A dog looks out the window from a Tesla electric car as it charges at a Tesla Supercharger on May 15, 2024 in Santa Monica, California.
Patrick T. Fallon | AFP | Getty Images
Tesla Toyota is losing its advantage over traditional automakers in the quality of its new electric vehicles, according to an influential annual study by J.D. Power.
The 2024 U.S. Initial Quality Study found that the quality of Tesla’s battery electric vehicles (BEVs) was comparable to that of traditional automakers, with 266 reported issues per 100 new vehicles sold or leased.
In the past, Tesla’s models have outperformed electric vehicles from conventional automakers in the annual survey: Last year, Tesla received a ranking of 257 problems out of 100, compared with the average of 265 problems out of 100 for electric vehicles from conventional automakers.
The investigation said Tesla’s problems were compounded by negative customer reaction to the company’s decision to eliminate traditional controls such as turn signals and wiper stalks.
Since J.D. Power began including Tesla in its survey in 2022, Tesla’s initial quality has consistently ranked last not just when looking at BEVs but the industry as a whole.
The study, which was the first to include repair visit data from franchised dealerships, found that overall, electric vehicles, such as BEVs and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), have more problems than gasoline and diesel cars with traditional internal combustion engines.
“Owners of the most technologically advanced BEVs and PHEVs are three times more likely than gasoline-powered vehicle owners to experience problems severe enough to drive a new car back to the dealer,” Frank Hanley, senior director of automotive benchmarking at J.D. Power, said in a news release.
The study found that plug-in cars needed more repairs than gasoline-powered cars across every repair category.
The study found that BEVs had an average of 266 defects per 100 vehicles, 86 points higher than petrol and diesel vehicles, which had an average of 180 defects per 100 vehicles. A lower score indicates a higher quality vehicle.
The main concerns were around functionality, controls, display and wireless smartphone integration, with customers frequently reporting issues. apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
The survey also found complaints about false warnings, unnecessary traffic alerts and automatic braking features. In particular, rear seat reminders caused 1.7 issues per 100 vehicles across the industry, with owners reporting they received the signal even when no one was in the back seat.
“It’s not surprising that the introduction of new technology is challenging manufacturers to maintain the quality of their vehicles,” Hanley said.
—CNBC’s Michael Weiland contributed to this report.
