How Much Does It Cost to Replace a Tesla Battery?
One of the biggest fears for Tesla electric vehicle (EV) owners is the prospect of a battery swap. Here we look at the true cost of this repair, why it’s not always necessary, and what you should consider to protect yourself.
The true cost of replacing a Tesla battery
Changing the battery is probably the most expensive repair an EV driver can incur. Teslas are particularly notorious for their high repair costs, including the cost of replacing a new battery should something go wrong.
However, it’s worth noting that most EV drivers don’t need to replace their car’s battery. Many electric vehicle manufacturers, including Tesla, guarantee their batteries for 8 to 10 years or 100,000 miles. Complete failure is very rare and is almost always covered by the manufacturer.
Tesla will even cover the cost of replacing the battery if the charge capacity falls below 70% during the warranty period – which is also very rare. EV batteries typically retain most of their charge capacity, even hundreds of thousands of miles over their lifetime.
In fact, Tesla claims their EVs can retain 90% of their charge capacity even after 200,000 miles. Data from UK research firm NimbleFins seems to support this claim – the company has studied over 500 models, with those at the 150,000-mile mark retaining 90% charge capacity and those over 200,000 still retaining around 80% capacity.
If your battery fails, loses its charge, or suffers covered damage within the warranty period, you do not have to pay for the repair. If a battery is damaged in a way that isn’t covered under warranty, the costs will skyrocket. The average battery replacement cost for an out-of-warranty Tesla battery can range from $10,000 to $20,000 or more, depending on the severity of the damage.
This cost includes not only the battery, but also parts and labor. A Tesla bill shared by Current Auto shows a full battery swap for a Tesla Model 3 costing over $16,000; $2,299.27 went to work, $14,251.40 for parts cost, and the battery itself was $13,500.
Read your warranty carefully
The Tesla warranty is meant to cover things like manufacturer defects that cause battery failure or drastically reduced performance through no fault of the driver. The company’s warranty actually covers fire damage as well, even if a battery fire is caused by external factors.
If damage to your Tesla’s battery is not covered under warranty, it will be passed on to insurance to (possibly) cover some of the cost. The driver has to pay the difference out of his own pocket, provided his insurance pays anything at all. If the insurance company doesn’t pay, the entire bill falls by the wayside.
What’s more, Tesla sometimes suggests a full battery replacement for issues that don’t require it. Automotive YouTuber Rich Rebuilds saw it for himself when he helped someone avoid a $22,500 repair bill for a full battery replacement on their Model 3.
Tesla wanted to replace the entire package, but after diagnosing the problem, replacing a few bad modules for only about $5,000 was a better solution. Stories like this and others have brought Tesla quite a bit of trouble and spurred discussions about a consumer’s right to repair, much like Apple’s release of the iPhone.
Should you try replacing it yourself?
The short answer: absolutely not.
If you don’t have the training, skills, and tools necessary to repair an electric vehicle battery, you’re likely to end up doing more harm than good. It’s better to take it to the dealer and at least get a quote, or a mechanic with the skills to diagnose and fix the vehicle. Screwing up a battery change yourself can cost you a lot more money in further repairs, so call the experts.
Would you like to know more about the experience of owning an electric car? Read our explanations on how to easily find charging stations and how cold weather affects electric vehicles.
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