The　lead-acid　battery　(LAB)　has　been　one　of　the　main　secondary　electrochemical　power　sources　with　wide　application　in　various　fields　(transport　vehicles,　telecommunications,　information　technologies,　etc.).　It　has　won　a　dominating　position　in　energy　storage　and　load-leveling　applications.　However,　the　failure　of　LAB　becomes　the　key　barrier　for　its　further　development　and　application.　Therefore,　understanding　the　failure　modes　and　mechanism　of　LAB　is　of　great　significance.　The　failure　modes　of　LAB　mainly　include　two　aspects:　failure　of　the　positive　electrode　and　negative　electrode.　The　degradations　of　active　material　and　grid　corrosion　are　the　two　major　failure　modes　for　positive　electrode,　while　the　irreversible　sulfation　is　the　most　common　failure　mode　for　the　negative　electrode.　Introduction　of　carbon　materials　to　the　negative　electrodes　of　LAB　could　suppress　sulfation　problem　and　enhance　the　battery　performance　efficiently.　This　paper　will　attempt　here　to　pull　together　observations　made　by　previous　research　to　obtain　a　more　comprehensive　and　integrative　view　of　LAB　failure　modes.　Moreover,　according　to　a　detail　investigation　to　the　battery　market,　we　have　drawn　an　objective　and　optimistic　conclusion　of　LAB　prospect.　Copyright　(C)　2016　John　Wiley　&　Sons,　Ltd.