Are Teslas Easy to Repair? (Must Know Things)

Last updated on September 12th, 2023 at 03:04 am

Tesla is arguably one of the most popular brands in the car-making industry. They are one of the biggest suppliers of electric vehicles.

So naturally, everyone will like to get their hands on one of the Tesla SUVs. That said, are Tesla vehicles easy to repair?

Tesla cars are not easy to repair. Even though they are durable and have a warranty, repairs can be difficult because of the associated cost. You can only make repairs at Tesla service centers because spare parts are not readily available. Furthermore, technical repairs require experienced and skilled Tesla mechanics.

In this article, you’ll learn about Tesla repairs, how easy the repairs are, the most common repairs, and much more. So, without any further ado, let’s begin, shall we?

Is It Easy to Repair a Tesla?

Repairing a Tesla vehicle can be expensive and difficult. Take repairs on the bodywork, for instance.

They are expensive and difficult to carry out as the vehicle is mostly aluminum, and aluminum is difficult to work with.

Also, working with aluminum may be very difficult if you need to repair or replace parts like the hood and door.

Additionally, repairs involving the parts behind the fender can be problematic. Furthermore, repairs involving the anti-lock braking system can be difficult because the parts are very expensive.

Screen repairs can also be difficult. That’s because the data on how long the screens last or how expensive the replacement costs need to be more readily available.

In the early Model 3s, there were some issues with defective Tesla screens. However, the LCD screens come with a 4-year warranty.

Ultimately, the parts of your Tesla vehicle likely to break down and need repair are the same as those in every other car.

Replacing a bad motor is not cheap, but the motor is good for up to a million miles. Additionally, the batteries are quite difficult to repair because the replacement cost is very high.

The replacement cost for the battery module ranges between $4000 and $7000.

A new set of Tesla battery modules will cost between $20,000 and $35,000 because each model utilizes four or five.

However, depending on the model, Tesla offers a warranty of eight years or 100,000 to 150,000 miles, whichever comes first.

The guarantee also stipulates that the capacity retention of the batteries during this period will be at least 70%.

If you have questions about repairs for your Tesla car, you can get in touch with customer service by phone or email. Then ask what it will take to fix your car.

They can tell you what is wrong with the car’s symptoms and schedule a maintenance or repair session.

There are some repairs that you can only get done at a Tesla company. However, there are some that you can do at your local mechanic and others that you can do yourself.

You can also consult your owner’s manual if you want further details on specialized repairs for particular parts.

Can Anyone Repair a Tesla?

That depends on the repairs you want to do on your Tesla vehicle. You can do some repairs yourself and take others to your local mechanic.

You’ll also need to make some repairs at the Tesla company. However, you can perform fairly straightforward maintenance or troubleshooting operations independently.

Some of them include the following:

• Restarting the touchscreen
• Connecting to Wi-Fi
• Installing and removing lug nut covers
• Pairing a Bluetooth phone
• Replacing wiper blades
• Removing and adding keys
• Programming Homelink
• Manually releasing charge cable
• Installation of phone charging cable
• Replacing the battery for the key fob
• Replacing cabin filters
• Installing front license plate bracket
• Topping up windshield washer fluid
• Checking and adjusting tire pressure
• Calibrating windows
• Removing and installing Aero covers

Even though you can make some of your Tesla repairs at a local mechanic, Tesla insists that all clients make their repairs at a Tesla service center.

If you take your Tesla vehicle to a local repair shop, you may lose your warranty if the mechanic spoils something by mistake.

You may no longer be eligible for the Tesla warranty. The warranty for Tesla cars lasts for eight years and four years for the battery and the body, respectively.

Additionally, a non-Tesla mechanic may need the necessary parts for the repair. So that is another drawback to doing repairs there.

Most Tesla vehicle parts are not available in local or general repair shops. The spare parts they use are those from older Tesla vehicles.

That is because Tesla parts are owned by the parent company, which has a full monopoly on them.

Even though general or non-Tesla mechanics can repair your Tesla vehicle, they cannot fix all the issues. For example, non-Tesla repair shops cannot fix problems related to body repairs. 

However, problems with internal batteries, internal motors, new firmware installations, key programming, or touchscreen replacement can only be solved at Tesla repair centers.

Therefore, if your car has a major problem besides the body, you’ll need the services of a professional Tesla mechanic at the service center.

General non-Tesla mechanics need the necessary skills, spare parts, or equipment to fix technical problems on Tesla vehicles.  

They must gain the knowledge and skills to fix sophisticated electrical and computer systems.

You must bring your Tesla car to a Tesla service facility if it has a significant problem unrelated to the body.

The main reason is that general technicians must gain the knowledge and tools necessary to solve technical issues with Tesla cars.

Furthermore, most need to learn about complex electrical and networked computer systems.

They may end up damaging your vehicle, which can invalidate the warranty. It may also take longer and be more expensive than visiting the Tesla service center directly.

Do Teslas Need a lot of Repairs?

No, Tesla cars do not need a lot of repairs or maintenance. That’s especially true in comparison to gas-powered vehicles.

That is because only a few parts of Tesla vehicles are moving compared to gas-powered internal combustion engine cars.

Because of this, you need to make fewer repairs to your electric automobile. That also implies that maintenance is less expensive for electric cars than for gas-powered ones.

What Are the Most Common Repairs on a Tesla?

Tesla cars, just like vehicles with other brands, have some common issues that you may need to fix. Unfortunately, most of them are reported by customers or unsatisfied clients.

The most common repairs made on Tesla vehicles include;

• Repair of power steering failure
• Tesla battery repair and replacement
• Oxygen sensor replacement
• Door handle repairs and replacement
• Wheel repair and replacement
• Light repairs
• Brake caliper replacement
• Window motor regulator replacement

Note: The repair costs vary depending on the Tesla model you have. 

Below is a table showing the common repairs on the Tesla S and how much the repairs cost on average. 

Repairs	Cost
Window motor regulator replacement	$592 to $851
Wheel bearings replacement	$325 to $394
Oxygen sensor replacement	$271 to $444
Brake caliper replacement	$357 to $593