Does the Scion Warranty Provide the Protection You Need?

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.

After Toyota discontinued the Scion brand in 2016, the Scion iA, iM, and FR-S joined the Toyota lineup of cars and were rebranded as the Yaris, Corolla Hatchback, and 86. But what did that mean for existing Scion owners who bought their cars while it was still Scion? Did Toyota honor the original warranties?

The short answer is yes. When Toyota absorbed the Scion brand in 2016, it promised to fully honor the warranties on Scion vehicles, including Scion extended warranties or service contracts and warranties for certified pre-owned Scion vehicles.

Due to the short life of the Scion factory warranty, most Scion vehicles are now considered out of factory warranty coverage. If you own a 2018, 2017, 2016 Scion iM or 2016 Scion iA, here is what your factory warranty included:

• New Vehicle Limited Warranty (bumper-to-bumper warranty)
• Powertrain Warranty
• Restraint Systems Warranty
• Corrosion Perforation Warranty
• Federal Emission Control Warranty
• California Emission Control Warranty

Scion New Vehicle Limited Warranty

This is the basic, bumper-to-bumper Scion warranty that covers all components for defects in material or workmanship, except items subject to normal wear and tear. This coverage was valid for three years or 36,000 miles.

During the Scion warranty period, all repairs, including labor and parts, could be done at no cost and used new or remanufactured parts. This also included towing to the nearest authorized service dealership. However, if your vehicle required emergency repairs and an authorized servicing dealership wasn’t available, you were able to have the repairs performed at any auto service center and then apply for reimbursement later.

For parts scheduled to be replaced as per the maintenance schedule, the Scion warranty applied only until the first replacement. Wheel balancing and alignment were also available only for the first year or 12,000 miles.

As with many factory warranties, the Scion warranty did not cover normal maintenance services or repairs caused by:

Scion Powertrain Warranty

The Scion Powertrain Warranty covered repairs to fix defects in material or workmanship of the engine, transmission and transaxle, front-wheel-drive system, and rear-wheel-drive system for five years or 60,000 miles.

For some perspective, this was a pretty average warranty length but was significantly shorter than the Kia, Mitsubishi, or Hyundai powertrain warranties, which lasted 10 years or 100,000 miles for the original owner.

Scion Restraint Systems Warranty

The seatbelts and airbag systems of your Scion were covered for factory defects for five years or 60,000 miles under this warranty. If your vehicle was sold and registered in Kansas, your seatbelts and related components are covered for a total of 10 years.

Corrosion Perforation Warranty

Scion’s Corrosion Perforation Warranty provided coverage for the repair or replacement of any original body panel that has developed perforation due to corrosion for five years or unlimited miles.

Federal Emission Control Warranty

The Federal Emission Control Warranty consisted of two different warranties: the Emission Defect Warranty and the Emission Performance Warranty.

The Emission Defect Warranty ensured that your Scion vehicle was designed, built, and equipped to conform with federal emission control regulations. It provided coverage for defects in materials or workmanship of related parts for three years or 36,000 miles.

The Emission Performance Warranty covered any necessary repairs if your Scion failed to meet emission standards as determined by an approved emissions test and you were penalized. The warranty was valid for two years or 24,000 miles.

Certain emission-related parts like the engine control module and catalytic converter may have longer coverage for eight years or 80,000 miles. You can look for these in your owner’s handbook or warranty guide.

California Emission Control Warranty

California requires all vehicles sold there to conform to the state’s stringent anti-smog standards. With the California Emission Control Warranty, if a warrantable condition existed and caused your vehicle to fail the state’s smog-check test during the first three years or 50,000 miles, Scion would have undertaken all necessary repairs and adjustments to ensure your car passed the test.

The Long-Term Emission Defect Warranty provided coverage for listed emission-related parts for seven years or 70,000 miles, such as the CV valve lift controller and intake manifold.

Transportation Assistance

If your Scion vehicle was disabled during the term of the Scion New Vehicle Limited Warranty and needed to be kept overnight for warrantable repairs, you were eligible for transportation assistance under the following conditions:

• The vehicle needed to be kept for more than one day for repairs.
• The parts required for repairs were unavailable and the car was unsafe to drive.
• The repair required extensive diagnosis.

Parts and Accessories Warranties

All genuine Scion/Toyota parts were covered by their own warranties or the remainder of the New Vehicle Limited Warranty, whichever was greater.

If you purchased the accessory along with the new vehicle, then the Toyota Accessory Warranty coverage was valid for three years or 36 months. If you bought the accessory later, the warranty was applicable for one year or the remainder of the New Vehicle Limited Warranty, excluding car covers. Car covers were warranted for 12 months from purchase and were not covered under the standard warranty.

Every Toyota Certified Used Vehicles are classified as Gold or Silver, and each class comes with a limited warranty that covers repairs and replacement of any component under normal use due to defects in material or workmanship. Gold-class used Toyotas come with one year or 12,000 miles of comprehensive coverage, as well as seven years or 100,000 miles of powertrain protection and roadside assistance. Silver-class used Toyotas come with one year or 12,000 miles of powertrain coverage and roadside assistance.

The Toyota Certified Limited Powertrain Warranty is valid at more than 1,400 participating Toyota dealerships across the country and includes travel protection and substitute transportation. If you want to sell your vehicle later, you can transfer the coverage to the new owner with no additional charge.

