Tesla Warranty: Coverage, Battery Warranty and Claims
The battery is the engine, transmission, and fuel tank of your Tesla rolled into one — and replacing one out of warranty can cost five figures. A tesla warranty is actually a bundle of separate limited warranties: 4 years/50,000 miles of basic vehicle coverage and up to 8 years/150,000 miles on the battery and drive unit.
That includes a guaranteed minimum 70% capacity retention, 12 years of rust protection, and used-car and extended options on top. This guide breaks down every piece, what is excluded, and how to get service.
Quick Answer: Tesla Warranty at a Glance
Tesla’s New Vehicle Limited Warranty includes: Basic Vehicle 4 years/50,000 miles, Supplemental Restraint System 5 years/60,000 miles, Battery & Drive Unit 8 years/100,000–150,000 miles depending on model (minimum 70% battery retention), and Body Rust 12 years/unlimited miles. Certified pre-owned Teslas add 1 year/10,000 miles after the basic warranty expires. An Extended Service Agreement is available for Model S, 3, X, and Y. Service is scheduled in the Tesla app.
| Question / Feature | Policy Rule |
|---|---|
| Basic Vehicle Limited Warranty | 4 years / 50,000 miles |
| Supplemental Restraint System (airbags) | 5 years / 60,000 miles |
| Battery & Drive Unit — Model S, Model X, Cybertruck | 8 years / 150,000 miles (min. 70% retention) |
| Battery & Drive Unit — Model 3/Y Premium & Performance | 8 years / 120,000 miles (min. 70% retention) |
| Battery & Drive Unit — Model 3/Y RWD & Model Y AWD | 8 years / 100,000 miles (min. 70% retention) |
| Body Rust (perforation) | 12 years / unlimited miles |
| Certified Pre-Owned extra coverage | 1 year / 10,000 miles after basic warranty expires |
| Parts, Body & Paint (replacement parts) | 12 months / 12,500 miles (some parts longer) |
| Extended Service Agreement | Available for Model S, 3, X, Y after factory warranty expires |
| How to get service | Schedule in the Tesla app |
Official Policy Verification & Source Check
Official policy source: https://www.tesla.com
Source type: Official Tesla Support warranty pages
Last checked: October 2026
Confidence level: High
Important notes: Tesla notes these pages are for general knowledge — the warranty document delivered with your vehicle is authoritative for your car.
How We Check This Policy: We read Tesla’s official Vehicle Warranty support page — the New Vehicle, Pre-Owned, and Parts/Body/Paint warranty sections — not YouTuber summaries. Every term below is quoted from Tesla’s own published coverage.
Tesla Basic Vehicle Limited Warranty: 4 Years / 50,000 Miles
The Basic Vehicle Limited Warranty covers repair or replacement of defective parts in materials or workmanship for 4 years or 50,000 miles, whichever comes first. It is Tesla’s bumper-to-bumper: touchscreen, suspension, electronics, climate system, seats, and trim — everything except the separately-covered battery, drive unit, restraints, and rust items.
Four years is a year longer than the 3-year basic warranty most legacy automakers offer, which matters because Tesla repairs skew expensive: a touchscreen or door-handle failure outside warranty can run $1,000+. If you buy used, the remainder of this warranty transfers with the car.
Tesla Battery and Drive Unit Warranty by Model
This is the warranty buyers ask about most — and Tesla’s is among the strongest in the EV industry. The Battery and Drive Unit Limited Warranty guarantees a minimum 70% battery capacity retention over the coverage period. If your pack degrades below 70% within the term, Tesla repairs or replaces it.
| Model | Battery & Drive Unit Term |
|---|---|
| Model S, Model X, Cybertruck | 8 years / 150,000 miles, min. 70% retention |
| Model 3 Premium / Performance, Model Y Premium / Performance | 8 years / 120,000 miles, min. 70% retention |
| Model 3 RWD, Model Y RWD, Model Y AWD | 8 years / 100,000 miles, min. 70% retention |
Does the Tesla Warranty Cover Battery Degradation?
