can't pay for a $1,000 repair bill with cash, according to a ConsumerAffairs investigation. Nearly 13% of drivers have no way to handle a bill that large — even by borrowing.
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 | 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 Toyota 4Runner extended warranty cost?
We were quoted $648.85 a year from olive for three years of bumper-to-bumper coverage for a 2021 Toyota 4Runner 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” Toyota extended warranty is called Toyota Extra Care, and it may cost less than a third-party option. Be sure to get a quote from your local Toyota dealer to compare your options.
In general, quotes for extended auto warranties vary based on coverage, vehicle, deductible, location and other factors. A 2022 4Runner 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 Toyota 4Runner were less 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.
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.
Is a Toyota 4Runner extended warranty worth it?
Yes, a Toyota 4Runner 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.
Toyota as a brand has above-average reliability, with J.D. Power ranking Toyota 2nd out of 29 car brands for overall dependability. As for the 4Runner specifically, RepairPal gave it a 4.0 out of 5.
While we haven’t seen many reviewers report issues with their Toyota 4Runners, Chris in Oregon mentioned an engine issue after his vehicle was out of warranty: “At 64,000 miles, just over warranty, it experienced a stuck lifter in the cylinder head. Leaked all the oil, and scored the piston walls. No check engine light, no low oil pressure alarm, nothing to signify anything was wrong with the vehicle. Toyota denied the warranty claim and now we are stuck with a 6600 bill to replace the engine.”
Toyota 4Runner maintenance isn’t generally too expensive, but big repairs like this can hit hard. With how inexpensive third-party extended warranties are for these vehicles, the peace of mind might be 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, “Toyota 4Runner Reliability Rating.” Accessed Aug. 14, 2024.
