New Electric vehicles (EVs) have on average 79% more problems than (ICE) vehicles with internal combustion engines(ICE). Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV) are even worse with an average of 146% more problems, according to the Annual Auto Reliability survey* from Consumer Reports (CR). Electric cars, electric SUVs, and electric pickups all rank among the least-reliable vehicle categories. Hybrids, in contrast, continue to be a bright spot. They experience 26% fewer problems than ICE vehicles on average. CR’s survey findings were announced today at an online news conference in collaboration with the Detroit-based Automotive Press Association.** Full-sized pickup trucks remain near the bottom of CR’s brand ranking, but aren’t the least reliable category. Mid-sized and electric pickups are worse for reliability.
“EVs are still in their relative infancy as mainstream vehicles, so it’s really not surprising that manufacturers, by and large, are still working out the kinks,” said Jake Fisher, senior director of auto testing at Consumer Reports. “That said, we are seeing signs of movement in the right direction. And as our data has consistently shown, reliability-minded consumers would be best served by forgoing brand new vehicles in their first model year.”
Not surprisingly, the most reliable auto brands are Asian. Lexus and Toyota take the top two spots in CR’s brand level rankings for 2023. Five other Japanese or Korean brands are in this year’s top ten, joined there by the German makers of Mini, Porsche, and BMW. CR was unable to discuss statistical standard deviations among its ratings.
Other CR Observations
- Charging and battery issues are plaguing EVs, but Tesla is bucking that trend with comparatively fewer issues in those categories. Two of its four models, the popular Model Y and Model 3, are Recommended by CR. The Model 3’s reliability has been average in recent years. The Model Y improved to average this year.
- This once again has been a challenging year for domestic manufacturers. Buick ranks highest among the domestic brands, at 12th overall. All the rest are in the bottom half of the brand rankings; Chrysler is dead last.
- The number of new hybrids, PHEVs, and EVs being introduced is steadily increasing. Just in the past five years, the percentage of vehicles that CR purchases for its test fleet that are hybrids and EVs has grown from 12% in 2018 to 56% in 2023. CR this year added three new individual trouble areas to its reliability survey for electrified vehicles: Electric motor, EV/Hybrid Battery, and EV Charging. This CR claims will allow for a clearer picture of the problems with these distinct drivetrains.
- Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) vehicles still have 17 potential trouble areas. Toyota’s 4Runner is the most reliable model in CR’ survey. The only Toyota with a below-average rating is the Tundra, with owners reporting body hardware, paint & trim, in-car electronics, and brake issues. The Crown, new for 2023, is average, along with the Sienna and the bZ4X EV. The redesigned Prius and Prius Prime are well above and above average, respectively. All other Toyotas are above average and the Camry Hybrid, Camry, and RAV4 Prime are well above average.
- EVs can have up to 12 trouble areas, where traditional ICE problems such as Engine and Transmission are not included.
- Hybrids have 19 potential trouble areas; 17 from ICE vehicles, as well as Electric motor and EV Battery.
- PHEVs can experience all 20 trouble areas; 17 from ICE vehicles, as well as Electric motor, EV Battery, and EV Charging.
- Tesla Motors, 14th, the market leader in EV sales, continues to have issues with body hardware, paint and trim, and climate system on its models, but are not as problematic for motor, charging, and battery. At number 14, Tesla is the second-highest ranked domestic automaker in CR’s brand rankings. The Model 3 and Model Y have average reliability while all the other Tesla models – the S, and X – are all below average.
- Some EV models from other manufacturers had fewer reported problems related to build quality, but higher rates of powertrain, battery and charging issues. “This suggests that legacy automakers need more time to work out the kinks under the hood of their EVs, while Tesla faces above the hood issues. One bright spot is Ford’s Mustang Mach-E, which has shown enough improvement in its EV battery and charging system to now be rated average for predicted reliability, and is eligible for CR’s recommendation,” CR said.
- Most Hondas score average, including the Passport, Pilot, Odyssey, CR-V Hybrid, Ridgeline, Accord, and Civic. The Accord Hybrid and CR-V are above average, and the HR-V is outstanding. Pilot owners reported issues with body hardware and paint & trim, while Odyssey and Passport owners reported in-car electronics and electrical accessories issues.
- Subaru, ranking sixth, hit some snags with its Solterra EV. Owners say they experienced problems with charging, while the Outback and Legacy have in-car electronics issues, and the Ascent SUV has climate system and brake problems, though all rate average for reliability. The BRZ, WRX, Forester, and redesigned Crosstrek score above-average.
- Mazda, in seventh place, has all of its models in the above-average predicted reliability category, including the MX-5 Miata, 3, CX-50, CX-30, and CX-5.
- Porsche is in the number eight spot. The Cayenne and Macan SUVs, both score above-average.
- All Kia – 10th place – models score average or better. The Sportage Plug-in Hybrid is well-above average, and the Carnival, Forte, Niro, and K5 are all above average. The EV6 is average, as some owners reported issues with EV charging, while Sorento and Soul owners noted some transmission problems. All other Kia’s are average.
