Is a Chrysler Extended Vehicle Service Contract Worth Buying? (2024)

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.

Interested in keeping your Chrysler repair costs down? Purchasing a Chrysler extended protection plan is one way to offset expensive repair bills once your factory warranty expires.

Below, we’ll cover what your options from Chrysler are. We’ll also show you how a vehicle service contract from a third-party provider can cover similar repairs with more flexibility.

What Is a Chrysler Vehicle Service Contract?

Vehicle protection plans are extended warranties that cover repairs after your factory warranty ends. The Chrysler VSC comes from Mopar, which is the parts, customer care, and service component of Stellantis’ brands. These protection plans are available for Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram, Fiat, and Alfa Romeo. In 2024, Mopar began a rebrand to FlexCare. You may find similar coverage with Mopar and FlexCare plans until the transition is complete.

Chrysler Vehicle Service Contract Coverage

FlexCare Vehicle Protection complements your current coverage and provides mechanical coverage after your original warranty expires. The two warranty plan options are Maximum Care℠ and Added Care Plus℠.

Maximum Care

The highest level of Chrysler extended coverage, Maximum Care, protects more than 5,000 components. It can last for up to eight years or 125,000 miles and offers roadside assistance, car rental allowance, towing services, trip interruption benefits, and key fob repair or replacement.

You can purchase a Chrysler VSC before the factory warranty period of 3 years/60,000 miles expires. If you buy a used Chrysler that is beyond 3 years/36,000 miles, you may also have extended vehicle protection options at the time of purchase.

What’s Not Covered Under Chrysler Maximum Care

Regular maintenance services	Catalytic converter	Glass, plastic lenses, and lightbulbs
Wear-and-tear items, including tires, brake pads, wipers, and more	Particulate filter	Snowplows, winches, and trailer hitches
Body and paint items

Added Care Plus

This Chrysler vehicle protection plan adds coverage on more than 800 powertrain and major components with factory-backed protection. Chrysler vehicle owners choose the terms: between five and eight years and from 60,000 up to 150,000 miles. You can also pick your deductible, based on the Chrysler protection plan you select.

Eligibility for Mopar’s Added Care Plus plan is the same as for the Maximum Care plan.

Both Maximum Care and Added Care Plus Feature:

$0, $100, or $200 deductible	$600 key fob repair or replacement coverage	$35 first day rental allowance
$1,000 trip interruption protection	$100 towing allowance/roadside assistance	$35 per day car rental allowance (up to $175)
Transfer policy ($50 fee)

Should I Consider a Chrysler Vehicle Service Contract?

There are plenty of reasons why purchasing a vehicle service contract to protect your Chrysler can be a smart move. Here are some facts to consider:

Keep the money in your pocket—Vehicle service contracts can save you from spending hundreds or thousands of dollars on unexpected car repairs.
Peace of mind—Knowing that you won’t be caught unprepared with a costly repair bill puts your mind at ease.
Long-term plans—Planning on driving your Chrysler for years to come? If so, purchasing a vehicle protection plan can help you afford inevitable repairs.
Resale value—Protected vehicles have a higher resale value. Most VSCs, including Mopar Vehicle Protection plans, are transferable.
Car reliability—Is your specific Chrysler model reliable? If you are aware of common repairs, an extended vehicle service contract can help you plan ahead.

What’s Included in a Chrysler Factory Warranty?

When deciding whether to buy a Chrysler protection plan, it’s helpful to know what your factory warranty includes. Here’s what’s covered in your Chrysler factory warranty:

Chrysler Warranty	Details
3-Year/36,000-Mile Chrysler Basic Limited Warranty	This is a Chrysler bumper-to-bumper warranty that provides comprehensive coverage for your vehicle. In the case of a breakdown, your vehicle is towed to the nearest Stellantis dealership for free. This warranty covers the cost of repairing or replacing defects from workmanship or materials.
5-Year/60,000-Mile Powertrain Limited Warranty	This powertrain warranty covers your transmission, engine, and related parts. Chrysler provides free towing to the nearest dealership. This warranty is transferable to new owners if the transaction happens before the coverage period ends.
5-Year/60,000-mile Roadside Assistance Services	Roadside assistance includes tire replacement, gas delivery, towing, and more.
Anti-Corrosion Perforation Limited Warranty	This warranty protects you from paying for repairs if the body sheet metal panels rust through and develop holes. All panels are covered for three years or unlimited miles, and outer panels are covered for five years or unlimited miles.
Federal Emissions Warranty	This legally required warranty covers most emissions parts for two years or 24,000 miles. The catalytic converter and powertrain control module are covered for eight years or 80,000 miles. California emissions standard warranties are included if you live in a state that adheres to those laws.
High Voltage Battery Limited Warranty	Cars in states that adopt California regulations have a battery warranty for 15 years or 150,000 miles. Cars in all other states are covered for 8 years or 100,000 miles.

