Tesla Battery Warranty Explained: What’s Covered in 2025?

Tesla has built its brand not only on innovation but on offering some of the most generous electric vehicle (EV) battery warranties in the market. But with an expanding product line and evolving ownership policies, many 2025 buyers—and especially secondhand owners—are asking: what exactly does Tesla’s battery warranty cover today? And just how much protection do you really get?

Let’s break it down.

Warranty Length & Mileage: Still Model-Dependent

As of July 2025, Tesla’s battery and drive unit warranties are still structured by model, with slight updates from earlier years. Here’s the current coverage per model:

Tesla Model	Warranty Duration	Mileage Limit	Minimum Battery Retention
Model 3 RWD	8 years	100,000 miles (160,000 km)	70% capacity
Model 3 Long Range / Performance	8 years	120,000 miles (192,000 km)	70% capacity
Model Y AWD / Performance	8 years	120,000 miles (192,000 km)	70% capacity
Model S / X (all trims)	8 years	150,000 miles (240,000 km)	70% capacity
Cybertruck Dual & Tri Motor	8 years	150,000 miles (240,000 km)	70% capacity

⚠️ Note: Tesla does not reset the battery warranty when a vehicle is sold—warranty duration begins on the original delivery date.

What’s Included?

Tesla’s 2025 battery warranty covers:

Battery defects related to materials or workmanship
Battery packs that drop below 70% of original capacity during the coverage period
Drive unit failures, including issues with motors, inverters, or gearboxes

Tesla’s definition of “capacity degradation” remains vague, but the 70% threshold means that if your battery depletes to below 70% of its original usable range (as measured by Tesla’s internal diagnostics), it becomes eligible for replacement or repair.

What’s Not Covered?

There are a few key exclusions to keep in mind:

Normal degradation above 70% is not covered
Damage due to accidents, aftermarket modifications, or non-Tesla-approved charging
Third-party tampering with the battery or drive unit
Battery issues caused by deep discharges or failing to follow Tesla’s software prompts

Tesla also won’t cover battery issues caused by “extreme use cases,” such as frequent drag racing or overexposing the vehicle to extreme heat without following thermal management protocols.

How Tesla Handles Warranty Claims

If your Tesla triggers a “Battery Degradation” alert or shows signs of range loss, Tesla will run a remote diagnostic test first. In many cases, you may need to leave the vehicle at a Service Center for up to 48-72 hours for full battery health diagnostics.

If the degradation meets the threshold and falls within warranty time/mileage, the battery module or entire pack will be replaced—at no cost.

Used Tesla Buyers: What You Need to Know

For secondhand Tesla buyers in 2025, here are key tips:

Check the original delivery date via Tesla app or VIN lookup to see how much warranty remains
Request a Battery Health Report from a Service Center or third-party tool (like Recurrent Auto or Teslascope)
Note that Certified Pre-Owned Teslas may come with extended warranty options, but standard used Teslas do not reset battery warranty

Also: Tesla has not yet enabled battery warranty transfers for third-party extended warranties, unlike some legacy automakers.

Tesla vs. Competitors in 2025

Tesla remains one of the more generous brands in battery protection, though it’s no longer the most comprehensive. Here’s a quick snapshot:

Brand	Battery Warranty (2025)
Tesla	8 yrs / 100k–150k miles, 70% capacity
Hyundai/Kia	10 yrs / 100k miles, 70% capacity
Ford	8 yrs / 100k miles, 70% capacity
Rivian	8 yrs / 175k miles (R1T), 70% capacity
Lucid	8 yrs / 100k miles, 70% capacity

Final Tip: Battery Health ≠ Warranty

Tesla’s warranty ensures you’re protected from defects—but not necessarily from a poor ownership experience. If you’re buying used, a battery with 72% capacity may be technically “warranty-healthy” but still disappointing in range. Always factor usable range, not just warranty status, into your decision.