An extended auto warranty is a protection plan you can buy from an automaker or dealership to cover mechanical breakdowns. Third-party providers offer similar coverage in the form of vehicle service contracts. We use these terms interchangeably in this article for simplicity.
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Crash Course:
- According to RepairPal, the average annual Toyota maintenance cost is $441.
- New Toyotas come with free ToyotaCare maintenance for 2 years/25,000 miles.
- The Toyota factory warranty includes a 3-year/36,000-mile basic limited warranty and a 5-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty.
When you buy a car, be sure to plan for maintenance costs in addition to taxes and insurance when calculating the true cost of ownership. This article takes a look at the average annual cost of Toyota maintenance, including factory-recommended services and common repairs.
While saving money to pay for vehicle repair costs out of pocket is a financially sensible move, an extended auto warranty can help budget for those expenses and may save you money in the long term. An extended warranty pays for the cost of unexpected repairs after your car’s manufacturer warranty expires. Our team has researched the best extended car warranty companies and will recommend our top choices.
Toyota Maintenance Cost and Reliability
According to user data collected by RepairPal, Toyota maintenance costs $441 per year. This includes routine services and mechanical repairs. The annual Toyota maintenance cost is a bit lower than the average across all brands, which is $652. RepairPal ranks Toyota eighth out of the 32 car brands it surveys for reliability.
Toyota also ranked well in the J.D. Power 2021 U.S. Vehicle Dependability StudySM, placing fourth out of 33 brands surveyed. Models that proved most reliable include the Toyota Corolla, Toyota Prius, Toyota Avalon, Toyota Highlander, Toyota RAV4, Toyota Sienna, and Toyota Tundra.
Though Toyotas are reliable, they aren’t immune to mechanical malfunctions. Every car will require some amount of maintenance to stay in good condition. The table below describes several common Toyota repairs, as reported by RepairPal users.
| Model | Repair | Toyota Maintenance Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Toyota Camry | Oxygen sensor replacement | $322 to $441 |
| Toyota Camry | Throttle position sensor replacement | $193 to $225 |
| Toyota Tacoma | Suspension ball joint replacement | $228 to $444 |
| Toyota Tacoma | Wheel alignment | $141 to $170 |
| Toyota Tundra | Exhaust manifold replacement | $917 to $1,113 |
While none of these issues is guaranteed, these are costs you should be prepared to pay should they arise.
Toyota Maintenance Schedule
Even when your car is working properly, it’s a good idea to have it serviced regularly. Routine tune-ups are an easy Toyota maintenance cost to budget for, and they can help you save in the long run.
Keeping up with the factory-recommended maintenance schedule reduces the likelihood of expensive mechanical issues down the road. When your car runs out of oil, increased friction can cause mechanical components to wear prematurely. And regular inspections may catch some problems before they are able to damage other parts of your car.
Specifics of the Toyota maintenance schedule vary by model. It’s generally recommended that the following maintenance items be performed for most Toyota vehicles:
| Interval | Services |
|---|---|
| 5,000 miles |
|
| 15,000 miles |
|
| 30,000 miles |
|
Keep in mind that in order to keep your Toyota factory warranty valid, you will need to keep up with factory-scheduled maintenance. Generally, this means going in for routine oil changes and making sure to take your vehicle for servicing every 30,000 miles. The cost of this inspection should be under $250, depending on the service center.
ToyotaCare Maintenance Plan
Fortunately for Toyota owners, all factory-scheduled Toyota maintenance costs are covered for the first two years or 25,000 miles by ToyotaCare. ToyotaCare is included with all new Toyota vehicles and includes:
- Tire rotations
- Fluid level inspection
- Multi-point inspection
- Engine oil and filter changes
ToyotaCare also includes two years of 24-hour roadside assistance that covers:
- Towing
- Winching
- Flat-tire servicing
- Battery jump-starts
- Lockout assistance
- Emergency fuel deliveries
Toyota Factory Warranty
Should certain Toyota parts fail due to defects in materials or workmanship, Toyota will cover the cost of the repair or replacement if the vehicle is still under warranty. It’s useful to understand your Toyota factory warranty coverage so that you don’t accidentally end up paying for a covered repair.
Toyota warranty coverage includes:
- 3-year/36,000-mile basic limited warranty
- 5-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty
- 5-year/60,000-mile restraint system warranty
- 5-year/unlimited-mile corrosion perforation warranty
The Toyota basic limited warranty covers most vehicle components, with exceptions for wear-and-tear and nonmechanical items such as:
- Bulbs
- Glass
- Bumpers
- Upholstery
- Exterior trim
- Wiper blades
- Shock absorbers
- Brake pads and shoes
- Constant velocity (CV) joints
The Toyota powertrain warranty covers the parts of your car that make it move, which include most parts in the engine, transmission, transaxle, and transfer case.
When your warranty expires, you’ll need to have enough money saved up to cover any unexpected Toyota maintenance cost that pops up. To save on repairs, drivers can extend their warranty coverage either by purchasing a Toyota extended warranty from a Toyota dealer or a vehicle service contract from a third-party provider.
Top Recommendation for an Extended Car Warranty
If you choose to purchase a Toyota extended warranty, it’s worth considering coverage from an independent warranty. Third-party companies offer several advantages over manufacturer extended warranties, including longer coverage terms, greater choice of repair shops, and cheaper contracts. Based on our research, we recommend Endurance as a reliable vehicle service contract provider.
Endurance: Best Overall
Endurance offers extended warranty contracts that can cover vehicles with any mileage. The company has been in business since 2006 and has built a reputation for offering solid coverage, which is why we’ve chosen it as the Best Overall provider in the industry.
Endurance plan options range from simple powertrain protection to exclusionary coverage. The company even offers EnduranceAdvantageTM plans that pay for items like oil changes, diagnostics, and brake pad replacements in addition to component coverage, which can cut your annual Toyota maintenance cost even more.
To learn more, read our full Endurance warranty review.
Our Methodology
Our expert review team takes satisfaction in providing accurate and unbiased information. We identified the following rating categories based on consumer survey data and conducted extensive research to formulate rankings of the best extended auto warranty providers.
- Industry Standing: Our team considers Better Business Bureau (BBB) ratings, availability, and years in business when giving this score.
- Coverage: Because each consumer has unique needs, it’s essential that a car warranty company offers an array of coverage options. We take into account the number of plans offered by each provider, term limits, exclusions, and additional benefits.
- Affordability: A variety of factors influence cost, so it can be difficult to compare quotes between providers. Our team performs ongoing secret shopper analyses for different vehicles, mileages, warranty plans, and locations to give this rating.
- Customer Service: Reputable extended car warranty companies operate with a certain degree of care for consumers. We take into account customer reviews, BBB complaints, and the responsiveness of the customer service team.
*Data accurate at time of publication.