- Most of the 11th-ranked Hyundai’s models are average or above average. But the Ioniq 5 EV scores below average, with owners reporting trouble charging, along with EV battery and climate system problems. The Palisade, Ioniq 6, Tucson, and Elantra are above average. The Venue, Santa Cruz, Elantra Hybrid, Tucson Hybrid and PHEV, and Sonata are average.
- Number 18 Genesis is a mix, with the GV80 and GV70 SUVs scoring below average while the GV60 EV, G70, and G80 are all average. GV70 owners told CR about fuel system, drive system, and body hardware problems.
- Twenty-second ranked Ford’s scores vary. The Maverick and Edge are above average, while the F-150, F-150 Lightning, Escape, Bronco, Bronco Sport, and Explorer are all below average. The F-150 Hybrid is among the least reliable models, scoring well-below average. F-150 Lightning and Hybrid owners noted issues with their EV/Hybrid batteries, while F-150 Hybrid owners also had transmission, drive system, and exhaust problems.
- Lincoln ranks 23rd. The Aviator is below average, and the Corsair is average, with owners noting body hardware problems and noises & leaks.
- Volvo’s (25th place) XC60 and XC90 remain below average, joined by the XC60 PHEV. However, the XC40 and S60/V60 have average reliability. XC60 owners had issues with the brakes, in-car electronics, climate system, and electrical accessories. XC60 PHEV owners reported most of those, along with EV battery and charging system problems.
- Volkswagen is in 27th place. Every model in its lineup has below average predicted reliability. The Taos is one of the least-reliable vehicles in the survey, with owners noting issues with the brakes, electrical accessories, transmission, engine, electric system, in-car electronics, and noises & leaks.
- Mercedes-Benz is the lowest-ranked European brand, in 29th place. All its models are predicted to be below or well-below average. The GLE has climate system and build quality issues, including body hardware, electrical accessories, and noises & leaks.
- CR had insufficient data to create brand rankings for Alfa Romeo, Fiat, Jaguar, Land Rover, Lucid, Maserati, Mitsubishi, and Polestar.
Hybrids Good, PHEVs Not So Much
This year’s CR survey shows that hybrids are becoming more reliable, but plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) are less so. On average, hybrids are 26% more reliable than vehicles with only an internal combustion engine, but PHEVs are 146% less reliable. PHEVs combine conventional engines with an electric drive. The added complexity means that there’s more that can go wrong with them.
“Hybrids continue to surpass EVs and ICE vehicles for reliability even though hybrids are more complex with gas-powered engines supplemented by an electric drive system,” Fisher said. “This is because hybrid technology is now over 25 years old and is offered mainly from the most reliable automakers.”
The Toyota Camry and Toyota Highlander SUV are among the most reliable of all vehicles in CR’s survey, and their hybrid versions also land near the top of the list. Conversely, several PHEVs are less reliable than their conventional counterparts, such as the below-average Audi Q5 and Chrysler Pacifica PHEVs.
The predictions for 2024 models are based on each year’s overall reliability for the past three years, provided that the model hasn’t been redesigned during that time. If there is insufficient data on a model in any given model year, CR uses the brand reliability score to supplement that model’s new car prediction. Because of the changes in this year’s survey questions and methodology, direct comparisons to previous years’ brand reliability data cannot be made.
Consumer Reports’ analysis of new car reliability is a key element of CR’s Overall Score, which is an all-inclusive ranking that helps consumers find the vehicles that deliver on their promises and last. The Overall Score also includes road-test performance, owner satisfaction survey results, whether a vehicle comes standard with key active safety systems, and results from crash tests, if applicable.
CR Makes Changes to Overall Score on Safety Equipment
Starting with model year 2024, CR is deducting two points from the overall scores of vehicles that don’t come standard with automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection. Bonus points will still be given on a sliding scale based on a vehicle’s performance in IIHS’s vehicle-to-pedestrian AEB tests.
In addition, model year 2024 vehicles that are equipped with active driver assistance (ADA) systems will lose one point if they don’t have an adequate direct driver monitoring system (DDMS). This means a vision-based sensing system that effectively and directly detects the driver’s eye and/or head movement. If the system senses the driver is not paying attention, it should provide escalating warnings to elicit driver engagement. If the driver does not respond to warnings, the ADA system should stay engaged and slow the vehicle in a safe and controlled manner. Bonus points will continue to be given to models with adequate DDMS.
“We continue to believe in the clear safety benefits of ADA systems, but there are also dangers that should not be overlooked, namely driver overreliance and overestimation of the capabilities of these systems,” Fisher said. “Adequate DDMS is a critical safeguard, and we hope to nudge automakers toward making them standard the same as they’ve increasingly been doing with other key safety systems like AEB with pedestrian detection.”
*CR asks its members annually about potential trouble areas they’ve had with their vehicles in the previous 12 months. This year’s survey covers 20 problem areas including engine, electric motors, transmission, in-car electronics, and more. CR uses that feedback from consumers to predict reliability ratings for new cars from every major mainstream model. This year, CR gathered data on more than 330,000 vehicles from the 2000 to 2023 model years, with a few newly-introduced 2024 models. For more information on CR’s 2023 #CRCarReliability findings, visit CR.org/reliability or follow on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @consumerreports.
