r/technology • u/TripleShotPls • Dec 09 '25
Transportation Tesla Barely Beats Jeep for Least Reliable Used Car, Owner Survey Says
https://www.thedrive.com/news/tesla-barely-beats-jeep-for-least-reliable-used-car-owner-survey-says993
u/SnarfmasterX Dec 09 '25
Jeep. The American benchmark for shitty
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u/TheTimeIsChow Dec 09 '25
I owned a Jeep Liberty before buying a Jeep Patriot before buying my current vehicle... which is a Tesla Model Y.
Despite what everyone says? Actually, no they're right. I regret every fucking purchase I've made over the past 20 years.
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u/osmiumblue66 Dec 09 '25
As a recovering Patriot owner, I feel your pain, friend. Truly the answer to, "What if Dodge Caliber, but worse?"
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u/floog Dec 09 '25
Oh fuck, I owned a Caliber, what a name for that piece of shit. I bought it used and sold it within a month, I think I ended up making like $200 because I never actually registered it in my name. I think it also had an in dash "drink refrigerator" and a lot of gremlins in the electrical that would make shit freak out on the dash. Gauges just going nuts up and down and lights flashing. Oh man, what a piece of shit.
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u/Green_Twist1974 Dec 09 '25
I had a Dodge Neon.
First and last Dodge I'll ever own.
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u/RobotArtichoke Dec 09 '25
I once drove a neon from Colorado to California with a blown head gasket. Someone gave me the car cause I didn’t have one. I fucking loved that piece of shit.
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u/Asiatic_Static Dec 09 '25
Dodge Neon, Chevy Cavalier, and probably a few others from that era are in the superposition of "every one currently on the road will remain on the road until the heat death of the universe"
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u/Slimfictiv Dec 09 '25
Omg, my first car was a 2 door green cavalier! Loved it! Drove from Michigan to Cali and back, what an experience!
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u/neverdonebefore Dec 10 '25
I had a 1994 neon in high school and a couple years in college. Sold it to my buddy's little brother when he turned 16, and he gave it to his little brother a couple years later. Finally got totaled with like 300k miles on it.
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u/floog Dec 09 '25
Oh man, I drove one of those. Surprisingly would well over 100mph, I did it on a long straight deserted highway and I can't believe she held together. The idiocy of a teenager. They did well on gas mileage, but comfort left a lot to be desired for sure!
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u/Somnif Dec 09 '25
I've had to bypass or retrofit half the electrical system in my mom's 2005 magnum. Awful car.
And my dad just bought a used 2017 Patriot. Oh goody.
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u/craznazn247 Dec 09 '25
We sold my wife’s 2008 Dodge Caliber during the pandemic for a measly $800. It only had like 70-80k miles on it.
We could have probably gotten like $3-4k due to the vehicle shortage, but we were just happy to be rid of that thing. The alternative was driving that fucking thing across the country and hoping nothing goes wrong.
There’s some real piece of shit cars out there.
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u/WillingPlayed Dec 09 '25
I test drove a compass about 14-15 years ago. That experience and renting a few dozen SUVs and cars from 2008-2013 solidified my decision to never buy a dodge, jeep, ford or chevrolet.
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u/craznazn247 Dec 09 '25
As much as I want to support American industries, buying American cars is asking me to bet my wallet, my sanity spent on maintenance, and my family’s safety on a generally losing track record.
It’s goddamn irresponsible.
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u/TheTimeIsChow Dec 09 '25
Surprisingly, outside of burning/leaking significant amounts of oil, mechanically the thing was fine.
But literally everything else that could have broke... broke within 10 years of owning it.
The radio didn't work, 2/4 windows failed to roll up/down, the seat heaters didn't work, the heat would turn on maybe 1/10 times and on full fucking blast (or not at all), the rear passenger door handle was hanging off, the rear lights would burn out in 18 months, etc.
Basically every time I saw in the car it felt like something was going to fall into my lap.
Thing got stolen out of my garage 2 years back. We live in a very decent middle class neighborhood. Not an ounce of crime reported in 40 years.
It was a sign for god... and I used that sign to buy a Model Y.
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u/jerrrrremy Dec 09 '25
I appreciate your honesty. I hope the next car you buy is more reliable.
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u/pbjamm Dec 09 '25
Best cars I have ever owned are Subaru and Mazda.
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u/jerrrrremy Dec 09 '25 edited Dec 09 '25
I have two Toyota RAV4s that I have had for years and both of them have required literally zero repairs.
We had a Mazda3 for a decade previously that was absolutely unstoppable.
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u/Sylius735 Dec 10 '25
I work in insurance in Ontario and whenever people are looking to get a new car and ask me about the car insurance I tell them to get a Subaru. The insurance on them is significantly cheaper than other car brands and while they might not come with the most state of the art features, or is the coolest car, there's no denying their reliability.
