<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2010-09-08</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000813781</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>EXIDE TECHNOLOGIES</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>XIDE</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001482608</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>TONTINE CAPITAL OVERSEAS MASTER FUND II, L.P.</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>55 RAILROAD AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>GREENWICH</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CT</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>06830</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001482609</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>TONTINE ASSET ASSOCIATES, L.L.C.</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>55 RAILROAD AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>GREENWICH</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CT</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>06830</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001162852</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>TONTINE POWER PARTNERS LP</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>55 RAILROAD AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>GREENWICH</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CT</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>06830</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001491514</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Tontine Associates, LLC</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>55 RAILROAD AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>GREENWICH</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CT</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>06830</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, $0.01 par value per share</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-09-08</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1168100</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>4.40</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>13444309</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See Footnotes</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F5"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F6"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F7"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F8"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F9"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F10"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F11"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, $0.01 par value per share</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-09-08</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>363600</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>4.40</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>13080709</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See Footnotes</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F5"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F6"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F7"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F8"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F9"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F10"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F11"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, $0.01 par value per share</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-09-08</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>406648</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>4.40</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>12674061</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See Footnotes</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F5"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F6"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F7"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F8"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F9"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F10"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F11"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, $0.01 par value per share</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-09-08</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>361652</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>4.40</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>12312409</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F5"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See Footnotes</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F5"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F6"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F7"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F8"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F9"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F10"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F11"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">This report is filed jointly by Tontine Capital Partners, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (&quot;TCP&quot;), Tontine Capital Management, L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company (&quot;TCM&quot;), Tontine Capital Overseas GP, L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company (&quot;TCO&quot;), Tontine Capital Overseas Master Fund, L.P., a Cayman Islands limited partnership (&quot;TMF&quot;), Tontine Partners, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (&quot;TP&quot;), Tontine Management, L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company (&quot;TM&quot;), Tontine 25 Overseas Master Fund, L.P., a Cayman Islands limited partnership (&quot;T25&quot;), Tontine Overseas Associates, L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company (&quot;TOA&quot;), Tontine Capital Overseas Master Fund II, L.P., a Cayman Islands limited partnership (&quot;TCP 2&quot;), Tontine Asset Associates, L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company (&quot;TAA&quot;), [continued in Footnote 2]</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">[continued from Footnote 1] Tontine Power Partners, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (&quot;TPP&quot;), Tontine Associates, L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company (&quot;TA&quot;) and Jeffrey L. Gendell (&quot;Mr. Gendell&quot;).</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Mr. Gendell is the managing member of: (a) TCM, the general partner of TCP and T25; (b) TCO, the general partner of TMF; (c) TM, the general partner of TP and TPP; (d) TOA, the investment advisor of Tontine Overseas Fund, Ltd., a Cayman Islands exempted company (&quot;TOF&quot;); (e) TAA, the general partner of TCP 2; and (f) TA.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">On September 8, 2010, TCP sold 1,168,100 shares of Common Stock, TMF sold 363,600 shares of Common Stock, TP sold 406,648 shares of Common Stock and TOF sold 361,652 shares of Common Stock.  All sales occurred at a price of $4.40 per share.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">Mr. Gendell, TOF and TAA directly own 0 shares of Common Stock, TCP directly owns 968,285 shares of Common Stock, TMF directly owns 32,020 shares of Common Stock, TP directly owns 1,140,485 shares of Common Stock, T25 directly owns 246,492 shares of Common Stock, TCM directly owns 209,062 shares of Common Stock, TCO directly owns 5,295 shares of Common Stock, TM directly owns 373,309 shares of Common Stock, TOA directly owns 641,413 shares of Common Stock, TCP 2 directly owns 8,248,482 shares of Common Stock, TPP directly owns 22,106 shares of Common Stock and TA directly owns 311,362 shares of Common Stock.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F6">All of the foregoing securities may be deemed to be beneficially owned by Mr. Gendell.  The foregoing securities held by TCP and T25 may be deemed to be beneficially owned by TCM.  The foregoing securities held by TMF may be deemed to be beneficially owned by TCO. The foregoing securities held by TP and TPP may be deemed to be beneficially owned by TM.  The foregoing securities held by TOF may be deemed to be beneficially owned by TOA.  The foregoing securities held by TCP 2 may be deemed to be beneficially owned by TAA.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F7">Mr. Gendell disclaims beneficial ownership of the Issuer's securities reported herein for purposes of Section 16(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or otherwise, except as to securities directly owned by Mr. Gendell or representing Mr. Gendell's pro rata interest in, and interest in the profits of, TCM, TCP, TCO, TMF, TP, TM, TOA, TOF, T25, TCP 2, TAA, TPP and TA.  TCM disclaims beneficial ownership of the Issuer's securities reported herein for purposes of Section 16(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or otherwise, except as to securities directly owned by TCM or representing TCM's pro rata interest in, and interest in the profits of, TCP and T25.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F8">TCO disclaims beneficial ownership of the Issuer's securities reported herein for purposes of Section 16(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or otherwise, except as to securities directly owned by TCO or representing TCO's pro rata interest in, and interest in the profits of, TMF.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F9">TM disclaims beneficial ownership of the Issuer's securities reported herein for purposes of Section 16(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or otherwise, except as to securities directly owned by TM or representing TM's pro rata interest in, and interest in the profits of, TP and TPP.  TOA disclaims beneficial ownership of the Issuer's securities reported herein for purposes of Section 16(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or otherwise, except as to securities directly owned by TOA or representing TOA's pro rata interest in, and interest in the profits of, TOF.  TAA disclaims beneficial ownership of the Issuer's securities reported herein for purposes of Section 16(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or otherwise, except as to securities directly owned by TAA or representing TAA's pro rata interest in, and interest in the profits of, TCP 2.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F10">TA disclaims beneficial ownership of the Issuer's securities reported herein for purposes of Section 16(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or otherwise, except as to securities directly owned by TA.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F11">This Form 4 relates to the same transactions disclosed on the Form 4 filed on the date hereof by TCP, TCM, TMF, TCO, TP, TM, TOA, T25 and Mr. Gendell, all of which are joint filers with TCP 2, TAA, TPP and TA with respect to the Issuer's Common Stock.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Tontine Capital Overseas Master Fund II, L.P. By: its General Partner, Tontine Asset Associates, L.L.C., By: its Managing Member, /s/ Jeffrey L. Gendell</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-09-10</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Tontine Asset Associates, L.L.C., By: its Managing Member, /s/ Jeffrey L. Gendell</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-09-10</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Tontine Power Partners, L.P. By: its General Partner, Tontine Management, L.L.C., By: its Managing Member, /s/ Jeffrey L. Gendell</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-09-10</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Tontine Associates, L.L.C., By: its Managing Member, /s/ Jeffrey L. Gendell</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-09-10</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