** Full disclosure. Ken Zino was a founding member of APA and its first president.
EV Pickups Least Reliable Says Consumer Reports at APA
New Electric vehicles (EVs) have on average 79% more problems than (ICE) vehicles with internal combustion engines(ICE). Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV) are even worse with an average of 146% more problems, according to the Annual Auto Reliability survey* from Consumer Reports (CR). Electric cars, electric SUVs, and electric pickups all rank among the least-reliable vehicle categories. Hybrids, in contrast, continue to be a bright spot. They experience 26% fewer problems than ICE vehicles on average. CR’s survey findings were announced today at an online news conference in collaboration with the Detroit-based Automotive Press Association.** Full-sized pickup trucks remain near the bottom of CR’s brand ranking, but aren’t the least reliable category. Mid-sized and electric pickups are worse for reliability.
“EVs are still in their relative infancy as mainstream vehicles, so it’s really not surprising that manufacturers, by and large, are still working out the kinks,” said Jake Fisher, senior director of auto testing at Consumer Reports. “That said, we are seeing signs of movement in the right direction. And as our data has consistently shown, reliability-minded consumers would be best served by forgoing brand new vehicles in their first model year.”
Not surprisingly, the most reliable auto brands are Asian. Lexus and Toyota take the top two spots in CR’s brand level rankings for 2023. Five other Japanese or Korean brands are in this year’s top ten, joined there by the German makers of Mini, Porsche, and BMW. CR was unable to discuss statistical standard deviations among its ratings.
Other CR Observations
Hybrids Good, PHEVs Not So Much
This year’s CR survey shows that hybrids are becoming more reliable, but plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) are less so. On average, hybrids are 26% more reliable than vehicles with only an internal combustion engine, but PHEVs are 146% less reliable. PHEVs combine conventional engines with an electric drive. The added complexity means that there’s more that can go wrong with them.
“Hybrids continue to surpass EVs and ICE vehicles for reliability even though hybrids are more complex with gas-powered engines supplemented by an electric drive system,” Fisher said. “This is because hybrid technology is now over 25 years old and is offered mainly from the most reliable automakers.”
The Toyota Camry and Toyota Highlander SUV are among the most reliable of all vehicles in CR’s survey, and their hybrid versions also land near the top of the list. Conversely, several PHEVs are less reliable than their conventional counterparts, such as the below-average Audi Q5 and Chrysler Pacifica PHEVs.
The predictions for 2024 models are based on each year’s overall reliability for the past three years, provided that the model hasn’t been redesigned during that time. If there is insufficient data on a model in any given model year, CR uses the brand reliability score to supplement that model’s new car prediction. Because of the changes in this year’s survey questions and methodology, direct comparisons to previous years’ brand reliability data cannot be made.
Consumer Reports’ analysis of new car reliability is a key element of CR’s Overall Score, which is an all-inclusive ranking that helps consumers find the vehicles that deliver on their promises and last. The Overall Score also includes road-test performance, owner satisfaction survey results, whether a vehicle comes standard with key active safety systems, and results from crash tests, if applicable.
CR Makes Changes to Overall Score on Safety Equipment
Starting with model year 2024, CR is deducting two points from the overall scores of vehicles that don’t come standard with automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection. Bonus points will still be given on a sliding scale based on a vehicle’s performance in IIHS’s vehicle-to-pedestrian AEB tests.
In addition, model year 2024 vehicles that are equipped with active driver assistance (ADA) systems will lose one point if they don’t have an adequate direct driver monitoring system (DDMS). This means a vision-based sensing system that effectively and directly detects the driver’s eye and/or head movement. If the system senses the driver is not paying attention, it should provide escalating warnings to elicit driver engagement. If the driver does not respond to warnings, the ADA system should stay engaged and slow the vehicle in a safe and controlled manner. Bonus points will continue to be given to models with adequate DDMS.
“We continue to believe in the clear safety benefits of ADA systems, but there are also dangers that should not be overlooked, namely driver overreliance and overestimation of the capabilities of these systems,” Fisher said. “Adequate DDMS is a critical safeguard, and we hope to nudge automakers toward making them standard the same as they’ve increasingly been doing with other key safety systems like AEB with pedestrian detection.”
*CR asks its members annually about potential trouble areas they’ve had with their vehicles in the previous 12 months. This year’s survey covers 20 problem areas including engine, electric motors, transmission, in-car electronics, and more. CR uses that feedback from consumers to predict reliability ratings for new cars from every major mainstream model. This year, CR gathered data on more than 330,000 vehicles from the 2000 to 2023 model years, with a few newly-introduced 2024 models. For more information on CR’s 2023 #CRCarReliability findings, visit CR.org/reliability or follow on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @consumerreports.
** Full disclosure. Ken Zino was a founding member of APA and its first president.