A secret warranty program refers to the common practice of automobile manufacturers providing free-of-charge repairs on specific parts of vehicles which have been identified as commonly defective in a particular make and model, in the absence of warranty coverage or an official recall. As implied by the name, the availability of such repairs is typically not well-publicized. See: Manufacturer Warranty Repairs: Secret Warranties, Recalls, and Lemons.
[Last updated in July of 2024 by the Wex Definitions Team]