EV Battery Warranty by Model (2026): Years, Miles & Degradation Floors
Reviewed August 2026 · Independent EV Digest guide · U.S. market
Short answer
Every EV sold in the U.S. carries at least 8 years / 100,000 miles of high-voltage battery coverage with a ~70% capacity floor. Hyundai, Kia, Toyota and Mercedes-Benz stretch the term to 10 years; Rivian and long-range Teslas stretch the mileage to 120,000–150,000. The detail that catches used buyers out is transferability — Hyundai and Kia drop to 5 years / 60,000 miles for the second owner.
Coverage by brand and model
| Brand | Models | Years | Miles | Capacity floor | Transfers? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tesla | Model 3 / Model Y (RWD) | 8 yr | 100,000 | 70% retention | Yes |
| Tesla | Model 3 / Y Long Range, Model S, Model X, Cybertruck | 8 yr | 120,000 – 150,000 | 70% retention | Yes |
| Ford | Mustang Mach-E, F-150 Lightning | 8 yr | 100,000 | 70% retention | Yes |
| Chevrolet / GMC / Cadillac | Equinox EV, Blazer EV, Silverado EV, Hummer EV, Lyriq | 8 yr | 100,000 | 70% retention | Yes |
| Hyundai | IONIQ 5, IONIQ 6, IONIQ 9, Kona Electric | 10 yr | 100,000 (original owner) | 70% retention | 5yr / 60,000 mi for later owners |
| Kia | EV6, EV9, EV3, Niro EV | 10 yr | 100,000 (original owner) | 70% retention | 5yr / 60,000 mi for later owners |
| Rivian | R1T, R1S, R2 | 8 yr | 150,000 | 70% retention | Yes |
| Lucid | Air, Gravity | 8 yr | 100,000 | 70% retention | Yes |
| Nissan | Ariya, LEAF | 8 yr | 100,000 | 9 of 12 capacity bars (LEAF) / 70% (Ariya) | Yes |
| Volkswagen | ID.4, ID.Buzz | 8 yr | 100,000 | 70% retention | Yes |
| BMW | i4, iX, i5, i7 | 8 yr | 100,000 | 70% retention | Yes |
| Mercedes-Benz | EQE, EQS, EQB | 10 yr | 155,000 | 70% retention | Yes |
| Toyota | bZ4X / bZ | 10 yr | 150,000 | 70% retention | Yes |
| Subaru | Solterra | 8 yr | 100,000 | 70% retention | Yes |
| Honda / Acura | Prologue, ZDX | 8 yr | 100,000 | 70% retention | Yes |
| Polestar | Polestar 2, 3, 4 | 8 yr | 100,000 | 70% retention | Yes |
| Volvo | EX30, EX90, XC40 Recharge | 8 yr | 100,000 | 70% retention | Yes |
| Porsche | Taycan, Macan Electric | 8 yr | 100,000 | 70% retention | Yes |
Terms are for U.S.-market vehicles and reflect the high-voltage battery and EV components warranty, not bumper-to-bumper coverage. Some models sold in CARB states carry longer battery terms than the figures above. Always confirm against your window sticker or warranty booklet.
What the warranty actually covers
- Capacity loss below the floor. If a manufacturer State-of-Health test shows you below roughly 70% of original usable capacity inside the term, modules or the pack are repaired or replaced at no cost.
- Pack and HV component failure. Cells, modules, the battery management system, and typically the drive unit and onboard charger.
- Not covered: collision, flood, fire, unauthorized pack service, HV modification, competition use, and gradual capacity loss that stays above the floor — which is the normal case.
Buying used: the three checks that matter
- Original in-service date, not the model year. The clock starts the day the first owner took delivery.
- A dealer SoH report. Manufacturer diagnostics are the only evidence a warranty claim is judged on. Third-party OBD readings are indicative only.
- Transfer terms. On a Hyundai or Kia, calculate the remaining second-owner term (5 years / 60,000 miles from the in-service date), not the headline 10-year figure.
If you're shopping used, our cold-weather range guide explains how much of a range shortfall is normal winter behavior rather than degradation — the two get confused constantly on used lots.
Frequently asked questions
How long is an EV battery warranty?
Federal rules require at least 8 years or 100,000 miles of high-voltage battery coverage on EVs sold in the United States. Hyundai, Kia, Toyota, and Mercedes-Benz go further at 10 years, and Rivian and some Teslas extend the mileage cap to 120,000–150,000 miles.
What does a 70% degradation floor mean?
Nearly every automaker warrants that the battery will still hold at least about 70% of its original usable capacity within the warranty term. If a measured capacity test comes in below that threshold while you're still inside the years-and-miles window, the automaker repairs or replaces modules at no cost.
Does the EV battery warranty transfer to the next owner?
Usually yes, and it transfers automatically with the vehicle. The notable exception is Hyundai and Kia: their headline 10-year / 100,000-mile term applies to the original owner, and subsequent owners get 5 years / 60,000 miles from the original in-service date.
What voids an EV battery warranty?
Common exclusions are collision damage, flood or fire, opening the pack outside an authorized shop, using the vehicle for competition, aftermarket modification of the HV system, and — on some models — sustained commercial or ride-hail use. Normal DC fast charging does not void any major automaker's warranty.
Is a used EV with 90,000 miles risky?
It's the point where warranty coverage matters most. On an 8-year / 100,000-mile car you have very little remaining battery coverage, so a capacity test before purchase is worth far more than the seller's word. On a Hyundai or Kia with a transferred 5-year / 60,000-mile term, check the original in-service date, not the odometer.
How do I check my battery's actual health?
Ask the dealer for a battery State of Health (SoH) report from the manufacturer's diagnostic tool — that is what a warranty claim is judged on. Third-party OBD apps give a useful indicator but are not accepted as claim evidence.
Do plug-in hybrids get the same warranty?
PHEV traction batteries also carry the federal 8-year / 100,000-mile minimum, and in CARB states many PHEVs carry 10 years / 150,000 miles on the battery specifically. Coverage on the gasoline powertrain follows the normal bumper-to-bumper and powertrain terms instead.
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