AutoZone Limited Lifetime Warranty Brake Pads (How It Works + More)

Do you know what AutoZone limited lifetime warranty brake pads is? Well, you are at the perfect place to find the answer to such a question.

There’s nothing worse than getting the news from your mechanic that some part or other needs repairing or replacing. Our vehicles are among the most valuable possessions that we own, and they often require a huge amount of upkeep. Wouldn’t it be great if you could get a lifetime warranty on some of the parts that fail the most often?

AutoZone actually seems to offer a lifetime warranty on brake pads, which seems like an incredible deal. Is it too good to be true?

A lifetime warranty sounds like it means that the part will never fail, and any time that it does you will get an automatic replacement, but that is rarely the case.

This article will give you the truth about the limited lifetime warranty that comes with AutoZone brake pads, including what it actually covers and how to make a claim.

Table of Contents

What is AutoZone?

Before we get into the warranties that they offer, we should take a look at the company and what they do.

AutoZone is the largest retailer of aftermarket automotive parts and accessories in the United States. If you’re looking for parts for your car, it is probably the first place that you would think to go.

Their headquarters are in Memphis, Tennessee, but they operate over 6,400 stores across the nation. The company was founded in Arkansas in 1979 and now makes over $15 billion in sales last year.

With that kind of money, can they afford to replace your brake pads for life?

What Is the Standard Warranty for AutoZone Parts?

Not all of the parts that you can buy at AutoZone are covered by their limited lifetime warranty. Most items have a much shorter warranty period.

The exact warranty that they offer varies greatly depending on the type of product, and even the specific brand. The warranty that comes with their batteries, for example, ranges from just 30 days for a Valucraft L&G Utility up to four years for some Odyssey batteries.

The limited lifetime warranty that AutoZone offers actually covers hard parts, which means:

Alternators
Starters
Shocks and Struts
Brake Rotors
Brake Pads

What Does the Limited Lifetime Warranty on Brake Pads Cover?

So, does this mean that you can ride your brake pads from AutoZone as hard as you like, and they will always replace them? Technically, no.

When you see the terminology “limited lifetime warranty”, it generally means that you are only covered for defects or manufacturing issues that cause the product to fail. They do not usually cover normal wear and tear.

The entire purpose of your brake pads means that they are going to wear down over time. If your brake pads fail through normal use, this is not always a sign of a defect and doesn’t automatically entitle you to a replacement.

What is Not Covered by AutoZone Warranties?

There are obviously limits to what the warranty at AutoZone actually covers. You are not covered for failure related to:

Misuse
Abuse
Other faulty parts
Improper installation
Off-road, commercial, or marine use

Your coverage also expires when you sell or transfer your vehicle.

Does the Limited Lifetime Warranty for Brake Pads at AutoZone Last Forever?

Another common trick with the terminology of these kinds of warranties is what they deem “lifetime” to mean. For most of these warranties, there is a bit of a catch.

In the case of AutoZone, the warranty is only technically valid for one replacement and is tied to a specific vehicle.

As most people only keep their car for around 5 years on average, that does put a time limit on when you can claim.

Can You Get Free Brake Pad Replacements Using the AutoZone Limited Lifetime Warranty?

Technically, you should only be allowed to get your AutoZone brake pads replaced once, and only if there are signs of a manufacturing defect. That is not as great a deal as it seems at first glance!

In reality, though, many people have had a lot of luck by just going in and asking. It certainly depends on who you talk to on the day, but a lot of customers have had brake pad replacements from AutoZone multiple times, even for normal wear and tear.

Sometimes, the employees will be kind and swap them out for you, even though you are not technically covered.

How Do You Claim an AutoZone Brake Pads Limited Lifetime Warranty?

To claim your warranty, you simply need to take all four brake pads to your local AutoZone with a receipt showing that it was purchased within the warranty period.

You can make a claim at any AutoZone store, as long as you can prove the part was purchased from AutoZone. Technically, though, you should also need to prove that there was a defect on the brake pads and that it is a replacement for the vehicle in which they were originally installed.

What Products Does AutoZone Sell?

You can’t just get your brake pads from AutoZone; you can buy almost any parts that your car might need. Their product line includes:

Batteries
Tools
Brake parts
Filters
Washing equipment
Engine oil
And much more besides

Conclusion

What you need to know is that the limited lifetime warranty that comes with brake pads from AutoZone is technically pretty limited.

It is only supposed to cover failure caused by manufacturing defects, should only be claimed once, and expires when you sell or transfer the vehicle in which the brake pads were installed.

Despite these limits, many customers have reported very positive experiences when claiming the AutoZone warranty for their brake pads.

If you’re lucky, you might get multiple replacements, even if the damage is due to normal wear.

References

https://www.autozone.com/lp/termsAndConditions#warranties