Chrysler Reliability and Repairs

With so many makes and models, it can be difficult to know if an auto brand is reliable until you experience it for yourself. Doing research before you make a purchase can give some insight. Here are a few highlights as you get started:

Chrysler ranked last for average predicted reliability according to Consumer Reports surveys in 2023.
Chrysler also ranked last on the J.D. Power 2024 U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study.
Chrysler fares better on RepairPal, which ranks the brand 11th for overall repair and maintenance cost.

From these rankings, it would seem a Chrysler extended protection plan is worth it.

Chrysler Repair Costs

What you pay for a repair can vary widely depending on the part that needs to be replaced. Below are a few repair costs for Chrysler vehicles according to RepairPal.

Vehicle Model	Component	Cost Range
300	Rack and pinion	$1,723–$1,803
300	Power seat switch	$300–$309
Pacifica	Timing chain and gear set	$793–$904
Pacifica	Knock sensor	$241–$311

How to Make Your Chrysler Last

If your goal is to drive your Chrysler until it dies, follow these tips:

Follow the maintenance schedule outlined in the owner’s manual. It will tell you when to change the oil and filters, rotate your tires, and perform other basic car maintenance services.
Use reliable parts. Stick to what the manufacturer offers or suggests and talk to a trusted mechanic about your options.
Clean the inside and outside of your car on a regular basis. This helps to prevent rust and other damage.
Protect your car by parking in the shade, garage, or carport to protect it from sunshine, bird droppings, pollen, and other environmental factors.
Check your tire pressure regularly. Keeping your tires properly inflated saves gas and keeps you safe while driving.
Purchase a Chrysler extended vehicle service contract. That way, you can afford important repairs when you need them. Waiting to fix a problem could further the damage and end up costing you more.

Vehicle Service Contract Options from CARCHEX

Third-party vehicle service contracts offer a variety of coverages as an alternative to manufacturer extended warranties. With over 20 years in the business, CARCHEX is an industry leader for affordable, flexible extended vehicle service contracts that cover a range of repairs.

We offer Titanium, Platinum, Powertrain Plus, Powertrain, and Extra Care plan options:

Titanium: High-level coverage for many systems like the engine, transmission, drive axle, high-tech, air conditioning, electrical, steering, suspension, and brakes.
Platinum: Covers the powertrain plus brakes, high tech electronics, suspension, fuel system, 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.

Factors That Affect the Cost of Repair Coverage

Whether you want to cover just the essential systems or many more, the cost of a vehicle protection plan depends on a variety of things.

Coverage level—Plans that cover more components are more expensive than lower-tier plans.
Payment plan—If you pay a higher deductible, you pay a lower premium.
Type of car—Protection plans for luxury vehicles usually cost more.
Car condition—Older age and higher mileage can increase your vehicle service contract cost.

Benefits of Vehicle Service Contracts

As you shop around, consider the following benefits of a vehicle service contract from CARCHEX:

You aren’t limited to using dealerships for repairs. A CARCHEX concierge can help you locate licensed independent shops for covered repairs.
We have a variety of vehicle protection plans, allowing you to customize your contract to your budget and vehicle.
CARCHEX pays the auto repair shop directly for covered repairs, so you don’t have to pay the cost upfront and wait to be reimbursed.
“Customer Experience Above All” is our promise to you and the Better Business Bureau gives us an A+ rating for exactly that.
Our plans are affordable. We offer a No-Haggle, Low-Price, Everyday Guarantee™ and a 30-Day Money Back Guarantee.
All of our vehicle protection plans include 24/7 roadside assistance, gas delivery, towing, trip interruption services, rental cars, and more.

Put Your Mind at Ease with CARCHEX

It’s normal to have plenty of questions before purchasing a vehicle service contract. The experts at CARCHEX are available to make it an easy, convenient experience that gives you peace of mind.

Sources:

Mopar:
https://msmownerassets.z13.web.core.windows.net/assets/publications/en-us/Chrysler/2020/Pacifica/P103960_20_RU_GW_EN_US_DIGITAL.pdf

Mopar:
https://www.mopar.com/content/dam/mopar/pdf/warranty/mopar_parts_accessories_warranty_statement.pdf

Mopar:
https://www.mopar.com/chrysler/en-us/care/mopar-vehicle-protection.html

Mopar:
https://www.mopar.com/content/dam/mopar/pdf/mvp/2019-05%20MVP%20Maximum%20Care%20Plans%20SS.pdf

Mopar:
https://www.mopar.com/content/dam/mopar/pdf/mvp/2019-05%20Added%20Care%20Plus.pdf

Consumer Reports:
https://www.consumerreports.org/car-reliability-owner-satisfaction/car-brands-reliability-how-they-stack-up/

J.D. Power:
https://www.jdpower.com/Cars/Ratings/Performance/2018/Minivan

U.S. News & World Report:
https://cars.usnews.com/cars-trucks/chrysler/300

RepairPal:
https://repairpal.com/chrysler

RepairPal:
https://repairpal.com/shifting-harshness-and-shuddering-issue-731#

RepairPal:
https://repairpal.com/reasons-for-excess-oil-consumption-167