How long should an OEM battery last?

Update, I killed the battery early pandemic by leaving the bed lights on. Went with a new OEM since it was about time to replace it.

 

2016 from February with 93k on it, still rocking the original battery.

 

A battery that matches or exceeds power requirements specified by the vehicle's manufacturer, vehicle's charging/starting system has been and is in good condition, installed in a vehicle used/stored in a moderate climate should/will typically last 5-6 years. Good idea to start looking to replace at 5 years old.

I base this opinion on my owning/operating a chain of auto parts stores over 16 years and buying/selling/warranting literally thousands of batteries over the years.

 

That's about what I usually get out of mine and has been my personal observation. Also, I've been able to get that performance from the cheap 2yr warranty type or the 5yr warrantied type.

That being said, it's the higher performance that you really are paying for, not the warranty. Performance is where the bacon is, you just get a longer warranty for the price to boot, as it ought to be

 

I've been wondering about my battery and it brought me here to this thread.

I got a 2016 bought in September 2015 (build # 99). Battery still going strong. I was thinking about it cause we wanna go to Canada - dont wanna get caught at the marina with a dead battery after it sits for a week or 2.

Best battery I've ever had tbh, 6 years and still working. Amazing actually.

 

My 2016 had around five and a half years and 130k+ miles on it prior to the battery dying. Came completely out of the blue though. Started my truck, drove around 30-40 miles and then it wouldn’t start. No slow starts prior or anything else.

 

I'd love to have the $$$$ that's been wasted by those buying new batteries long before needed just because they were afraid their batteries were going to fail.

 

There are those who break it till it’s fixed, and others who fix it till it’s broke.

 

I replaced the battery on my 2002 Tacoma after 8 years because well, it was 8 years old. I don't know if that would be considered a waste of money.

 

How long can they last?

My stocker went after almost 10 years. My wife's 2005 Rav4 got over 10 years.

Cold weather state and the vehicles are never garaged. Both were Panasonic.

 

Almost embarrassed to say but replaced battery last winter after a little over 10 years. Was still starting truck at -20C but changed it as a precaution.

 

Of course not, I'm more referring to those who replace their batteries every 3-4 years because they are terrified of their vehicles not starting some day.

 

My OEM battery crapped out at 1.5 years old, roughly 17k. They don't last long.

 

Mine crapped out at 3 years. (had to jump it 2 times) and it would not take a full charge, it would go dead in under 10 min with the lights on from a full charge, So no i don't thing i jumped the gun on replacing it.

Believe it or not, but some people think its cheaper to replace it early than to be stuck somewhere and mis work.

 

Same here. Bought in 2016 feb

 

Wouldn't that qualify as preventive maintenance? I see nothing wrong with that.

 

You are spot on. I replace all of mine at 5 years. It’s way better to replace at certain intervals rather than wait for it to die. Because when it dies it will most likely do so at an inopportune time and place. And the tiny bit of money you save waiting til year 6 or 7 when it dies is negligible. A $100 battery replaced at 5 years costs you $20 a year, or $1.66 a month. Pretty damn cheap.

 

Little over 3 years here with 31k miles, battery still running strong.

 

See my original post where I recommend start looking at replacing your battery at 5 years. However replacing a battery that's showing no sign of trouble at 3-4 years is just throwing battery life and $$ away.