Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Tesla ranks almost dead-last on Consumer Reports reliability list

sfgate.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

21–30 of 126 posts

Re: Tesla ranks almost dead-last on Consumer Reports reliability list

#21

Post by commoner »

ryzvonusef wrote: post #16
ryzvonusef wrote: post #14

Can we change the link from SFGate to the more reliable|original source, either the cnbc/reuters article or the actual Consumer Reports blogpost? Not sure why need to have third hand info source. https://www.consumerreports.org/car-reliability-owner-satisf...

On topic though, if they are so unreliable, why are do they have such high consumer satisfaction ratings? https://www.consumerreports.org/car-reliability-owner-satisf... Maybe I just don't understand the American car consumer market, or may there is a difference in the magnitude of measurements. ---- Also, I hear people in Europe preferring the Shanghai made cars over the Fremont made one (for having better fit and f…

Tesla isn't the only brand that has received an Excellent rating for owner satisfaction but a Poor rating for reliability from Consumer Reports surveys.

Dyson also earned the same two ratings for several of its stick vacuums in 2019:

https://www.consumerreports.org/stick-vacuums/dyson-stick-va...

Some brands just seem to command more loyalty from their customers than the quality of their products can justify.

Re: Tesla ranks almost dead-last on Consumer Reports reliability list

#22

Post by bmitc »

vsskanth wrote: post #10
drewg123 wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I have a 2017 Model X that I bought new. The EV part is great, its everything else that sucks. Since I've had it, I've taken it for service for the following: o Arrived w/o Tow pkg (Tesla "forgot" it, was installed via service center appt) o falcon wing doors improperly adjusted, leading to wind noise and water intrusion o Loud wind noise and fogging passenger side windows: Due to improperly installed "triangle" wind…

All these seem like mechanical or assembly issues other auto manufacturers have already figured out. Very rarely hear these days about control arms failing with traditional automakers vehicles.

I've surmised for a while that it's simply impossible, sans magic, for Tesla to have supposedly surpassed other car manufacturers when those other car manufacturers have decades of experience honing their designs for reliability and quality.

I've said many times that my Kia has better quality feel than any Tesla I've been in.

Re: Tesla ranks almost dead-last on Consumer Reports reliability list

#23

Post by Closi »

ridiculous_fish wrote: post #20
drewg123 wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I have a 2017 Model X that I bought new. The EV part is great, its everything else that sucks. Since I've had it, I've taken it for service for the following: o Arrived w/o Tow pkg (Tesla "forgot" it, was installed via service center appt) o falcon wing doors improperly adjusted, leading to wind noise and water intrusion o Loud wind noise and fogging passenger side windows: Due to improperly installed "triangle" wind…

Please say more about the "charging options for non-Tesla EVs suck." Is that all about superchargers or is there more to it?

I don’t have an electric car but my parents have an electric non-Tesla one, and say that firstly you have to sign up to accounts with loads of different companies just to use them, and then secondly it’s really common to arrive at one and it just doesn’t work or there is only a few and charge points which are full.

Teslas currently have the advantage of the extra supercharge network, although in the Uk that is being opened to other electric cars which will level the playing field.

Re: Tesla ranks almost dead-last on Consumer Reports reliability list

#24

Post by scoopertrooper »

Interesting, going off the Consumers Report site, if Telsa only made the Model 3, then they'd be 11th on the list and just one point behind Mini. It just seems every other model will break apart in a stiff wind.

https://www.consumerreports.org/car-reliability-owner-satisf...

(You have to click on 'Tesla' to see the breakdown)

Re: Tesla ranks almost dead-last on Consumer Reports reliability list

#25

Post by bmitc »

chrisseaton wrote: post #2

> Much of it has to do with the overall instability of electric vehicles in general — especially SUVs I thought electric vehicles were more 'stable'? Or am I misunderstanding that? They're mostly solid state. What's unstable? And why are SUVs even less stable?

I don't see it as a comment on the energy source or even drivetrain.

From the article:

> The issue, Consumer Reports’ Fisher told CNBC, is that the company has the tendency to “add so much tech that is not necessary.” And while this makes for a product that varies wildly from year to year, it is part of the Tesla brand that enthusiasts adore.

From the linked Reuters article:

> Electric vehicle drive systems, or powertrains, are not the main source of problems, Fisher said. The issues reported by owners are with other features.

> Manufacturers "are using EVs as a technological test bed," Fisher said. "Those are the things that go wrong."

