Vehicle thermostats are integral to how well your car runs (or doesn’t). In a nutshell, your car thermostat is responsible for keeping your vehicle operating at optimal temperatures. Once your thermostat fails, it can cause significant damage and lead to an expensive repair bill at the local car thermostat repair shop.

Fortunately, your manufacturer’s warranty or a third-party extended car warranty can help cover the cost.

Understanding Car Thermostat Functionality

The thermostat is small, only about two inches in diameter, and is built into your vehicle’s engine block between the engine and the radiator on liquid-cooled engines. Its job is to control the flow of refrigerante so the engine warms to the right temperature without overheating. Helping the engine heat up quickly can reduce wear and tear on the engine, sediment deposits, and emissions.

Car radiators work like a valve, regulating how much coolant goes into the radiator. If the engine is too cold, the thermostat stays closed, preventing coolant from going to the radiator until it warms up. Once the car engine has warmed to optimal temperatures, the thermostat valve opens, releasing coolant into the radiator. The cooling system keeps the engine running at prime temperature, helping the car last longer and preventing catastrophic damage.

Factory Warranty: What’s Included

When you first buy a new car or a certified pre-owned vehicle, your car may be covered by two different warranties: the factory auto warranty and a limited powertrain warranty. Both are agreements between you and the auto manufacturer that if the vehicle experiences a manufacturing defect or mechanical error, the dealership or manufacturer will repair it and get it back to normal working order.

The vehicle warranty most people are familiar with is the comprehensive bumper-to-bumper warranty, also known as the manufacturer’s warranty or factory warranty.  These car warranties provide a financial safety net if your newly purchased vehicle breaks down unexpectedly. While the terms and conditions may vary by your car manufacturer, most automakers will cover anything that breaks between the bumpers (basically everything) for the first three years/36,000 miles, whichever comes first.

Common Exclusions

While we always recommend reading the fine print of any vehicle service contract (VSC), most factory warranties are considered “exclusionary warranties,” meaning they will cover everything on the vehicle except for parts listed in the agreement. However, coverage can vary based on the provider and the coverage plan. For example, most dealerships won’t cover windshield cracks, although some will include windshield damage coverage for the first year or 12,000 miles.

Most car dealerships and manufacturers commonly exclude the following:

• Damage caused by a car accident or collision
• Scarring due to car washing (or lack thereof)
• Destruction due to car theft or vandalism
• Chemical spills or fire
• Paint damage/chips or dents in the body
• Rusting from beach, ocean, or road salt
• Paint damage caused by natural occurrences, such as from tree sap or bird droppings
• Damage caused by natural disasters (hurricanes, fires, floods, snow, etc.)

It’s also important to understand that, unless explicitly stated by your auto warranty provider, scheduled car maintenance is not included. Certain car parts like car engine oil, coolant, or tires are expected to wear out due to normal wear and tear and should be an assumed expense unless you have an extended car warranty that includes maintenance. A healthy vehicle maintenance schedule includes:

• Oil, fluid, and filter changes
• Tire alignments and rotations
• Wiper blade replacements
• Brake pad replacements
• Clutch lining maintenance
• Car washes, detailing, or polishing

Powertrain Warranty Basics: What’s Covered

When you buy a new car or even a certified pre-owned used car, your dealership will likely include a powertrain warranty. Although technically, the factory warranty covers nearly all vehicle components, the powertrain warranty provides additional extended vehicle protection for your car’s most important parts — the engine, transmission, and drive axle — which are all important to make it run.