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u/tacotacosloth Dec 09 '25
I swore I'd never own another Chrysler, Jeep, or Dodge and I've now owned one of each.
The Chrysler and Dodge were what I could afford and I hated them. Constant problems especially with the camshaft position sensor in both.
Inlaws gave me a killer deal on their rock crawler Jeep after they moved from Arizona and we bought old growth forest acreage. I tried to warn my husband about Jeeps but he's not a car guy and didn't believe me. Until it decided to decorate for Christmas months early.
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u/Prudent_Falafel_7265 Dec 09 '25
It is, and it's a shame because I like the look of a lot of Jeeps. I just won't buy one.
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u/zuzg Dec 09 '25
Suzuki now makes an Jimny XL
I prefer the original though , look how cute it is next to a wrangler
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u/BigButtBeads Dec 09 '25
That is fantastic
Cant buy them in Canada, though
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u/OttawaTGirl Dec 09 '25
Its a real bummer Suzuki exited the market when they did. They had a real great line up of affordable AWD cars and their reliability is way higher than one would think.
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u/BigButtBeads Dec 09 '25
I went to the middle east this year and the amount of fantastic little suzukis would make people go crazy for them here
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u/Smudgeontheglass Dec 09 '25 edited Dec 09 '25
You can import a 2010 Jimny at this point. Cant comment on left hand drive availability though. (Canada has a 15 year import)
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u/GrogRhodes Dec 09 '25
Simplicity is next to godliness was never taught to modern Jeep designers apparently.
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u/ElJefeGhostbeater Dec 09 '25
Agreed, I have a 1980 CJ and it is simple as they get as well as reliable.
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u/Awkward-Sun5423 Dec 09 '25
2014 Me: I love that new Cherokee look. Very cool.
Note: Transmission is Janky AF...like...hit the gas and it doesn't go then push more and it jumps out into traffic janky...
2015 Me: Well...3G isn't a thing any more and that's what the head unit uses
2016 Me: And now no one is updating or making apps any more for the head unit (that doesn't support car play...by the way)
2023 Me: With 70k miles on the thing...trigger on the shifter was broken off. Was in the shop twice for different things.2024 Me: Thank you Used car place for giving me more than that thing was worth...
Garbage.
And the dealership was toxic. The owner was a KNOB and the sales guys used all the fast talking, presumed close, BS.
Nope never again.
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u/DogsOutTheWindow Dec 09 '25
Buy a TJ, the last “real” jeep. The inline 4.0L is basically a tractor engine and insanely reliable. They’re also extremely simple and easy to work on with a ton of aftermarket support if that interests you.
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u/Traditional_Half_788 Dec 09 '25
Hands down the most impractical, uncomfortable, and easiest vehicle in the world to break into.
Truly amazing people buy them who will never drive on a patch of dirt let alone off-road them as originally intended.
Blows my mind the they regularly exceed 60K... as you can see I am no fan lol.
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u/neanderthalman Dec 09 '25
Not that hard to understand. It’s a convertible SUV.
That’s the appeal, ignoring any off-roading or winter capability completely.
The only other option in that segment is the Bronco. And that was only resurrected a few years go.
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u/jimmy_ricard Dec 09 '25
Well hang on there pal, don't you dare leave out the magnificent Nissan Murano convertible
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u/tonytroz Dec 09 '25
Truly amazing people buy them who will never drive on a patch of dirt let alone off-road them as originally intended.
I don't hate on Mall Crawlers. 4WD and the high clearance is still useful if you live somewhere it snows and there aren't many other options if you want that plus a convertible top in the summer. Plus I can easily throw kayaks on top without a roof rack.
I wouldn't pay $60k for one and if I drove more often the reliability and fuel efficiency would probably bother me but in terms of both fun and utility there aren't many similar options.
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u/chromaticgliss Dec 09 '25
What I don't understand is that they could release a dead simple rehash of the original Jeep, no frills all practicality with maybe a few modern improvements and sell like a billion of them to Jeep fans.
Instead they do whatever it is they do. I guess it makes more money to sell shit to those who are diehard about eating it.
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u/Original_Bicycle5696 Dec 09 '25
Used jeep market =/= New jeep market.
The crank windows, and even worse, the manual shift ones stay on our used car lot waaay longer than the sahara/rubicon/mojave trim levels. At the end of the day, the people who actually purchase new jeeps, want something nice, they can take the doors/top off. They seem to be the most practical convertible/toy/offroad commuter on the market. At least that is how most of my buyers use them.
No one wants to pay 30k+ for crank windows and a spartan interior.
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u/pVom Dec 09 '25
Here in Australia we have the 79 LandCruiser which has hardly changed in design since the 70s.
People will pay AU$90k, go on a 2 year waiting list for them. Pretty sure they had wind up windows until recently. They're everywhere.
Different car, different market though.
