00:51 27-01-2026

Tesla ranks lowest in used car reliability study by Consumer Reports

Consumer Reports has released its annual used car reliability ranking, and SPEEDME journalists analyzing the data discovered Tesla landed at the very bottom. The analysis of vehicles aged 5-10 years revealed a high rate of faults, reflecting the brand's early, rapid expansion phase.

How the brands ranked

Lexus took the top spot with 77 points, followed by Toyota at 73, Mazda at 58, Honda at 57, and Acura at 53. These brands consistently show stability, with mature technology, refined production processes, and low complaint rates placing them at the top of the list.

In the middle are BMW, Buick, Nissan, Audi, Volvo, and Mercedes-Benz, with scores ranging from 53 to 47 points. This reflects a moderate level of problems for cars five years old and older.

The lower segment is occupied by Mini, Cadillac, Hyundai, Chevrolet, Ford, Dodge, Kia, and GMC, scoring between 46 and 37 points. These brands more frequently encounter complex issues with electronics, transmissions, or air conditioning systems, which drags down their overall reliability.

Finally, at the very bottom are Chrysler, Ram, Jeep, and Tesla. Notably, Tesla received the lowest score of all brands in the study, with just 31 points.

Why Tesla fell into the bottom ranks

The study focused on models from 2016-2021, a period when Tesla was aggressively ramping up production, launching new platforms, and dealing with the typical "growing pains" of a young company. It was during this time that the Model S, Model X, Model 3, and Model Y showed high failure rates. This picture aligns with a broader trend from those years: first-generation electric vehicles, on average, exhibited about 80% more problems than internal combustion engine cars.

How Tesla's reliability has improved in newer models

The report's data is specifically relevant for vehicles that have seen significant use over time. However, Consumer Reports notes a marked improvement in Tesla's reliability post-2021. In the ranking for new cars, the brand has broken into the top 10 for reliability, and the Model Y has become one of the most stable vehicles in its lineup. The Cybertruck is an exception here; like all new models, it is going through an inevitable refinement phase.

Conclusion

Consumer Reports experts analyzed data from over 140,000 vehicles, and the conclusion was clear: used electric vehicles, especially early models, require a cautious approach. The technology was evolving rapidly, and production processes had not yet reached stability. For buyers, this means choosing a used Tesla from 2016-2021 comes with elevated risks, while newer versions already demonstrate a different level of maturity.