Tesla Inc’s Model 3 and S sedans both have regained “recommended” status in Consumer Reports magazine’s yearly reliability survey, permitting the electric carmaker’s overall standing to boost slightly.
Tesla’s ranking increased four spots to No. 23 out of 30 brands in the U.S. market as it worked to fix production issues with the Model 3, stated Jake Fisher, senior director of auto testing at Consumer Reports. Both the Model 3 and S boosted their reliability ratings to “average.”
“People really like their cars,” he stated of Tesla owners. “Hopefully, if that frantic rate of change can slow down a bit, they can preserve reliability.”
Tesla has pushed the popularity of the Model S, listed in the top ranks of a various Consumer Reports survey, on owner satisfaction, every year since 2013 when the automaker was first included.
Fisher cautioned that he anticipated Tesla’s reliability to remain fluid given its not a consistent track record.
Tesla’s Model X SUV continues to rank among the least reliable models, according to the annual survey issued on Thursday.
The poll predicts which new cars will provide owners fewer or more problems, based on data collected for over 400,000 vehicles. Its scorecard is influential among customers and industry executives.
Reliability rankings tend to have a hard time when automakers offer new or redesigned models, which dragged down Volkswagen AG’s namesake and Audi brands. The VW brand dropped nine spots to No. 27, while Audi dropped seven spots to No. 14.
Brands with no significant changes to their lineups, including Fiat Chrysler Automobiles’ Dodge and Chrysler, made major gains. Dodge was the highest-ranked U.S. brand at No. 8, making the largest gain of 13 spots. Chrysler jumped seven spots to No. 19, while Jeep completed at No. 26.
Ford’s Lincoln and Ford brands were No. 15 and 16, whereas General Motors’s Buick, GMC, Chevrolet, and Cadillac brands ranked No. 18, 22, 25 and last at 30.
The reliability of full-sized pickups, the most well-known vehicles in the U.S. market, was weak. Ford’s F-150 and FCA’s Ram trucks gained the status of “well below average,” whereas GM’s pickups – the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra – both got “below average” reliability.
Toyota Motor’s Lexus luxury brand finished atop the survey, followed by Mazda Motor and the Toyota brand.
