Running over objects void battery warranty?

[BlackGT PE]

I read a few horror stories about Tesla owners run over objects that damage the battery under the car and voiding the warranty. So the get $40k battery bill with no warranty coverage. Is this an issues we MME GT owners could encounter?

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[Robob]

There is usually a “within reason” part of the legal speak they use. So if you try to go off roading and get belly hung on a rock or log and damage the pack they can get out of it.
Regular driving should be fine, however if you YOLO over a stop sign and spear the pack. And insurance says it’s your fault for no reason, don’t expect insurance or ford to cover it for free.

 

[generaltso]

Physical damage has never been covered by car warranties. But your insurance should cover it.

 

[GreaseMonkey]

It’s called an accident. Why should it ever be covered under warranty?

 

[BlackGT PE]

Thank you all for your responses! I was just trying to gauge how easy or likely it is for this to happen and if insurance company’s just write it off…

 

[GreaseMonkey]

Thank you all for your responses! I was just trying to gauge how easy or likely it is for this to happen and if insurance company’s just write it off…

Ok, that’s an entirely different question. The battery is well protected from all sides. It’s an area that MMEs shines in, actually. My personal opinion is that Ford went overboard with protecting it. Can damage happen? Yes. If severe, would the car be totaled? Most probably. But if that happens, your financial loss should be last on your mind, as you should be thinking: how do I haul ass before I turn into a BBQ meal.

 

[BlackGT PE]

Hahaha! Yeah I mean that’s a solid point about turning into BBQ. I just read these situations and immediately went to “oh damn so if I run over a branch or some random object on the road, I’m potentially on the hook for a lot of money.” Thanks for the info about the protection under the car - I was not tracking that. Good to know!

 

[Vulnox]

Yeah put another way, in an ICE vehicle you don't think much about driving in the rain or through small/moderate puddles on the road. But every year many people try to drive through deeper water during flooding in their area and water gets into the intake and at best stalls the car, at worst causes severe damage if it makes it to the combustion chamber. That also isn't a warranty issue, even though you could frame it as "the car just died when driving while it was raining".

If the battery is damaged in the MME or likely most Teslas, it wasn't "just" a stick. I have seen some when big pieces of concrete are dislodged on a highway and wreck the underside of the car and maybe cause battery intrusion. But again with an ICE vehicle that same piece likely would have damaged the transmission or exhaust or transfer case (with 4x4 vehicles) or whatever. Those repairs are thousands too, and also insurance.

Only mentioning this because it happens a lot on EV forums, where there is a perception that the situation is unique to EVs, but it's more that the stories around them make headlines because it happened to an EV. ICE vehicles suffer damage due to debris daily, sometimes catastrophic, but it's been that way forever. Some aspects of EVs make them less prone to some types of damage and more to others. But the underlying situation on who handles it (insurance or warranty) comes back to the same place.

 

[BlackGT PE]

Excellent points there and I think you make a lot of sense about it ultimately coming back to what the insurance will cover. I am glad I joined the blog. You all have been super helpful. I just bought my Black GT Performance Edition last weekend and LOVE this car, but I’m learning about EVs as this is my first EV. Thank you!

 

[Rt1AWD]

I read a few horror stories about Tesla owners run over objects that damage the battery under the car and voiding the warranty. So the get $40k battery bill with no warranty coverage. Is this an issues we MME GT owners could encounter?

Here is even better horror story for you

https://www.macheforum.com/site/threads/one-scratch-totalled-a-brand-new-ioniq-5.32463/post-746378

 

[BlackGT PE]

Holy hell… $60k battery cost. Welp I’m calling my Geico insurance and seeing what they’d do in a similar situation

 

[Just Lurking]

Holy hell… $60k battery cost. Welp I’m calling my Geico insurance and seeing what they’d do in a similar situation

Just make sure you carry collision insurance coverage...

 

[generaltso]

Holy hell… $60k battery cost. Welp I’m calling my Geico insurance and seeing what they’d do in a similar situation

If you’re concerned that your insurance company won’t cover you if you get in an accident, you may want to switch insurance companies.

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