High-Voltage Batteries and You

Cars and trucks have used batteries for decades, but with the advent of hybrids their role has become much more central to driving than ever before. And with the relative newness of hybrids' high-voltage battery packs comes replacement-cost concerns.

Though high-voltage battery packs cost a few thousand dollars to replace, manufacturers give them lengthy, transferable warranties, which means you should still be covered if you buy a used hybrid, provided the warranty hasn't expired. The following table shows high-voltage battery pack warranty terms for current hybrids and also notes which models could still be driven if the battery pack were to fail.

High-Voltage Battery Packs
All models are from the 2007 and 2008 model years.
Vehicle	Basic High-Voltage Battery Warranty*	Vehicle Operable With Dead High-Voltage Battery?
Ford Escape Hybrid	8 years/100,000 miles	No
Honda Accord Hybrid	8 years/80,000 miles	Yes
Honda Civic Hybrid	8 years/80,000 miles	Yes
Lexus GS 450h	8 years/100,000 miles	No
Lexus LS 600h L	8 years/100,000 miles	No
Lexus RX 400h	8 years/100,000 miles	No
Mercury Mariner Hybrid	8 years/100,000 miles	No
Saturn Aura Green Line	8 years/100,000 miles	Yes
Saturn Vue Green Line	8 years/100,000 miles	Yes
Toyota Camry Hybrid	8 years/100,000 miles	No
Toyota Prius	8 years/100,000 miles	No
*In California and states that have adopted California emissions standards, the high-voltage battery pack warranty may be longer.