CR concluded that owners are likely to face a “worse-than-average” overall problem rate.
Advertisement
Elon Musk’s response to Consumer Reports negative rating of the Model S P85D. In fact, after the report came out, Tesla’s stock price dropped from $228 per share to $202, Engadget reported.
“On our test track, the vehicle is second to none”, he said according to the New York Times.
Whereas carmakers traditionally don’t release a new feature until they consider it 100-percent ready, Tesla is effectively turning its paying customers into software beta testers, and using their experiences to refine a product it readily admits is not complete.
Elon Musk fired back at Consumer Reports, which this week yanked its designation of the Model S as a “top pick” for reliability.
Squeaks and rattles were found to be the most prevalent issue, although Consumer Reports notes that this may be at least partially due to the car’s near-silent powertrain amplifying ambient noises. Other report inoperable wipers, leaking battery cooling pumps, out-of-alignment trunk and hatchback latches and persistent wheel-alignment issues.
Jake Fisher, the head of auto testing for Consumer Reports said in an interview “People are saying they love the vehicle, but when we ask about how they’ve been holding up, we’re seeing a few major issues, in things like the electric motors and charging system”.
Just about the only place where you properly equipped Tesla Model S can’t sort of drive itself (Autopilot is a driver-assist technology, not a fully autonomous system) under the right conditions (highways, mostly) is Japan.
Last year Tesla’s reliability scores were higher than this year’s. “In instances when hardware needs to be fixed, we strive to make it painless”.
Advertisement
Though Consumer Reports did add that most of these issues are covered by Tesla’s warranties, it still pulled its recommendation, causing the company’s stock plunge on Tuesday afternoon.