Yes — with a clear threshold. Gradual capacity loss is normal, but if your battery retains less than 70% of its original capacity within the 8-year term, that is a warranty claim, not wear and tear. Above 70%, degradation is considered normal and is not covered. This is the single most-searched question about the tesla warranty, and the 70% line is the answer.
Other Tesla Warranty Coverages
Several parallel warranties run alongside the basic and battery coverage:
Supplemental Restraint System — airbags and related components: 5 years/60,000 miles. Body Rust Limited Warranty — rust perforation (a hole through a body panel from the inside out) from defects: 12 years with unlimited miles. Zero-Emissions Vehicle warranties — including the High-Priced Propulsion-Related Parts warranty at 7 years/70,000 miles — largely overlap the other coverages for U.S. and Canadian vehicles.
Replacement parts get their own schedule under the Parts, Body & Paint Repair Limited Warranty: 12 months/12,500 miles generally, with sheet metal at limited lifetime, replacement drive units and high-voltage batteries at 4 years/50,000 miles, Wall Connectors at 4 years (personal use), and touchscreens at 2 years/25,000 miles.
Tesla Certified Pre-Owned Warranty
Buying used directly from Tesla? Certified pre-owned vehicles carry the remainder of the 4-year/50,000-mile Basic Vehicle Limited Warranty, and after it expires, the Pre-Owned Vehicle Limited Warranty adds 1 year or 10,000 miles of coverage. If the basic warranty already expired, you get 1 year/10,000 miles from your delivery date.
The balance of the original Battery and Drive Unit warranty still applies in full — a major reason to buy used from Tesla rather than a third party.
Tesla Extended Service Agreement (ESA)
When your factory coverage ends, Tesla offers an Extended Service Agreement for Model S, Model 3, Model X, and Model Y — a monthly subscription covering repair or replacement of most Tesla-manufactured parts that suffer mechanical breakdown under normal use, subject to a deductible. Coverage takes effect the day your original New Vehicle Basic (or Pre-Owned) warranty expires.
Model 3 and Model Y owners can also get the High Voltage Battery and Drive Unit Extended Service Agreement (Battery ESA), which begins when the 8-year battery and drive unit warranty expires. Review the ESA Terms and Conditions in your Tesla account before subscribing — eligibility requires an active basic or pre-owned warranty.
What the Tesla Warranty Does Not Cover
Tesla’s warranties cover defects and qualifying degradation — not everything that happens to a car:
- Excluded Normal wear and tear. Gradual loss of operating performance — including battery degradation above the 70% retention line — is not a defect.
- Excluded Damage and misuse. Accidents, racing, off-roading, overloading, and intentional damage are excluded.
- Excluded Unauthorized modifications. Non-Tesla parts, software jailbreaks, and unapproved modifications that cause a failure void related coverage.
- Excluded Maintenance items. Tires, wiper blades, brake pads, filters, and 12V batteries (beyond their terms) are consumables.
- Excluded Environmental damage. Flood, fire, salt, chemicals, and “acts of God” are not defects in materials or workmanship.
- Excluded Commercial use. Using the vehicle as a taxi or for paid ride-sharing can affect coverage — check your warranty document.
- Excluded Third-party repairs. Damage from non-Tesla service or parts is excluded; use Tesla Service or approved body shops.
How to Schedule Tesla Warranty Service
- Open the Tesla app and tap Service — there is no service phone queue; the app is the front door.
- Describe the issue and pick a service center or mobile service appointment. Mobile technicians handle many repairs at your home or office.
- Tesla triages remotely: many issues are diagnosed over the air before you arrive, and some are fixed with a software update at no charge.
- Approve the estimate in the app — warranty items show $0; anything not covered is quoted before work begins.
- Track and pay in the app: status updates, invoices, and payment all live in the Tesla app, not at a cashier desk.
Tip: photograph the issue and note the mileage when it first appeared — intermittent faults are easier to approve with evidence.
- Watch the 70% line. Check battery health in the app before the 8-year battery warranty expires — below 70% is a claim.
