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

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2010-12-01</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>2010-12-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>90721</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>8.2584</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>10621689</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See Footnotes</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F5"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F6"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F7"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F8"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F9"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, $0.01 par value per share</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-12-02</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>155771</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>8.4012</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>10465918</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See Footnotes</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F5"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F6"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F7"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F8"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F9"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, $0.01 par value per share</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-12-02</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>81929</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>8.4012</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>10383989</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See Footnotes</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F5"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F6"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F7"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F8"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F9"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, $0.01 par value per share</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-12-03</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>46579</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>8.5074</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>10337410</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See Footnotes</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F5"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F6"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F7"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F8"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F9"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">This report is filed jointly by 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 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;), 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="F2">Mr. Gendell is the managing member of: (a) TCM, the general partner of T25; (b) TCO; (c) TM, the general partner of TP and TPP; (d) TOA; (e) TAA, the general partner of TCP 2; and (f) TA.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">On December 1, 2010, T25 sold 90,721 shares of Common Stock at a weighted average price of $8.2584 per share, at prices ranging from $8.2317 to $8.2637 per share.  On December 2, 2010, T25 sold 155,771 shares of Common Stock at a weighted average price of $8.4012 per share, at prices ranging from $8.3917 to $8.4097 per share.  On December 2, 2010, TCP2 sold 81,929 shares of Common Stock at a weighted average price of $8.4012 per share, at prices ranging from $8.3917 to $8.4097 per share.  On December 3, 2010, TCP 2 sold 46,579 shares of Common Stock at a weighted average price of $8.5074 per share, at prices ranging from $8.5046 to $8.51 per share.   The filing parties undertake to provide to the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Issuer or any security holder of the Issuer, upon request, full information regarding the number of shares purchased or sold at each separate price within the ranges described in this footnote.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">Mr. Gendell, T25 and TAA directly own 0 shares of Common Stock, TP directly owns 540,790 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 8,119,974 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="F5">All of the foregoing securities may be deemed to be beneficially owned by Mr. Gendell.  The foregoing securities sold by T25 be deemed to have been beneficially owned by TCM.  The foregoing securities held by TP and TPP may be deemed to be beneficially owned by TM.  The foregoing securities held by TCP 2 may be deemed to be beneficially owned by TAA.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F6">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, TCO, TP, TM, TOA, 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, T25.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F7">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.  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="F8">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="F9">This Form 4 relates to the same transactions disclosed on the Form 4 filed on the date hereof by TCM, 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>2010-12-03</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Tontine Asset Associates, L.L.C., By: its Managing Member, /s/ Jeffrey L. Gendell</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-12-03</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>2010-12-03</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Tontine Associates, L.L.C., By: its Managing Member, /s/ Jeffrey L. Gendell</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-12-03</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