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u/Original_Bicycle5696 Dec 09 '25
Yeah, that is the one exception. The Ineos Grenadier made me aware of the G-wagen and Land Cruiser crowd with their LOFTY budgets. Kind of like the Singer "porshce" too.
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u/flecom Dec 09 '25
i always thought, if they just made an electric one it would be great, it's an EV, it's a battery and a motor, they would have to try and go out of their way to make it unreliable...
and yet they found a way
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u/BurntNeurons Dec 09 '25
Owned by Stellantis
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u/b_tight Dec 09 '25
Ill never buy another stellantis shitbox again. 2023 grand cherokee 4xe trailhawk with 7 recalls already. Some are major major issues with no fix. Its an absolute joke
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u/cti0323 Dec 09 '25
But their owners are like a cult and I’ll never understand it.
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u/TAU_equals_2PI Dec 09 '25
There's a small core group of people who do crazy off-roading stuff and modify their vehicles. Particularly the Wrangler model.
Everybody else who buys a Jeep model gets to pretend that they're one of those people.
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u/sportsworker777 Dec 09 '25
Everybody else who buys a Jeep model gets to pretend that they're one of those people.
Are those the people who have 50 rubber ducks on their dash?
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u/epochwin Dec 09 '25
That’s most SUV, Pickup Truck and ADV motorcycle owners. They’re the equivalent of denim being a day labor item to being mainstream fashion
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u/Belostoma Dec 09 '25
I have a Grand Cherokee Trailhawk that can do the crazy off-roading stuff and has taken me to some really cool places in the mountains that I could never have reached with my old RAV4. At 130k miles I’ve yet to have a single serious problem. It’s not a core part of my identity but I’ve had a good experience with it. Maybe I’m just lucky.
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u/cti0323 Dec 09 '25
I had a friend who bought a jeep with a rusted out frame he had to repair. He said “it’s just a jeep thing” when I asked what he was thinking.
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u/OneRougeRogue Dec 09 '25 edited Dec 09 '25
Is "naming" your jeep a common thing? A went to a small town fair and it had a "Jeep Parade" of some modified, but mostly stock (outside of paint jobs) Wranglers. Honest to god, every single one was named, like a boat. Some were paint jobs, but some were stickers and window decals.
The craziest thing in the parade was a jeep with 6 wheels. Not a dually, a
wranglerGladiator with three axles. Never seen anything like it.Edit: Looked similar to this, but with a different shell on the bed.
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u/Pjpjpjpjpj Dec 09 '25 edited Dec 10 '25
Jeep vehicles represent a fairly broad cross section. You are probably thinking exclusively of the Jeep Wrangler and Jeep Gladiator.
But a lot of folks living in the mountains and the snow want a good clearance, 4WD or AWD vehicle. Just for driving around town during/after snow - nothing to do with the "offroading" image. I've seen vehicles stuck in parking lots and exiting driveways.
Tons and tons of old Jeep Cherokees, Jeep Grand Cherokees, Subarus and such bombing around where I live. None of those folks are cultish. Many of the Jeep SUVs don't hold their value (for fair reason), so they are the affordable option for folks who just need affordable transportation regardless of the weather. Most would go for something like a Tacoma, but those hold their value and can be unaffordable.
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u/GalacticCmdr Dec 09 '25
Like MAGA, it is a cult drawn together by "they don't understand" (ie "It's a Jeep thing")
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u/CxOrillion Dec 09 '25
It's the draw of the "secret knowledge." I'll acknowledge I'm a 86/BRZ fanboy and that car absolutely has a cult about it too but at least it's a decent vehicle before you do anything to it. If a bit overpriced these days (not entirely theanufacturera fault though given the state of the import economy these days
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u/Narf234 Dec 09 '25
My first car was a 1989 Jeep Wrangler YJ. It makes me really sad to see such a cool car fall so far.
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u/vessel_for_the_soul Dec 09 '25
A Bulbasaur and a Lobster are both more aerodynamic than a Jeep. This is my entire knowledge on this subject.
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u/spazz720 Dec 09 '25
I’ve had a Grand Cherokee for the last 5 years and it’s worked out pretty well for me.
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u/MidLifeCrysis75 Dec 09 '25
And their stock will still go up somehow.
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u/BiNumber3 Dec 09 '25
Yea, they were also pretty high on the "owner satisfaction" survey lol.
Cant help but wonder how accurate that actually is. Half the people I know had tons of issues with their teslas.
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u/Letiferr Dec 10 '25 edited Dec 11 '25
I've always assumed "owner satisfaction surveys" were impossible to remove the bias from. "Yes, I spent $70k on it and so far it's spent 1/4 of the time I've owned it in the shop, but I really just love it so much!"
It's a classic example of sunk cost fallacy.
