What Does Tesla's Warranty Cover? (9 Things Checked)

All new Tesla vehicles come automatically covered by the company’s New Vehicle Limited Warranty. But what exactly does Tesla’s warranty include?

Below, we provide you with an in-depth review of some common Tesla warranty questions to help you decide if you’re covered.

Table of Contents

Common Tesla Warranty Coverage Issues

Let’s start with the most common issue.

Paint and color finish.

1) Paint

Paint defects fall under Tesla’s Basic Limited Warranty, which is valid for 4 years or 50,000 miles.

However, because the warranty is limited, Tesla does not typically cover flaws or scratches in their vehicles’ paint due to external factors such as collisions, vandalism, or other damage.

Paint and similar defects are typically easier to have attributed to the manufacturer within the first 100 miles of driving.

If you’re receiving your new Tesla by delivery, make sure to thoroughly inspect the car for any possible issues before signing off on it.

Once you start driving your car and it suffers exposure to the elements, it becomes much more difficult to tell whether a paint chip was caused by a defect or a chance accident.

However, Tesla does also provide its customers with a limited lifetime warranty on paint repairs, including repairs due to peeling and cracking of the paint or topcoat, and loss of gloss caused by hazing.

This means that even if you end up having to pay for the cost of covering up paint flaws, Tesla’s paint repairs are certified to last the lifetime of your car, or be covered at no charge to you.

Make sure to wash your Tesla enough to keep the paint from being damaged.

2) SRS and safety feature coverage

In addition to the Basic Warranty, all new Tesla vehicles come with the company’s Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) Limited Warranty, which provides coverage for up to 5 years or 60,000 miles (whichever comes first) on defects in the materials or workmanship of the seat belts and airbag system of your vehicle.

Read more here about Tesla’s airbag systems.

3) Battery coverage

Starting in 2020, Tesla introduced the Battery and Drive Unit Limited Warranty and now explicitly provides coverage for battery degradation.

The warranty guarantees a battery capacity retention above 70% for all models and covers the cost for replacement parts, repairs and labor in the case of defect.

The length of coverage on the Battery and Drive Unit warranty will vary based on your model.

The Model S and Model X are covered for up to 8 years or 150,000 miles; the Model 3 and Model Y Standard or Standard Range Plus, for up to 8 years or 100,000 miles; and the Model 3 and Model Y Performance Range for up to 8 years or 120,000 miles.

If your battery retention ever dips below 70%, it is very likely to be a manufacturing problem and not the result of simple use – while few Teslas out there have yet reached the end of their battery warranty, large-scale predictions show capacity decreasing only 10-15% after 150,000 miles.

It should be noted that Tesla’s policy does not necessarily ensure that you will receive a new battery pack if your battery dies or loses charging capacity before your warranty ends.

However, it does guarantee that you will receive a battery which fulfills the terms of the warranty, with the quality of the replacement at the discretion of the company.

Tesla battery repairs are also protected under their warranty for Parts, Body, & Paint Repairs, where they state that any high-voltage vehicle battery replaced by Tesla is covered for 4 years or 50,000 miles, whichever comes first.

Please also read our article about how much a new Tesla Model Y battery costs.

4) Touchscreen and Media Control coverage

Malfunctioning touchscreens and other Media Control are also covered by Tesla’s Basic Warranty, with repairs and replacement parts carrying a warranty of 2 years or 25,000 miles, whichever comes first.

5) Windshield and glass coverage

Whether a cracked windshield or window is covered by Tesla depends on the cause of the incident.

If your car windshield was cracked due to an impact such as that from a rock, falling tree, or other object, then it does not fall under Tesla’s warranty.

The general warranty only applies if you can reasonably prove that the cracked glass resulted from a manufacturing defect on Tesla’s part and not from an exterior cause.

6) Body parts and sheet metal

Issues with the body parts of your car, such as dented roofs or doors or sunken trunks, may be attributable to manufacturing defects.

Tesla has had problems in the past with misaligned and poor-quality construction and typically covered these problems under warranty.

However, if you have suffered damage to your car due to the elements or other external factors, it cannot be covered.

In terms of repairs, all sheet metal parts purchased from and manufactured by Tesla have a limited lifetime warranty, meaning they are guaranteed to last you the life of your car, excluding accidents or other damages, or Tesla will replace them free of charge.

7) Tire coverage

Unfortunately, tires are an exception to Tesla’s warranty, as they are not actually manufactured by the brand.

If you get a flat tire or have ruined rims and suspect it’s due to a design or manufacturing error, you will have to check the warranty for the maker of the tires.

8) Rust and corrosion

Tesla’s Body Rust Limited Warranty covers rust perforation, which is defined as corrosion through the body of the car from the inside outwards, for up to 12 years and unlimited miles.

The warranty applies only to Tesla products and excludes rust resulting from defects in non-Tesla manufactured or supplied materials or workmanship.

It also excludes rust due to external factors, such as corrosion from chipped paint following an accident.

We have more here on whether a Tesla will rust.

9) Alignment issues coverage

Alignment issues, similar to paint chips, are easy to view as a sign of everyday wear-and-tear on your car and as a result are usually not covered under your warranty.

If your tires are misaligned during the assembly process, it is typically evident within the first few tens of miles that you drive; this case would likely be covered.

If your tires seem to need realigning more frequently than should be necessary, you may also want to inquire with your mechanic about whether the alignment issues stem from an underlying problem with the suspension or construction of the car, a problem which may be liable to the factory warranty.

For more frequently asked questions on instances of Tesla’s warranty, take a look at the questions below.

FAQs Regarding Tesla’s Warranty Policies

Here are some common questions we’d also like to address.

Starting with roadside assistance.

Does Tesla cover roadside assistance and towing?

Tesla offers complimentary roadside assistance services to all Tesla drivers while their vehicle is still under warranty.

Roadside assistance is available in the case of a flat tire, lockout, or other issue that leaves your vehicle unable to be driven.

Tesla almost always covers the costs associated with lockouts, and in the case of a flat tire, may replace your tire on-site if their assistance providers have a loaner wheel on hand.

Tesla offers towing services and covers transportation services for the first 500 miles to the nearest Tesla Service Center, but only in the case where your vehicle is rendered inoperable due to a warrantable issue. However, beware that you might not be able to tow your Electric car.

Otherwise, you will be the one responsible for the cost of transportation and any necessary repairs.

Does Tesla cover general maintenance?

General maintenance and check-ins are not covered by the Tesla New Vehicle Limited Warranty and costs are the responsibility of the owner.

Tesla does offer its drivers the option of an Extended Service Agreement, which extends the length of their New Vehicle Limited Warranty by either 2 or 4 years, and comes with a deductible of $200 on all service visits and repair costs, regardless of whether they fall under warranty.

Does Tesla cover damage done to other cars?

Tesla does not cover damage done to other cars in the case of an accident; coverage in such an instance will have to depend on your registered car insurance.

Are there exceptions to Tesla’s warranty?

Your Tesla warranty could be rendered void if you engage in neglect or improper maintenance and use of your vehicle, including failure to install software updates or not complying with Tesla’s issued recalls.

Your warranty is also subject to void if there is evidence of tampering with the vehicle’s odometer or Vehicle Identification Number.