Tesla’s cars and rival brands’ electric sports cars are among the most unreliable models sold in the United States, reflecting the risks of new technologies.

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“Consumer Reports” has been criticizing Tesla’s Autopilot and fully automated driving system.

Consumer Reports said on Thursday that Tesla’s cars and rival-brand electric sports cars are the most unreliable models sold in the United States, reflecting the risks of new technologies.

Consumer Reports, a non-profit organization that evaluates products and services, said that as the world’s most valuable automaker, Tesla ranks 27th out of 28 brands, second only to Ford Motor Company’s Lincoln brand.

“In terms of reliability, the electric SUV is definitely the bottom of the category as a vehicle,” Consumer Reports director of vehicle testing Jack Fisher said in a speech at the Detroit Automobile Press Association on Thursday.

Among the electric SUVs, Fisher stated that Ford Motor Company’s Mustang Mach-E “is the only model with above-average reliability.”

Tesla ranks 27th among 28 brands, slightly higher than Ford Motor Company’s Lincoln brand.

“Consumer Reports” recommended the Tesla Model 3 sedan and rated its reliability as “fair.” But Fisher said that Tesla’s remaining vehicles are below average.

Fisher said that Tesla’s best-selling model Y SUV has inappropriate body panels, leaks and climate control issues.

The larger Model X SUV “still has the problem of eagle wing doors,” Fisher said.

“Consumer Reports” has been criticizing Tesla’s Autopilot and fully automated driving system. Fisher said that Consumer Reports is still concerned that drivers will be overly dependent on technology that cannot safely take over driving, but this has not affected the reliability score.

“Fully autonomous driving is not fully autonomous driving at all,” Fisher said. “This is a convenient feature.”

The larger Model X SUV “still has the problem of eagle wing doors,” Fisher said.

Fisher said that the electric vehicle drive system or power system is not the main source of the problem. The problem reported by the owner is related to other functions.

Manufacturers “are using electric vehicles as a technology test bed,” Fisher said. “These are where things went wrong.”

The overall number one brand in the survey is Lexus, and eight of the ten highest-scoring brands are Japanese brands. This continues a long-term trend.

Among the brands owned by Detroit automakers, Buick is the only one in the top ten, ranking fifth.

Annotation

The Buick Envision assembled in China is the most reliable compact luxury SUV in the Consumer Reports survey.

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