Marius Westby Nilsen thought he was lucky. Just before the warranty expired after eight years, he had problems with the battery on his Tesla Model S.
– I breathed a sigh of relief because I got the battery changed for free, says Nilsen.
But the Tesla owner was also a little surprised because the car had only driven 100,000 kilometers before the battery had to be replaced in September 2021.
The new battery was what Tesla calls “remanufactured”, where you build a new battery from old parts and test it at the factory. It is such a battery that you are entitled to when the battery fails during the warranty period.
– I reckoned that the new battery would in any case last another 100,000 kilometres.
– Cursed
It didn’t turn out that way. Just over a year later, in December last year, the battery would not charge more than 17 kilometers.
By then, the car had only driven 20,000 kilometers since the last battery change.
– I didn’t think it was true. I was in disbelief, says Nilsen, who at first wasn’t sure what the mistake was.
– When they told me it was the battery, I was pissed off. The quality of the work carried out must be poor when this battery goes 80,000 kilometers shorter than the previous one.
A “remanufactured” battery calculated by Tesla would cost almost NOK 130,000. Marius must cover the bill himself because the warranty period has expired.
– You must be able to count on a car that had a list price of NOK 785,000 new to last longer than 120,000 kilometers before you get such major and expensive repairs.
– You expect that you can drive 250,000 kilometers without fuss and fuss if you change normal wearing parts such as brake pads, discs, tyres, windscreen wipers and the like. This would never have happened if it was a BMW or Mercedes, he believes.
This is of course a matter for TV 2 to help you with, and after we were contacted, a new response has suddenly come from Tesla.
DURABILITY: Do you have to count on changing the battery on an old Tesla Model S even if it has run short? Photo: Ståle Winterkjær/TV 2 helps you
Many battery changes
If you are going to buy a used Tesla Model S, you may be wondering how often it is that the battery needs to be replaced.
TV 2 help you have gone through all the 2013 models for sale on Finn.no on a random day to see how many have changed batteries.
A total of 12 pieces indicate that the battery has been replaced. That’s a third of those who sell Teslas of that year’s model.
One of these had had to change the battery before the car had driven 100,000 kilometres, while most had received a new one after between 100,000 and 200,000 kilometres.
One of the sellers had changed the battery twice; at 120,000 kilometers and 250,000 kilometers.
CRAP: Broom journalist Benny Christensen is not gracious in his criticism of early Tesla Model S. But he has owned a newer version himself. Photo: Broom.no
– Shit
– Buying an old Tesla is a risky sport. The early cars from Tesla can be some real shit. It was very uneven quality. Many batteries have been changed on Tesla models from 2015 and earlier, says car expert Benny Christensen in Broom.no and adds:
– Who wants to buy a 10-year-old Tesla? They were not good 10 years ago and are not good now, says Christensen, who manages the used car guide at Broom.
Regarding the situation of Marius Nilsen, he thinks that Tesla should help.
– A durability of 20,000 kilometers for a battery is far too short.
New battery
After Nilsen sent an email to both Tesla and TV 2 helper you at the same time, Tesla changed its position on the matter.
“Even if Tesla believes that the car has no defects, faults or other deviations contrary to the warranty conditions, we would like to offer to replace the HV battery free of charge,” writes Tesla in an email.
– This would never have happened without TV 2 helping you. I have asked about a free battery before you were contacted, and then they have categorically said no.
But the matter is not completely resolved. Tesla refuses to give a guarantee for how long the new battery will last.
SKEPTICAL: Marius Nilsen does not trust Tesla. Photo: Ståle Winterkjær
– Without any guarantee whatsoever, the “new” battery pack can also break in 1-2-3. Since the second replacement battery stopped working after 20,000 kilometres, I am a bit skeptical, says Nilsen.
He has therefore demanded that Tesla provide a warranty for the battery until 28 September 2025. That is four years after the battery was replaced the first time, and follows the warranty conditions that are given when you buy a battery from Tesla.
Tesla will not comply with this requirement. But Nilsen still chooses to accept the battery.
– I need the car. So now I have delivered the key to Tesla in Sarpsborg to have a new battery fitted.
TV 2 helps you follow the case further to see if this has a longer lifespan.
Tesla Norway does not wish to comment on the matter.
