In a reliability survey printed final November, Shopper Reports named electrical SUVs the least-reliable car kind. Now CR has adopted that up with a report shedding mild on particular drawback areas.
On common, EVs have considerably greater drawback charges than internal-combustion automobiles throughout mannequin years 2019 and 2020, in response to CR’s knowledge. That improved considerably for 2021, however sure fashions nonetheless confirmed excessive charges of issues, in response to the report.
The most typical EV drawback areas had been “in-car electronics, noises and leaks, energy tools, local weather system, physique {hardware}, drive system, and paint and trim,” the report stated.
2019 Audi E-tron
A selected instance of an “in-car electronics” failure was a show display screen going clean in 2019 Audi E-Tron fashions, whereas issues with exterior door lights in the identical mannequin constituted a “energy tools” subject.
The report additionally identified “drive system” issues with the 2019 Chevrolet Bolt EV that included “electrical failure, drive unit alternative, and different defective elements.”
Different examples concerned Tesla automobiles, from failing temperature sensors within the 2020 Mannequin S, to unfastened trim and mismatched paint on the 2020 Mannequin Y. CR singled out the latter for “a lot worse than common” reliability final yr.
2020 Tesla Mannequin X
Survey respondents additionally reported issues with seals and weatherstripping within the 2020 Mannequin X, which may trigger water leaks and wind noise. The Mannequin X’s doorways have introduced points from the beginning. In 2016, CEO Elon Musk stated he was “undecided anybody ought to have constructed or designed this automotive, as a result of it is so tough to make.”
In all circumstances, the necessary level isn’t just that these issues happen, however that they happen at a better fee than in comparable internal-combustion automobiles. Regardless of that, CR discovered excessive charges of proprietor satisfaction, indicating that many EV house owners aren’t too apprehensive about reliability points.
The identical 2021 reliability survey additionally discovered that hybrids and plug-in hybrids value much less to take care of and restore. CR additionally famous that “most of those automobiles are constructed on confirmed methods,” which could possibly be a bonus on the subject of reliability.