'We don’t see other manufacturers having those types of issues.'

'One owner found what they thought was human hair stuck in the paint,' Fisher said. Meanwhile, Tesla owners continue to report problems with the assembly of their vehicles, including fit-and-finish defects. Silverado and Sierra owners reported transmission issues, for example, Fisher said. EVs are more likely to be brand new models based on young electric motor systems and don't have years of refinement.Fisher attributed the trend to automakers' introduction of high-tech transmissions, such as dual-clutch gear-shifters, a form of automatic transmission that uses electronic controls to mimic the performance of a manual.

While they offer improved fuel economy, they're ultimately based on familiar model lines using well-established combustion engine technology. The greater reliability of hybrids isn't a total surprise. These vehicles weren't included in the hybrid reliability rankings. Consumer Reports warns that BMW, Mercedes, Ram and others offer 'mild' hybrids that don't offer much in the way of fuel savings, and are sometimes focused more on adding power. Only four out of 11 models with enough survey data had average or better reliability.Ī straightforward hybrid isn't always the best choice, either. Ford's Mustang-Mach-E dipped to below average due to its electronics flaws. While there are some exceptions, such as the 'outstanding' reliability of the Kia EV6, the category is still plagued with glitches - and not just Tesla's build quality issues. Toyota's Prius Prime and RAV4 Prime are less reliable than their conventional hybrid versions, and the Chrysler Pacifica hybrid was one of the most unreliable vehicles in the survey. The publication found that plug-in hybrids aren't as reliable.

That trustworthiness doesn't always extend to other electrified cars. Certain models were stand-outs, including the Ford Maverick pickup, Lexus NX luxury SUV and Toyota Corolla sedan - they all had above-average reliability on top of major fuel savings. Hybrid cars were the most reliable among vehicle types, with their SUV siblings ranking third. Consumer Reports has published annual reliability survey data indicating that hybrids are generally more reliable than their gas-only equivalents. Hybrid cars aren't just valuable for their fuel efficiency, apparently.

Consumer reports most reliable cars