Vehicles in Transition: E-Mobility Put to the Test

The latest surveys on the reliability of electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids show light at the end of the tunnel, yet they still lag behind their gasoline-powered competitors. According to the annual car survey by Consumer Reports, a reputable American non-profit organization, electric vehicles have 42% more problems than gasoline models - a significant improvement compared to the previous year, when this figure was 79%. Plug-in hybrids are also making progress; they have 70% more problems than conventional internal combustion vehicles, an improvement from the 146% of the previous year. Overall, vehicles with traditional drives and hybrids remain the most reliable options. In terms of brand reliability, Tesla ranked relatively mediocre at 17th place, while Rivian slid to the bottom of the scale in 22nd place. Tesla owners reported quality issues such as body components, paint and trim, and electrical accessories. The report positioned the traditional manufacturer Ford at 13th place and labeled the F-150 hybrid model as the least reliable in the company's range. The leaders in terms of reliability are the Japanese brands Subaru and Lexus, the luxury brand of Toyota. "While brand rankings provide guidance in car purchases, it's crucial to closely examine the reliability of individual models," explains Jake Fisher, senior director of the Auto Test Center at Consumer Reports. The survey collected data on more than 330,000 vehicles from model years 2000 to 2024, including some newly introduced models for 2025.