Honda Will Cover Your Maintenance Bills for Two Years

Despite recently slumping sales, Honda tends to build dependable, long-lasting vehicles. Even so, it's taking steps to increase buyer confidence in its products. The automaker just announced the Honda Service Pass, which covers select scheduled maintenance for the first two years or 24,000 miles of ownership. The maintenance plan is now being offered on select 2023 Honda vehicles, beginning with the Odyssey minivan.

Honda says the program covers some factory-scheduled maintenance and service items for the first two years or 24,000 miles, including oil and filter changes, tire rotations, and inspections. Service intervals are tracked by the cars' Maintenance Minder system, indicating which vehicle components need repair. For example, the new Honda Civic's maintenance reminders include a note to replace the air cleaner every 15,000 miles if the car is driven in a dusty area.

Honda Service Pass is separate from the factory warranty automakers provide for every vehicle. Honda backs all models with a three-year/36,000-mile limited warranty and a five-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty. Roadside assistance is provided during the three-year powertrain warranty and covers flat tires, jump starts, towing, and more.

We don't know which vehicles Honda will include in the Service Pass program, but the benefits could be attractive for prospective buyers. The automaker says the program will lower the cost of ownership for the first two years. With Honda's solid predicted reliability and already low predicted maintenance costs, that should mean very few out-of-pocket expenses.

Honda Service Pass coverage is transferable to a new vehicle owner as long as it's within the time and mileage limits. It's worth noting that some dealers offer additional coverage that may extend or conflict with the program, so it's essential to understand what you're getting into when buying a new Honda.

Though Honda Service Pass will be a major plus for buyers, the automaker is far from the first to do it. The program is similar to ToyotaCare, which has been offered for years. Toyota covers all of its new vehicles for two years or 25,000 miles and provides no-cost maintenance for items such as oil changes and filters, tire rotations, inspections, fluid upkeep, and roadside assistance. Others, particularly premium automakers, offer more extensive coverage. BMW and Mini include scheduled maintenance for three years or 36,000 miles, and coverage is transferable to a new owner. Several others offer complimentary maintenance, including coverage for electric powertrain components or charging for EVs. The outlier is Tesla, whose vehicles do not adhere to annual maintenance schedules, as they were found to be reliable enough to avoid regular service stops.