Consumer Reports: E-Cars Are Less Reliable Than Gasoline Ones

According to the annual car reliability study conducted by the famous American consumer publication Consumer Reports (CR), electric vehicles (EVs) have 79% (!) more issues than cars with gasoline internal combustion engines (ICE).

Predicted vehicle reliability was assessed based on responses from CR members about problems they encountered while operating their vehicles in the past year.

The 2023 survey included data on more than 330,000 vehicles of 2000–2023 model years. The study covered a wide range of indicators, including out-of-warranty engine and transmission repairs, problems with the electric vehicle's battery, charging, and other nuisances such as squeaky brakes or damaged interior trim.

With electric vehicles still in their infancy, it's no surprise that manufacturers as a whole continue to work out the bugs, says Jake Fisher, CR's senior director of auto testing. However, we see signs of movement in the right direction. Still, our data shows that reliability-conscious consumers are better off moving away from brand-new vehicles in their first model year.

He also noted that many EVs, although produced by established automakers, remain raw from a technical point of view – too little time has passed since the first e-car rolled off the assembly line. So what does that say about cars from companies that are complete newbies in the vehicle production like for instance Rivian.

TOP 10 automakers by predicted reliability

1) Lexus (79 out of 100 predicted reliability indicators),

2) Toyota (76), 

3) Mini (71), 

4) Acura (70), 

5) Honda (70), 

6) Subaru (69), 

7) Mazda (67), 

8) Porsche (66), 

9) BMW (64),

10) Kia (61).

Average in terms of predicted reliability

11) Hyundai (56), 

12) Buick (55), 

13) Infiniti (53), 

14) Tesla (48), 

15) Ram (46), 

16) Cadillac (45), 

17) Nissan (45), 

18) Genesis (44), 

19) Audi (43),

20) Chevrolet (43), 

21) Dodge (42) и 

22) Ford (40).

Below average

23) Lincoln (38), 

24) GMC (36), 

25) Volvo (28), 

26) Jeep (26), 

27) Volkswagen (26), 

28) Rivian (24), 

29) Mercedes-Benz (23) 

30) Chrysler. 

Tied automakers are listed in alphabetical order.

CR also mentioned that it did not have enough data to rank Alfa Romeo, Fiat, Jaguar, Land Rover, Lucid, Maserati, Mitsubishi and Polestar.

Consumer Reports also notes that charging and battery issues are common problems for electric vehicles, but Tesla is bucking the trend with comparatively fewer problems and the Model Y and Model 3 have been given the CR Recommended status.

The publication also stresses that although Tesla is the second-highest rated American automaker in terms of predicted reliability after Buick, it still has problems with body equipment, paint and trim, as well as the climate system.

Among EVs, the Ford Mustang Mach-E demonstrated sufficient improvements in the battery and EV charging system to qualify for Consumer Reports’ Recommended status.

Full-size pickups are ranked at the very bottom of the brand rankings.

Reliability of hybrids, electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids. GRAPHICS: CONSUMER REPORTS

Given the scale of production of new electric vehicles, CR added three new factors to its research: electric motor, hybrid battery, and e-vehicle charging (issues with the vehicle, not the charger).

Currently, ICE vehicles are rated by CR on 17 potential problem areas, while electric vehicles are rated on just 12 because they do not usually have significant issues with engines and transmissions.

Hybrids are judged using the same 17 criteria as gasoline powered cars, plus two more for the electric motor and battery.

PHEVs are ranked according to 20 criteria - all issues with gasoline engine, the electric motor, battery and charging. The added complexity of combining a conventional engine with an electric drive into a PHEV means that at any moment something can go wrong with these cars, CR notes.

Among individual models, the Toyota 4Runner was recognized as the most reliable, while the Camry and Highlander were among the most reliable.

The Tundra was the only Toyota to score below average, with owners reporting problems with bodywork, paint and trim, vehicle electronics and brakes.

Most Lexus models are above or well above the average reliability rating.

Among other brands included in the top 10 list, most Honda models received average ratings, with the exceptions of the Accord Hybrid and CR-V being above average. The HR-V got the highest scores while the Pilot owners reported problems with bodywork, paint, and trim; The Odyssey and the Passport have recorded issues with electronics.

Subaru scored above average for the BRZ, WRX, Forester and Crosstrek but their Outback and Legacy had issues with their electronics; owners of the Ascent often voiced complaints about the climate system and brakes, and the Solterra EV has charging problems.

Mazda received an above average rating for all of its models, while all Kia models received an average or above average rating.

For German automakers in the top ten, Mini’s models were rated above average, but BMW models were rated average or above average. Only the X5 made it into the top ten most reliable models list.

Porsche scored above average with  the Cayenne and Macan.

At the lower end of CR's list is Volkswagen, which received a below average rating for all of its models, with the Taos being named one of the least reliable cars in the survey.

All Mercedes-Benz models were rated below average or well below average.

Chrysler is the last automaker on the list, with its Pacifica Hybrid PHEV ranked as the least reliable vehicle. Owners have reported problems with the electric/hybrid battery, charging, drive system and vehicle electronics.

Sources: Driving.ca, Consumerreports.org