Tesla Warranty Explained: Battery, Drive Unit and What Isn’t Covered

“Is this covered?” is the first question most Tesla owners ask when something goes wrong, and the answer is less obvious than it should be. Tesla’s warranty is really several warranties with different lengths. The battery has a separate capacity rule, used cars carry their own terms, and the extended warranty leaves out the most expensive parts of the car.

This guide sets out what each part of the US warranty covers and for how long, by model. It explains what is excluded, what can void coverage entirely, how the rules work on a used Tesla, and what Tesla’s extended service agreement actually buys you. Every figure comes from Tesla’s own current warranty documents, linked throughout.

Here is the whole warranty at a glance for cars sold new in the US:

Warranty	What It Covers	How Long
Basic Vehicle Limited Warranty	Defects in materials or workmanship in parts made or supplied by Tesla	4 years or 50,000 miles
Supplemental Restraint System	Seat belts and airbag system defects	5 years or 60,000 miles
Battery and Drive Unit, Model S, X and Cybertruck	High-voltage battery and drive unit, plus 70% capacity retention	8 years or 150,000 miles
Battery and Drive Unit, Model 3 and Y Long Range or Performance	As above	8 years or 120,000 miles
Battery and Drive Unit, Model 3 and Y Standard	As above	8 years or 100,000 miles
Body Rust	Rust holes through a body panel from the inside out	12 years, unlimited miles
Pre-Owned Vehicle Limited Warranty (Tesla used sales)	Same scope as the basic warranty, excluding battery and drive unit	1 year or 10,000 miles, after the basic warranty ends

If a fault appears near the end of your coverage, open a service request in the Tesla app now. Tesla’s warranty covers repairs when Tesla is notified of the defect within the warranty period, so the date and mileage when you report it matter more than the date of the appointment. Describe the problem precisely, and keep the request record.

The Basic Vehicle Limited Warranty: 4 Years or 50,000 Miles

The New Vehicle Limited Warranty covers repairs needed to correct defects in the materials or workmanship of any part manufactured or supplied by Tesla, under normal use, for 4 years or 50,000 miles, whichever comes first. This is the coverage that pays for most everyday failures: door handles, window regulators, the touchscreen and computer, climate system parts, sensors, cameras, suspension components and the electrical system.

It covers parts that fail, not parts that wear out. A touchscreen that goes black from a failed computer is a classic warranty repair, and our guide to the Model 3 black screen and MCU failure covers what happens when it is not. The small low-voltage battery is a separate question from the main pack, and our 12V battery guide covers what owners report paying for it inside and outside the basic warranty.

Tesla decides whether to repair or replace a part and whether to use a new, reconditioned or remanufactured one. Repaired or replaced parts are covered only for the rest of the original warranty period, not for a fresh term.

The Battery and Drive Unit Warranty: 8 Years

The high-voltage battery and the drive unit, the motor, gearbox and inverter assembly, have their own warranty that runs much longer than the basic one. All of them run 8 years, with a mileage cap that depends on the model:

• Model S and Model X: 8 years or 150,000 miles.
• Cybertruck: 8 years or 150,000 miles, under its own warranty document.
• Model 3 and Model Y Long Range or Performance: 8 years or 120,000 miles.
• Model 3 and Model Y Standard or Standard Range Plus: 8 years or 100,000 miles.

Each includes a minimum 70% retention of battery capacity over the warranty period. A pack that falls below 70% of its original capacity inside the warranty is a covered claim. A pack that has lost less than that is normal ageing and is not. Tesla measures capacity by its own method and notes that dashboard range estimates are an imperfect guide, so ask for a capacity test rather than relying on the range display.

The battery warranty excludes collision and impact damage (including potholes and curbs), flooding, packs opened or serviced by non-Tesla personnel, and problems caused by ignoring active warnings. It also excludes range changes caused by software updates. On the other side, it covers damage to the car from a battery fire even when driver error caused it. For what a pack costs once this coverage ends, and the cheaper alternatives, see our guide to Tesla battery replacement cost.

These figures apply to cars bought under the current document. Tesla states that a Model S or Model X bought before its effective date keeps the battery terms that applied when it was bought, so check the warranty attached to your own car in the Tesla app if it is an older model.

Other Coverage: Restraints, Rust and Emissions-Rule Warranties

• Supplemental Restraint System: seat belts and the airbag system are covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles, a year longer than the basic warranty.
• Body rust: rust that perforates a body panel from the inside out because of a defect is covered for 12 years with no mileage limit. Surface rust, stone chips and damage from accidents, aftermarket rustproofing or chemicals are excluded.
• ZEV warranties for 2026 and later models: cars from model year 2026 onward with a US or Canadian warranty region also carry regulatory minimum warranties: 3 years or 50,000 miles on propulsion-related parts, 7 years or 70,000 miles on a listed set of high-priced propulsion parts, and 8 years or 100,000 miles against battery defects that would take capacity below 70%. A further Initial ZEV warranty applies only to California-certified cars registered in states that enforce California’s rules. Tesla’s own warranties are often longer, and Tesla does not pay twice for the same repair, but the 7-year cover on high-priced propulsion parts outlasts the basic warranty for those parts.

