FIAT Warranty: What’s Covered?

Disclosure: This content was produced by an independent editorial party for the purposes of educating our customers, and is not influenced by the other business operations of CARCHEX.

An extended car warranty is protection from the vehicle manufacturer against mechanical breakdowns. This term is sometimes incorrectly used to describe coverage from third-party providers, which offer similar protection plans called vehicle service contracts. CARCHEX is a vehicle service contract provider.

No matter what type of FIAT^® vehicle you own—repairs, replacements, and mechanical breakdowns are inevitable. And unfortunately, FIAT factory warranties are fairly short-lived, leaving you unprotected against unexpected costs. We’ll show you what a FIAT warranty covers and help you decide if a vehicle service contract is a good idea.

Here’s what’s covered under FIAT’s basic limited warranty, which all new vehicles receive:

• 4-year/50,000-mile Basic Limited Warranty—This vehicle warranty covers the repairs needed to correct defects in materials, workmanship, or factory preparation of parts supplied by FIAT.
• 1-year/12,000-mile limitations—Brakes, wiper blades, clutch discs, wheel alignment, wheel balancing, windshields, and rear windows are only covered for the first year or 12,000 miles, whichever comes first.
• Corrosion Warranty (terms vary)—Sheet metal panels rusted from the inside out are covered for 3 years/unlimited miles, and outer-body sheet metal panels are covered for 5 years/unlimited miles.
• 4-year/50,000-mile Federal Emission Warranty—Under the Basic Limited Warranty, Stellantis covers emission parts such as the ignition system, air system control, exhaust manifold, and more. The catalytic converter and powertrain control module are covered for 8 years/80,000 miles. In some situations, this warranty only lasts 2 years/24,000 miles, so make sure to read your specific contract.
• 4-year/unlimited-mile Roadside Assistance—This warranty coverage applies toward towing costs (in certain situations) to the nearest FIAT dealer, as well as jump-start assistance, fuel delivery, tire service, and lockout service (the FIAT 500e gets 8 years or 100,000 miles of coverage).
• 8-year/100,000-mile EV powertrain and battery—This warranty covers electric vehicle drive components and the high-voltage lithium-ion battery.

If your FIAT experiences issues with any of these parts after their auto warranty expires, you won’t be covered by the basic service warranty provided by your dealer and will be left paying the repair costs.

FIAT Warranty Exclusions

Repairs and replacements aren’t covered by the FIAT factory warranty at all in the following cases, regardless of how long you’ve had the vehicle.

According to RepairPal, the average maintenance cost for FIAT vehicles is around $538 per year. Here are some of the most common issues experienced by FIAT drivers and their costs, based on the FIAT 500:

• Brake Pad Replacement—FIAT owners have had a lot of issues with their brake pads. As one of the most crucial safety components of your car, it’s important to keep your brake pads in great shape. Brake pad replacement costs $211 to $357 on average.
• Alternator Repair—Over time, FIATs can experience faulty alternators. An alternator repair will cost $727 to $769 on average.
• Wheel Bearings Replacement—Your basic FIAT car warranty doesn’t cover the cost of wheel replacement or repairs. The average cost of a wheel bearing replacement is $476 and $513 on average.
• Brake Rotors and Disc Replacement—After your dealer warranty expires, you’ll be left to pay for this replacement out of pocket, which costs $508 and $540 on average.

In addition to these repair and replacement costs, there are a number of other repair costs that drivers will experience as vehicles age. When these arise, you’ll be on the hook for the repairs.

An extended warranty will give your vehicle the full coverage it needs to run smoothly and give you the comfort of knowing that you’re covered in case of an emergency. 

You can choose between two FIAT extended warranty plans: Maximum Care™ or Added Care Plus.

• Maximum Care: Covers over 5,000 components for up to 8 years/125,000 miles
• Added Care Plus: Covers major systems for up to 8 years/150,000 miles

These plans are available through FlexCare, which was formerly known as Mopar^®—the parts and services division of FIAT’s parent company, Stellantis. Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram, and Alfa Romeo vehicles are all also covered by Stellantis.

