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.

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 does that mean for existing Scion owners who bought their cars while it was still Scion? Will Toyota honor the original warranties?

The short answer is yes. When Toyota absorbed the Scion brand, 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.

If you own a 2018, 2017, 2016 Scion iM or 2016 Scion iA, here is what your Scion warranty includes:

• 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. It’s valid for three years or 36,000 months, whichever comes first.

During the Scion warranty period, all repairs, including labor and parts, will be done at no cost and using new or remanufactured parts. This also includes towing to the nearest authorized service dealership. However, if your vehicle requires emergency repairs and an authorized servicing dealership is not available, you may choose to have the repairs performed at any auto service center and then apply for reimbursement later. To avoid any changes to your Scion warranty, make sure you have your car inspected by an authorized dealer soon after the emergency repair.

For parts scheduled to be replaced as per the maintenance schedule, the Scion warranty applies only until the first replacement. Wheel balancing and wheel alignment are also available only for the first year or 12,000 miles. Toyota/Scion recommends using only Genuine Toyota/Scion authorized parts when you need a replacement.

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

If you decide to sell your Scion car during the warranty period, the coverage will automatically transfer to the new owner at no cost, which can benefit your car’s resale value.

Scion Powertrain Warranty

The Scion Powertrain Warranty covers 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, whichever comes first.

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

Scion Restraint Systems Warranty

The seatbelts and airbag systems of your Scion are 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 provides 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 actually consists of two different warranties: the Emission Defect Warranty and the Emission Performance Warranty.

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

The Emission Performance Warranty covers any necessary repairs if your Scion fails to meet emission standards as determined by an approved emissions test and you are penalized. The warranty is 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 here to conform to the state’s stringent anti-smog standards. According to the California Emission Control Warranty, if a warrantable condition exists and causes your vehicle to fail the state’s smog-check test during the first three years or 50,000 miles, Scion will undertake all necessary repairs and adjustments to ensure your car passes the test.

The Long-Term Emission Defect Warranty provides 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 is disabled during the term of the Scion New Vehicle Limited Warranty and has to be kept overnight for warrantable repairs, you are eligible for transportation assistance under the following conditions.

• The vehicle needs to be kept for more than one day for repairs.
• The parts required for repairs are unavailable and the car is unsafe to drive.
• The repair requires extensive diagnosis.

This assistance can be in the form of a loaner car, another mode of transportation, or reimbursement for travel expenses. However, keep in mind that if the repairs can be completed in one day and the car has to be still kept overnight because of a dealer or owner scheduling conflict, this service will not be available to you.

Parts and Accessories Warranties

All Genuine Scion/Toyota parts are covered by their own warranties or the remainder of the New Vehicle Limited Warranty, whichever is greater.

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

Every Toyota Certified Used Vehicle comes with a limited warranty that covers repairs and replacement of any component under normal use due to defects in material or workmanship up to one year or 12,000 miles, whichever comes first, with a $50 deductible per repair visit. Roadside assistance is an added benefit available for the first year.

Toyota Certified Used Vehicles also have a limited powertrain warranty up to seven years or 100,000 miles from the date of purchase as a new vehicle. 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’re wondering why you would need a Scion extended warranty if your car comes with all the above protections, we can explain. An extended warranty is add-on protection for your car after the original factory warranty expires. You can buy it from the dealer at the time of purchase or at any time from a third-party provider like CARCHEX. If you intend to drive your Scion for a long time, then a Scion extended warranty can bring confidence and peace of mind on the road.

The benefits provided by extended Scion protection are multifold. For starters, most cars develop problems as they age, and in many cases, the factory warranty is already wrapping up by that time. An extended warranty for Scion can protect you from expensive repairs that pop up after your new vehicle warranty coverage has expired.

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 by a warranty that can pay for these costs. If you have a Scion extended warranty, you will not be caught unprepared if an expensive car repair comes your way tomorrow.

In addition, a transferable extended warranty 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 are 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 the following terms and conditions in general.

New Vehicles

If you purchased a new vehicle less than three years ago and your total mileage is less than 36,000 miles, you are eligible for Toyota’s new car extended protection plans: Platinum, Gold, and Powertrain, with Platinum offering the highest level of coverage. All plans include 24/7 roadside assistance and transportation and travel protection if a covered breakdown occurs away from home.

Depending on your driving habits and how long you plan to keep the car, you can choose from different coverage terms ranging from three years/50,000 miles to 10 years/125,000 miles. The coverage begins the date the vehicle was purchased new.

No matter which Toyota extended warranty plan you choose, you may be charged a $0 or $100 disappearing deductible per repair visit, depending on the dealer.

Certified Used Vehicles

If you have a Toyota Certified Used Vehicle within current plus six model years old, less than 85,000 total vehicle miles, and a 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. Similar to the options for new cars, 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 extended warranty 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 more than a factory extended warranty.

• Buy at any time—You can buy a warranty from CARCHEX for a Scion anytime, unlike dealer plans that can be bought only at the time of purchase of the vehicle or within a specified period.
• 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 an extended warranty for a Scion from CARCHEX, you are no longer 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 for Scions are more affordable than most factory extended warranties 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, so you won’t have to pay for any repairs out of pocket and then wait for reimbursement.
• 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 are 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.

CARCHEX Extended Vehicle Protection Plans

CARCHEX offers five different tiers of vehicle protection plans—Titanium, Platinum, Gold, Silver, and Bronze—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 Gold plan has comprehensive coverage and flexible terms and is best suited for vehicles with over 60,000 miles.
• The Silver plan offers essential coverage to the major car systems and is a good fit for cars with high mileage.
• The Bronze plan provides protection for the major systems on the vehicle and can cover your car for up to six years.

When you reach out to CARCHEX for a free quote, our team will customize your estimate to your Scion’s model, mileage, and age, as well as your personal preferences and budget. We’re happy to answer your questions and help you find the best extended warranty for your Scion. Call 866-261-3457 or fill out the form online.

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.html

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