Where Is the Tesla Battery Located In the Car?

Reviewed by

Richard McCuistian, ASE Certified Master Automobile Technician

Technical Reviewer at CarParts.com

Written by CarParts.com Research Team - Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Summary

  • The high-voltage battery connections and contactors are under the rear seat cushion. Do not go there at all. Meanwhile, the low-voltage battery can be found under the cabin intake duct, which is covered by the underhood apron.

  • For a routine 12V battery swap, Tesla’s official service manuals only require disconnecting the 12V system itself, provided no HV components are being touched.

  • Open the front trunk and remove the plastic cover at the base of the windshield to access the 12-volt battery.

Extreme caution: Do not try to remove the high-voltage battery. The battery is filled with coolant and high voltage and is extremely heavy and dangerous. Don’t even jack the car up using a floor jack like you would other cars or you can destroy the battery and set fire to the car.

Diagram showing the high-voltage battery on a Tesla 3 | Image Source: Richard McCuistian

The high-voltage battery connection points and contactors on a Tesla 3 are in a housing under the rear seat cushion, but the rest of the battery forms the entire lower floorpan of the vehicle (see illustration).

The low-voltage 12-volt battery, which is the focus of this article, can be found under the center of the cabin intake duct in front of the windshield.

Tips On How to Access a Tesla Battery

For a routine 12V battery swap, Tesla’s official service manuals often only require disconnecting the 12V system itself, provided no HV components are being touched.

To access the 12-volt battery on a Tesla 3, you open the “frunk” (front trunk) and remove the plastic cover at the base of the windshield. You’ll see the 12 volt battery there. | Image Source: Richard McCuistian

Any information provided on this Website is for informational purposes only and is not intended to replace consultation with a professional mechanic. The accuracy and timeliness of the information may change from the time of publication.

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Published by
CarParts.com Research Team and Richard McCuistian, ASE Certified Master Automobile Technician
Tags: battery