Like with the Garantía de Fábrica, the length of coverage and the exclusion differ based on your chosen plan and warranty provider. However, the powertrain warranty commonly includes:

Engine:

• Engine block
• Fuel pump
• Cylinder heads
• Engine mounts
• Oil pump
• Injection pump
• Intake manifold
• Engine seals and gaskets
• Car thermostat
• Vehicle timing chain

Transmisión

• Transmission seals and gaskets
• Clutch cover
• Torque converter
• Transmission case
• Transferir caso
• Transmission mounts

Eje motriz

• Front, rear, and all-wheel drive components
• Drive axle shifts
• Support bearings
• Bearings
• Universal and constant velocity joints
• Seals and gaskets
• Drive axle housing

Length of Powertrain Coverage

Vehicle powertrain warranty plans often include longer term lengths with greater distances. Automakers like Vado, honda, y Mazda commonly have powertrain warranties that last five years or 60,000 miles. However, some may be shorter, like Audi y BMW, who offer a 4-year/50,000-mile powertrain warranty. On the other hand, some may be longer, like Dodge, Chrysler, y Jeep, which have a 5-year/100,000 miles, or Toyota with a 6-year/60,000-mile warranty.

Unfortunately, coverage does eventually expire, but thankfully, an extended car warranty can pick up where your factory warranty ends. It’s important to read the details of your auto protection plan to ensure you’re covered when needed.

Thermostat Coverage: Inclusions and Exclusions

So, is a thermostat covered under a powertrain warranty? The answer: it depends. 

While many car warranty providers and vehicle manufacturers include the car thermostats in the limited powertrain warranty, others exclude this coverage, leaving drivers to pay out of pocket for this important vehicle component. Before signing any auto warranty contract, it is important to read all the details. Look into inclusions and exclusions, term lengths, conditions, and what could void a warranty. If you have any questions, contact your auto protection plan provider.

Related Heating and Cooling Components

In addition to the car thermostat, the powertrain warranty may include other essential heating and cooling components. Often, the parts of the cooling system, like the vehicle radiator, blower motors, and even the water pump, are included.

While the water pump pushes the coolant through the car engine and radiator and is regulated by the car thermostat, the radiator and the blower motor work together to cool the coolant and disperse the heat. If any of these cooling system parts fail, it can impact your car’s operating temperature and dramatically affect the overall performance.

7 Common Symptoms of a Bad Car Thermostat

A faulty vehicle thermostat may be to blame if your vehicle shows any of the following symptoms:

1. Overheating or Overcooling

Although a vehicle overheating or not warming up may result from any number of things, it is the most common symptom of a faulty car thermostat. When a thermostat malfunctions, it may not read the car temperature correctly, causing the vehicle to overheat. It could also be stuck open, causing it to cool things down too much.

2. Check Engine Light

Your vehicle is full of sensors relaying information. When anything is out of normal functioning range, including your car thermostat, your vehicle will let you know by lighting up the check engine light. Although this little light could mean something as minor as a loose gas cap, it is also the first indicator of a bad thermostat, along with an error code of P0128, meaning Faulty Engine Coolant Temperature.

3. Coolant Leaks

Another symptom of a faulty thermostat is a coolant leak. Without a working thermostat, the engine temperature can get to dangerously high levels, causing the coolant to get too hot and overflow. If you don’t see the coolant leaking under your vehicle, you may be able to identify a coolant leak by its unmistakable sweet scent, the smell of something burning, or white smoke coming from the exhaust (although that can mean other things, too).

4. Sudden Cabin Temperature Changes

If your cabin temperature suddenly spikes (or drops), you may be able to blame a bad thermostat. When your thermostat goes haywire, it affects the temperature going through the cabin vent.

5. Unusual Temperature Gauge Readings

If you notice that your temperature gauge begins to fluctuate outside of its normal range, don’t assume that the indicator is wrong. This is your cue that the thermostat may be going bad—or that something bigger is going on!

6. New Noises Coming From Your Engine

If you’ve driven your car for any length of time, you begin to know its usual creaks and groans. However, if it starts knocking, rumbling, or even banging, especially when accelerating, it’s time to check it. Your new noises may not be your imagination, which could mean your coolant is boiling over due to the engine overheating.

7. Reduced Fuel Efficiency

If your vehicle is overheating or overcooling due to a broken car thermostat, it will eventually wreak havoc on fuel consumption. If you notice that your car is using more gas than usual, the culprit may be your thermostat.

