Tesla has achieved its highest-ever position in Consumer Reports' 2026 Automotive Brand Report Card, placing 10th overall among 26 brands. The electric vehicle maker ranked ninth in reliability, marking a significant improvement from previous years. This positions Tesla as the only all-electric brand in the top 10, though used models lag behind.
Consumer Reports released its 2026 Automotive Brand Report Card on December 4, 2025, based on surveys of over 380,000 vehicles. The rankings incorporate road-test scores, reliability data, owner satisfaction, and safety ratings. Tesla secured 10th place overall with a score of 72, tying with Mini and Kia. This is a notable rise from 18th in the 2025 report, where its overall score was 65 and reliability score 36. In 2024, Tesla ranked 17th, and in 2022, it was 27th out of 28 brands.
In reliability specifically, Tesla placed ninth out of 26 brands with a score of 50, up from lower positions in prior years. It ranked fifth for maintenance and repair costs. Jake Fisher, senior director of auto testing at Consumer Reports, attributed the gains to Tesla's approach of refining existing models rather than frequent redesigns. "They definitely have their struggles, but by continuing to refine and not make huge changes in their models, they’re able to make more reliable vehicles," Fisher said. He added that Tesla produces the most reliable electric vehicles currently, thanks to long production runs for models like the Model S, unchanged for 15 years.
The top 10 brands are: 1. Subaru (82), 2. BMW (82), 3. Porsche (79), 4. Honda (76), 5. Toyota (75), 6. Lexus (75), 7. Lincoln (75), 8. Hyundai (74), 9. Acura (73), 10. Tesla (72). Tesla's Model Y is the most reliable new EV, though the Cybertruck received a below-average score. Rivian ranked last overall and in reliability with 24.
However, Tesla's used cars, particularly five- to ten-year-old models from 2016-2021, ranked 26th or dead last, due to production ramp-up issues during that period. Overall, electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids face 80% more problems than gas vehicles, mainly in batteries, charging, and drive systems. Hybrids, by contrast, have 15% fewer issues. Tesla ranked fourth in owner satisfaction but last in used-car reliability.