What the Tesla Warranty Does Not Cover

Most disputed claims fall into one of these exclusions, all taken from Tesla’s warranty document:

• Tires. They carry their own warranties from the tire makers. See our Tesla tires guide for what wears them and what to replace them with.
• Wear and maintenance items: brake pads, wiper blades, filters, wheel alignment and balancing, cleaning and polishing, and minor adjustments.
• Glass that is chipped, cracked or broken by anything other than a manufacturing defect.
• Normal noises and vibrations, such as brake squeal, creaks and rattles, where no part has failed.
• Road damage: accidents, objects striking the car, potholes, curbs, debris and rough or unfinished roads, as well as racing and autocross.
• Off-road driving, except on the Model X and Model Y.
• Environmental damage: hail, floods, tree sap, bird droppings, industrial fallout, salt and similar.
• Non-genuine parts and modifications, and any damage they cause, including unauthorised software changes.
• Charging equipment and accessories not included with the car, which carry their own warranties, and key fob batteries.
• Using the car as a power source beyond the conditions Tesla allows for its Powershare feature.
• Towing, rental cars, lodging and lost time. Tesla disclaims these incidental costs even when the repair itself is covered.

Using an independent shop for routine service does not void the warranty. Tesla’s document says plainly that you may use another provider or non-Tesla parts and the warranty remains in effect. But Tesla may refuse to cover a problem caused by that work or those parts. It can also deny coverage for problems that come from not installing software updates after being notified of them, ignoring recall notices, or overloading the car. Keep records of all service, with the VIN, mileage, date and work done.

What Voids a Tesla Warranty Completely

Most exclusions remove coverage for one problem. A few remove the warranty from the car entirely, for every later owner as well. Tesla may void the warranty on:

• Cars with a defaced or altered VIN, or a tampered or disconnected odometer.
• Cars without a clean title, or branded as salvage, rebuilt, junk, flood-damaged, fire-damaged, dismantled, reconstructed or irreparable.
• Cars an insurance company has declared a total loss.

That last group is the trap for bargain hunters. A rebuilt-title Tesla can look like a great deal until a battery or drive unit fails, and it then has no warranty left at all, even if it is only two years old.

Buying a Used Tesla: How the Warranty Transfers

The warranty belongs to the car, not the owner. It transfers free of charge to later owners, and it is measured from the day the car was first delivered to its first buyer. A 2022 Model Y delivered in March 2022 has battery and drive unit coverage until March 2030 or its mileage cap, whoever owns it.

Used Teslas bought directly from Tesla also get the Pre-Owned Vehicle Limited Warranty. It runs for 1 year or 10,000 miles, starting when the original 4-year, 50,000-mile basic warranty expires, or from delivery to you if the basic warranty has already ended. It covers the same kind of defects as the basic warranty, but not the battery and drive unit, restraints or body rust, which continue under the original warranty for whatever time remains. A Tesla bought from a private seller or another dealer gets no pre-owned warranty, but any remaining original coverage still applies.

Before buying any used Tesla, ask the seller for the VIN, enter it at nhtsa.gov/recalls for open recalls, and confirm the title is clean. A non-clean title means no warranty.

Tesla Extended Warranty: The Extended Service Agreement

Tesla sells a monthly Vehicle Extended Service Agreement that picks up when the basic warranty ends. Under the July 2026 US terms it costs $50 a month for a Model 3, $60 for a Model Y, $125 for a Model S and $150 for a Model X, with a $100 deductible per covered visit. Coverage runs for up to 4 more years or 50,000 miles, but never beyond 8 years or 100,000 miles from the car’s original delivery.

It does not cover the high-voltage battery, the drive unit or the low-voltage battery, and it excludes tires, glass, body and trim, charging equipment and maintenance items. Sign-up deadlines, cancellation and resale rules, and whether it is worth paying for are covered in our guide to the Tesla extended warranty.

How to Make a Warranty Claim

• Request service in the Tesla app within the warranty period, with the VIN, current mileage and a clear description of the problem, including any warning messages.
• Get the car to a Tesla Service Center in your warranty region. Tesla says delivery is at your expense except where it is obliged to tow. Mobile service handles many repairs at your home.
• Ask whether the estimate is warranty before approving anything. Some states require tax on warranty repairs, which Tesla may pass on.
• Ask about adjustment programs if the car is just outside its limits. Tesla’s warranty says it may pay for some out-of-warranty repairs through programs for specific models or case by case.
• Check for recalls. Recall repairs are free regardless of age or mileage.

If Tesla Denies a Claim

Ask for the reason in writing. Tesla requires written notice of a defect before you pursue remedies under state lemon laws, and offers a free optional dispute program through the National Center for Dispute Settlement, with California residents using a separate state program. Beyond that, US disputes go to individual binding arbitration or small claims court under the agreement in your purchase contract. Your warranty document and Owner’s Rights Notification set out the addresses and deadlines.

Frequently Asked Questions

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