Common Issues with Thermostats

When a car thermostat breaks, it could be due to any number of reasons, including:

• Sticking
• Rust
• Corrosion
• Deposits
• Mounting Leaks
• Electrical Malfunctions

Car thermostats typically last about ten years, although sticking to a regular vehicle maintenance schedule can help it last longer. If you notice you’re replacing it frequently, it could be due to:

• Faulty water pump
• Loose water pump belt
• Cooling system leak
• Radiation hose pinch or collapse
• Clogged or failing radiator

What Happens If I Ignore a Bad Vehicle Thermostat?

Although we understand that life gets busy, it’s essential to address vehicle repairs as soon as possible. If left ignored, not only can it void your vehicle warranty, it can lead to expensive car repairs and potentially catastrophic damage. An extended vehicle warranty ensures your vehicle gets repaired quickly, preventing further damage and getting you back on the road.

Benefits of Thermostat Coverage in a Vehicle Warranty

Although the vehicle thermostat is a small part, it can significantly impact your vehicle’s cooling system and performance and, when it breaks, put a dent in your budget. According to our partners at RepairPal, the cost of a car thermostat replacement, including parts and labor, is between $504 and $541.

Today, many car owners struggle to pay for unexpected car repair bills, and unfortunately the factory and powertrain warranty often expire before the car thermostat needs replacing. Having an extended car warranty in place can provide peace of mind, knowing that if and when the car thermostat fails (along with other critical components), you’re protected against expensive car repairs and replacements. This kind of protection keeps your engine running smoother and longer than unprotected vehicles.

Endurance Offers Comprehensive Coverage

Endurance Warranty provides customizable auto protection plans with comprehensive coverage similar to the bumper-to-bumper protection of your factory auto warranty. You have the freedom to choose the extended warranty coverage that fits your lifestyle, whether that’s just the essentials like what is included in a powertrain warranty or if you’d prefer something on the other end of the spectrum that includes nearly every component between the bumpers, including the car thermostat and cooling system components.

Choose the plan that fits your budget, vehicle, and lifestyle. Endurance even has plans for vehicles that are often excluded from most warranty plans, including used cars, high mileage vehicles, older cars, luxury vehicles, Canadian grey market vehicles, cars with salvage or rebuilt titles, hybrid vehicles, cars used for delivery or rideshare, and even auto protection plans for Tesla electric vehicles. No matter which plan you choose, you can feel confident knowing you’ve got the best vehicle protection plan, and if you need to make any changes, you’re backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Endurance Warranty plans can be used anywhere throughout the country at any ASE Certified mechanic, car repair shop, or vehicle dealership you feel comfortable with. Additionally, every vehicle service comes with additional benefits, including Asistencia en carretera 24 horas al día, 7 días a la semana and towing, trip interruption coverage, and rental car reimbursement. Get the peace of mind to know that you’re protected no matter where the road takes you.

If you’d like to maximize your savings, you can also boost your savings by activating Beneficios de Endurance Élite. For a small, one-time activation fee, you can access benefits like key fob replacements when something goes wrong and tire replacements or rotations.

Protect Your Vehicle Investment with an Extended Warranty

Unfortunately, car repairs are a realistic part of vehicle ownership. As the mileage odometer climbs, so do the chances of a mechanical breakdown. The time to plan for a vehicle breakdown isn’t when you’re on the side of the road. Extended car warranties can provide comprehensive protection, keeping you from paying expensive car repair bills and reducing the stress in an otherwise stressful situation. They can even provide financial security against repairs not included with your original powertrain warranty.

Explore Auto Protection from Endurance Warranty

Call an Endurance plan advisor at (800) 253-8203 y request your FREE quote today. Our friendly and knowledgeable representatives are waiting to answer your extended warranty questions.

If you’re not feeling social, you can also tienda en linea to see your price now. Explore our customizable coverage plans and sample vehicle service contracts to find the right one for your vehicle and budget.

The Endurance Warranty blog provides fast answers to many frequently asked questions. Here, you’ll also find additional helpful automotive blogs, extended car warranty definitions to help you understand the terminology, and advice from automotive experts.