Date posted: 10-26-2006

FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif. — Hyundai Motor America announced on Monday that it will extend its warranty program, which includes a 10-year/100,000-mile limited powertrain warranty, five-year/60,000-mile bumper-to-bumper coverage, seven-year/unlimited mileage anti-perforation coverage and 24-hour roadside assistance.

The Korean automaker said its warranty program, which has been in place since the 1999 model year, has covered more than 2.75 million of its vehicles to date. The program will be in place through 2010.

The announcement ends speculation that Hyundai was rethinking its warranty program in the wake of an improving image among consumers and higher quality ratings in automotive studies.

In June, Hyundai stunned the industry by leapfrogging Toyota in J.D. Power and Associates' annual survey on new-vehicle quality. Hyundai was the No. 1 non-premium brand in the U.S. in that study, edging past Toyota for the first time. A story on the study in the Detroit Free Press on June 8 said, "Maybe Hyundai Motor Co. drivers don't need that 10-year/100,000-mile warranty after all."

"Ten-year warranty coverage is only possible because of the extremely high quality standards Hyundai has achieved," said Steve Wilhite, Hyundai Motor America chief operating officer.

Hyundai may be reacting to the domestic automakers' efforts to boost their warranty coverage. General Motors in September increased its base warranty and roadside service plans. It now offers a standard five-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty and roadside service contracts on all 2007 passenger cars and light trucks.

What this means to you: Hyundai gives a gift to its future consumers: the reassurance that its sterling warranty coverage will go on for at least another four years.

Source: http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do...ticleId=117290