Top 6 Tesla Repairs and What They Cost, According to Mechanics
Written by
G. Brian Davis
Edited by
Cory Dudak
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Electric vehicles have fewer moving parts than their gas counterparts, and typically require less maintenance. According to CarEdge, Tesla vehicles require $4,287 in maintenance costs over the first ten years of ownership. Compare that to $7,697 for luxury cars in general.
Still, fewer repairs doesn’t mean no repairs. Tesla mechanics and experts point to these maintenance and repair issues as the most common.
Door Handle Repairs
- Typical Cost: $200+
Those flush door handles that pop out might look sleek, but they’re an added moving part that can (and does) fail.
“Tesla door handles stop working properly more often than you’d like,” noted Alan Gelfand, mechanic and owner of German Car Depot. “A single handle costs about $200 to $250 to repair, and if you need multiple handles fixed, that could set you back $1,000.”
Tire Rotation and Replacements
- Typical Cost: $50-$100 for rotation, $200-$450 for replacements
The weight and torque of Teslas can cause the tires to wear through faster than usual. That said, you can extend the life of Tesla tires by rotating them every 6,250 miles. “Tesla will charge around $100 for a rotation, but if you buy your tires from a tire shop, some offer free rotations,” noted Melanie Musson, auto expert with AutoInsurance.org.
Media Control Unit
- Typical Cost: $2,700
The central touchscreen computer, or media control unit (MCU), serves as the “brain” of Tesla vehicles — and it’s not cheap to replace.
“Tesla MCU issues are worryingly common,” added Gelfand. “If it fails, replacement runs close to $2,700.” Fortunately, the most common problems are caused by software and firmware glitches that Tesla will repair either for free or for a much lower cost than replacing the entire MCU.
Air Filter Replacement
- Typical Cost: $15-$30 DIY, $150 by Tesla
All cars have air filters, and all air filters get dirty. The good news? You can buy air filters from Tesla for $15 and swap them out easily yourself. Or you can pay Tesla $150 or so to do it for you.
12-Volt Battery Replacement
- Typical Cost: $150-$200 DIY, $300 by Tesla
Like gas cars, Teslas have a 12-volt battery to power functions like door locks. Also like gas cars, these 12-volt batteries need replacing sometimes.
You can buy a new battery for $150 or more and swap it in yourself with no car expertise. But if you take it to Tesla, expect to drop $300.
Main Battery Replacement
- Typical Cost: $13,000-$20,000
Every Tesla owner’s worst fear is having to replace the main drive battery. It can cost as much as buying a new (cheap) car.
“A high-voltage battery replacement can run anywhere from $13,000 to $20,000 or more,” explained Gelfand. “Thankfully, these come under warranty for many years.”
Depending on the model, Tesla offers battery warranties lasting eight years, or 100,000 to 120,000 miles — whichever comes first. These batteries do lose capacity over time, however. J.D. Power reported that Tesla batteries lose about 1% of their range each year. Expect faster degradation in hotter climates.
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