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EVs are the least reliable vehicle type: Consumer Reports

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Re: EVs are the least reliable vehicle type: Consumer Reports

#121

Post by wlesieutre »

robin_reala wrote: post #53
wlesieutre wrote: post #43

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The EV drive trains are simpler, but they've come along with some silly bits like having to electronically open the glove box from the infotainment screen. Is that mechanism going to last 20 years? How about the pop-out door handles? I'm not optimistic. I'm sure the police are going to love that one. "License and registration?" "Sorry officer, they're in the glove compartment and when I tap the button it just makes a…

These are Tesla things though. My VW EV has normal door handles, glove box handle, air vent positioning, manual seats, etc etc.

The Lyriq also has an electronic glove box: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sirCpkqvpE0&t=59s

Very possible we'll see the same in the Blazer, and maybe the Equinox too.

Which puts you in the stupid situation where if your 12v battery is dead, you can't even use the car's paper manual to look at the jumping instructions. The process has of course been made more complicated by the addition of a scavenger hunt for the positive and negative terminals hidden under separate plastic covers under the hood.

The 12v battery in an EV shouldn't die, but failures in the system to automatically keep it topped up are not unheard of, and batteries do go bad eventually.

Re: EVs are the least reliable vehicle type: Consumer Reports

#122

Post by bandyaboot »

bmj wrote: post #62
wlesieutre wrote: post #43

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The EV drive trains are simpler, but they've come along with some silly bits like having to electronically open the glove box from the infotainment screen. Is that mechanism going to last 20 years? How about the pop-out door handles? I'm not optimistic. I'm sure the police are going to love that one. "License and registration?" "Sorry officer, they're in the glove compartment and when I tap the button it just makes a…

This isn't limited to EVs, though, right? My 2012 VW TDI won't open without a key fob (even though the ignition is still key-driven). How is that a "feature?" Just let me unlock the door with my key. I am very much against "infotainment" systems, and I wonder if some makers will begin/continue to offer models that do not have a tablet in the middle of the dash.

If it's like most VW's that I've seen with no apparent way to unlock with a key, the physical key mechanism is hidden under the door handle trim piece. But maybe you're just saying that opening with the key is not provided as a primary option? For better or for worse, the "feature" is aesthetics.

Re: EVs are the least reliable vehicle type: Consumer Reports

#123

Post by ilyt »

ehnto wrote: post #60
_ea1k wrote: post #44

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The lack of spare tires is correlated with the increase in tire size, IMO. My first car was a 1987 Mazda with 14" tires. It was a two seat sports car, with a tiny spare mounted vertically. They could do that since it was 14". Modern sports cars are 18-20" and the spare tire is a big cargo compromise.

I wonder if another constraint is AWD and modern stability control systems not being able to handle a difference in circumference at one corner, so space saver tires are not an option.

Doesn't excuse RWD and FWD cars not having one.

Probably just weight/cost

Re: EVs are the least reliable vehicle type: Consumer Reports

#124

Post by ilyt »

megaman821 wrote: post #115

There must be a better way to report these numbers. If Tesla picks a shoddy trunk latch supplier that may reflect poorly on Tesla as a brand, but it tells us nothing about the reliability of EVs. I would be more interested in seeing the reliability of components that are critical to the propulsion of the car.

Would make more sense to compare within manufacturer.

Re: EVs are the least reliable vehicle type: Consumer Reports

#125

Post by kube-system »

delta_p_delta_x wrote: post #54
kube-system wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Maintenance reliability Maintenance is planned. Reliability issues are unplanned failures. An EV may have brakes that last longer and no oil changes, but some EV manufacturers are adding gimmicky and buggy electronics, or poorly designed body hardware that fails.

Here's your not-equal-to symbol: ≠

Didn't work for me.

    SQL Error [42601]: ERROR: syntax error at or near "≠"

Re: EVs are the least reliable vehicle type: Consumer Reports

#126

Post by noasaservice »

I know that the Twitterpolaypse is a separate discussion, but I think it directly impacts Tesla EV's as well.