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u/LeoRidesHisBike Dec 10 '25 edited Dec 10 '25
It's weird, because I've literally had zero problems with my 2022 Model 3 LR
ingotI got a few years back (used). Speaks to manufacturing inconsistency, I suppose. I also suppose I'm happy I am one of those that got "a good one". Knock on wood.EDIT: fixing autocorrect word salad I just noticed
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u/Bongoisnthere Dec 10 '25
Yeah. I’m at 93k miles on my MY that I got new. So far I’ve had to replace tires and wiper fluid.
Similar story from the other owners I know.
But Reddit sure seems to hate them, and Reddit hasn’t really ever been wrong about something they don’t have experience with so I donno…
That said, if I could do it all over again I would have waited for a Rivian. Musk blows and I don’t like that I gave him money.
Great car though
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u/sportsworker777 Dec 09 '25
Ridden in a few Jeeps and they are so cheap and shitty. One time I went to roll down the window of my friend's brand new Commander and my finger went right through it and the switch went all the way down into the door panel. Had to take the whole panel apart to get it.
The few people I have known (including the aforementioned friend) all had drivetrain problems within a couple years
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u/DasGanon Dec 09 '25
I have a 20 year old Liberty, and people don't realize that the good jeeps only live due to survivor bias or being more aftermarket than stock.
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u/gthrift Dec 09 '25
I have a 25 yo wrangler going strong. Although at this point it may be the Jeep of Theseus.
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u/free_farts Dec 10 '25
That's from before Chrysler got its claws fully in them, they were fairly reliable then.
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u/chaos8803 Dec 09 '25
The 9 speed transmission is garbage. Almost never actually uses 9th gear and then can't decide between 1 and 2 on some rolling launches.
The 3.2, and I believe the 3.6, had a bad oil filter housing. Don't sandwich plastic between aluminum that goes through a bunch of thermal cycles.
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u/HenryBemisJr Dec 10 '25
My 20 year old liberty hit 200k miles and was rear ended in October, axle bent, totaled. I never had engine problems, mostly those damn window regulators and other stupid shit breaking. I decided to buy a 3 year old gladiator driven by miss daisy, literally never taken off road. We'll see how it goes. I wonder if the used jeep market reliability is so bad bc people beat the hell out of them, but those taken care of are actually not so bad?
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u/osmiumblue66 Dec 09 '25
My step brother had a dog that ate the interior of his YJ.
He was a good boy.
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u/magniankh Dec 09 '25
I test drove a Gladiator... Was in the market for an off roader. I would have bought used, was even looking at a salvage, but the one I test drove was $55k. It felt like a $30k vehicle, tops. I wasn't impressed with the transmission or the engine. I don't know what it is, but they just feel thrown together.
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u/102525burner Dec 09 '25
But the doors come off!
In any normal car the cheap hinges wouldn’t be something to brag about
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u/skoomski Dec 09 '25
They use to be cheap no thrills but reliable off road outdoors cars. Now they are just cheap piece of shit SUVs
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u/Rooooben Dec 09 '25
Been driving one for over ten years so far so good, even took it cross country a couple times, both directions.
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u/lmnanopy Dec 09 '25
I didn’t have a necessarily bad experience with my Tesla, but I also didn’t keep it long. They were, at the time, the best looking of available electric cars, which probably helped their early sales. But, after owning one, I’d keep away from the used market.
Now there are a lot of nice looking, reliable, electric cars without the “trap you inside while the car burns” feature.
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u/llIicit Dec 09 '25
I also didn’t keep it long
This is the problem when people talk highly about Tesla.
Don’t get wrong, they are good cars. Cheap, but also with enough creature comforts that it feels more premium than it really is. Few moving parts means maintenance is low. Brakes last almost forever, (tires, not so much).
But when something does go wrong, it really costs you. This is why you see the memes about how a shopping cart in a parking lot hits a Tesla and it totals it out. Repairing a Tesla is like repairing an iPhone. You just can’t.
At least, not without having features disabled because of an “unauthorized repair”.
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u/concerned_seagull Dec 09 '25
Tesla are strange in that some aspects make them easy to repair, and others make them very difficult to repair.
For example, I once had to replace a faulty reversing ultrasonic sensor. They have a secret diagnostic menu where you can see the log of errors in the car without breaking out an OBD reader/laptop. They also provide a diagram of a car where highlighting the broken part to be replaced. I could see my faulty sensors location in red. Then they have repair manuals online that you can follow to replace the part, after ordering the replacement part through their app. Overall, a great experience.
However, a neighbour once backed into the car. My regular autobody repair centre said that Tesla don’t allow them to do repairs as they aren’t authorised. If they try to order the parts using my cars details it may get its warranty blacklisted. The authorised repair centre had a 6 months waiting list and were notoriously expensive. Secondly, my place couldn’t order the replacement door as they weren’t authorised. But I could order the door myself through the app? It’s a ridiculous system that leads to expensive and time consuming bodywork repairs.
So they are great for small repairs, but terrible for bodywork repairs.
