A poll by the non-profit Consumer Reports revealed that electric vehicles (EVs) sold in the U.S. are less reliable than their gasoline-powered counterparts.
The results of the 2022 Annual Auto Reliability Survey were published on Nov. 15. It polled more than 300,000 vehicle owners who drive models issued between 2000 and 2022. Twenty-four auto brands made it in the 2022 survey, including some familiar marques from the U.S. and Asia.
Hybrid vehicles – those that run on both electricity and gasoline – were among the most reliable, alongside mid-sized and large sedans that require gasoline. Full EVs and large pickup trucks, meanwhile, were named the most troublesome.
"While hybrids tend to be reliable, plug-in [EVs] are less so," the survey stated. It also mentioned that EV owners reported problems with charging systems, batteries and electric motors.
Of the 11 EV models surveyed, only four – the Kia EV6, Tesla Model 3, Nissan Leaf and the Hyundai Ioniq 5 – reported an average or above-average reliability. The Model 3 has average reliability, while the other Tesla models such as the S, Y and X all have below-average reliability.
Overall brand rankings, however, ranked Tesla at No. 19. The survey explained that although the car maker owned by Elon Musk continues to be the "market leader in EV sales," some of its vehicles are plagued with problems relating to steering and suspension, paint and trim, body hardware and the climate system.
Meanwhile, less popular hybrid-electric vehicles reported a higher reliability.
"Both the Toyota Prius Prime and RAV4 Prime have lower reliability scores than their hybrid counterparts, and, in the case of the RAV4, conventional siblings. And the plug-in Chrysler Pacifica hybrid is one of the least reliable vehicles in the survey," the study said.
East Asian car brands ranked most reliable
The top 10 highest-rated vehicles in the survey were as follows:
- 2023 Toyota Corolla Hybrid
- 2023 Lexus GX
- 2023 Mini Cooper
- 2022 Toyota Prius
- 2022 Mazda MX-5 Miata
- 2023 Lincoln Corsair
- 2023 Toyota Corolla
- 2023 Subaru Crosstrek
- 2023 BMW 3 Series
- 2022 Toyota Prius Prime
For the top 10 most reliable automakers, Japanese car brands took several spots on the list – Toyota and its luxury marque Lexus, Honda and its luxury brand Acura, Mazda and Subaru. Kia was the lone South Korean car brand that made it to the list.
Lincoln and Buick were the two highest ranked American brands, landing at No. 10 and No. 11. Volkswagen, Jeep and Mercedes-Benz ranked the lowest.
"With today's inflated car prices, people are keeping their vehicles longer than ever. A hybrid can provide years of trouble-free miles, and they are a good defense against rising fuel prices. With a top-rated hybrid, you get solid reliability, better fuel economy and lower maintenance costs without sacrificing acceleration, ride comfort or cabin quietness," said Jake Fisher, senior director of automotive testing at Consumer Reports.
The survey arrives as the Biden administration continues to exhort more Americans to drive EVs, which are actually more expensive than traditional combustion engine vehicles, in an effort to decrease pollution and reach its goal of guaranteeing that half of all the latest vehicles sold in 2030 are zero-emission vehicles. (Related: Contrary to what people believe, electric vehicles are not cheaper than gas-fueled vehicles.)
But there's a long way to go before reaching that target. Research from the Energy Information Administration has shown that electric vehicles presently account for just over one percent of the latest vehicle sales in America.
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