Besides these options, you can also choose a vehicle service contract to cover similar repairs. Third-party providers are known to offer more affordable, comprehensive coverage with more flexibility for repair facilities and replacement parts.

If you’re looking for an alternative to the manufacturer’s extended warranty, it’s worth considering a third-party vehicle service contract. These plans cover repairs following a mechanical breakdown up to a certain time or mileage limit, similar to an extended warranty.

Here are some of the most important factors to consider when shopping for a FIAT vehicle service contract provider to ensure you’re working with the best in the business.

1. Years in business
2. Accreditation
3. Better Business Bureau rating
4. Better Business Bureau complaints
5. Partnerships and endorsements

With more than 20 years in the car service and vehicle protection industry, an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau, and unbeatable customer service, CARCHEX is the best place to get coverage for your vehicle.

Choose from one of our five different levels of protection plans and customize the coverage you need for your FIAT.

• Titanium—High-level coverage for many systems like the engine, transmission, drive axle, high-tech, air conditioning, electrical, steering, suspension, and brakes
• Platinum—Covers everything in the powertrain plus plan as well as the brakes, high-tech electronics, suspension, and more
• Powertrain Plus—Covers nine main systems including the air conditioning, cooling system, fuel system, and electrical
• Powertrain—Covers the engine, transmission, drive axle, turbocharger, transfer unit, and cooling system
• Extra Care—Covers components outside the powertrain system like the steering, suspension, brakes, fuel system, audio, and air conditioning

*Any plans offered by CARCHEX are not extended warranties, but are often referred to by consumers as such. CARCHEX vehicle service contracts (also called “protection plans”) operate similarly to extended warranties and provide repair coverage for mechanical breakdowns after factory warranties expire.

When you purchase a vehicle service contract, you won’t have to worry about being able to afford covered car repairs down the road. A service contract from a third-party company can ensure protection for many years.

There are many benefits from purchasing a vehicle service contract from CARCHEX, including:

• Affordable Payments—CARCHEX offers flexible and affordable plans with low monthly payments.
• Thousands of Repair Facilities—Instead of being required to bring your vehicle to a specific dealership, you can choose a licensed facility in your area.
• Satisfaction Guaranteed—We proudly offer a No-Haggle, Low-Price, Every Day Guarantee™ as well as a risk-free, 30-Day Money Back Guarantee with our Extended Vehicle Protection Plans.
• Claims Paid Directly to the Repair Shop—Your covered claims are paid directly to the repair facility that services your car, making the process fast, easy, and convenient.
• Commitment to Service—We value our customers above everything else, so we prefer to use a consultative approach when discussing coverage plans to ensure that you get the best plan for you.
• Transferability—You can transfer your extended CARCHEX coverage to a subsequent owner.
• Roadside Assistance—CARCHEX includes 24/7 roadside assistance with our plans, so you’re not missing these services when your FIAT warranty expires.

A vehicle service contract from CARCHEX can protect both your FIAT and your wallet. Contact one of our vehicle protection specialists to discuss which coverage options meet your needs.

Sources:

FIAT:
https://vehicleinfo.mopar.com/assets/publications/en-us/FIAT/2023/500X/P139535_23_FD_GW_EN_US_DIGITAL.pdf?_gl=1*132wsjh*_gcl_au*MTc0NjQ2NTE0OC4xNzI1NDI1MzM1 

RepairPal:
https://repairpal.com/estimator/fiat/500/brake-pad-replacement-cost 

RepairPal:
https://repairpal.com/estimator/fiat/500/alternator-replacement-cost 

RepairPal:
https://repairpal.com/estimator/fiat/500/wheel-bearing-replacement-cost 

RepairPal:
https://repairpal.com/estimator/fiat/500/brake-master-cylinder-replacement-cost 

Better Business Bureau:
https://www.bbb.org/us/md/hunt-valley/profile/extended-warranty-contract-service-companies/carchex-0011-23015869