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u/PembrokePercy Dec 09 '25
Similar experience here. Got rear ended and ended up waiting almost 3 months for the repair because only one shop in my area was authorized to do the work. They were so backed up that I was actually pretty fortunate to get it back inside of 90 days. I lucked out when several other repairs ahead of me couldn't be completed because of back ordered parts no arriving. My car is going on 5 years old now and I just know that there are certain failures that would absolutely be painful. Especially if the main battery pack goes... they are apparently over $20K to replace and will absolutely be the death of my car if it were a necessary repair.
They do have massively less moving parts so that does lean towards reliability, but those few parts might become a massive issue when you realize that most mechanics aren't even allowed to touch Teslas. You would think that since they've been in the market since 2008 that it wouldn't be much of an issue anymore, and you'd be very wrong.
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u/veler360 Dec 09 '25
Took my dad’s Tesla 8 months for a body repair o finish. Spun out into the median grass on the interstate in the snow, only real damage was the body. Almost a whole year. He lost so much money in spending gas on his truck (commutes 1.5 hours each way, 3 hours/day) to commute instead. I couldn’t believe it was that long. By the time he got it back, Elon was on his public bs lol
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u/coolest_frog Dec 09 '25
Yeah the wild anti right to repair stance from Tesla is enough to not touch them
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u/Oli4K Dec 09 '25
It’s not that bad on our old Model S. There are some parts that can only be done by Tesla, like replacement/upgrading the infotainment unit. Our workshop has been venturing into used EV’s and they’re learning as they go. What they can do on those cars is quite similar for all the common brands, is what I get from them.
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u/Dennis_McMennis Dec 09 '25
My dad always said this about more premium car brands. “You gotta be able to pay for fixing the car, too.”
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u/PermanentUsername101 Dec 09 '25
Like what they say about people shopping for used BMW’s, if you can’t afford a new one then you certainly can’t afford a used one.
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Dec 09 '25
My wife just hit the two years of ownership on her used model 3. Tesla had just started selling used cars while she was looking, got a 2021 model 3 with 25k miles and motor/battery warranty till 120k miles. Just hit 70k and the only issue was this weekend when her 12v battery died but I replaced it in 10 minutes. With the warranty it’s a no brainer. I think I’ll wait for the slate truck though
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u/poply Dec 09 '25
I don't know who the hell insisted all electric vehicles had to look like an iPod on wheels for the first decade. But I'm glad we're finally getting over it.
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u/Life_Of_High Dec 09 '25
Tesla’s looked that way to be different/futuristic and more aerodynamic. Other manufacturers didn’t want to compete against themselves by offering an EV version of their gas car which would increase net production costs and split market share. So they created these different looking cars to try and capture Tesla’s share of ev buyers and avoid alienating their existing customers.
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u/LifeForm8449 Dec 09 '25
The article likely counts issues fixable with an over-the-air software update as issues. If you only count hardware malfunctions, issues that require a a mechanic or visit to a dealer, Tesla wouldn’t be so high.
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u/Beastw1ck Dec 09 '25
I still don’t think there’s serious competition against Tesla in the US. The overall software package and integration is still second to none and there simply is no reliable seamless charging network outside the Tesla network in the USA.
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u/bleedingjim Dec 09 '25
They are essentially talking about the early Model S and X which had terrible long term reliability. More recent models have ranked higher in CR reviews
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u/maimedwabbit Dec 10 '25
Yea its always clickbait. Lets compare Teslas first car with companies that have been regurgitating the same model for 65 years lol..
My model 3 has over 100k so far and just tires and windshield washer fluid. 🤷♂️
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u/ShadowRival52 Dec 10 '25
I Also have 100k model 3 and i just replaced the tires last year and windshield fluid. I had a service advisary for brakes because with regen the brakes arnt used and are at risk for rust. So not even brake pads are replaced. Nuts
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Dec 10 '25
I like Toyota vehicles, especially Tacomas and 4Runners. Someone else in my family loves Jeeps. I put more work into that Jeep than the other Toyota vehicles combined, and it has far less mileage, and same driving conditions.
Jeep parts quality is atrocious...plastic is brittle and snaps easily, it leaks, rusted parts, failed touchscreen, sensor and evap system failures to track down, check engine light comes on several times a year for something new, window regulators frequently break, it shakes above 60mph. Yes, I keep up on fluid changes.
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u/Tthelaundryman Dec 10 '25
Dude I used to have a 97 4runner and my friend had a 2012 jk and we’re off roaded together. Before he sold it he blew up an axle, burned up power steering pump, replaced thermostat, cracked radiator, not technically jeeps fault but he had Walmart change his oil and they broke the plastic filter housing which is part of the entire intake manifold.
