Tesla CEO Elon Musk is finding out today that Consumer Reports giveth, and Consumer Reports taketh away.
The latest report on “Annual Auto Reliability Survey,” revealed that while CR was raving about the Tesla Model S P85D sedan at the end of summer, giving it the highest rating ever at 103 based on its road test and performance, it has taken another look at the Model S’s reliability.
And CR‘s researchers and editors did not like what they found.
“We received about 1,400 survey responses from Model S owners who chronicled an array of detailed and complicated maladies. From that data we forecast that owning that Tesla is likely to involve a worse-than-average overall problem rate,” CR states in the new report online.
“That’s a step down from last year’s ‘average’ prediction for the Model S,” CR adds. “It also means the Model S does not receive Consumer Reports’ recommended designation.”
They cite problems with the Model S’s drivetrain, power equipment, charging equipment, iPad-like center console, body and sunroof squeaks, rattles and leaks.
Bigger issues include problems that could be pricey to fix when out of warranty, including replacing electric motors, warping brake rotors and door handles that fail to respond.
CR also raises concerns about Tesla’s ability to do quality control on mass-marketed cars, like its upcoming Model 3, unless it gets these problems under control with its luxury line.
The LA Times reports that “the news sent Tesla Motors stock down as much as $23.77, more than 10%, to $204.33 in mid-day trading.”
A Tesla representative told CR via an email that “Close communication with our customers enables Tesla to receive input, proactively address issues, and quickly fix problems. Model S over-the-air software updates allow Tesla to diagnose and fix most bugs without the need to come in for service. In instances when hardware needs to be fixed, we keep the customer’s convenience and satisfaction top of mind.”
Watch the full review below:
