Consumer Reports has ranked Tesla dead last for the reliability of its used cars aged five to ten years. The electric vehicle maker scored just 31 out of 100, far behind leaders like Lexus and Toyota. While newer Tesla models show improvement, the Cybertruck continues to face significant issues.
In its latest reliability ranking for used cars, Consumer Reports placed Tesla at the bottom among 26 brands, with a score of 31 on a scale from 0 to 100. This is more than 40 points behind the top-ranked Lexus, which scored 77, and Toyota at 73. Other strong performers include Mazda, Honda, and Acura, with scores ranging from 58 to 53.
The assessment focused on models from the 2016 to 2021 model years, drawing from surveys of over 140,000 vehicles. Owners reported problems, which were weighted by severity and compared to the average for each model year. American brands dominated the lower ranks, with Chevrolet at 40 and Jeep at 32, but Tesla trailed even further.
This poor showing reflects ongoing concerns about Tesla's manufacturing and quality control. In contrast, for new cars based on the last three model years, Tesla improved from 18th to 9th place. The Model Y led with a score of 81, but the Cybertruck scored only 34—less reliable than older Teslas.
The Cybertruck, launched with Elon Musk's claims that it would be 'apocalypse-proof' and capable of stopping bullets, has been recalled ten times in its first two years. Notable issues include a March recall for stainless steel body panels detaching due to inadequate glue, another for sudden power loss while driving, and a third for the accelerator pedal sticking in place. Independent tests echoed these problems: during a review by Edmunds, a Cybertruck broke down, stranding testers in a parking lot.