The reliability of hybrid and electric vehicles is improving, but U.S.-based brands continue to lag behind their competitors, according to Consumer Reports’ 2025 Automotive Report Card.
US-based automakers have been slow to adopt new technologies, leading to quality woes, said Jake Fisher, director of automotive testing at Consumer Reports. “It’s all about growing pains,” he added. “Incremental changes equal greater reliability.”
Even the most reliable brands, such as Subaru and Toyota, have vehicles with below-average predicted reliability. The top-rated U.S.-based brands on reliability are Buick, Ford, Chevrolet, Tesla, Jeep, GMC, Cadillac, Rivian, and GM’s other brands.
However, EV startups like Rivian and Tesla consistently rank lower than their competitors, often due to early production problems. Fisher recommends shoppers use individual model ratings rather than brand rankings for guidance.
The report shows rapid improvement among EVs and hybrids, which trailed traditional internal combustion engines in reliability last year. Hybrid vehicles now have the same average problem rate as ICE technology, while EVs and plug-in hybrids have seen significant drops in problem rates.
Overall, Fisher concluded that “time will tell” if widespread quality flaws remain an issue with U.S.-based brands investing heavily in electric vehicles.
Source: https://eu.freep.com/story/money/cars/mark-phelan/2024/12/05/us-auto-brands-tech-early-adopters-hammered-in-reliability-report/76695571007