How Tesla Owners Can Claim Their HV Battery Reimbursements

Pyrofuse Payback

Tesla recently issued a notice to thousands of current and former Model S and Model X owners regarding an official warranty extension for the pyrotechnic high-voltage battery disconnect, commonly known as the pyrofuse. Under this program, Tesla is expanding its 8-year / 150,000-mile Battery and Drive Unit Limited Warranty to cover pyrofuse replacements associated with specific Battery Management System (BMS) alerts. If you previously paid out-of-pocket for this repair, Tesla is offering full reimbursement for parts, labor, and applicable taxes.

Regular readers will know that we had a series of BMS alerts during a particularly cold ski trip. Here is how to check your service history, even if you no longer own the car, and claim your funds.

Paper Trails and Past Ownership

If you still own the vehicle, pulling up past invoices is straightforward. Simply open the Tesla app on your phone, navigate to service, select history, and you can download past receipts directly.

However, if you have sold, traded in, or otherwise no longer own the vehicle, access service history becomes tricky. Once a vehicle is unlinked from your active Tesla app account, the car’s service menu disappears from your app interface. Because you paid for those repairs during your ownership period, that transaction history is still part of your user account. To retrieve those records, you will need to initiate a data request with Tesla.

Privacy Portal Petition

To obtain a copy of your past service invoices for a sold vehicle:

1. Access the Privacy Portal: Open a web browser, navigate to tesla.com/privacy, and log in using the Tesla account credentials associated with your former ownership.
   
   
   
2. Submit a Data Request: Select Data Privacy Request, or choose Request a Copy of Your Data.
3. Specify Your Scope: Select the vehicle and the dates will auto-populate with your ownership time. You can restrict this to a smaller time window if you'd like. Then hit submit to obtain a copy of your personal account data archive.
4. Download Your Files: Tesla will process your request and verify your identity. Once compiled, you will receive an email notification containing a secure link to download a zip file containing your complete account history, including itemized service invoices, work orders, and payment records.

Painless Paybacks and Processing Procedures

Once you have retrieved your service records, check the itemized invoice to see if your repair corresponds to any of the eligible BMS alert codes: BMS_u031, BMS_u032, BMS_w176, BMS_w179, or BMS_w180.

If your repair qualifies, follow these steps to submit your reimbursement claim directly to Tesla:

1. Log Into Support: Visit tesla.com/contactus in your browser, and sign into your Tesla account.
2. Navigate to Claims: Select Regarding > Warranty Reimbursement > Submit.
3. Select Your Vehicle: Choose the specific VIN corresponding to your previously owned Model S or Model X.
4. Complete the Form: Fill out the warranty reimbursement form, and upload the required documentation:
   • Itemized Invoice: A clear copy of the repair invoice displaying the VIN, date of service, and pyrofuse replacement details.
   • Proof of Payment: A copy of the paid receipt, credit card statement showing the charge, or canceled check.
   • Contact Information: Your full name, mailing address, and email address matching the account.

Ownership Status	Retrieval Method	Submission Pathway
Current Vehicle Owner	Download directly from the Tesla Mobile App service section.	Tesla Contact Us portal under Warranty Reimbursement.
Previous Owner (Sold Vehicle)	Submit a Data Privacy Request at tesla.com/privacy.	Tesla Contact Us portal selecting former VIN.

The Road Ahead

Once submitted, Tesla states that reimbursement claims are reviewed and decided within 21 calendar days. Keeping manufacturers accountable and reclaiming out-of-pocket expenses for covered repairs ensures EV owners stay empowered on the path toward a future free from fossil fuels.