- Keep it stock. Software mods and unapproved parts are the fastest way to lose coverage on a denied claim.
- Use the app for everything. Service history in the app is your proof of timely reporting.
- Buy used from Tesla. The 1-year/10,000-mile pre-owned extension plus remaining battery warranty beats third-party used coverage.
- Read your delivery-day warranty. Tesla’s support page is general knowledge — your car’s warranty document is the binding version.
Tesla Warranty FAQs
How long is the Tesla basic warranty?
4 years or 50,000 miles, whichever comes first. It covers defects in materials or workmanship on nearly the whole vehicle except the battery, drive unit, restraints, and rust items, which have their own warranties.
How long is the Tesla battery warranty?
8 years: 150,000 miles on Model S, Model X, and Cybertruck; 120,000 miles on Premium/Performance Model 3 and Model Y; 100,000 miles on RWD Model 3/Y and AWD Model Y — all with minimum 70% capacity retention.
Does the Tesla warranty cover battery degradation?
Yes, below a clear threshold: if capacity drops under 70% of original within the 8-year term, Tesla repairs or replaces the pack. Degradation above 70% is considered normal wear and is not covered.
Is the Tesla warranty transferable?
Yes. The remaining New Vehicle Limited Warranty — including the battery and drive unit coverage — transfers automatically to the next owner, which protects resale value.
What does the Tesla Extended Service Agreement cover?
Available for Model S, 3, X, and Y, the ESA is a monthly subscription covering most Tesla-manufactured parts against mechanical breakdown after the factory warranty expires, subject to a deductible. A separate Battery ESA extends battery/drive-unit coverage on Model 3 and Y.
Does the Tesla warranty cover the touchscreen?
Yes — under the 4-year/50,000-mile Basic Vehicle Limited Warranty for new cars. Replacement touchscreens installed later carry 2 years/25,000 miles under the Parts warranty.
How do I schedule Tesla warranty service?
In the Tesla app: tap Service, describe the issue, and choose a service center or mobile appointment. Many faults are diagnosed remotely first, and warranty items show $0 on your estimate.
Does Tesla warranty cover paint and body rust?
Rust perforation (holes through body panels from the inside out) is covered 12 years/unlimited miles. Paint defects on a new car fall under the basic warranty; replacement body panels carry 12 months/12,500 miles, sheet metal limited lifetime.
What voids a Tesla warranty?
Accidents, racing or misuse, unauthorized modifications (including software jailbreaks), non-Tesla parts that cause a failure, flood/fire damage, and commercial use outside the warranty’s terms can void related coverage.
Is a used Tesla still under warranty?
Often yes: the remaining factory warranties transfer with the car. Teslas bought certified pre-owned directly from Tesla add 1 year/10,000 miles after the basic warranty expires, plus the full remaining battery and drive unit term.
Conclusion
The tesla warranty is one of the stronger EV warranties you can buy: 4 years/50,000 miles bumper-to-bumper, up to 8 years/150,000 miles on the battery and drive unit with a hard 70% retention guarantee, 12 years against rust perforation, and a real pre-owned extension.
The honest limits: degradation above 70% is on you, mods and misuse void coverage fast, and everything runs through the app. If you own or are buying a Tesla, check your battery health well before the 8-year mark. Review the full warranty at tesla.com and compare it against your delivery-day warranty document.
Sources: tesla.com (official Vehicle Warranty support page: New Vehicle, Pre-Owned, and Parts/Body/Paint warranty sections; Extended Service Agreement page).
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only. Tesla may change warranty terms and coverage at any time. Tesla’s own support page is for general knowledge — the warranty document delivered with your vehicle is authoritative. Confirm current terms there before purchasing or scheduling service.
Check the Latest Official Manufacturer Warranty Before You File
Warranty coverage periods, required proof-of-purchase documents, eligible defect categories, and claim handling times vary by region, model, and authorized seller. Always check the official manufacturer’s latest support portal before filing a claim to confirm your product's eligibility.