Does my car insurance cover damage caused by a manufacturer’s defect?
Many people ask if their car insurance covers damage caused by a manufacturer's defect. Getting a manufacturer's defect covered by insurance depends on what kind of coverage you have. If the damage is mechanical and relates to a covered peril like an accident, you'd need comprehensive or collision insurance coverage.
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Insurance and Finance Writer
Maria Hanson grew up with a unique passion and understanding of both the automotive and insurance industries. With one grandfather in auto mechanics and another working in insurance, you could say automotive insurance is in her blood. Her love of research and finance serves her well in studying insurance trends and liability. Maria has expanded her scope of expertise to home, health, and life i...
Maria Hanson
Former State Farm Insurance Agent
Benjamin Carr worked as a licensed insurance agent at State Farm and Tennant Special Risk. He sold various lines of coverage and informed his clients about their life, health, property/casualty insurance needs. Assessing risks and helping people find the best coverage to suit their needs is a passion of his. He appreciates that insurance was designed to protect people, particularly during times...
Benjamin Carr
Updated February 2025
You may believe your car has a manufacturing defect that’s caused some damage and are finding out how to file an auto insurance claim. However, can you claim in this situation? We understand that this can sometimes be confusing, so we have researched the topic for you and provided the answers below.
- Car insurance does not usually cover damage caused by a manufacturer’s defect
- You may be able to claim for mechanical damage if an accident was responsible for causing it
- If you were at fault and want to claim for damage to your vehicle in this situation, you would need collision or comprehensive cover in place
Your Car Insurance Will Usually Not Cover Damage Caused by a Manufacturer’s Defect
in most cases, you cannot claim against your car insurance if you think that a manufacturer’s defect may have caused damage to the vehicle. Usually, mechanical damage is not part of any car insurance policy, although you may be able to turn to your vehicle warranty for help.
Still, you could claim if you have comprehensive or collision coverage if an accident led to mechanical damage. If a third party caused the accident, their liability coverage would typically pay for mechanical repairs and bodywork damage.
Find out more by reading: “What are the different types of auto insurance coverage?”
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Sometimes a Manufacturer May Cover Damage Caused by a Defect
Manufacturing defects arise occasionally, and you may be able to file a case against the company that made the car. However, you might need to work with an attorney and remember that vehicle manufacturers have their own insurance to cover such situations.
The Difference Between Comprehensive and Collision Insurance for Manufacturer’s Defects
You can only claim for damage to your vehicle if you were at fault and have comprehensive or collision coverage in place. Both comprehensive and collision cover are typically optional.
Read more: Does my auto insurance cover damage to my own car if I am at fault in an accident?
However, if you borrowed money from a leasing company to buy the car in the first place, they might typically insist that you carry those layers of protection. Your standard liability coverage will not pay for any bodywork or mechanical repairs.
Comprehensive insurance covers damage to your vehicle unrelated to an accident with another car (such as natural disasters, theft, or fire). Collision covers damage to your vehicle when you crash into another car and are at fault.
You can learn more by reading: “Comprehensive versus collision coverage: which is the more affordable choice?”
Mechanical Breakdown Insurance May Cover Manufacturer’s Defects
Some insurance companies offer affordable mechanical breakdown insurance coverage, also known as MBI. It’s similar in many respects to a car warranty and covers repairs to the vehicle if it breaks down, needs replacement parts, or encounters other mechanical problems.
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Your Car Insurance Won’t Cover Damage Caused by a Manufacturer’s Defect
In most cases, your car insurance won’t cover mechanical damage caused by manufacturer defects.
However, you may be able to pursue the manufacturer directly, and you might be able to buy specific mechanical breakdown insurance from some companies. In addition, if your mechanical damage is due to an accident, you can claim if you have comprehensive or collision coverage.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does insurance cover OEM parts?
This will depend on the specifics of your policy. Some companies will specify OEM parts depending on the type of repairs and the vehicle in question. Others may ask the repairer to fit aftermarket parts. Find out more by reading: “Can my auto insurance company use aftermarket parts to repair my vehicle?“
Can you claim for a blown engine on insurance?
Typically, you can only do this if you have collision and comprehensive insurance and the damage to the engine was caused in an accident or by another covered event.
How do I get insurance to cover a blown motor?
You may be able to get mechanical breakdown insurance from some insurance companies, but you will need to have the insurance in place before the event.
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