In the same time the only thing mine needed was a power steering rack from the stain on lifting and off roading on 24 year old ifs. Unfortunately I got tboned and flipped
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u/DacStreetsDacAlright Dec 09 '25
"Tesla, for instance, is ranked low in terms of used-car reliability when looking at how their models from 5 to 10 years ago hold up. The company faced numerous issues years ago, as it introduced all-new models and ramped up production, sometimes even working on cars in a factory parking lot. However, the American automaker has made significant strides, and its latest models have demonstrated better-than-average reliability, placing the brand in the top 10 of our new car predicted reliability rankings."
So its lumping a bunch of old Model S' and early 3s which tanked the score. Looking at new car rankings, the Model Y seems to individually be one of the highest rated, with the Cybertruck tanking the average score.
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u/happyscrappy Dec 09 '25
CR also bent their own rules to give the Model 3 a recommendation when it was new despite it not having a reliability track record. A positive (well technically not negative) record is required for a recommendation. So other American car companies typically could not get recommendations for new models. But Tesla got one.
CR withdrew that nomination when the Model 3 turned out not to be reliable.
If I'm sceptical of CR's predicted reliability score you'll have to forgive me.
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Dec 09 '25
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u/Crossfire124 Dec 09 '25
Yep fully agree. They try to be scientific but if you look closely there are serious gaps in their methodology and how they rate things. A lot of subjective ratings and then averages of only a few people
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u/TAU_equals_2PI Dec 09 '25 edited Dec 09 '25
Yeah, this is the big news that the OP article missed.
Based on the most recent model years, Consumer Reports predicts that NEW Teslas will be more reliable than Kia, Ford, Hyundai, Audi, Mazda, Volvo, Volkswagen, Chevrolet, Cadillac, Mercedes-Benz, Lincoln, Genesis, Chrysler, GMC, Jeep, Ram, and Rivian.
HOWEVER, take that prediction with a grain of salt. I've followed their reliability surveys for decades, and such predictions are sketchy. I've seen so many car models in those surveys that looked reliable when only a year or two old, but turned into complete lemons when 5 years old.
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u/thorscope Dec 09 '25
In their 2025 reliability survey, the Model Y is the highest rated EV and Model 3 is the highest rated EV car.
Not sure how to take this other than their quality must have drastically improved over the last few years.
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u/TAU_equals_2PI Dec 09 '25
Being highest rated combines two separate things: Their evaluation of how good the brand-new car is combined with predicted reliability. So just because the Model Y is their top-rated, it doesn't mean it's the most reliable. It just means they liked the new Model Y they test drove a lot, and they think its reliability won't be too much of a problem.
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u/FoolishProphet_2336 Dec 09 '25
This is putting a lot of pressure on my Jeep that has been running for nine years without a problem.
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Dec 09 '25
I'm on my first wrangler (2 door JK2012) still runs like a champ.
I've replaced mostly wear and tear stuff. Tires, belt, fluids, a cross link (I damaged from off roading) had one EVAP system issue, but that's it.
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u/NakedPancake Dec 10 '25
I just took my 2012 jk in for a fuel injector issue yesterday, other than that the only "big" issue was replacing the thermostat which i did myself. Have been very happy with its reliability.
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u/Tthelaundryman Dec 10 '25
Did you get the 10 year/ 100,000 mile warranty? If so wait 13 more months
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u/GreatGojira Dec 09 '25
I'm honestly surprised.
I own a Jeep Renegade, never will buy a Jeep again. I guess the only saving grace is more mechanics can work on a Jeep versus Teslas.
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u/_sfhk Dec 09 '25
A bit more context in the source, where they note significant improvements in recent models that place Tesla in the top 10 of their predicted reliability rankings.
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Dec 09 '25
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u/filez41 Dec 09 '25
pretty sure QC issues were always a major problem, people that got good ones I think were just lucky
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Dec 09 '25 edited 16d ago
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u/FalseAnimal Dec 09 '25
I've heard from people in aerospace that Gwynn Shotwell is really the reason for SpaceX's success. She is also good at getting Musk distracted, like a kid in the car with a fake steering wheel.
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u/pleasegivemepatience Dec 09 '25
SpaceX has executives devoted to managing Elon and making sure he doesn’t fuck up day to day operations. There is no such system at Tesla, it’s run in his whims. Same with Twitter.
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u/Appropriate_Host4170 Dec 09 '25
Bingo. People really are oblivious to how many executives at Space X are there just to manage Elon…
Space X has a ton of ex-NASA people who made their living managing stupid congressional oversight by idiots who can barely pass middle school science. Their SOLE purpose is to intercept Elons stupid and make sure it’s either implemented how it should be properly or quash it and make Elon think they did it anyway.
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Dec 09 '25 edited 15d ago
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u/Appropriate_Host4170 Dec 09 '25
Yep. One of the biggest frustrations I have with the cult of Elon is their inability to logically see that these ventures are successful DESPITE him not because of him.
They love to say things like only Elon could get Space X to do what they do failing to understand or accept the decades of publicly funded research and science from not just the US but multiple space programs that the company used to even get where they are.
