Consumer Reports Yanks Recommendation for Tesla Model S

Consumer Reports no longer recommends the Tesla Model S now that owners are reporting numerous reliability issues.

The publication gave the Tesla Model S a “worse-than-average” reliability rating after surveying 1,400 Model S owners “who chronicled an array of detailed and complicated maladies” with the drivetrain, power equipment, charging equipment and the tablet-like center console. Owners also complained about body and sunroof squeaks, rattles and leaks. Keep in mind that this is the same vehicle that Consumer Reports gave a more than perfect score, the highest score to any product it has ever tested.

But now, the Model S has been on the road for quite some time, and owners are experiencing issues with the electric motor needing to be replaced and the onboard charging system not charging the battery. Newer vehicle owners are seeing problems with the sunroof not operating properly, and the pop-out door handles continue to be an issue.

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Now with Tesla adding the Model X to its production, the big question is whether or not the American automaker can keep up quality as it increases volume. Since Tesla only had one model in its lineup for the reliability survey, it was not included in the full automakers’ rankings. Had it been scored as a brand however, it would have ranked 19th out of 29.

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