New EVs 3 Times More Problematic Than ICE Cars, Study Finds

J.D. Power has released the findings of its 2024 US Initial Quality Study (IQS), and the results are somewhat surprising. While the top performers in the respective mainstream and premium segments come as no surprise, the relatively poor performance of electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids (compared to ICE cars) will astound you.

Battery-electric cars are often touted as more reliable than their combustion-engined counterparts. This perception is based on EVs having fewer moving parts and, therefore, less to go wrong. While maintenance is easier (there’s no need for oil changes and engine servicing), the IQS results show that battery-electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids need more repairs than gas-powered ones in all categories. This isn’t the first study to show that EV reliability isn’t as strong as we thought.

Electric Vehicles Have More Problems Than ICE-Powered Cars

In 2024, ICE-powered vehicles averaged 180 PP100 (problems per 100 vehicles). While that sounds high, BEVs sit at an alarming 266 PP100. “Owners of cutting edge, tech-filled BEVs and PHEVs are experiencing problems that are of a severity level high enough for them to take their new vehicle into the dealership at a rate three times higher than that of gas-powered vehicle owners,” said Frank Hanley, Senior Director of Auto Benchmarking at J.D. Power.

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No improvements in electric vehicle quality have been made this year. Still, J.D. Power notes that the gap between Teslas and EVs built by legacy automakers has closed, with both averaging 266 PP100. Interestingly, Tesla has performed better in past studies, with J.D. Power noting that the removal of traditional controls for the turn signals and windscreen wipers “has not been well-received by Tesla customers.”

Ram And Porsche Lead The Field

Moving on to respective brands, Ram (149 PP100), Chevrolet (160 PP100), and Hyundai (162 PP100) all scored the highest in the mainstream category. The Ram 1500 is the highest-ranked large light-duty pickup, while Chevrolet was ranked highest in four different categories. Hyundai was highest ranked in the midsize pickup category, with the Santa Cruz.

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Lexus And Toyota Dominate JD Power Reliability Rankings As Industry Average Plummets

Infotainment systems are the worst offenders again, while the most dependable vehicle out there is a mid-engine German sports car.

As for the premium brands, the usual suspects walk away with honors. Porsche is at the top of the charts (172 PP100), followed by Lexus (174 PP100) and Genesis (184 PP100). The overall industry average is 195 PP100. Mass-market brands outperformed the industry figure in 2024, averaging 181 PP100. Premium brands score significantly higher, at 232 PP100 (on average). These aren’t the only findings from the study, which has unearthed many concerns that new car buyers have with their vehicles.

What Else Does The Study Tell Us?

For one, customers are often frustrated with the multiple warnings their vehicles give out. For example, the rear seat reminder warning is often perceived as an unbuckled seat belt warning. Some owners note the chime goes off even when a passenger or pet isn’t in the rear seat. Driver assistance systems, designed to save lives, are also frustrating due to “inaccurate and annoying alerts from the rear cross-traffic warning” and other systems.

Many owners also have persistent connectivity issues with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, which is one of the top 10 problems motorists experience. Unintuitive in-car controls are also an issue, with EVs having higher issues than ICE-powered cars in this field. Interestingly, an unpleasant interior smell is also a problem for most brands. Aside from Kia and Nissan, all brands have had a PP100 increase in interior smell issues. Owners note this often stems from the HVAC system.

Source:
J.D. Power