Save thousands on vehicle repairs with Endurance.
Get a FREE Quote

Are Wheel Bearings Covered Under an Extended Warranty?

BY: Alex Perrone
Auto mechanic working on wheel bearings in a repair shop

The cost of car ownership is only ever on the rise, and unexpected repairs can set you back hundreds (if not thousands) of dollars each year. Whether it’s your original car manufacturer warranty or a vehicle service contract, having some form of auto protection in place can be a lifesaver when components let you down.

If you’re reading this, chances are you’re worried about your wheel bearings in particular. And with RepairPal estimating a wheel bearing replacement will cost you somewhere between $283 and $377, it’s little wonder why. That’s a lot of money for a single one, let alone all four.

To help you understand whether you’re financially protected, we’ll take a closer look at what makes wheel bearings so important and clarify whether they’re covered under a factory warranty or an extended warranty.

What Are Wheel Bearings and Why Are They Important?

Wheel bearings are what connect your car’s wheels to its axles. A set of steel balls or rollers enclosed in a metal ring is called a bearing race. Each bearing is typically mounted within a hub assembly or wheel hub, which then connects the front wheel or rear wheel to the car’s suspension system.

Wheel bearings have two key functions:

  1. Enabling smooth and efficient rotation of the wheel: Bearings are designed to reduce friction between your vehicle’s moving parts, allowing the front wheel bearing or rear wheel to rotate smoothly and consistently with minimal resistance. This also minimizes the amount of heat generated when the car is in motion.
  2. Bearing the weight of the vehicle: It goes without saying that vehicles are heavy, which means significant acceleration, braking, and cornering forces are exerted on the wheel while driving. The bearing ensures that the wheel can withstand these loads without excessive wear.

9 Signs and Symptoms of a Failing Wheel Bearing

While bearings are thankfully low maintenance, they’re crucially important safety components of a vehicle’s braking, steering, and suspension systems. Because of this, you should keep an eye (and ear) out for common signs of failure so you can seek professional assistance as soon as possible.

Some things you should watch out for include:

  • Steering feels loose: Worn bearings can result in excessive play in your steering. The steering could seem less responsive or be less precise than you’re used to. However, it can also be a sign that your vehicle needs wheel alignment.
  • Steering wheel vibration: Your steering wheel may start to vibrate, with the intensity of vibration increasing as vehicle speed increases or when you turn left or right. You may also experience these symptoms if your tire has a flat spot, if it’s no longer balanced, or if suspension components are damaged.
  • The vehicle pulls to one side: Bad wheel bearings can cause your vehicle to pull to one side when you apply the brakes. The direction the car pulls will tell you which side the bearings are broken on (e.g., if the car pulls to the left, the left-side bearings are the problem). Pulling is also a sign of brake rotor, brake pad, or caliper problems, so bear this in mind.
  • Tires wear unevenly: Uneven wear on one of your tires could possibly be due to worn bearings. However, it could also be a result of improper tire inflation, tire misalignment, or damaged suspension components.
  • The ABS fails: Worn bearings can cause the ring, tire, and wheel to wobble, which can lead to the wheel’s speed sensor no longer working properly and the ABS operating sporadically or perhaps not at all.
  • Wheels start to wobble: When your car is raised on a lift, it should be impossible to shake the wheel and tire. If the bearings are worn, though, there may be some movement. This requires immediate attention and indicates an immediate wheel bearing replacement is needed, as otherwise, the wheels can come off the vehicle at any time, at any speed.
  • A clicking sound: A clicking sound that increases in frequency as the vehicle gathers speed could be a problem with the wheel hub assembly.
  • Squealing or growling: As bearings wear down, friction increases, resulting in squealing or growling sounds from the wheel assembly. Like the clicking, the sound will increase in intensity the faster you go. You should be able to tell which bearings are the issue based on the location of the noise.
  • A humming sound: A less obvious sound, humming can be the result of a number of issues due to a worn differential, transfer case, or transaxle. But if it’s accompanied by any of the other symptoms on this list, it’s most likely down to bearing wear.

Are Wheel Bearings Covered Under a Factory Warranty?

If your vehicle is relatively new, you’ll most likely still have a factory warranty in place, which can be fantastic for driving peace of mind. This typically covers issues due to defects in workmanship or materials. Manufacturer’s warranties often classify wheel bearings as part of the bumper-to-bumper warranty or powertrain warranty, depending on the car manufacturer.

