End of the road for EVs? Electric cars encounter nearly 80% more problems than gas alternatives, report shows – but experts suggest they’re just teething issues

According to a new survey, EV owners report far more problems with their cars and trucks than owners of gas-powered vehicles.

Vehicles in the fast-growing electric vehicle segment experienced 79 percent more problems from model year 2021 through 2023 than vehicles with combustion engines, according to a study Consumer Reports Survey of more than 330,000 car owners.

The research shows that EV owners most often report problems with battery and charging systems, as well as defects in body panels and the fit of interior parts.

It noted that EV makers are still learning to build new types of vehicles, and suggested that their build quality will improve over time and teething problems will be ironed out.

According to the Consumer Reports survey, EV owners experienced issues with defects in body panels and the fit of interior parts

“This story is really a story of growing pains,” said Jake Fisher, senior director of automotive testing at Consumer Reports. “It's a story about working out the bugs and kinks of new technology.”

But Consumer Reports noted that reliability concerns will raise additional concerns among potential buyers, along with concerns about higher costs, too few charging stations and long charging times.

Electric vehicle sales growth has slowed sharply since last year, and concerns have grown that American consumers are simply unwilling to switch from gas-powered cars.

As of June 2022, electric vehicle sales grew by approximately 90 percent year over year. But by June this year, the annual growth rate had fallen to around 50 percent. Automakers have become increasingly fearful that the pace will weaken further.

And this week, about 3,900 auto dealers signed a letter to President Biden asking him to reconsider what they describe as unrealistic fuel economy and emissions requirements.

“They are not selling nearly as fast as they arrive at our dealers, even with deep price cuts, manufacturer incentives, and generous government incentives,” the letter said.

In addition to federal tax incentives for electric vehicles, Biden aims to make two-thirds of new vehicle sales electric by 2032. He also plans to build a network of 500,000 chargers across the country.

Pictured is the Hyundai 2024 IONIQ 5 on November 16 in Los Angeles

According to the survey, EV owners are reporting problems with electric drive motors, charging and EV batteries

The study also concluded that plug-in hybrids pose more problems than fully electric vehicles.

According to Fisher, this is because plug-ins have both gas engines and charging systems, both of which can cause separate problems.

But traditional gas-electric hybrid systems that have been in use for more than two decades have been more reliable than gasoline vehicles.

Consumer Reports drew its survey data from subscribers who owned electric vehicles from the 2021 through 2023 model years and compared it to other vehicle types.

Overall, EVs from the 2021 and 2022 model years had more than twice as many problems as internal combustion engine vehicles.

In the 2023 model year, the rates were more closely aligned. Those electric vehicles had only 21 percent more problems than gasoline vehicles, Fisher said.

The smaller gap in problems between electric and combustion vehicles in the 2023 model year suggested that electric vehicle reliability is improving.

Among the EV owners who have had problems with their vehicles is 44-year-old Michael Coram of Lockport, New York. In July he bought a 2023 Chevrolet Bolt electric SUV, but by mid-November he didn't want to switch to driving anymore.

After turning the car on and off 10 to 12 times, the problem resolved itself and he hasn't experienced it since, he told the publication.

According to the Consumer Reports study, plug-in hybrids were even more problematic than fully electric vehicles

Other owners on a Bolt social media forum told him he may have switched to driving before the SUV's computer finished booting up. Now he waits until all the dashboard lights go out before pressing the drive button.

In 2021, General Motors recalled its popular electric Bolt from model years 2017 through 2022 to replace the batteries due to manufacturing defects that could cause a fire.

And owners of Hyundai's Ioniq 5 EV reported battery and charging issues related to a charge control computer, which could cause the vehicles to stall.

Rivian, which makes electric pickups and SUVs, had trouble properly aligning its body panels.

Lexus emerged from the survey as the most reliable, followed by Toyota, Mini, Acura and Honda. The five lowest brands were Jeep, Volkswagen, Rivian, Mercedes-Benz and Chrysler.