Hello and welcome to another Out of Spec Guide video! I’m Toic, and in this blog post, I’ll be sharing my experience with my 2021 Tesla Model Y, which recently had its third battery pack replacement. Yes, you heard me right, this car is on its third battery pack due to two failures under warranty. So, let’s dive into what that experience was like and discuss what it means once you’re out of warranty.
I’ve had a long history with electric vehicles, starting with a Volt and a Bolt before finally getting my hands on the Tesla Model Y in April 2021. I drive a lot, both for fun and for work as a ride-share driver, putting about 40,000 miles on my car each year. So, it was no surprise when I started noticing issues with the battery pack after hitting 40,000 miles.
The first sign of trouble was a rapid decrease in the total charge at 100%, which led to a code indicating reduced maximum range. Despite trying various methods to address the issue, including balancing the pack and resetting it, the problem persisted, eventually leading to the pack failing to charge altogether. This prompted me to take the car in for service, where it was determined that a new pack was needed.
Under warranty, I received a remanufactured pack, which is essentially a refurbished pack made from salvaged cells from other faulty packs. While this replacement pack initially performed well, it too eventually developed the same issues, requiring yet another replacement after 20,000 miles.
Now on my third pack, I am approaching the end of the battery warranty, which has me a bit nervous about potential future costs if the pack fails after the warranty period. This raises questions about the fairness of warranty policies and the unpredictability of battery failures.
I believe that there should be more transparency and fairness in how battery replacements are handled, especially considering the significant costs involved. Perhaps a more cost-effective approach could be implemented for out-of-warranty replacements to ensure a fair and reasonable solution for customers.
As I continue to monitor the performance of my current pack and aim to push the car to 200,000 miles, I am keen to see how it holds up in the long run. Have you experienced a similar situation with battery replacements in your Electric Vehicle? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below.
Thank you for reading, and stay tuned for more updates on my Tesla Model Y journey. Until next time, drive safe and stay charged!