However, factory warranties have exclusions, meaning they only cover failures due to defects, not wear and tear. Once your factory warranty expires, you will be responsible for the cost of repairs, including wheel bearing replacement.

It’s worth noting that factory warranties (and auto warranties in general) only cover components that fail prematurely. For example, if you drive your four-door sedan off-road and a bearing breaks as a result, this would be considered improper use and would, therefore, not be authorized for repair. Always familiarize yourself with the full terms of your warranty, including what’s covered, how long for, and what might void coverage, so as to avoid any nasty surprises later down the line.

While factory warranty coverage is fantastic while it lasts, all good things must come to an end. When the expiration date comes around, you will be responsible for the cost of all future repair bills — bearings and all.

Are Wheel Bearings Covered Under an Extended Warranty?

For drivers who want to continue enjoying driving confidence after their factory warranty has expired, an extended auto warranty is the ideal alternative. While most manufacturers offer an extended warranty of their own, these are often very expensive, limit where you can have repairs carried out, and require you to have an active factory warranty to qualify for purchase. Because of this, the majority of people opt for a vehicle service contract from a third-party provider, which is much better value for money and usually includes added benefits.

There are lots of providers to choose from; however, each has multiple levels of coverage, so it will depend on a number of factors as to whether bearings are covered. Generally, you’ll find that comprehensive and powertrain plans look out for your wheel bearings, but of course, there are always exceptions. Some plans also cover related components like the torque converter, water pump, and alternator.

If you want to ensure your wheel bearings are covered, the only way you can be totally certain is by reviewing the terms of the coverage you’re interested in before you put pen to paper. Quality providers should have a customer service team on hand to answer any questions or queries.

Factors That Influence Coverage for Wheel Bearings

There are a number of factors that can influence coverage for wheel bearings, with the first (and most obvious) being your warranty provider and plan. Some providers may steer clear of wheel bearings completely, while others may only include them in higher levels of coverage.

Your specific vehicle will also come into play. Warranty providers will take the age and mileage of your car into consideration when deciding what components they’ll cover, and they may decide that yours has seen too much time on the road for them to cover anything outside of basic powertrain parts. Pre-existing issues can also limit your coverage, so if your bearings are diagnosed as worn when you apply for coverage, your provider will omit them as they’re likely to fail soon.

Similarly, the vehicle’s maintenance history will also have an impact. Providers will want to see that you have followed your manufacturer’s recommended maintenance schedule to the letter since purchase, as a neglected vehicle will be prone to issues that could have been prevented. This may mean they refuse coverage for certain components (like your bearings, for example), or they could even refuse coverage for your vehicle altogether.

How Endurance Auto Protection Covers Wheel Bearings

At Endurance Warranty Services, we class bearings as part of a vehicle’s powertrain, which means they’re covered under every single one of our plans. From our most basic Secure plan all the way up to the fully comprehensive Supreme plan, you can rest assured that your drive axle is protected, including center support bearings and axle bearings.

Once your aftermarket coverage is in place, we’re with you every step of the way. So if your bearings give up on you, all you need to do is pay a visit to the certified auto shop or dealership of your choice, let them know that you have an Endurance contract, and we’ll take care of the rest. As long as the affected component is covered under the terms of your contract, your wallet can stay firmly in your pocket (deductibles, of course, apply).

As well as industry-leading extended warranty coverage, you’ll also gain access to some incredible added benefits. Whichever plan option you decide on, you’ll get access to 24/7 roadside assistance (including towing, fuel delivery, and lockout services), rental car reimbursement, and trip interruption coverage as standard. Endurance customers also get a year’s access to our Elite Benefits package, which adds on complete tire coverage, key fob replacement, up to $500 in collision discounts, and more.

Protect Your Wheel Bearings and More with America’s Top Extended Warranty

Whether it’s your wheel bearings, drivetrain, turbocharger, or almost any other vehicle component, you can make sure it’s covered with a vehicle service contract from Endurance. To find out more about our range of plans and get advice on which is right for your needs and budget, get in touch with our award-winning advisors at (800) 253-8203 to request a FREE quote, or shop our eStore.

You can also check out our extended warranty blog for other articles on handling car issues, frequently asked questions, maintenance tips, warranty comparisons, and more.

Get started with a FREE quote.

    • Select Year First...
    • Select Make First...
    Get a FREE Quote