The battery of the Tesla Model Y should last drivers between 300,000 to 500,000 miles, but the body of the vehicle surrounding the chassis is littered with so many problems that it takes years off the Model Y’s life expectancy.
Key Points
- The battery pack of the Model Y should eclipse 300,000 miles with proper care and conservative charging habits.
- Good charging habits are incredibly important to the longevity of electric vehicles, with supercharging and overcharging quickening the rate of degradation and shortening battery life.
- Pack replacements can be so expensive that, if it fails, the battery pack will total most Teslas, leaving all but the most determined owners looking for a new vehicle.
- Build quality on the Model Y is so suspect that more than 10 recalls were issued by the NHTSA in the first year and a half of the 2021 model’s life.
- Tesla’s newfangled safety features are the source of many of the Model Y’s problems, leading to terrible reliability reports and many to believe that the Tesla crossover went off half-cocked.
Tesla Model Y’s Expected Battery Lifespan is Around 300,000 Miles, but Various Mechanical Problems May Affect Vehicle’s Overall Longevity
The Tesla Model Y was first introduced by the American electric-vehicle manufacturer in 2020. The vehicle was meant to challenge the likes of other long-lasting crossover SUVs such as the Subaru Outback and the Toyota RAV4. However, its short time on the market means there has yet to be any real-world evidence that the Model Y can really outlast its competitors.
Essentially, the Model Y is an enlarged version of the Model 3, which was introduced in 2017. There are some differences between the two, but the Model Y uses the same chassis, battery pack, and drive units as the Model 3, so its lifespan should be relatively similar to Tesla’s sedan.
SUVs make up much of the world’s longest-lasting vehicles, and the Tesla’s drivetrain, if properly cared for, can probably go toe-to-toe with any of them with an expected battery lifespan of around 300,000 miles before having to replace the battery pack.
However, serious issues with the overall quality of the car may leave drivers ditching the Model Y before its time.
Elon Musk Says Tesla Batteries Have a ‘Million-mile Life,’ but at Least One Driver’s Experience Already Casts Doubt on CEO’s Claim
Elon Musk declared in a 2019 tweet that the Model 3 drive unit and body were designed for “a million-mile life” and that battery modules should last 500,000 miles.
However, Tesla’s warranty only lasts drivers eight years or 120,000 miles, covering 70% of battery capacity, and if it fails outside of the warranty, replacing a battery pack can be outlandishly expensive, so much so that they can effectively total some cars.
The batteries of a Tesla are the key component to understanding how long the electric vehicle will last an owner. But unlike engines, batteries have a shelf life independent of their usage. As a result, the battery will lose performance over time in a process known as degradation.
As the battery is used more frequently and more is expected out of it, it will begin to hold less and less of a charge, just like the two-year-old smartphone you have in your pocket, where the charge that once seemed to last for two days is now drained in eight hours.
One Tesla Model S driver, who drives for a shuttle service, reportedly took his car past the 400,000-mile mark, and had to replace the battery pack twice—once at 300,000 miles and again 100,000 miles later.
He reported aggressive degradation due to faults found in the battery pack caused by “consistent supercharging to 100%.” Although he was referring to a different (and supposedly superior) Tesla model, this casts some serious doubt on Elon Musk’s half-million-mile claims.
Model Y’s Reliability is Suspect According to Drivers, with CNET Calling the EV ‘Critically Flawed’
Tesla 2021 Model Y has already had 10 recalls issued by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration less than 18 months into the vehicle’s life. Problems include everything from failing suspensions, improperly attached seatbelts, faulty safety features, and more.
CNET called the Model Y “critically flawed,” citing these and a host of other issues that effectively ruined the crossover for the reviewer, though its battery range was lauded.
Given that the Model Y costs over $60,000 when purchased off the lot, new buyers should expect a much more polished product than what Tesla unveiled in 2020, which is undoubtedly a very technologically advanced vehicle, but it falls far short on fit and finish as well as with safety features like autopilot that were controversial when unveiled and inadequate when implemented.
Consumer Reports gives the Model Y a 2/5 when it comes to reliability, and reported shortcomings litter the consumer reviews on Edmunds. Whether a drivetrain will take a car to 300,000 miles is one thing, whether the body around it will last is another issue entirely.
Tesla Model Y Meets the Challenge of Competitors, but Vehicle Doesn’t Measure up to its Lofty Ambitions of Lasting up to 500,000 Miles
The Model S driver mentioned previously worked for a ride-share company and likely had to charge his vehicle quickly and could manage the battery replacements since they were essential to his income. But for the average consumer, a battery pack replacement is probably out of the question.
Though most regular drivers can probably take their time with longer charges rather than consistent supercharging, the owners of Teslas are going to want to use their vehicles much the same as they would an internal-combustion-powered car, so supercharging must be expected.
With consistent supercharging that eventually damaged it, the Tesla’s battery pack still eclipsed 300,000 miles on the similar Model S.
However, the corner-cutting that took place when manufacturing the Model Y will likely doom the crossover to a shorter life than its counterparts. The bodies and the overall finished product of the Model Y just don’t meet the bill of a $60,000 car.
Photos: Tesla