If Tesla goes bankrupt, your cars will *NOT* work, given how tightly they are integrated with servers at Tesla.

When Musk was forced to buy Twitter, he used significant leverage from SpaceX and Tesla to do so. And from his actions as of recent, he's opening significant legal liability to him and the company, and appearing that he's operating a scorched earth model to "punish" that fact he was forced to buy Twitter.

If the Twitter situation does come to a head vs Eli Lilly and all the other companies that substantially lost billions in blue-checkmark manipulation and the FTC consent decree - I can see an eventuality that Tesla is also substantially harmed.. Leading to vehicles that no longer work.

Re: EVs are the least reliable vehicle type: Consumer Reports

#127

Post by FredPret »

kube-system wrote: post #112
FredPret wrote: post #102

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Here are some failure modes to consider: Paint fails: - parts rust - parts eventually fail - vehicle might bend in two or stop working altoghether - rust is slow, easily detectable by a mechanic. Takes months or years to do real damage Engine fails: - car won't go

A squeaky belt can be an “engine problem”. A “paint failure” can be: the subframe rusts out and you crash. My point is that none of these categories can be entirely written off superficial.

Of course not, but in the mind of the consumer, who is financing the whole industry, some problems are problems, and some problems are annoyances

Re: EVs are the least reliable vehicle type: Consumer Reports

#128

Post by prmoustache »

LudwigNagasena wrote: post #71
Gravityloss wrote: post #28

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've seen the argument that "traditional auto makers" don't "get" how many people think - they concentrate on panel gaps or wind noise or door closing bump noise. Tesla isn't great there, but the Tesla software is good, and what some people call "kids" treat the car more like a smart phone. They don't care if your panel gaps are great - if your infotainment software is very laggy or crashes, it's a low quality car.

Panel gaps don’t even matter from a pragmatic standpoint.

Basically, the Tesla are the modern Yugo, albeit with a premium price and premium but shitty trim.

Re: EVs are the least reliable vehicle type: Consumer Reports

#129

Post by toss1 »

jvanderbot wrote: post #109
Gravityloss wrote: post #28

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've seen the argument that "traditional auto makers" don't "get" how many people think - they concentrate on panel gaps or wind noise or door closing bump noise. Tesla isn't great there, but the Tesla software is good, and what some people call "kids" treat the car more like a smart phone. They don't care if your panel gaps are great - if your infotainment software is very laggy or crashes, it's a low quality car.

We bought a model Y for two years of mortgage payments. It's a dream to drive! But the user experience is abysmal. Menus are deep, the entire dashboard is wasted, including the most valuable real estate in front of the driver, and everything is just too hard. E.g. Adjusting mirrors takes 3 menu clicks, don't even think of doing it while driving. Adjusting heating takes two clicks, and when you adjust temp, it clears…

>> Adjusting mirrors takes 3 menu clicks, don't even think of doing it while driving.

Wow, that's horrible! While I set my mirrors initially while parked, I often find the need to make fine adjustments while driving (in low-stress situations).

Having to use a 3-layer-deep menu for that —on the center console, no less— is just a complete dealbreaker.

Thank you for posting that! Makes my decision tree easier and another key item to check in evaluating new cars.

EDIT: "fine adjustments" => "fine"

Re: EVs are the least reliable vehicle type: Consumer Reports

#130

Post by bathtub365 »

mikeyouse wrote: post #106
guhidalg wrote: post #67

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Quoted post unavailable.

A few reasons why I much prefer the Audi Q4 E-tron to a Model Y; * It has wireless Carplay - so I don't need to rely on Audi (or Tesla) engineers to provide Spotify or podcast integrations * It has a physical lever to control the windshield wipers like every other car made in the past 50 years. You don't need to dig through menus to use a critical safety feature. * It has physical buttons for the HVAC controls - so a…

Do you really have to go into a menu to turn on the wipers in Tesla cars?
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