Archived Copies of Warranty Week

December 2002 to Today

Mid-Year U.S. Auto Warranty Expenses: As if the pandemic wasn't enough of a challenge, the top U.S.-based automakers also now face a spike in recall costs that have driven up their warranty accruals dramatically, not only at the end of 2020 but also in the middle of 2021. The result is alarming warranty expense levels not seen before, but easy to spot in these charts.
September 16, 2021
Top Asian Automaker Warranty Expenses: While the top carmaker in India seems to be getting its warranty expenses under control, recall-driven warranty costs have spiraled out of control for the top two Korean carmakers. Hyundai's accrual rate more than doubled to nearly 6.5% last year, while Kia approached 5%.
August 12, 2021
Appliance Warranty Expense Report: While the HVAC industry is known for its long warranties and low warranty expense rates, the household appliance industry is known for its volatility. In 2019, claims fell and accruals rose, but the big news is the jump in expense rates seen in early 2020, caused by a recall in Europe.
June 4, 2020
Top Japanese Automaker Warranty Expenses: Toyota and Honda continue to recover from their recall-related spikes in warranty costs. But for Nissan Motor Company Ltd., there's not much change to report. The company's warranty expense rates have remained stubbornly close to one percent for more than a decade.
July 25, 2019
American Auto Warranty Expenses: While General Motors continues to recover from its massive ignition switch recall of 2014, the warranty expenses of Ford are creeping upward. Tesla, meanwhile, is in the strange position of having the lowest claims rate and the highest accrual rate in the U.S.-based portion of this industry.
July 18, 2019
Asian Automotive Warranty Report: Honda had a bad year in 2016, and this year it was Toyota's turn to report dramatic increases in recall costs. They used to have the lowest automotive warranty costs in the world but now that title belongs to Hyundai, which has yet to see the impact of defective air bags or other rampant problems.
June 29, 2017
U.S. & Asian Auto Warranty Report: Almost every passenger car manufacturer is reporting rising warranty expense rates, thanks to soaring recall costs. But while some OEMs are seeing their costs per unit rise by a third or even by half, a few are reporting only small increases.
July 16, 2015
Automotive Warranty Report: While suppliers seem to have gotten a reprieve from escalating pressure to pay a greater share of warranty costs, OEMs are enjoying fast sales growth and a return to old levels. Meanwhile, Ford has decided to begin reporting warranty and recall costs together.
April 5, 2012
Toyota's Warranties & Recalls: For the first time ever, the automaker's worldwide recall costs have exceeded its warranty costs. And that has changed both what Toyota reports and how it gets reported in the company's financial statements.
June 30, 2011
Medical Equipment Warranties: Doctors, hospitals, and laboratory technicians want sturdy and reliable medical systems, and for the most part the manufacturers that supply them have been steady and predictable. But every once in a while, a massive recall or a production glitch causes warranty costs to spike. And it's when the trend line leaves its historical range that we know there's something wrong.
October 8, 2009