If you own a Scion vehicle, chances are it’s getting up there in years. Based on the vehicle’s initial warranty, you’re likely already out of limited factory warranty coverage and are no longer eligible for extended warranty protection from the dealership. This means that you’re going to need to pay for all repairs out-of-pocket.

However, you’re still eligible for a third-party vehicle service plan, like those offered by CARCHEX. These plans can help protect your budget from costly repairs due to vehicle defects or faulty manufacturer parts. If you think you might have trouble paying upfront for repairs as your Scion ages, a vehicle service plan may be the right choice for you.

According to RepairPal, Scion owners spend $397 on repairs and maintenance every year, with some of the most commonly reported problems being the following:

While not all repairs are major, they can add up over time if you’re not protected. If you have Scion vehicle protection, you won’t be caught unprepared if an expensive car repair comes your way.

In addition, a transferable vehicle service plan could boost your car value and put some money back in your pocket when it’s time to sell your car.

The Toyota or Scion extended warranty from Toyota Financial Services is called a Vehicle Service Agreement (VSA) and provides coverage for eligible parts and repairs after the original warranty expires.

Things to note:

• It can be transferred once to a private party for no additional cost.
• The repairs will be performed by factory-trained technicians at authorized Toyota dealerships, which might not be a favorable option for people who would rather have the repairs done by their local mechanic or someone they know.
• If you’re not happy with the service, you can cancel the plan within 30 days for a full refund minus a $50 processing fee.

While actual coverage, exclusions, and limitations of the VSA may vary from state to state, you can expect these terms and conditions in general.

Certified Used Vehicles

If you have a Toyota Certified Used Vehicle around six model years old with fewer than 85,000 total vehicle miles and a valid Toyota Certified Used Powertrain Limited Warranty, you are eligible to buy Toyota’s VSA for Certified Used Vehicles from the dealer for 12 months or 12,000 miles from the date of purchase.

For used Scions, you can buy a Toyota extended warranty at the time of purchase, provided the vehicle is within the current model plus nine years old and has less than 150,000 miles. If eligible, you have the plan options of Platinum, Gold, or Powertrain. The coverage also includes roadside assistance, travel and transportation protection, and one-time transferability. You can choose coverage terms ranging from one year or 12,000 miles to five years or 60,00 miles.

If you are in the market for an extended warranty for your Scion, it’s important to know that Toyota’s Vehicle Service Agreements are not your only option. CARCHEX is a reputable third-party vehicle service plan company that protects new, certified pre-owned, and used cars.

Here’s a quick look at why a comprehensive Extended Vehicle Protection Plan from CARCHEX may suit your needs.

• Buy at any time—You can buy a vehicle service plan from CARCHEX for a Scion anytime.
• Trusted and endorsed by industry leaders—CARCHEX has been in the business for over two decades and is respected, trusted, and endorsed by industry leaders like Edmunds.com, Kelley Blue Book, CARFAX, and Thoroughly Reviewed. CARCHEX also has an A+ rating and accreditation from the Better Business Bureau.
• Access to over 30,000 dealers nationwide—With a CARCHEX vehicle service plan for a Scion, you aren’t limited to Toyota-approved repair facilities. CARCHEX gives you access to more than 30,000 licensed repair centers all over the country. This can be a huge advantage if you live far away from your closest Toyota dealership or don’t like the service provided at the dealer.
• Low monthly payments—CARCHEX vehicle protection plans are affordable and allow you to make low, monthly payments and avoid hefty bills up front.
• No need to wait for reimbursement—CARCHEX will pay the repair shop directly.
• Exceptional customer service—CARCHEX puts the “Customer Experience Above All” and is known for its fast response times and commitment to ensuring customer satisfaction.
• 30-Day Money–Back Guarantee—If you’re not happy with our service or your contract, you can cancel your plan and get a refund in the first 30 days.
• Extra benefits—CARCHEX vehicle service contracts come with roadside assistance, rental car and trip interruption benefits, and other perks.

Restrictions and deductibles apply. Check your CARCHEX vehicle protection contract for more information or reach out to our team for answers to your coverage questions.

CARCHEX Extended Vehicle Protection Plans

CARCHEX offers five different tiers of vehicle protection plans—Titanium, Platinum, Powertrain Plus, Powertrain, and Extra Care—with different coverage terms and plans under each. That way, you can customize your plan for your vehicle and your budget.

• The Titanium plan offers the highest level of coverage and covers all parts of the vehicle, except for a few specified components.
• The Platinum plan has the highest level of stated component coverage and can cover your vehicle for up to 10 years.
• The Powertrain Plus plan has comprehensive coverage and flexible terms and is best suited for vehicles with over 60,000 miles.
• The Powertrain plan provides protection for the major systems on the vehicle and can cover your car for up to six years.
• The Extra Care Plan enhances existing powertrain coverage and adds protections for parts in additional systems, such as the suspension and steering.

Sources:

The Motley Fool: 
https://www.fool.com/investing/general/2016/02/03/toyota-is-ending-the-scion-brand-what-it-means.aspx

Toyota: 
https://www.toyota.com/t3Portal/document/omms-s/T-MMS-17iM/pdf/T-MMS-17iM.pdf

Toyota: 
https://www.toyotacertified.com/

RepairPal: 
https://repairpal.com/problems/scion

RepairPal: 
https://repairpal.com/scion

Toyota: 
https://www.toyotafinancial.com/us/en/vehicle_protection_plan/vehicle_service_agreements.htm

ThoroughlyReviewed: 
https://thoroughlyreviewed.com/car-warranty/carchex-reviews/