Whether it’s your car’s original factory warranty or a contrato de servicio de vehiculo, having some form of auto protection plan in place can save you serious money on the cost of unexpected repairs. Some more complex components will set you back hundreds — if not thousands — of dollars to replace, but with a warranty watching out for you, you can drive with total confidence.

With RepairPal estimating replacement costs between $2,129 and $2,507, your turbocharger is one component you might be more than a little worried about. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll examine whether it will be included in your coverage, what to look for in your contract, and additional coverage options that might be available to you.

What Is a Turbocharger and Why Is It Important?

Turbochargers (also known as turbos) were originally designed for use in aircraft but were adapted for cars in the 1960s, becoming commonplace in the 1980s. Powered by exhaust gases, a turbocharger is a vehicle component that forces more air into the engine, increasing the amount of fuel injected as a result. More fuel means more combustion, boosting the engine’s power.

Turbos are not always on but instead they kick in when you reach a certain speed, working harder as your revs get higher. This means that if you’re gentle with the accelerator, you can avoid the turbo activating altogether and achieve better fuel economy than you would with a large-capacity engine that’s always drawing a lot of fuel.

With fans rotating at around 280,000 revolutions per minute, turbos operate at incredibly high temperatures, usually accompanied by an intercooler and an oil cooler. The intercooler cools the hot air that comes out of the turbo, while the oil cooler makes sure the turbo’s lubricant doesn’t overheat. Without these, things can go very wrong very quickly, increasing the likelihood of your turbo failing.

Along with increased speeds, better fuel economy, and reduced emissions, turbos also have other benefits. For example, they can increase a vehicle’s torque — particularly at low revs. Turbocharged cars also have quieter exhaust pipes, as the amount of gas coming out of the exhaust is significantly reduced. With so many advantages to a turbocharged engine, you’ll find that most modern cars have one installed. Electric vehicles are, of course, excluded.

Are Turbochargers Covered Under Standard Car Warranties?

Every brand-new vehicle comes with a factory warranty or manufacturer’s warranty, which acts as the automaker’s promise to repair or replace any components that fail due to fault within a predetermined number of years/miles traveled (whichever comes first). How long this lasts will depend on the generosity of your manufacturer, but as long as it’s active, you don’t have to worry about the vast majority of expensive repair bills.

It’s essential to check the small print to be totally sure, but with the turbocharger being so essential to the running of your engine, you can almost guarantee it will fall under your car’s standard warranty. There will be some exceptions — for example, most warranties will not cover general wear and tear — so the cause of your turbo failing would be the deciding factor. Warranties will also stipulate that the manufacturer’s recommended maintenance schedule is followed to the letter, or claims will not be valid.

Thankfully, most manufacturers consider the turbocharger a powertrain component, which means it will fall under the section of your factory warranty that usually lasts the longest period of time. For example, Toyota’s standard warranty is split into four sections:

1. Basic Coverage: 36 months or 36,000 miles, covering all components other than normal wear and maintenance items.
2. Powertrain Coverage: Covers your engine (including turbocharger), transmission/transaxle, front-wheel-drive system and rear-wheel drive system for 60 months/60,000 miles.
3. Rust-Through Coverage: For 60 months or unlimited miles, this covers corrosion perforation of sheet metal.
4. Emissions Coverage: Varies under Federal and California regulations.

Turbocharger Coverage Under Extended Warranties

Most extended car warranty providers offer a range of coverage plans, from the bare essentials to almost bumper-to-bumper coverage. Generally, the lowest level of coverage will be a powertrain warranty, with higher levels taking that foundation and adding extra coverage on top. Being a core part of your powertrain, this is good news as far as your turbocharger is concerned. Unless your provider makes a specific exception, it should be covered from unexpected failure regardless of the plan you choose.

A read-through of your contract should confirm this. If it doesn’t, reach out to a plan representative to ask for clarification. It’s also worth reminding yourself of the terms around keeping your plan active, such as following recommended maintenance schedules and not making unauthorized modifications. Hold up your end of the bargain, and you should have no problems if you need to make a claim.

If you’re yet to purchase an extended automotive warranty, thorough research is crucial. Find and compare the top providers, and don’t be afraid to ask for sample contracts from each. Ensure that your shortlisted picks consider a turbocharger to be part of the powertrain, then weigh up things like cost, comprehensiveness, and bonus perks. Check out online reviews, chat with their customer service team, and only put pen to paper when you’re totally happy you’re getting the coverage you need.

