Tesla Warranty: Coverage and Exclusions (2024 Guide) (2024)

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*Certain categories of Tesla parts have unique warranty periods.

Since Tesla’s vehicles are not gas-powered, the automaker does not offer a powertrain warranty (which would cover the engine, transmission and drive axle). Instead, Tesla provides extensive battery and drive unit protection, which varies by model.

Tesla Warranty Details

Each Tesla warranty covers specific vehicle components. These are outlined in the warranty booklet that comes with a new owner’s Tesla and can also be accessed on the Tesla website. Here’s a general breakdown of the coverages that Tesla provides:

• Basic Vehicle Limited Warranty: Tesla’s bumper-to-bumper warranty covers most mechanical and electrical components, except for specific items outlined in the warranty booklet.
• Supplemental Restraint System Limited Warranty: This auto warranty covers the repairs and replacements of seat belts and the airbag system to correct defects in the materials or workmanship.
• Battery and Drive Unit Limited Warranty: This will repair or replace any Tesla battery or drive units if they malfunction or become defective. The warranty also applies if these units drop below 70% capacity.
• Parts, Body and Paint Repair Limited Warranty: This warranty covers the repairs or replacements of branded and manufactured parts that have failed due to defects in material or workmanship.
• Body Rust Limited Warranty: This warranty covers rust perforation, which occurs when a hole is formed on the body panel from the inside due to rusting. This warranty lasts up to 12 years/unlimited miles.

The Tesla factory warranty is transferable at no additional cost. If you buy a used Tesla, you will also receive additional coverage, which we outline below.

Additional Benefits

Like many other car manufacturers, Tesla offers roadside assistance as part of the factory warranty for 4 years/50,000 miles. This program covers flat tires, lockout assistance and towing services for the first 500 miles to the nearest Tesla Service Center. Drivers can access their roadside assistance plan through the Tesla app.

What’s Not Covered Under the Tesla Warranty?

As with any factory warranty, Tesla’s coverage comes with a few exclusions, such as:

• Normal wear-and-tear items like filters, brake pads and windshield wiper blades
• Routine maintenance services like oil changes and tire rotations
• Damage resulting from theft, vandalism or riot
• Environmental damage such as from fires, explosions, lightning or floods
• Any repair, alteration or modification of the vehicle made inappropriately or by a person or facility not authorized to do so

Things That Could Void Your Tesla Warranty

In addition to the auto warranty exclusions above, Tesla also makes a note of what could void your warranty coverage. These actions include:

• Not complying with Tesla recall advisories
• Not installing software updates after being notified
• Not making necessary repairs
• Not obeying the electric car’s specified loan limits

Used Tesla vehicles purchased directly from the automaker receive any remaining bumper-to-bumper coverage from the vehicle’s original warranty. Tesla also offers a 1-year/10,000-mile Used Vehicle Limited Warranty that goes into effect after the original warranty expires or on the delivery date you receive your car.

The Battery and Drive Unit Limited Warranty still applies to used vehicles until it expires at eight years or the mileage limit set for each model. Drivers will also receive 24-hour roadside assistance services that can be accessed through the Tesla app.

If you’re interested in purchasing a Tesla extended warranty, consider your vehicle’s reliability and average repair costs first. You should also take stock of your financial situation and how much you’re willing to pay for coverage.

RepairPal, a cost estimation website for vehicle repairs, reports that the average Tesla driver pays $832 per year in annual repair costs. However, these costs also vary based on which model you own.

In the J.D. Power 2021 U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study^SM, Tesla scored 176 points out of 100 for problems encountered by drivers, though it did not formally rank due to eligibility criteria. This shows that Tesla drivers encounter consistent issues with their vehicles.

An extended warranty plan would help foot the bill after the manufacturer’s warranty expires and provide peace of mind if your vehicle has ongoing problems. However, you would have to decide between Tesla’s extended warranty coverage or an independent provider.

Tesla Extended Warranty

Tesla’s extended service agreements (ESAs) only apply to the Model S and Model X vehicles built before February 2021. Drivers who purchased a Model 3 or Model Y would be excluded from buying coverage, along with those who buy any Tesla vehicle built after February 2021.

Drivers who qualify for coverage can purchase a 2-year/25,000-mile ESA or an ESA with 4 years/50,000 miles from the automotive manufacturer. The tables below show the costs of the ESAs from Tesla.

*Within 180 days after the original vehicle purchase date.

All extended warranties must be purchased no later than 30 days/1,000 miles past the expiration of the initial factory warranty. Drivers must buy the extended service agreement at the nearest Tesla Service Center.

Tesla Coverage From an Independent Warranty Company

Since Tesla’s extended warranty coverage is limited, you may find better coverage options with an independent auto warranty provider. Here are some advantages of purchasing from a reputable extended car warranty company:

• Longer-term limits: Some independent companies like CarShield offer coverage up to 300,000 miles, which is more than quadruple the length of the Tesla extended service agreement.
• Many repair shop options: Top-rated warranty providers like Endurance and Carchex work with 30,000 repair facilities and dealerships nationwide. This may offer you more flexibility if you’re not located near one of Tesla’s Service Centers.
• Flexible purchase dates: Tesla has strict guidelines on when drivers must buy an extended service agreement. Independent companies are more flexible and allow you to purchase a warranty when you’re ready.

Our team of experts has researched and ranked the best extended car warranty providers in the industry based on reputation, coverage, cost and customer experience. The easiest way to get the lowest price for an extended warranty is to compare free warranty quotes from providers.

Because consumers rely on us to provide objective and accurate information, we created a comprehensive rating system to formulate our rankings of the best extended car warranty companies. We collected data on dozens of auto warranty providers to grade the companies on a wide range of ranking factors. The end result was an overall rating for each provider, with the companies that scored the most points topping the list.

Here are the factors our ratings take into account:

• • Reputation: Our research team considers availability, ratings from industry experts and years in business when conferring this score.
  • Coverage: Companies that offer a variety of choices for warranty coverage, long contract terms and added benefits are more likely to meet consumer needs.
  • Cost: Auto warranty companies with affordable rates and multiple deductibles scored highest in this category.
  • Transparency: This score is based on contract transparency and the availability of a money-back guarantee.
  • Customer experience: Based on customer satisfaction ratings and our extensive shopper analysis, we consider the responsiveness, friendliness and helpfulness of each warranty company’s customer service team.

Our credentials:

• 500+ hours researched
• 50 companies reviewed
• 2,000+ consumers surveyed

*Data accurate at time of publication.