Sign up for Battery Technology newsletters
Sponsored By
Quality Study: EVs Taken In for Repairs 3x More Often than ICE Vehicles
Problems plague BEVs as traditional OEMs catch up to Tesla in quality, JD Power finds.
2 Min Read
EV repair - stock imagechoochart choochaikupt / iStock via Getty Images
The J.D. Power 2024 U.S. Initial Quality Study (IQS) reveals that battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) still face significant quality challenges compared to gas-powered vehicles. Despite traditional automakers closing the quality gap with Tesla, BEVs have a higher incidence of issues, averaging 266 problems per 100 vehicles (PP100) compared to 180 PP100 for gas-powered vehicles.
EV repair stats ‘simply’ surprise
EVs are thought to be much less complex machines than their ICE cousins—and therefore have fewer things that can go wrong with them: Proponents of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) often argue that these vehicles should experience fewer issues and require fewer repairs than gas-powered vehicles due to their simpler design with fewer parts and systems.
No so, it seems: According to the report, newly incorporated repair data reveals that BEVs, as well as plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), actually need more repairs across all categories compared to gas-powered vehicles.
“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,” noted Frank Hanley, senior director of auto benchmarking at J.D. Power.
Key EV findings
Higher Repair Frequency in EVs: BEVs and PHEVs require more frequent repairs across all categories, with owners visiting dealerships three times more often than those with gas-powered vehicles.
Quality Parity with Tesla: Tesla and traditional OEMs are now equally rated at 266 PP100, indicating no improvement in BEV quality from previous years.
In-Vehicle Control Problems in BEVs: BEVs exhibit a 30% higher problem incidence in features, controls, and displays compared to gas-powered vehicles. Tesla’s shift to steering wheel-mounted controls has been particularly unpopular among its users.
Issues across all vehicle types
Annoying Alerts: Advanced driver assistance systems, including rear cross-traffic warnings and reverse automatic emergency braking, generate frequent and inaccurate alerts, frustrating users across all vehicle types.
Connectivity Issues: Problems with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay persist, affecting both BEV and gas-powered vehicle owners. Frequent connectivity losses are noted by a majority of users.
Unpleasant Odors: An increasing number of vehicle owners report unpleasant interior smells, often attributed to HVAC systems. This issue affects all types of vehicles, with only Kia and Nissan seeing improvements.
The study, now incorporating dealership repair visit data, emphasizes the need for automakers to address these recurring issues to enhance the overall ownership experience of EVs and other vehicles.
About the Author
You May Also Like
Editors' Choice
.jpg?width=800&auto=webp&quality=80&disable=upscale)
Nov 12 - Nov 13, 2024
Nov 12 - Nov 13, 2024
As more storage projects become operational, the question is “how to maximize your assets?” This event will look at the core fundamentals of asset management, understanding operational challenges, and checking out the latest optimization and software developments.
Details & Registration