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Report: Electric vehicles are less reliable than traditional gasoline-powered cars.

2023-12-01

Report: Electric vehicles are less reliable than traditional gasoline-powered cars

IT Home reported on November 30 that it’s widely believed electric vehicles are less prone to problems than internal combustion engine cars. However, data tells a different story—according to information gathered by Consumer Reports, electric vehicles actually lag behind traditional-powered cars in terms of reliability.

Consumer Reports, a well-known U.S.-based consumer advocacy organization, conducts annual reliability assessments of various vehicles. IT Home recently noted that the organization has released a new report comparing the reliability of electric vehicles (EVs), plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), and conventional internal combustion engine (ICE) cars. The report highlights several key findings: Electric vehicles are less reliable than traditional cars—according to the report, EVs experience 79% more reliability issues compared to conventional vehicles, while PHEVs face an even higher 146% increase in reliability problems. This suggests that both EVs and PHEVs are more prone to malfunctions, requiring repairs or component replacements more frequently. The report attributes this trend primarily to the relatively newer technology behind EVs and PHEVs, as manufacturers are still working to resolve underlying technical challenges.
Non-plug-in hybrid vehicles boast higher reliability than traditional cars: reports indicate that these hybrids experience 26% fewer reliability issues compared to conventional vehicles. This is largely due to the relatively mature technology of hybrid cars, as well as the fact that they are primarily offered by manufacturers known for their robust quality. Meanwhile, there are significant variations in reliability among different brands of electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles: some perform exceptionally well, while others struggle with consistent reliability. For instance, Tesla’s electric vehicles rank moderately in terms of reliability—while their electric powertrain systems are notably stable, their body structures, paint finishes, and air conditioning systems tend to be more vulnerable. In contrast, Ford’s electric and plug-in hybrid models lag behind in reliability rankings, with even its flagship products like the F-150, Bronco, and Lightning facing notable reliability challenges. On the other hand, Toyota’s plug-in hybrid vehicles shine brightly on the reliability charts, with the RAV4 Prime emerging as one of the most dependable models in the entire survey. Overall, Asian manufacturers continue to dominate the reliability rankings.