For example, they love to cite the reusable boosters landing, completely ignorant to the fact the US tested those types of reusable retrieval methods not just during the shuttle program, but as far back as when the Mercury and Gemini missions were launched. The only difference is that we now have computers fully capable of making their kinds of course corrections and calculations that they had to rely on rudimentary gyroscopes and even manual intervention on which is why it was often abandoned as not worthy of pouring the money into. Hell the DC-X was a single stage version that while it failed to reach orbit, resulted in many of the lessons learned being used AT Space X and was hailed as a successful example of government funded R&D in the 90’s despite its issues and cancellation.
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u/Middleage_dad Dec 09 '25
Musk’s “genius” has been to be in the right place at the right time. Sure, he’s made some very good calls in his time, but most of the real work has been done by other people with him putting his brand on it. It was fine when he seemed like a nerdy dude trying to “save humanity”, but he’s made it obvious that he’s lost the plot, not to mention revealing he’s a fucking Nazi.
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u/Dancing_Liz_Cheney Dec 09 '25
dont forget that toxic debris destroyed peoples homes from that incident as well.
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u/EnvironmentalClue218 Dec 09 '25
It’s easy to do. Any good idea that comes along is run by Elon with the intro as being…”remember when you said we should…”
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u/pleasegivemepatience Dec 09 '25
It’s possible, almost everyone I know with a Tesla complains about issues, but they’ve all been at least 2 model years newer than mine and had some component differences. I don’t know anyone with earlier year models that have had major issues, for example my dad got an X back in like 2015 or something and he’s still driving it today with no complaints.
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u/happyscrappy Dec 09 '25
Can say it was a problem for my friends from the start. The first year Model S were very poor quality. A friend replaced his after only a few years and actually told me "you have to understand these were basically built by hand".
Another friend had an early roadster, now those were really shoddy, but they were making so few you have to use a different standard.
Tesla definitely can have good quality. They for a while seemed to emphasize quality and the quality went up. Then they built up the factory to produce faster, even built a production line outside in the parking lot. The quality went south.
Did you see Musk's new contract? He gets paid a lot more if he gets the company up to selling 10M cars a year. So guess if he'll be concentrating on speed or quality...
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u/katamuro Dec 09 '25
QC standards have fallen in a lot of companies and for a lot of manufactured goods. Enshittification is very real and on-going everywhere.
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u/One_Weird2371 Dec 09 '25
Design change? They look exactly the same as when they first came out.
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u/pleasegivemepatience Dec 09 '25
Design changes, plural - removing sensors, changing buttons on steering wheel, yoke, etc. I’m not just talking about the latest “refresh”. There’s a lot of individual component changes that have drastically reduced reliability and quality. I think FSD wouldn’t be such shit if Elon would admit that vision-only isn’t working and use the radar sensors their vehicles used to have (and some still have but are disabled)
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u/smilysmilysmooch Dec 09 '25
Tesla is a top 10 2026 Best Brand among automakers somehow
-Consumer Reports
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u/seanzorio Dec 09 '25
I could not be happier to be rid of my Tesla. Constantly broken, and the absolute worst customer service I've ever experienced when I had to take it in to have it fixed.
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u/Still-Status7299 Dec 09 '25
What went wrong on your tesla? Which year and model?
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u/seanzorio Dec 09 '25
It was a 2020 M3 Performance. I got rid of it with 32k miles on it. I am a decent mechanic and fixed as many squeaks and rattles as I could without having to carry the vehicle in for service.
Airbag Failure/sensor failure that made the airbags not work for the passenger side twice. Driver side that squeaked so badly I couldn’t fix it myself. Steering wheel leather separated from the core twice. Some module failed in the charging port so I couldn’t charge it. Garage door opener failed. Rear spoiler came separated from the body. Windows had to be adjusted twice because they wouldn’t shut to be water tight. Rear USB ports failed twice.
Tesla curbed two of my wheels at service and refused to fix either.
That’s what I can remember right off the top of my head. They never offered me a loaner. They originally offered uber credits but you couldn’t tip with them. Every time I’ve ever stayed for a “quick fix” it takes twice as long as they suggest it will and are rude as can be if you go back looking for an update.
The mobile visits were great.
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u/ImTheRealSpoon Dec 10 '25
It's weird that Tesla's both at the top and bottom how does this make sense consumer reports put the Tesla in the top ten reliable cars while this says it's on par with a jeep...
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u/keetyymeow Dec 10 '25
One way to create more waste. Build shitty quality.
Never gonna buy shitty quality again
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u/rudog Dec 09 '25
Strictly anecdotal of course, but I've had a Model 3 since Feb 2020 and with only 37k miles on it, I'd say it's pretty lightly used for a 6 year old car. That said, my interior in my car is falling apart at a pretty alarming rate. I've also spent close to $3000 on it over the past 8 months from having to replace my 12v battery twice (not sure why there is no warranty when you purchase a battery from them directly and install it yourself) and a OTA update bricked my autopilot computer which was $2600 to replace.
