DennisB

We just picked up our new Dodge CTD 3500. The business manager for the dealership spent about an hour trying to convince us that we should take the 5 or 7 year extended warranty. We hummed and hawed and finally told him that we'd get back to him after the weekend.

It seems to me that this is a money grabber. Is there a real benefit to these extended warranties? I know it is like life insurance - you hope you never have to use it - but this is like saying the truck is going to fall apart after 3 years.

Mine is made in Mexico. Is that enough to warrant spending quite a lot of money on an extra 2 or 4 years?

I'd appreciate a POV from others on this forum.

grantx5

We bought an x-warranty when we bought our Caravan and I swore I'd never do it again. Truth is, it was a BIG joke, dealer almost never honored it.

Well, when I bought my CTD I did buy the extra time (different dealer) and I hope it works better this time. Probably just made another mistake but who knows.

bubba33

The more you tell them no the cheaper it gets.Mine started out at 1400.00 and went down to 900.00 before I said yes. I t kinda reminds of the time my exwife had the kurby vacume salesman over.The price kept dropping the more times I said no,but I did not buy that though.

marksman

I had one on my gasser and recieved the money from it on the trade to the ctd. Now thats the first time it worked for me. On the gm product it was a bad idea, well it was a cadi dts so thats two bad ideas. anyway I have a hard time making the service writer understand whats needed and I have repaoired 2 out of 3 things that needed being fixed so far. Im waiting on the third, second attempt to replace hvac control thats broken. And *** a tech myself I thought I could communicate to the writers but they are ...... I will leave it at that. The extended warrenty will give you more time to fight to have them repaitr your truck and pay a deductible

one tonne

I had one on a gmc and it payed for a new fuel pump and sender{one unit in the tank} that went out and axle seals,It would not pay for a abs controller that went out [$600.00] so I think it was just under a push for me.

gerry

I had one on my Durango... It paid for itself.. That truck had issues with power window motors.. I think they put 3 of them in under the Extended Warranty.. Also replaced the AC/Heat door in the dash board... that repair alone was over $1000.00 alone because of the labor involved to remove the dash.

I know my truck came with the 3/36 - 7/70 power train - and cummins 100K warranties but I upgraded the 7/70 to bumper to bumper just in case. One look at all those wires bunched together and the thought of an electrical gremlin and diagnostic times got me scared...

Gerry

packard8

I’ve had one on my last 4 vehicles, and in each case it has “broken even”…..covered repairs were about the same as the cost of the contract. It only takes one or two repairs beyond the regular warranty to justify the cost, and if something really major goes out (blown engine, trans etc) you will be way ahead. However, you should know that the prices will vary wildly. Google “Chrysler warranty” and you will find 2 or 3 Dodge dealers that will sell them on the ‘net. The dealer I bought the truck from wanted almost twice as much as the quote I got from a Dodge dealer on the ‘net. I took the internet quote to another local dealer (Chrysler 5 star) and they matched it and I saved about a grand. I went with the 7 year/100K mile Max contract. I’d also stay with the DC warranty, not a third party. On my last truck I had the extended warranty thru Allstate, and it was a bit of a hassle to have repairs pre-approved from Allstate by the Ford dealers, but they eventually did.

Also, anyone buying a new truck (or even late model used) should check with your local Dodge dealer about the “Diesel Essential Maintenance” oil change, filter & lube coupons. I got a book of 28 good for 7 years for under $20 a throw, which works out to every 3500 miles up to 100K…heck, you can’t buy the oil & filter for that price!

RamWheelsBy4

I paid $1200 for 7/70 bumper to bumper extended warranty from DC at time of purchase. I had one on my last Chevy truck and it paid for itself a couple of times over. Cracked A/C compressor case twice made it worth wild.

Now at 50,000 plus miles and all of the performance mods don't know if this one will be worth it or not. It is just the old insurance game, a waste of money if never used.

06dually

I've never had an extended warranty on any thing.... But I,ve never needed one because I've never owned a vehicle fo more than three years, including cars, trucks, atvs, snowmobiles, jetskis.

topless

It's pretty much a crap shoot. The warranty is a huge profit item for the dealer, that finance guy would have made 25-30% of what you pay for it, that's why they try so hard to sell it.
I look at it this way, factory warranty will cover me for a while, if the truck is a POS, I'll know it by the time the warranty is over. I don't trade vehicles just because they get old, I've still got my '87 Chevy 1/2 ton because I don't like lifting stuff into my Dodge, it's a foot taller.
You figure the extra money you spend on the warranty and if you don't keep the vehicle, you might as well have tossed it out the window. If the vehicle is a POS, I'm going to take a loss on it anyway, I get rid of it.

J BODY

Packard8 pretty much nailed it. Just don't let them sell you anything but a CHRYSLER SERVICE CONTRACT.

ajpulley

I bought one from DC on the telephone, not through the dealer, about a month after I bought my truck. I usually don't buy extended warranties. I bought one on an electronic item once and it paid for itself twice. As far as the truck is concerned, for once I wanted not to have to deal with the cost of fixing something, that and I can't work on diesels other than simple maintenance. I keep my vehicles for a while, I still have my 87 Cherokee with over 230,000 miles. I saved quite a bit on the truck when I bought it, so for me it was simply piece of mind. If the U-joints go on both sides like others have including my buddies 03 3500 DRW, that should pay for the warranty.

dale29

I have heard that MADE IN MEXICO is a good thing!
I thought the same thing you did. Word in the community is that the mexican built trucks are very good. Mine is from the Mex plant and I'm very happy (so far, 6000mi).

I don't do the ext warranty because 7/70 for me would be up after the 2nd year.

Totallyrad

Based on my yearly milage, about 23k, I opted for 4 years/100k, bumper to bumper, with no deductable. At about 39k the rack started leaking, dealer replaced it, cost to me $0.00. I like it! I like handing them the keys and saying "fix it". You can also buy a road hazzard warranty on your tires which includes the wheels and wheel covers for the life of the origional tires. Also, I think that you do not qualify for a loaner after 36k if you don't have the extended warranty.

yfz450guy

i have got them with the last 3 dodge trucks that i've had. before that i never needed one. saved my butt more often than not.