In a letter sent to dealers last Thursday, Chrysler announced it will now offer a Lifetime Powertrain Limited Warranty on top of its Basic Limited Warranty for 2006, 2007 and 2008 Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep vehicles sold and delivered after July 26, 2007.

The new warranty is not transferable and only applies to the original purchaser or retail lessee. In the event of an ownership change, the letter stated that the three-year/36,000-mile Basic Limited Warranty will stay with the vehicle regardless of ownership changes.

Vehicles not covered by the new warranty include SRT vehicles, Sprinter Vehicles, diesel-equipped vehicles, all Ram Cab/Chassis vehicles, rental vehicles and government vehicles. Vehicles used by law enforcement, postal and ambulance services, taxi and limousine services are also not covered by the new warranty. Excluded vehicles will still be eligible for the Basic Limited Warranty, and Cummins and Sprinter Diesel Engines will still maintain their five-year/100,000-mile warranty.

Vehicles eligible for the Limited Lifetime Powertrain Warranty coverage will have 24-hour towing assistance available during the 3/36 Basic Limited Warranty, regardless of ownership, the letter stated. Any required repairs to the powertrain after the expiration of the Basic Limited Warranty will not be eligible for towing assistance.

The new warranty also requires that owners have a powertrain inspection performed by an authorized dealer once every five years at no additional charge. The inspection must be completed within 60 days of each five 3-year anniversary of the vehicle’s in-service date.

The Lifetime Powertrain Limited Warranty will cover the cost of all parts and labor related to powertrain repairs (excludes manual transmission clutch parts). Here’s a breakdown:

Gasoline Engine: Cylinder block and all internal parts; cylinder head assemblies; timing case, timing chain, timing belt, gears and sprockets; vibration damper; oil pump; water pump and housing; intake and exhaust manifolds; flywheel with starter ring gear; core plugs; valve covers; oil pan; turbocharger housing and internal parts; turbocharger wastegate actuator; supercharger; serpentine belt tensioner; seals and gaskets for listed components only.

Transmission: Transmission case and all internal parts; torque converter; drive/flex plate; transmission range switch; transmission control module; bell housing; oil pan; seals and gaskets for listed components only.

Front Wheel Drive: transaxle case and all internal parts; axle shaft assemblies; constant velocity joints and boots; differential cover; oil pan; transaxle speed sensors; transaxle solenoid assembly; PRNDL position switch; transaxle electronic controller; torque converter; seals and gaskets for listed components only.

All Wheel Drive (AWD): Power transfer unit and all internal parts; viscous coupler; axle housing and all internal parts; constant velocity joints and boots; driveshaft and axle shaft assemblies; differential carrier assembly and all internal parts; output ball bearing; output flange; end cover; overrunning clutch; vacuum motor; torque tube; pinion spacer and shim, seals and gaskets for listed components only.

Rear Wheel Drive: Rear axle housing and all internal parts; axle shafts; axle shaft bearings; drive shaft assemblies; drive shaft center bearings; universal joints and yokes; seals and gaskets for listed components only.

Four-Wheel Drive (4X4): transfer case and all internal parts; transfer case control module and shift mode motor assembly; axle housing and all internal parts; axle shafts; axle shaft bearings; drive shafts assemblies (front and rear); drive shaft center bearings; universal joints and yokes; disconnect housing assembly; seals and gaskets for the listed components only.