Tesla has begun reaching out to customers to replace the high-voltage battery pack seals in Model S and Model X vehicles manufactured between 2021 and 2022. In particular, this impacts vehicles between January 2021 and September 22, 2022.
Tesla is notifying impacted owners through a notification and message in the Tesla app.
Plunger Replacement
The high-voltage battery port plungers intended for internal water leak egress (also known as flood ports) are being replaced with improved parts. The new parts are designed to be more robust against external water ingress due to submersion during flooding or other high-severity water impacts.
Tesla specifically notes that no action is needed from owners at this time - once the parts are available, owners will be notified with a notification from the app to encourage them to schedule a service appointment.
This voluntary recall is likely related to the incident where the fully submerged Model X caught on fire underwater, requiring first responders to wait for the battery to burn out before recovering the vehicle. That incident occurred back in October 2023.
While Submarine Mode is a fun Easter Egg, it doesn’t actually improve your vehicle’s water rating.
Service Details
Taking a look at the Service Bulletin (SB-25-16-002), Tesla will be replacing all five flood ports and, if necessary, the breather plugs and flood port doors. Tesla will require you to take your vehicle in for this appointment, which should take approximately 90 minutes for the Model S, and approximately 60 minutes for the Model X. Tesla’s Mobile Rangers won’t be able to complete this activity in your driveway.
Because this is a voluntary recall, Tesla will be offering this as a goodwill service for any owners who have exceeded their Model S or Model X limited battery warranty - so don’t hesitate to take your vehicle in.
