Warranty data blows up battery myth: It’s the electrical system that’s the more common EV reliability problem, not the batteries!
New data from a major UK warranty provider has dispelled yet more myths surrounding EV ownership, with owners reporting that the biggest reason for making a claim was electrical gremlins rather than failing batteries.
Interestingly, according to Warranty Wise, the most common claims involved electrical sensors, with the average repair costing around £810 ($1550).
In second place were faults relating to central locking, with both the first- and second-ranked issues mirroring similar warranty claims for petrol, diesel and hybrid vehicles. The average repair cost for central locking faults was around £900 (A$1700).
READ MORE: CATL accelerates sodium-ion battery development, announces new battery with 600km range will enter production this year
READ MORE: BYD’s radical breakthrough! Next-gen Blade battery 2.0 is as fast to top up as petrol: 10-70 per cent charge will take just five minutes!
READ MORE: Game changing semi-solid-state battery arrives: Li-Mn has the potential to make 1000+km long-range EVs common
The third most common issue affecting EVs is related to the powertrain, but not the battery itself. Instead, the warranty provider says a common reliability concern is the on-board AC charger.
Repairs are expensive, with the average claim costing a hefty £2160 ($4140), while some claims by British owners reached as high as £10,455 ($20,050).
Next came wishbone suspension failures, with the average repair costing $2340, while rounding out the five most common warranty claims were issues with the humble 12-volt battery, with average payouts amounting to £535 ($1000).
While the new study doesn’t rule out battery failures, they are far less common than many critics suggest. When they do occur, however, Warranty Wise says the average repair bill is a substantial £6400 (A$12,200).
Unfortunately, the data doesn’t reveal how common battery-related claims actually are. One factor likely to distort the findings is that almost all EVs are covered by a separate factory battery warranty, typically lasting eight years or 160,000km, meaning many battery failures would be repaired by the manufacturer rather than through an aftermarket warranty provider.
Independent research has already shown that most EV batteries are proving far more durable than originally expected, maintaining a high proportion of their original capacity. Germany’s ADAC found that after four years and 160,000km, a Volkswagen ID.3 still retained an impressive 91 per cent of its original net battery capacity.
Volkswagen says it will replace an EV battery if its usable capacity falls below 70 per cent during the battery warranty period of eight years or 160,000km.
One piece of bad news for used EV owners in the UK is that Warranty Wise says the average repair cost increased by 10.7 per cent between 2024 and 2025, with inflation, rising labour costs and higher parts prices all believed to be contributing factors.
