Honda CPO Warranty: What’s Covered and What’s Not?

You’ve likely heard that you should purchase a Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) vehicle because they’re the perfect middle ground between a traditional pre-owned vehicle and the ones you’ll find on the new car lot each year. This is true, but to what extent? One of the most significant aspects of any CPO program is the similarities of the benefits that one would typically only associate with new vehicles. As a Certified Pre-Owned Honda dealer, the team here at Future Honda is well-versed in the ins and outs of what the HondaTrue CPO program has to offer for our customers.

The HondaTrue program offers three levels of certification, so your benefits will vary depending on which tier your vehicle falls into. We will get into the details of the program in just a moment, but one thing all of the levels have in common is they offer some form of powertrain warranty coverage, one or two free oil changes, and no deductible for repairs. Are you still curious about what the Honda certified programs and warranties entail? Well, let's get into it.

How the Honda CPO Program Operates

Honda’s Certified Pre-Owned program is a bit different than what you may have seen elsewhere or perhaps already accustomed to. As we said before, Honda separates its CPO program into three categories; other brands usually have just one or maybe two levels of coverage.

The HondaTrue program starts with HondaTrue Used vehicles. These vehicles can be up to ten years old and have no mileage limits. When you purchase one of these models from a Honda dealer near you, you will get a 100-day/5,000-mile powertrain warranty and a non-powertrain warranty that lasts just as long. Having any powertrain warranty or otherwise on a vehicle that was released upwards of ten years ago is a generous proposition, and we are happy that Honda stands behind its construction enough to offer this as a benefit. You'll get one free oil change within the first year of ownership.

Next up, you have HondaTrue Certified. HondaTrue Certified vehicles are vehicles released within the past five years, so for example, if you’re shopping for a CPO Honda vehicle in 2023, you’ll be looking at models released between 2018 and 2023. Honda TrueCertified vehicles also have under 80,000 miles on their odometers. These models come with a seven-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty and a four-year/48,000-mile non-powertrain warranty if the vehicle was purchased within the new vehicle warranty period. If not, the non-powertrain coverage is for one-year/12,000 miles. These vehicles come with up to two complimentary oil changes within the first year of ownership.

Finally, you have the highest level of the program: HondaTrue Certified+. HondaTrue Certified+ vehicles are released within the last two model years (2022-2023) and have less than 12,000 miles on the odometer. In many ways, these vehicles are as good as new. These models come with a seven-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty and a five-year/86,000-mile non-powertrain warranty. These models also come with up to two oil changes within the first year of ownership.

Honda ensures each CPO vehicle undergoes a detailed 182-point inspection, and you can download the results directly to your computer or smartphone. Additionally, CPO Honda vehicles have other benefits like roadside assistance, trip interruption, concierge service, a three-day exchange policy, and a 90-day trial to SiriusXM satellite radio. A lot of these benefits are on par with those you would find when you purchase a brand-new model.

What Is Covered By the Honda Warranties?

With the two warranties in tow, you’ll have coverage for a wide range of components, from those that make your vehicle move to those that create the overarching experience.

Powertrain Coverage

First up, you have the powertrain warranty that covers dozens of components relating to the powertrain, like the transfer case and transmission, the drivetrain, and many of the small parts that make up your engine. For example, the Honda powertrain warranty protects drivetrain components like bearings, gaskets, seals, driveshafts, constant-velocity joints, and more.

The transfer case and transmission are constructed with equally intricate parts, and aside from coverage for those components, you’ll also have coverage for your vehicle’s torque converter. And, of course, the engine––the star of the show––is constructed with hundreds of small parts, and you can rest assured your engine will have coverage for any malfunctions relating to its flywheel, valve covers, oil pump or pan, water pump, fuel pump, timing chain and gears, and so much more. While many of you may not know the extent of what each part does for your vehicle, the certified technicians at your Honda dealer in Citrus Heights do know how to identify any problem your powertrain may be facing. Our team can handle any warranty repairs your Honda may need.

Non-Powertrain Coverage

In addition to the powertrain warranty, HondaTrue vehicles also come with a non-powertrain warranty. This covers things that fall outside of the powertrain but are still vital to the functioning of your vehicle. For example, things that also help your vehicle operate, like the steering assembly and the steering gearbox, the column, and the rods. Non-powertrain components also include suspension parts like control arms along with their bushings and shafts, axle beams, various strut components, and your shock absorbers, among others.

Coverage also includes parts relating to your brakes. No, this does not cover wear and tear items like your brake pads and rotors. Those you will still have to pay to replace when the time comes. However, what is covered includes your ABS control unit, modulator and solenoids, disc brake calipers, wheel cylinders, master cylinder, actuator assembly, proportioning valve, lines and hoses, and parking brake assembly and cables, among other components to the system. Other components, like your fuel system, are covered under your non-powertrain warranty as well.

All of these items are essential to operation, but the non-powertrain coverage doesn't stop there. You'll also have coverage against electrical malfunctions that can affect various portions of your vehicle, from your power-adjustable heated seats to your power windows, windshield wipers, dashboard display, and more. Parts of your heating and air conditioning system are covered under this warranty, as are your safety restraint systems. Factory-installed speakers, radio, DVD/CD players, and Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System are all covered. Finally, this warranty includes little things that you may not have thought about, like the hood, trunk, and door hinges.

CPO Honda Vehicles Are Worth It

With all of these warranties and benefits at your disposal, we think investing in a Certified Pre-Owned Honda model will be worthwhile. There are hundreds of components that make up our vehicles, from the most minute details like hinges to the major components like engines and brakes. Honda is here to ensure that you’re able to care for your investment from the moment you get the keys into the years following your purchase.

If you are ready to browse through some available Certified Pre-Owned Honda models, then give us a call or come visit Future Honda to see what we currently have available on our lot. We will take you through your options and will go over the different levels of coverage each vehicle offers, so you will know what you are getting before you buy. Does your current CPO Honda have something that needs fixing? Bring it to our Honda service center, where our team is ready to handle any warranty work that needs to be done (including filing the warranty claim and dealing with that paperwork for you). Have a question about if your warranty covers a certain part or want to know more about the HondaTrue program? Just give us a call, and we will be happy to help.