Title: Electric Vehicles: Consumer Reports Unveils Most Unreliable Models
Buying a car is a significant investment, and for many, reliability ranks high among essential factors. Independent organizations like Consumer Reports play a crucial role in helping prospective buyers make informed decisions, especially with the growing popularity of electric vehicles (EVs). This year, Consumer Reports analyzed data from 330,000 vehicles, spanning from the 2000s to 2023, to uncover the most unreliable cars.
Excluding Brands with Insufficient Data
Not all brands made the cut in this year's report. Alfa Romeo, Fiat, Jaguar, Land Rover, Lucid, Maserati, Mitsubishi, and Polestar were left out due to insufficient data at the end of the survey.
Electric Vehicles Meet Mixed Reviews
The popularity of electric cars has been on the rise, but Consumer Reports reports that new electric vehicles face 79% more problems on average than traditional combustion engines. Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) fare even worse with 146% more issues, according to the report. However, average problems decrease slightly in hybrids, with models reporting 26% fewer issues than gasoline or diesel engine vehicles.
Jake Fisher, Senior Director of Auto Testing at Consumer Reports, explains the higher rate of problems in electric vehicles due to new technology and manufacturers working through issues. Fisher advises postponing purchase of a brand-new model in its first year to avoid potential headaches.
Common Problems in Electric Vehicles
While traditional combustion engines still suffer from their share of issues, electric vehicles face unique challenges. Poor battery performance and charging difficulties top the list of common problems, with newer manufacturers like Tesla experiencing additional trouble with body parts, paintwork, and trim, as well as air conditioning systems.
Asian Car Brands Shine in Reliability Rankings
Toyota and Lexus emerge as the most reliable car brands in the report, with seven Asian manufacturers taking nine out of the top ten spots. BMW subsidiary Mini, Porsche, and BMW itself rank in the top ten, leaving Tesla, the world's most valuable car manufacturer, in 14th position.
Regional Considerations
Data on electric car reliability may not apply uniformly to all regions. For instance, Tesla's performance in German TÜV testing centers is less than impressive, as stated by "Auto Bild" (Find out more here). Additionally, the challenges faced by EV owners in the U.S. may differ from experiences in Germany due to the country's unreliable charging infrastructure.