What to Look for in Your Vehicle Service Contract

Most contracts can be overwhelming at first glance, and vehicle service contracts or planes de protección de automóviles are no exception. Because of this, it’s very important that you don’t rush into anything, no matter how hard the sale might be. Depending on your brand of used car, a turbocharger can cost thousands of dollars to repair, so you want to make sure that whatever warranty you sign up for has adequate protection for the turbo and any associated components.

If a service contract you’re checking out is a stated component or inclusionary program, you’ll have a list of specifically included components to look through. If it’s a comprehensive or exclusionary program, you’ll have a list of specific exclusions (i.e., components that are not covered) to look through. Whichever it is, take your time in confirming that your turbocharger is fully protected, and don’t assume your turbocharger automatically falls under your powertrain warranty — some providers will define this differently than others.

While you’re at it, you should also familiarize yourself with your responsibilities as a coverage holder because any violations could lead to claims being rejected. Common ways to void your coverage include:

• Title issues: If your vehicle’s title is changed (e.g., it’s deemed a total loss), warranty coverage could be voided.
• Unauthorized modifications: While you may want to add some flair to your vehicle, it might not be possible to make some mods without voiding your coverage.
• Misusing your vehicle: For example, driving an everyday commuter car off-road would be grounds for a provider to void your coverage.
• Altering the odometer: Your vehicle’s mileage will affect the type of coverage it’s eligible for and the price, so altering this is not permitted.
• Lack of maintenance: Failing to properly maintain your car by following the recommended schedule will result in inefficient internal parts that are much more likely to break down and are, therefore, considered negligence.

Additional Coverage Options for Turbochargers

Some extended auto warranty providers may offer additional coverage options for turbochargers. These could include protection for surrounding components that the turbocharger relies on to function or protection for specific types of advanced turbochargers. If you want to ensure your turbo’s coverage is as watertight as possible, ask your provider what’s available and add on whatever you need for total driving confidence.

FAQs: Turbocharger Warranty Coverage

Got more questions about turbochargers and warranty coverage? You should find the answer right here:

What does a powertrain warranty cover?

A powertrain warranty covers all of the most crucial car components that move your used vehicle forward. This traditionally includes your engine (plus turbocharger), transmission, driveshafts, transfer case (for all-wheel and four-wheel-drive vehicles), differentials, suspension, and constant velocity joints.

Are turbochargers considered part of the engine or a separate component?

A turbocharger is a device that uses exhaust gas to increase the density of air in an engine, improving performance, fuel efficiency, and emissions. While technically a separate component from the engine itself, both of the two fall under the powertrain bracket when it comes to extended warranty coverage.

What maintenance steps can prevent voiding turbocharger coverage?

Whether it’s a factory warranty or a vehicle service contract, following your manufacturer’s recommended maintenance schedule is essential if you want to prevent voiding your turbocharger coverage. This will typically involve regular oil changes, air filter replacements, brake pad checks, and more.

Can aftermarket turbochargers be covered under a warranty?

Unfortunately, installing an aftermarket turbocharger kit alters critical engine systems like air intake and emissions, which is enough to violate the terms of most factory and extended warranty contracts. If you want to keep your engine warranty coverage intact, it’s best to avoid this type of modification.

Endurance: Protecting Your Turbocharger and Your Peace of Mind

Helping American drivers save money on the cost of car ownership for the better part of two decades, Endurance is officially the country’s most trusted vehicle service contract provider. From our headquarters in Illinois, we administer a wide range of planes de protección de automóviles designed to cater to a wide range of drivers — all of which include some form of turbocharger coverage.

Whether you’re only concerned about those essential powertrain components or you’d like to look out for almost everything between your bumpers, aka with a near garantía de parachoques a parachoques, we have you covered. We’re always willing to be flexible, too, so tell us your specific needs, and we’ll tailor a plan that does everything you want it to. With plenty of add-on coverage options to choose from, you can even protect the more high-tech components that most providers won’t go near.

On top of market-leading coverage, we also throw in a whole host of added benefits to give you a better bang for your buck. For example, all Endurance plans come with Asistencia en carretera 24 horas al día, 7 días a la semana (including towing, fuel delivery, and lockout services), rental car reimbursement, and trip interruption coverage as standard. Endurance customers also access our Paquete de beneficios Élite, which adds on up to four tire repairs or replacements annually, key fob replacement, up to $500 in collision discounts, and up to $1,000 in total loss protection.*

To find out more about what we can do to help you protect your powertrain and beyond, call an Endurance plan advisor at (800) 253-8203 to request a FREE quote. You can also head over to our eCommerce store to tienda en linea for instant pricing.

If you have any questions about other components and whether they’re covered under your warranty, make sure to check out our extended warranty blog. Find articles on mechanical parts like the water pump, drivetrain, control module, and more.