Used Tesla cars are not reliable at all, says study
What's the story
Tesla has ranked last in a long-term used car reliability study conducted by Consumer Reports. The electric vehicle maker was placed at the bottom of the list with a "Reliability Verdict" of just 31, below brands like Jeep (32), Ram (35), and Chrysler (36). The study looked at models from 26 brands that were between five and 10 years old.
Production impact
Production history and reliability concerns
The study period coincides with the time when Tesla was ramping up Model 3 production. This led to the company manufacturing cars in a large tent at its Fremont, California factory, which isn't exactly an ideal place for making long-lasting vehicles. However, Consumer Reports has noted that Tesla has improved over time with its latest models showing "better-than-average reliability."
Leading brands
Lexus and Toyota top the reliability chart
On the other end of the spectrum, Lexus and Toyota topped the reliability chart with scores of 77 and 73, respectively. They were followed by Mazda (58), Honda (57), and Acura (53) in the top five. Consumer Reports' auto data analytics program leader Steven Elek explained that these brands are at the top due to their "conservative redesigns" while "incrementally improving their entire product line."
Improved standing
Tesla's new-car reliability ranking
Despite its low score in the long-term reliability study, Tesla ranks ninth in new-car reliability with a predicted reliability of 50. It is just behind Buick (51) and Acura (54), but ahead of Kia (49) and Ford (48), as well as luxury brands such as Audi (44), Volvo (42), and Cadillac (41).