Re: Tesla ranks almost dead-last on Consumer Reports reliability list

#26

Post by bmitc »

dredmorbius wrote: post #4
chrisseaton wrote: post #2

> Much of it has to do with the overall instability of electric vehicles in general — especially SUVs I thought electric vehicles were more 'stable'? Or am I misunderstanding that? They're mostly solid state. What's unstable? And why are SUVs even less stable?

The quoted Reuters piece references reliability , not instability . "Electric SUVs as a vehicle category is the absolute bottom in terms of reliability," Consumer Reports director of vehicle testing Jake Fisher said Thursday during a presentation to the Detroit Automotive Press Association. https://www.reuters.com/markets/asia/tesla-electric-suvs-get... There's no reference at all to instability in the article. I sus…

The Reuters article mentions this:

> Electric vehicle drive systems, or powertrains, are not the main source of problems, Fisher said. The issues reported by owners are with other features.

> Manufacturers "are using EVs as a technological test bed," Fisher said. "Those are the things that go wrong."

That's instability leading to poor reliability.

Re: Tesla ranks almost dead-last on Consumer Reports reliability list

#28

Post by KennyBlanken »

scoopertrooper wrote: post #24

Interesting, going off the Consumers Report site, if Telsa only made the Model 3, then they'd be 11th on the list and just one point behind Mini. It just seems every other model will break apart in a stiff wind. https://www.consumerreports.org/car-reliability-owner-satisf... (You have to click on 'Tesla' to see the breakdown)

Here's a fun fact about the Model 3: the interior design is so incompetent, you can destroy the window if you open a door "wrong."

https://youtu.be/14ZYknJQ8F0?t=35

TLDR: the frameless window "tucks in" under the trim of the roof/roof pillar and car has to drop the window slightly before it releases the latch.

In case of failure of any of the stuff necessary for that to happen (and there are a lot of things necessary for that to happen), there is an emergency exit lever.

Which shatters the window.

The lever which shatters the window looks pretty much like what any reasonable person would think is an oddly-placed door lever - right at the base of the interior door handle.

The mind boggles.

Re: Tesla ranks almost dead-last on Consumer Reports reliability list

#29

Post by Doxin »

KennyBlanken wrote: post #28
scoopertrooper wrote: post #24

Interesting, going off the Consumers Report site, if Telsa only made the Model 3, then they'd be 11th on the list and just one point behind Mini. It just seems every other model will break apart in a stiff wind. https://www.consumerreports.org/car-reliability-owner-satisf... (You have to click on 'Tesla' to see the breakdown)

Here's a fun fact about the Model 3: the interior design is so incompetent, you can destroy the window if you open a door "wrong." https://youtu.be/14ZYknJQ8F0?t=35 TLDR: the frameless window "tucks in" under the trim of the roof/roof pillar and car has to drop the window slightly before it releases the latch. In case of failure of any of the stuff necessary for that to happen (and there are a lot of things necessary…

The youtube comments suggest that a software update fixed this issue somehow. If someone could explain to me how that could possibly work that'd be nice. Surely that handle is connected directly to the door mechanism?

Re: Tesla ranks almost dead-last on Consumer Reports reliability list

#30

Post by dredmorbius »

bmitc wrote: post #26
dredmorbius wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The quoted Reuters piece references reliability , not instability . "Electric SUVs as a vehicle category is the absolute bottom in terms of reliability," Consumer Reports director of vehicle testing Jake Fisher said Thursday during a presentation to the Detroit Automotive Press Association. https://www.reuters.com/markets/asia/tesla-electric-suvs-get... There's no reference at all to instability in the article. I sus…

The Reuters article mentions this: > Electric vehicle drive systems, or powertrains, are not the main source of problems, Fisher said. The issues reported by owners are with other features. > Manufacturers "are using EVs as a technological test bed," Fisher said. "Those are the things that go wrong." That's instability leading to poor reliability.

I can see that. I still don't think it's a good word choice.

If it's about the predictability of a given vehicle's projected maintenance requirements, use unreliability.

If it's about the excessive technology leading to unreliability, maybe discuss complexity.

And if it's about a quality record of the manufacturer which changes markedly over time, discuss variability or inconsistency.

But I'd expect instability in discussion of vehicle-related matters to refer to road-handling, steering, or the like. If that's the case, then discuss uneven handling. And if it's not the case, then avoid confusion (or unjustified criticism) that might be caused.

If you've got to argue for or justify the language in a mass publication, it's poor language.

Post reply on HN