New vehicle warranty Tesla coverage at a glance

The new vehicle warranty Tesla provides is designed to cover defects in materials or workmanship for a new Tesla vehicle during the stated warranty period. Coverage generally begins on the vehicle’s original delivery or in-service date and ends when either the time limit or mileage limit is reached, whichever comes first.

For many Tesla vehicles, the New Vehicle Limited Warranty includes a Basic Vehicle Limited Warranty and separate coverage for the battery and drive unit. Exact terms can vary by country, model, trim, and model year, so the warranty document supplied with the vehicle should always be treated as the controlling source.

Basic Vehicle Limited Warranty

Tesla’s Basic Vehicle Limited Warranty commonly covers the vehicle for 4 years or 50,000 miles, whichever comes first. This part of the warranty applies to many factory-installed components when a covered defect is found.

What this typically includes

• Repairs needed because of defects in parts or workmanship
• Many factory-installed electrical, mechanical, interior, and exterior components
• Warranty service performed through Tesla’s approved service process

What it does not usually cover

• Normal wear items, such as tires, brake pads, wiper blades, and similar consumables
• Routine maintenance, adjustments, cleaning, or cosmetic upkeep
• Damage from accidents, misuse, racing, improper charging, flooding, fire, or unauthorized modifications
• Damage caused by non-approved repairs, accessories, or installation work

Battery and drive unit warranty by model

Tesla’s battery and drive unit coverage is separate from the basic warranty and usually lasts longer. It also commonly includes a minimum battery capacity retention level, often stated as 70% retention during the warranty period, though the exact wording should be checked in the official warranty for the vehicle.

• Model 3 Rear-Wheel Drive: commonly 8 years or 100,000 miles, whichever comes first.
• Model 3 Long Range or Performance: commonly 8 years or 120,000 miles, whichever comes first.
• Model Y Rear-Wheel Drive: may differ by market and model year; many recent terms list 8 years or 100,000 miles.
• Model Y Long Range or Performance: commonly 8 years or 120,000 miles, whichever comes first.
• Model S and Model X: commonly 8 years or 150,000 miles, whichever comes first.

Battery warranty coverage is not the same as a promise that range will never decline. Some battery capacity loss over time is considered normal for electric vehicles.

Conditions that can affect Tesla warranty coverage

A Tesla new car warranty may be affected by how the vehicle is used, maintained, repaired, or modified. Tesla can deny a warranty claim if the issue is linked to an excluded cause rather than a defect covered by the warranty.

Common factors to consider

• Repairs and parts: Work performed outside Tesla’s approved procedures may affect coverage if it causes or contributes to a problem.
• Software and modifications: Unauthorized software changes, hardware modifications, or non-approved accessories can create warranty issues.
• Charging and battery care: Using damaged charging equipment or charging in ways that violate Tesla instructions may affect related claims.
• Ownership transfer: Warranty coverage generally follows the vehicle, but terms should be verified when buying a used Tesla.
• Commercial or unusual use: Taxi, rideshare, fleet, towing, off-road, or high-stress use may be subject to specific conditions or exclusions depending on the warranty terms.

How to confirm coverage before requesting service

Before scheduling warranty service, confirm the vehicle’s delivery date, mileage, model, trim, and market-specific warranty terms. The easiest way to understand active coverage is to review the warranty information associated with the vehicle and compare it with the current odometer reading.

1. Check the warranty section in the Tesla account or vehicle documents.
2. Identify whether the concern falls under the Basic Vehicle Limited Warranty, battery and drive unit warranty, or another coverage category.
3. Document the issue with dates, symptoms, photos, warning messages, and service history if available.
4. Schedule service and describe the problem clearly, including when it occurs and whether it is repeatable.
5. Ask for confirmation if the repair is expected to be covered before approving any paid work.

Warranty terms can differ outside the United States and may also change for different production years, so the official warranty provided for the specific vehicle is the most reliable reference.