A dog looks out the window of a Tesla electric car charging at a Tesla Supercharger site in Santa Monica, California on May 15, 2024.
Patrick T. Fallon | AFP | Getty Images
Tesla Toyota is losing ground on traditional automakers in the quality of its new all-electric vehicles, according to an influential annual study by J.D. Power.
The 2024 US Initial Quality Study found that the quality of Tesla's battery electric vehicles, or BEVs, and those of traditional automakers was the same, with 266 problems reported for every 100 vehicles newly sold or leased.
Previously, Tesla models outperformed electric vehicles from traditional automakers in the annual survey. Last year, Tesla ranked at 257 issues per 100 vehicles, compared to an average of 265 issues per 100 vehicles for electric vehicles from traditional automakers.
The study attributes Tesla's growing problems to negative customer response after the company removed traditional feature controls, such as turn signals and wiper stalks.
Across the broader industry, not just battery electric vehicles, Tesla has consistently ranked lower in terms of initial quality since J.D. Power began including Tesla in the study in 2022.
Overall, the study, which included data on repair visits to authorized dealers for the first time, found that electric vehicles, such as battery electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV), have more problems than traditional gas and diesel vehicles. Internal combustion engines.
“Owners of advanced, technology-packed battery electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV) experience problems with a severity level high enough to cause them to take their new vehicle to the dealership at a rate three times higher than owners of gas-powered vehicles,” said J.D. Frank Hanley, senior director. Automotive measurement at Bauer, in a press release.
The study found that electric vehicles require more repairs than gas-powered vehicles in all repair categories.
According to the study, the average number of problems faced by electric cars was 266 problems per 100 vehicles, which is about 86 points higher than the average number of problems for gasoline and diesel vehicles, which was 180 problems per 100 vehicles. A lower score indicates a higher quality of the vehicle.
Top concerns included features, controls and displays as well as wireless smartphone integration, with customers reporting frequent difficulties with them apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
The study also noted frustration with false warnings, unnecessary traffic alerts, and automatic braking features. Specifically, rear-seat reminders contributed to 1.7 problems per 100 vehicles across the industry, with owners reporting receiving signals even when no one was in the back seat.
“It is not surprising that the introduction of new technology poses a challenge for manufacturers to maintain vehicle quality,” Hanley added.
— CNBC's Michael Weiland contributed to this report.
