When a Tesla isn’t going as far on a single charge, it may be time to replace the battery. Since the battery is the most important part of the Tesla, how much should you expect it to cost?
A Tesla battery is a major part of the vehicle and can cost up to $22,000 to replace. This price is high because of the cost of the battery itself, plus the fact that you will need to locate a repair shop that is knowledgeable about Teslas. It is not recommended to DIY a Tesla battery replacement.
Need more information about Tesla battery replacement? Let’s look at the full process, including the cost and warranty as well as how long you can expect a Tesla battery to last.
How Much Does a Replacement Battery for a Tesla Cost?
Tesla was founded over 15 years ago and throughout the years, it has used many variations of its lithium-ion battery. Replacing the battery in the first-ever models might be more expensive as they are rarer to find. Yet, that doesn’t mean they will be tricky to replace.
Replacing a battery in a Tesla is a simple task, especially when going straight to the experts.
On average, it will cost between $13,000 and $14,000 to replace your Tesla battery. The price depends on the model of the Tesla.
The cost for the labor can vary however, and some Tesla owner’s report spending up to $22,000 for the battery and labor for their Tesla replacement.
Prices of Batteries For Different Tesla
Depending on the Tesla model you have, the price of the battery will vary.
- Model S. The Tesla Model S battery is the most affordable. Prices vary from $12,000 to $15,000. Yet, labor costs can skyrocket this price to around $22,000 as it is an older model that requires more work.
- Model 3. The Model 3 is a mid-range Tesla, meaning its battery is a mid-range price. It will likely cost around $13,500 for the battery and an extra couple of thousand dollars for labor.
- Model Y. The Model Y battery is the most expensive to replace, costing around $15,000 for the battery and again, a few thousand dollars for labor.
Remember that it is uncommon to need to replace your Tesla battery, so don’t panic about these prices. This will be an issue when your battery health begins to decline, which can take ten years or more.
What Does the Warranty Cover?
Every Tesla is protected with a manufacturer warranty. There are various types of warranty which cover you for various measures.
- Basic Warranty. Tesla’s basic warranty offers 4 years or 50,000 miles.
- Supplement Restraint System Limited Warranty. This warranty covers 5 years or 60,000 miles.
- Battery and Drive Unit Limited Warranty. For the Model S and Model X, this warranty covers owners for 8 years or 150,000 miles. The Model S Rear-Wheel Drive is covered for 8 years or 100,000 miles. The Model 3 Long Range, Model 3 Performance, Model Y Long Range, and Model Y Performance are covered for 8 years or 120,000 miles.
- Used Vehicle Warranty. Tesla also offers a used vehicle warranty, which enables buyers of used Tesla vehicles 4 years of coverage or 50,000 miles. After one year of warranty, the owner can attain one year or 10,000 miles with cover.
The Battery and Drive Unit Limited Warranty offers a minimum battery retention of 70 percent.
How Long Do Tesla Batteries Last?
Should you notice that your wall charger at home isn’t working efficiently, like this one (on Amazon), it might be a sign your Tesla battery is depleting.
Tesla batteries are impressive when it comes to longevity. Even after driving over 200,000 miles a Tesla battery can retain up to 90 percent of its capacity. Most drivers cover around 14,000 miles yearly, meaning it would take around 15 years to reduce the battery to 90 percent capacity.
It is common for most Tesla batteries to cover between 300,000 and 500,000. Hence, you might need to perform a battery replacement only once or twice during a Tesla’s life.
How Do Tesla Batteries Deplete?
Fuse issues, voltage issues, and other small problems are all causes of Tesla battery pack failure. If the problem only affects one battery module, the complete battery pack is impacted.
All battery components must have a constant voltage. The complete battery pack will become faulty if the voltage values between modules vary. If this occurs, it’s recommended to bring your vehicle to a repair shop to find out more about what may be wrong with your vehicle.
They will install a new or reconditioned battery pack in your vehicle as opposed to changing a module. The broken one will be delivered to their battery factories for maintenance and refurbishment.
How To Assess The State of a Tesla Battery
It is simple to assess the condition of your battery by completing the following steps:
- Charge the vehicle’s battery to its full capacity.
- Switch on the car to check the expected range of the vehicle. This can be found in the lower-left corner of the instrument cluster on Model S and Model X vehicles.
- To calculate the amount of capacity accessibly, multiply that by the original battery range and divide by 100.
Third-Party Repair Shops vs. Tesla Shop
With the average Tesla costing around $46,000, it might almost cost almost half of the price to replace its battery. However, some third-party repair shops will perform the battery replacement for a lot less.
Most people will trust and rely on Tesla experts for battery replacements. It is understandable as they create and manufacture the batteries. However, it is possible for third-party repair shops to complete the task as expertly.
If spending up to $22,000 for a battery replacement doesn’t suit your budget, you might want to consider using a third-party shop.
Be aware, though, that not all shops offer a completely new Tesla battery so call in advance before you plan to bring in your vehicle.
Should You Change A Tesla Battery Yourself?
Or, you can attempt to perform the task yourself. With plenty of YouTube video tutorials, the right equipment, and lots of patience, you might manage to successfully replace the battery and avoid paying the labor costs.
Yet, if you haven’t spent money and time on training and tools, don’t attempt to fix your Tesla. Replacing the battery in a Tesla is a difficult task, and not for those who don’t know what they are doing.
Even though it is expensive to take it to the shop for replacement, buying a whole new Tesla after you damage yours will cost more.