Contents
What changed
The Plaid/Palladium pack has a redesigned modular architecture and improved thermal stabilization (see Munro/Ingineerix teardowns). The voltage sense harness issues known from "old" 100 packs occur extremely rarely here. This pack was fitted to refreshed S/X from 2021 until Model S and X production ended in spring 2026.
What to watch for
- Cases of moisture ingress and corrosion of the cover/components have also occurred, so verify sealing per the manual.
- The pack's bottom panel has become "softer" and more sensitive to impacts/road defects → an underbody inspection is mandatory at purchase/after an accident.
Links
- Plaid battery teardown (Ingineerix/Munro): https://insideevs.com/news/540380/tesla-models-plaid-battery-open/ , https://www.teslaoracle.com/2022/07/03/tesla-has-configured-model-s-plaid-battery-pack-for-speed-sandy-munros-teardown-analysis-reveals-deeps-insights/
- Sealing test/cover corrosion — official procedures: https://service.tesla.com/docs/ModelS/ServiceManual/en-us/GUID-249A6F05-10AB-4BA4-87EF-078BDFB91ED0.html
Sources
- https://insideevs.com/news/540380/tesla-models-plaid-battery-open/
- https://www.teslaoracle.com/2022/07/03/tesla-has-configured-model-s-plaid-battery-pack-for-speed-sandy-munros-teardown-analysis-reveals-deeps-insights/
Related
Full list →Model S/X refresh (2021+): battery sealing issues (officially acknowledged by Tesla)
Tesla has officially acknowledged a battery sealing issue: bulletin SB-25-16-002 'Replace Flood Port Plungers' (05.05.2025), a free goodwill replacement of 5 flood ports on S/X built 01.2021–22.09.2022 (US and Europe). The caveat: the bulletin covers external flooding. There are no confirmed cases of moisture 'breathing' into Palladium packs; the RTC chat (450k+ messages) holds only questions and second-hand retellings.
Model S 85 kWh and pre-facelift X: sticking umbrella valves and moisture in the battery
Old Model S 85-kWh packs (and same-design 90-kWh packs in pre-facelift S/X) corrode when moisture gets in through the breather ("umbrella") valves or a rusted fuse cover. The result is BMS_a037_SW_Flood_Port_Open and an HV shutdown. Real repairs run from $500 (the cover) to 1450 EUR (EV Clinic Berlin).
Model S/X 90 kWh: faster degradation than 85
90-kWh packs (NCA with silicon added to the anode) per owner reports degrade faster than 85. Fewer typical 'fatal' defects.
Tesla Model S/X stuck HV contactor: BMS_f038 errors, won't sleep, won't charge, diagnosis and replacement
Sticking HV battery contactors on early 85/90 kWh packs cause BMS_f038 / BMS_f087 errors, prevent the car from sleeping (12V drains overnight), and after a charge-station pyrofuse trigger leave the car unable to drive or charge. Service Mode diagnostics, replacement procedure, and why this is one of the few HV jobs you should not DIY.