Tesla repair cost: screen, MCU, and motor
The battery gets the headlines, but the repairs that actually catch out-of-warranty Tesla owners are the touchscreen, the MCU computer, and the drive unit. Here's what each runs in 2026.
| Repair | Typical cost | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Touchscreen replacement | $700–$1,600 | $700–$1,200 on a Model 3 or Y; up to ~$1,600 on an older S or X if the computer goes too. |
| MCU computer / eMMC fault | $300–$4,000 | An independent eMMC repair can be $300–$600; a full Tesla MCU plus screen job runs $2,000–$4,000. Pre-2018 S/X may be covered free. |
| Drive unit / motor | $2,000–$12,500 | A used rear drive unit runs $2,000–$3,000; new parts plus labor can reach $12,500 on larger cars. |
Costs reviewed June 2026. Ranges span independent repair through Tesla service; your quote varies by model, year, and shop.
Three Tesla repairs land hard once you're past the 4-year vehicle warranty: the touchscreen, the MCU, and the drive unit. The pattern with all three is the same as the battery. Tesla's own quote is the ceiling, not the only option, and an independent EV specialist will often fix the same fault for a lot less.
The screen
The center touchscreen is a known wear item, and on a Model 3 or Y a replacement runs $700 to $1,200. Older cars cost more, particularly if the MCU behind it is failing at the same time. Before you pay Tesla for a full assembly, check whether an independent shop can repair your specific fault, since many screen issues are a board-level fix rather than a whole new unit.
The MCU and the eMMC
The MCU is the computer behind the screen, and on older cars its onboard eMMC storage chip wears out, causing black screens and reboots. This is the repair where knowing your options saves the most. Tesla may quote $2,000 to $4,000 to replace the MCU and screen together, but many pre-2018 Model S and X cars qualify for free eMMC repair under Tesla's Warranty Adjustment Program, and where they don't, an independent specialist can often repair the eMMC for a few hundred dollars. Check the warranty program first.
The drive unit
A failed motor, or drive unit, is the big one: $4,000 to $12,500 for new parts and labor at the high end. But the drive unit is covered by Tesla's 8-year battery and drive-unit warranty, so a failure inside that window is free, and many are. Out of warranty, the growing market in used drive units, around $2,000 to $3,000 for a Model 3 or Y rear unit, gives independents a much cheaper path than a new part.
If it's the battery, not the repair
A traction-battery fault is a different decision, with its own paths and a real replace-or-sell call. Price that on the Tesla battery replacement cost page, which runs the full estimator for your model.
Sources
- Recharged, Tesla touchscreen replacement cost, verified June 2026
- Tesla Support, Warranty Adjustment Program (eMMC), verified June 2026
- Recharged, cost of a Tesla motor / drive unit, verified June 2026
Tesla repair costs: common questions
How much does a Tesla screen replacement cost?
On a Model 3 or Model Y, a touchscreen replacement typically runs $700 to $1,200. On an older Model S or X, especially where the MCU computer is replaced at the same time, it can reach $1,400 to $1,600. Independent shops that repair rather than replace the screen assembly are often cheaper than Tesla service for the same fault.
Is the Tesla MCU eMMC failure covered by Tesla?
Partly. Tesla's Warranty Adjustment Program covers eMMC repair or replacement free of charge for many Model S and Model X vehicles built before March 2018, within 8 years of delivery and under 100,000 miles. Outside that, an independent specialist can often repair the eMMC for $300 to $600, far less than Tesla's full MCU-plus-screen replacement, which runs $2,000 to $4,000.
How much does it cost to replace a Tesla motor?
A Tesla drive unit (motor) replacement ranges from about $4,000 to $12,500 for new parts and labor, depending on the model and which unit fails. The independent market for used drive units has grown, with dismantlers listing complete Model 3 and Model Y rear units around $2,000 to $3,000, which can cut the bill substantially. Note that the drive unit is covered under Tesla's 8-year battery and drive-unit warranty.