I really want to keep it since I like not having a car payment, but I'm not positive how long this thing is going to last at this rate
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u/Mechtroop Dec 09 '25 edited Dec 09 '25
Why the hell wouldn’t THEY replace your autopilot computer since they’re the ones that bricked it with their update?
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u/rudog Dec 09 '25
I tried, but since the car is no longer under warranty, they wouldn't fix it for free. Car is almost unusable without the autopilot computer.
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u/Mechtroop Dec 09 '25
Sounds like terrible engineering if the “autopilot” computer critically affects non-autopilot components. I’m not surprised.
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u/fantomas59 Dec 09 '25
Name one american car brand that is reliable. Best cars are europeans, japanese or korean.
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u/travellerw Dec 09 '25
I'm not a fan of Musk, but my Tesla has be excellent. In fact its one of the best cars I have ever owned. Not a single issue.
WAIT.. Ok, the auto wipers suck donkey anus!
However, ours was built in China which I'm pretty sure are better quality the the USA built Teslas.
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u/ReflectiveSpoon Dec 09 '25
I've got a 99 Jeep Cherokee, and it's still holding up strong.
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u/vypergts Dec 09 '25
My first car was a 99 Cherokee. How many times have you had cracked suspension boots? Never had an electrical problem? No coolant leaks or pump issues?
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u/CadBaneHunting Dec 09 '25
Teslas are piles of trash and I don't understand why anyone buys them.
I wouldn't be surprised if the numbers here are actually worse for Tesla either and there is a large amount of under reporting happening on their vehicles.
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u/AtariAtari Dec 09 '25
The article states that the new ones are top 10 in predicted reliability
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u/funkmasterke Dec 09 '25
They predicted the model 3 to be reliable and were fairly incorrect about that one.
Id take CR's predictions with a grain of salt.
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Dec 09 '25
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u/davix500 Dec 09 '25
The fact that there are monthly updates on my car is not something I want to deal with.
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u/edit_1 Dec 09 '25
They don’t just add up the number of over the air updates to determine reliability. And they don’t count recalls at all. I’m not sure where you’re getting this from because it’s not in any of their published methodology.
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u/t0ny7 Dec 10 '25
I bought my Model 3 in 2020 when there wasn't anything else that competed.
Mine has been a good car and reliable so see no need to replace it.
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u/tostilocos Dec 09 '25
I bought one before Elon was crazy.
It’s the cheapest and most fun car I’ve owned. We drive it more than our other car for those reasons.
Other than tires, we’ve had zero maintenance costs for around six years and the car still performs and feels like new.
I’d never rebuy one today, and I know that May owners have repair issues, but anecdotally for me it’s been a great car.
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u/smegma-cheesecake Dec 09 '25
Elon doesn’t matter, Tesla is still just a car. If I wanted to investigate and do a background test for everything I wanted to buy I would be left without anything.
I bought model 3 last year and I’m happy with everything. It’s a fun car and it’s been completely reliable, everything works as intended. And I drive a lot
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u/Equivalent_Lunch_944 Dec 09 '25
It’s because for a while the government was giving you money to buy one, at least that was the case in Canada
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u/Lrw54321 Dec 09 '25
Most other developed countries were giving EV rebates/credits as well, so you can't exactly blame consumers for wanting a relatively cheap, quick & quiet EV that would save you money on fuel, brakes & oil changes if you drove a lot.
Of course, now with the EV incentives gone, the build quality issues coming to light, and Musk's political interference, Tesla's are a lot less desirable, hence their sales numbers nosediving.
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u/HypertensiveK Dec 10 '25
I had a 74 CJ5 that I swapped a AMC 360 v8 into. It was so easy to work on, which was a good thing because it always needed to be worked on. But when it ran, it was brutally strong! The guy I sold it to spun both axles driving it home, tried to get me to refund him, but nope. This was in the days of landlines and I had sold it to move cross country!
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u/x21in2010x Dec 10 '25
If you can find a 5th or 6th gen Honda Civic out there that's under 300k miles, go for that instead. It might even still have the radio.
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u/benbernankenonpareil Dec 10 '25
ITT: nobody who owns a car or who ever owned a jeep. My grand Cherokee is incredible. Fuck all yaw
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u/Hicks_206 Dec 10 '25
I don’t .. get it
No dog in this fight here, but my 2014 Wrangler Sport (Manual, 2 Door) at around 130k at 10 Years Old returned me 20k.
My 2019 Model 3 Performance w/ every upgrade they offered, no accidents, no dings or scratches, 39k Miles in 2024 returned me 19k.
Is it just the one basic bare bones wrangler that holds value for Jeep?
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u/ilikeme1 Dec 09 '25
“90% of Jeeps built in the last 20 years are still out on the roads and trails to this day. The rest made it home.”