Glitchy features dent electric SUV reliability, survey finds

Electric SUVs mostly are among the slightest reliable vehicles connected the road, but it's not due to the fact that of the batteries oregon electrical motors that powerfulness them.

Instead, it's due to the fact that of glitch-prone electronics including clime controls and powerfulness equipment, the yearly car reliability survey of subscribers by Consumer Reports found.

Electric SUVs were the slightest reliable class successful the yearly survey of subscribers to the mag and website who collectively ain much than 300,000 vehicles. Tesla's Models X and Y, the Audi E-Tron and Volkswagen ID.4 were among the vehicles singled retired arsenic having problems successful areas different than the electrical powertrain.

In contrast, compact and plug-in gas-electric hybrids led by the Toyota Prius and Prius Prime and the Honda Insight were the astir reliable category, said Jake Fisher, elder manager of car investigating for Consumer Reports.

Overall, Japanese brands led by Lexus, Mazda, Toyota and Infiniti took 8 of the apical 10 spots successful the reliability survey. General Motors' Buick brand finished fifth, and BMW's Mini was 10th.

Ford's Lincoln luxury marque finished past of 28 brands with Tesla, Jeep, Genesis and Volkswagen rounding retired the bottommost five.

Electric vehicles, with acold less moving parts, should beryllium much reliable than gas-powered vehicles, Fisher said. But electrical SUVs thin to beryllium higher-priced luxury vehicles astatine present, and those person each the latest exertion that tin origin trouble, helium said.

"The powertrains aren't the problem," Fisher said. Instead, the electrical SUVs often are equipped with electrical doorway handles, electric-activated clime power vents and different features. "By having each of these caller technologies saddled into these aboriginal adopter-mobiles, determination are much problems associated with them."

Fisher said electric vehicles are apt to beryllium much reliable than gas-powered ones arsenic manufacturers enactment the bugs retired of their features.

The Lexus GX SUV was the astir reliable exemplary successful the survey, followed by Kia's Niro electrical vehicle, the Toyota Prius Prime plug-in hybrid, the Prius hybrid and the Cadillac XT5 sedan.

Least reliable were the Mercedes GLE, Ford Explorer, Ford Mustang, Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra 1500, and the Chevrolet Corvette, according to the survey.

Fisher said owners are reporting much problems with analyzable eight-, nine- and 10-speed transmissions that are designed for substance efficiency, particularly among immoderate Hyundia, Kia, Subaru and Toyota models.

Tesla, the world's starring electrical conveyance brand, was ranked adjacent the bottommost for reliability owed to reports of assemblage hardware problems, h2o leaks, trunks not closing and missing upwind stripping, Fisher said. There besides were problems with a caller vigor pump strategy to vigor the rider compartment and defrost the windshield, helium said. Tesla's Model 3 sedan, with mean reliability, was the lone exemplary recommended by Consumer Reports.

Lexus, Toyota's luxury brand, traditionally is astatine the apical of the survey due to the fact that it's truly blimpish erstwhile rolling retired caller engines, transmissions and technology, Fisher said. The brand, helium said, was among the past to adhd Apple CarPlay to its vehicles, and it was dilatory to determination toward eight-speed transmissions, helium said.

Fisher said reliability is much important than ever present owed to parts proviso shortages to hole problems. "Buying a reliable vehicle tin assistance guarantee that you'll beryllium capable to deed the roadworthy erstwhile you request to, and not interest astir getting stuck waiting connected parts for repairs," helium said.

The survey is utilized by Consumer Reports to foretell reliability. It's based connected wide reliability for the 2019, 2020 and 2021 exemplary years, for vehicles that person not been redesigned.

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