The largest online repair guide library for every car

About us
Contact support
FAQ
Sign up
Sign in

2018 Model 3 Long Range Battery Degradation - Is this normal?

0

Chris P. · rep 0 · May 22, 5:28 AM · 1 replies · solved · Question

Vehicle: 2018 Tesla Model 3 Long Range

Hey everyone, I've got a 2018 Tesla Model 3 Long Range and I'm starting to get concerned about my battery's health. When I bought it, the estimated range was around 310 miles, but now, fully charged, it only shows about 270 miles. That's a drop of about 13% in roughly five years.

I mostly supercharge, maybe 70% of the time, and I usually charge to 90% for daily driving, only going to 100% for long trips. I live in Arizona, so it gets pretty hot here. Is this level of degradation typical for a 2018 Model 3, especially with my charging habits and climate? I'm worried about long-term reliability and what this means for resale value.

Are there any diagnostics I can run myself, or should I schedule a service appointment? I've heard about some software updates affecting range estimates, but this feels like a genuine capacity loss.

✓ Accepted solution

ClearTheCode Admin

ClearTheCode Team · rep 0 · May 22, 5:28 AM

0

ClearTheCode admin answer:

Battery degradation is a normal part of any EV's life cycle, but the rate can vary. Here's what you should know and do:

  1. Assess the Degradation: A 10-15% degradation over 5 years for a 2018 Model 3 is generally within the expected range, especially with frequent Supercharging and extreme temperatures. Tesla's battery warranty typically covers significant degradation (e.g., below 70% capacity within 8 years/120,000 miles for Long Range models), so you're likely still above that threshold.

  2. Charging Habits Impact: Frequent Supercharging, while convenient, can accelerate degradation compared to slower AC charging. Charging to 90% daily is good, but consistently charging to 100% (even for trips) and letting it sit there for extended periods can also contribute. Extreme heat (like in Arizona) is also a known factor that can stress the battery.

  3. Software Updates and BMS Recalibration: Tesla's Battery Management System (BMS) constantly estimates range. Sometimes, the displayed range can be inaccurate due to the BMS needing recalibration. This often happens if you consistently charge to the same level. To recalibrate:

    • Drive the car until the battery is below 10-20%.
    • Charge it to 100% and leave it plugged in for a few hours after it reaches 100% (or overnight).
    • Repeat this cycle a few times over a week or two. This helps the BMS get a more accurate reading of the full capacity.

  4. Check Internal Diagnostics: While Tesla doesn't use standard OBD-II for battery health, you can check for any internal diagnostic alerts on your touchscreen. Go to Service > Notifications to see if any battery-related warnings are present. You can also access a basic service mode (though it's not user-friendly) to see more detailed battery metrics, but this is usually best left to service centers.

  5. When to See a Shop:

    • If the recalibration steps don't improve the range estimate or if you notice a sudden, significant drop in range (e.g., more than 5% in a few weeks).
    • If you receive any battery-related warning messages on your screen.
    • If you're concerned about your battery's health and want a definitive report, a Tesla Service Center can run advanced diagnostics to give you an exact battery health percentage and advise on any potential issues. They can also check for any relevant Technical Service Bulletins (TSBs) related to battery management software.
Menu

Help & account