Due to fewer issues reported by car owners, the Tesla Model Y received a CR recommendation for the first time this year
In the latest Consumer Reports CR survey on reliability, hybrids are the most reliable cars, while plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) are the least reliable cars, and Tesla's Model Y is the latest recommended model.
Results of the 2024 Automotive Reliability Survey
According to Consumer Reports' newly released annual Automotive Reliability Survey, EV owners report far more problems than traditional diesel or hybrid vehicles. The survey shows that, on average, electric vehicles have had 79% more problems than diesel locomotives in the last 3 model years. The survey is based on feedback from more than 330,000 car owners and covers 20 areas of potential failure, including engines, transmissions, electric motors, leaks, and infotainment systems.
Jake Fisher, senior director of automotive testing at Consumer Reports, said: "Today, most electric vehicles are either built by traditional automakers who are new to EV technology or by companies like Rivian that are new to car manufacturing. It's no surprise that they run into issues and take some time to fix these errors. Fisher said some of the most common issues reported by EV owners are issues with electric motors, charging, and EV batteries.
The most experienced Teslas achieve only moderate reliability
Tesla has been producing electric cars for more than a decade, but their reliability is only at a moderate level. First introduced in 2020, the Model Y received a CR recommendation for the first time (along with the Model 3) for fewer suspension and in-vehicle electronics and overall build quality issues reported by owners this year than in previous years.
"Tesla's Model 3 and Model Y are the best they can be when it comes to making electric vehicles," Fisher said, "and while Tesla is still a relatively new car company, it has more experience producing electric vehicles than any other automaker." ”
Steven Elek, project leader for CR's automotive data analytics, said: "While Tesla's EV components are generally reliable, the company is still struggling with the build quality of its vehicles. Tesla's powertrain is now mostly fairly sturdy now, but Tesla owners have reported a number of build quality issues, including uneven paint, broken trim, door handles not working, and trunks won't close. All of this pulls down the brand's reliability score" (consumer reports factor these quality issues that need to be fixed into reliability calculations, but they are weighted less than more serious problems such as engine, transmission, or drivetrain).
Hybrids shine with reliability
Compared with diesel locomotives, hybrid, pure electric, and plug-in hybrid vehicles have increased the average failure rate by -26%, 79%, and 146% over the past 3 years
This year's survey data shows that hybrids are still the most reliable type of car: hybrids have 26% fewer problems than conventional models, even though they have both a traditional internal combustion engine system and a new electric motor, so there are more potential problems than conventional cars. Among the standouts are the Lexus UX and NX hybrids as well as the Toyota Camry hybrid, Highlander hybrid, and RAV4 hybrid.
"Toyota introduced the Prius hybrid about 25 years ago," Elek said. Automakers have been producing hybrid cars long enough, and they're already very good at it. In addition, many hybrids are also produced by manufacturers such as Toyota, Hyundai and Kia, which produce cars that are generally reliable. ”
Hybrids also don't typically come with high-tech features, such as a variety of customizable displays that can be problem-prone, which is why Fisher says hybrids are a great option for motorists who are more interested in fuel mileage than clocks and whistles. "These vehicles don't have to be the pinnacle of technology, so there's less chance of something going wrong," he said. "
Plug-in hybrids are the least reliable
Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), which have both batteries for short-range electric travel and internal combustion engines for long-range travel, are the least reliable class of vehicles: 146% more problems than conventional cars.
"PHEVs are like an electric car and a traditional car, so by their very nature, they can be more problematic," Fisher said.
For example, the traditional version of the Chrysler Pacifica minivan scored high enough for reliability to be a new recommended model this year. However, the reliability score of the PHEV version of the Pacifica is well below average, so the model is not recommended. "Problems with the hybrid drivetrain and charging system have dragged down the minivan's reliability score," says Elek. "
Fisher says there are always exceptions to these reliability trends, so it's crucial to consider the reliability score of any model before purchasing. "PHEVs are unreliable as a category, but the Toyota RAV4 Prime plug-in hybrid is one of the most reliable models in our survey this year. Similarly, the Ford F-150 hybrid has gearbox and other issues that run counter to the trend of hybrids being more reliable. "
As a result, the situation with plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) is more complicated: there are several PHEVs that are less reliable than conventional diesel locomotives, with the exception of the Chrysler Pacifica (which as an overall brand has the lowest Chrysler score of 14), and the Audi Q5 is also below average.
Still, there are a few PHEVs that buck the trend, with the Kia Sportage also scoring well above average for reliability, in addition to the Toyota RAV4 Prime. The BMW X5, Hyundai Tucson and Ford Escape PHEVs have average reliability scores.
BEVs are still struggling
All-electric sedans and all-electric SUVs also underperformed, with reliability scores averaging 44 and 43. In the model rankings, electric pickups are at the bottom with an average score of 30 points.
As more and more EVs enter the market, automakers are mass-producing each model, and we're seeing issues with EV drive system motors, EV charging systems, and EV batteries (unlike the low-power 12-volt batteries that power accessories). Owners of the Ford F-150 Lightning and Mustang Mach-E, Genesis GV60, Hyundai Ioniq 5, Kia Niro EV and EV6, Subaru Solterra, Toyota bZ4X, and Volkswagen ID.4 have all reported some of these issues.
Test data sources
Comparative & Objective Testing in Europe for Safety & Trust e.V. (COTEST) Collects Tests to Seek the Truth (COTEST) / 质量安全欧洲测试协会（COTEST）聚测试，以求是…