The Tesla Drive Unit consists of an electric motor, power electronics, and a gearbox that transforms electrical energy from the car’s battery into mechanical energy to propel the car.
This Drive Unit may need to be replaced over time due to wear and tear or unanticipated factors. The cost of replacing a Tesla Drive Unit starts from $5,000 but mostly ranges between $10,000 and $20,000.
Tesla Drive Unit Replacement Cost
Whether you take your car to the nearest Tesla-specific Body shop or any independent service center, Tesla Drive Unit diagnosis, repair & replacement is generally costlier than the servicing of other Tesla components or parts.
In March 2023, Tesla released the newest version of the Motor and Drive Unit for its Models. So, watch the following video to learn more about the newest Tesla Motor & Drive Unit:
The Drive Unit replacement cost of a Tesla Model may start from $5,000 and go up to $20,000.
Even though the specific labor rate for Drive Unit repair or replacement service has not been disclosed by any Tesla authority yet, Tesla generally charges $150 to $250 per hour as a labor rate at any Tesla-authorized Service Center.
The pricing breakdowns below will help you estimate how much a Tesla Drive Unit replacement would cost:
- Tesla Model X Drive Unit Replacement: Approx. ($12,000 to $15,000)
- Tesla Model Y Drive Unit Replacement: Approx. ($5,000 to $10,000)
- Tesla Model S Drive Unit Replacement: Approx. ($12,000 to $20,000)
- Tesla Model 3 Drive Unit Replacement: Approx. ($7,500 to $10,900)
However, if you take your Tesla car to any independent Service Center or body shop, they may charge $295 and $450 for just a diagnosis. They might also charge you between $800 and $5,500 for any service performed in your car’s Drive Unit.
The following estimates will give you an idea of how much an individual service center may charge for individual Drive Unit Services:
| Tesla Cars | Approx. Rate of Individual Drive Unit Repair or Services | |||||
| Diagnostics | Drive Unit replacement & programming | Bearing Replacement | Reduction gear Repair | Reduction gear oil Flush | Preventative Care Servicing | |
| Model X | $450 | ($800 – $1,200) | $3,500 | ($4,500 – $5,500) | $250 | ($3,000 – $3,500) |
| Model Y | $450 | ($800 – $1,200) | — | — | $250 | ($3,000 – $3,500) |
| Model 3 | $450 | ($800 – $1,200) | — | — | $250 | ($3,000 – $3,500) |
| Model S | ($295 – S450) | ($800 – $1,200) | $3,500 | ($4,500 – $5,500) | $250 | ($3,000- $3,500) |
4 Factors Influencing Tesla Drive Unit Replacement Costs:
The cost of replacing a Tesla drive unit is affected by various factors as listed below:
- The model and year of your Tesla vehicle are important factors in deciding the cost of Drive unit replacement. Due to unique specs and technological improvements, pricing for different Tesla models may vary.
- Warranty Coverage provided by Tesla also affects the total replacement costs. If your car is still under warranty, you may be entitled to free or reduced replacements, depending on the terms of your warranty agreement.
- The precise component of the drive unit that needs to be replaced will also have an impact on the overall cost. Whether it’s the electric motor, power electronics, or gearbox, each component has a price range that might affect the overall costs.
- The labor and service charges involved in replacing the drive unit should not be overlooked, which vary depending on the service center, geographical location, and the complexity of the replacement process.
Related Post: Decoding Tesla Drive Unit Failure: Recognizing the Red Flags
When Should You Replace Your Tesla Drive Unit?
Noise and vibration are the most common symptoms which occur before the Tesla Drive unit fails based on most Tesla users’ real-time experiences.
However, Tesla has already acknowledged that people are having difficulty in determining which is normal sound and which one should be considered alarming.
Tesla has released an audio guideline that helps users to determine that difference.
So, if the squeal or whining noise exceeds that threshold standard provided by Tesla, you should replace the faulty Drive Unit component or the entire Drive Unit.
Other signs of a faulty Tesla Drive unit may include:
- A loose cable that touches the drive unit,
- Transmitting vibrations to the body shell,
- A leaking sealing ring of the motor cooling system,
- Bearing wear that makes a characteristic sound, and
- Mechanical failure of the reduction.
If you experience any of these symptoms, you should have your Tesla inspected by a certified technician.
Tesla Drive Unit Replacement Guide:
First of all, be aware of the fact that Tesla Drive Unit or DU is not a single part or component on your Tesla car.
The whole Drive Unit is a combination of different individual components such as the motor, gearbox, Inverter, and other power electronics.
So, when you say Drive Unit failure, it usually means that one of the Drive Unit’s components has failed (such as bad bearing, faulty gear, old gear oil, loose wirings, and faulty cables) and that specific component needs to be repaired or replaced.
That implies you won’t have to replace the entire Drive Unit in those cases.
But there are also cases where it’s impossible to fix the issues (such as bad sealing) without replacing the whole Drive Unit of the car.
Hence, it is hard to provide step-by-step instructions without knowing the root reason for your vehicle’s Drive Unit problems.
Also, Tesla Drive Unit servicing is a complex task that should be done by a professional mechanic (especially a Tesla specialized technician) to avoid any kind of blunders during the process.
That’s why it is highly recommended to either book a service appointment via Tesla App or consult with a certified Tesla technician for professional assistance.
Still, if you are interested in breaking into your Tesla Drive Unit, visit this YouTube channel which has a series of videos on how to tear down the Tesla Drive Unit to diagnose the problem thoroughly and perform the repairs. Hopefully, that will help you.
How Long Does a Tesla Car’s Drive Unit Last?
Tesla provides a warranty of 8 years or 150,000 miles for Model S and Model X Drive Units. Tesla offers 100,000 miles or an 8-year warranty for Model 3 Rear-Wheel Drive.
Similarly, for Model 3 (Long Range & Performance) and Model Y (All-Wheel Drive, Long Range, & Performance) Tesla provides 120,000 miles or eight yearswarranty.
However, Tesla offers a four-year or 50,000-mile repair warranty for all Models’ Drive Units.
Therefore, these individual Model Drive Units are expected to last at least until they reach the time frame of Tesla’s repair warranty (50,000 miles or 4 years).
Read Also: Does Tesla Have Blind Spot Warning? Everything You Need to Know
Frequently Asked Questions [FAQs:]
Does Tesla Drive Unit Replacement cost fall under Warranty Coverage?
Yes, Tesla Drive Unit Replacement falls under warranty coverage.
Tesla’s Battery and Drive Unit Warranty covers the replacement necessary to correct defects in the materials or workmanship of the Drive Unit for 8 years or 100,000 miles (about 160934.4 km), whichever comes first on all Tesla models.
How many Drive Unit Does a Tesla (Model 3, S, X, & Y) car come with?
All Tesla vehicles, including Model 3, Model S, Model X, and Model Y, come with two drive units.
One of the Drive Units powers the front wheels while the other powers the rear wheels, which gives these cars their signature all-wheel-drive capability.
What kind of Drive unit does a Tesla have?
Tesla’s drive units are electric motors that are designed and manufactured in-house by Tesla. These drive units are known for their high efficiency, reliability, and performance.
