Sealing
3 article(s) on «Sealing». Most serious issues first.
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).
Tesla Model S/X 100 kWh Plaid/Palladium: features and vulnerabilities
The ~100 kWh Palladium pack on Tesla Model S/X Plaid and Long Range (2021+ refresh): 7920 Panasonic 18650 cells, more reliable voltage sensing, but the floor is vulnerable to impacts and moisture.
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.