EVs are giving new owners more headaches, and Tesla is a big reason why: J.D. Power study
Automotive research firm J.D. Power’s highly watched initial quality study is out — and it appears EVs are giving consumers big headaches.
J.D. Power’s study tracks responses from nearly 100,000 purchasers and lessees of 2024 vehicles within the first 90 days of ownership, and for the first time in the study’s 38-year history, it incorporates repair visit data. Overall, internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles averaged 180 PP100 (or 180 problems per 100 vehicles), while battery electric vehicles (BEVs) averaged a whopping 266 PP100, 86 points higher than ICE vehicles.
Automakers have typically said that EVs are generally less problematic and require fewer repairs than ICE vehicles because they have a smaller number of parts and systems. However, J.D. Power’s study with newly incorporated repair data shows EVs, as well as plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), require more repairs than gas-powered vehicles in all repair categories.
“Owners of cutting edge, tech-filled BEVs and PHEVs are experiencing problems that are of a severity level high enough for them to take their new vehicle into the dealership at a rate three times higher than that of gas-powered vehicle owners,” wrote Frank Hanley, senior director of auto benchmarking at J.D. Power, in the study.
“It is not surprising that the introduction of new technology has challenged manufacturers to maintain vehicle quality,” Hanley added.
J.D. Power’s study reported no notable improvements in BEV quality this year, and that has to do with the biggest name in the EV space — Tesla (TSLA).
Typically the gap between Tesla’s quality and that of legacy automakers’ EVs has been wide, with Tesla’s score better than other automakers. But that disparity has narrowed, with Tesla’s score and traditional automakers’ average scores for EVs standing at 266 PP100. “The removal of traditional feature controls, such as turn signals and wiper stalks, has not been well received by Tesla customers,” J.D. Power said, which has led to Tesla’s score worsening in the latest model year (to 266 from 253 in 2023).
Initial quality issues with EVs come as demand for EVs in general in the US has slowed. Obstacles like lack of charging infrastructure, range anxiety, and elevated costs (which are coming down) have hurt EV adoption. Adding quality concerns and high repair costs to the ownership bill will not help the electrification of the nation’s fleet of vehicles, which is among the top priorities for the White House.
A recent McKinsey consumer pulse survey also found that 46% of Americans who own EVs are considering going back to ICE vehicles, a surprising stat given the overall global percentage was 29%.
Looking across brands in general, J.D. Power’s study said Ram, Stellantis’s truck brand, topped the overall rankings list with a 149 PP100 ranking, with Chevrolet, Hyundai, Kia, and Buick also near the top. Porsche, at 172 PP100, beat out all premium brands, ahead of Lexus and Genesis.
On the flip side, Polestar, Dodge, Tesla, Rivian, and Volvo (tied with Audi) were the worst in terms of overall quality, with pure EV brands like Polestar, Rivian, and the aforementioned Tesla dragging down EV rankings.
