DETROIT — A new study from Consumer Reports finds that electric vehicles are, on average, far less reliable than gas-powered cars, trucks and SUVs, and EVs from 2021 to 2023 models are less reliable than gas-powered cars. It was found that vehicles encountered nearly 80% more problems than trucks and SUVs. We have developed a vehicle that is propelled by an internal combustion engine.
According to Consumer Reports, EV owners most frequently report problems with the battery and charging system, as well as defects in how the vehicle’s body panels and interior parts are installed. The magazine and website noted that EV manufacturers are still learning to build entirely new power systems, which should also improve the overall reliability of electric vehicles.
“This story is really one of growing pains,” said Jake Fisher, Consumer Reports’ senior director of automotive testing. “It’s just a matter of ironing out the bugs and pain points in new technology.”
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Still, Consumer Reports finds that concerns about high cost, scarcity of charging stations, and long charging times, along with persistent concerns about reliability, are giving many buyers pause when considering switching to new technology. He pointed out that there is a high possibility that the problem will increase further.
Growth in electric vehicle sales has slowed sharply since last year. EV sales in June 2022 increased by approximately 90% compared to the previous year. By June, 12-month growth had slowed to about 50%, and automakers are increasingly concerned that the pace will slow further.
Reflecting this concern, approximately 3,900 U.S. auto dealers recently signed a letter to President Joe Biden calling for electric vehicles to reach 67% of total U.S. sales by 2032. He called for a reconsideration of unrealistic fuel economy and emissions requirements.
Their letter warns that consumer enthusiasm for EVs is stalling.
“Even with deep price reductions, manufacturer incentives, and generous government incentives, the products are not selling fast enough to reach dealers,” the letter said.
The Consumer Reports study also concluded that plug-in hybrid vehicles, which can run on battery power before the gasoline-electric powertrain kicks in, are more prone to problems than fully electric vehicles. Fischer pointed out that the plug-in includes two separate and complex power systems, and it is possible for those systems to malfunction. He also pointed out that brands that have generally proven to be unreliable over time, such as Jeep and Volvo, are starting to mass produce plug-in hybrids.
But Fischer said proven gas-electric hybrid systems are more reliable than gas-powered cars. The main reason for this is that it has been used for about a quarter of a century and most of the bugs have been resolved.
Consumer Reports extracted survey data from subscribers who own 2021-2023 model year EVs and compared them to other vehicle models. The organization assigned extra weight to critical issues such as battery and engine failures when calculating the average problem rate for a vehicle.
EVs overall for the 2021 and 2022 model years had more than twice the problem rate compared to internal combustion engine vehicles. For the 2023 model year, the percentages matched more closely, with these EVs having 21% more problems than their gasoline-powered counterparts, Fisher said.
Fischer said the gap in issues between EVs and combustion vehicles has narrowed for the 2023 model year, suggesting EVs are becoming more reliable across the board. Still, he noted that newer vehicles tend to have lower problem rates, which tend to increase as they age.
Michael Coram of Lockport, New York, near Buffalo, is among the EV owners who are having problems with their vehicles. In July, Corum bought a 2023 Chevrolet Bolt electric SUV to cut down on commuting costs, citing its sporty handling. Corum, 44, a heating and air conditioning engineer, said he encountered a troubling problem. On a cold mid-November day, the Bolt wouldn’t switch into drive.
Eventually, after Kolam turned the car on and off 10 to 12 times, the problem resolved itself and the problem has not occurred since. Other owners on Volt social media forums told Corum that the SUV’s computer may have shifted into the driver’s seat before completing its startup sequence.
“It’s just too much for a computer to handle,” he said.
In 2021, General Motors recalled its popular electric Volts from 2017 to 2022 models and replaced the batteries due to a manufacturing defect that could cause a fire. Fisher said Bolt owners had to limit the amount of battery charge and park their cars outside until a replacement battery was available. Fisher said repairs have continued this year, and some Bolt owners have reported problems in a Consumer Reports investigation.
Additionally, Hyundai Ioniq 5 EV owners reported battery and charging issues related to the charging control computer, causing the vehicle to stall in some cases.
Fischer said Tesla, the leader in EV sales, has years of experience building cars and has seen improvements in reliability. This is primarily because Tesla’s relatively small and inexpensive Model Y SUV and Model 3 make up a large portion of its sales. They are easy to manufacture and lack the glitch-prone new technology that Telsa offers in its more expensive vehicles, the Model S and X.
Tesla was ranked 14th out of 30 car brands in the 2023 study, up from 19th in 2022.
The survey found Toyota’s luxury brand Lexus to be the most reliable, followed by Toyota, Mini, Acura and Honda. The bottom five brands were Jeep, Volkswagen, Rivian, Mercedes-Benz, and Chrysler.
Research shows electric vehicles face an uphill climb for U.S. consumers