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If you want a dependable car, why would you buy a Tesla? They consistently score bottom of the pack for reliability and repair times.

toomuchtodo 2y ago
Tesla’s drivetrain and battery longevity is unmatched compared to legacy auto, but non powertrain reliability issues and repair times are legitimate points. https://www.notebookcheck.net/Model-Y-Juniper-expected-to-last-20-years-as-Tesla-vehicles-now-beat-diesel-car-lifespan-in-new-EV-longevity-study.956459.0.html https://www.notebookcheck.net/Model-Y-Juniper-expected-to-la... https://www.notebookcheck.net/Fast-charged-Model-S-battery-gets-warranty-replacement-at-416-000-miles-in-a-testament-to-Tesla-longevity.863684.0.html https://www.notebookcheck.net/Fast-charged-Model-S-battery-g... https://www.nature.com/articles/s41560-024-01698-1 https://www.nature.com/articles/s41560-024-01698-1
- jordanb 2y ago
  The resale value plunge that EVs take (especially Teslas) suggest that the market is skeptical of these longevity claims.
  - FeloniousHam 2y ago
    I think you're correct about the market skepticism: there simply isn't enough long-term real world data to know how long an electric car's battery (the critical piece) or integrated systems will last. There's also the issue of rapid technological advancement, like in the smartphone/computer early days. We're still learning about the fundamentals, eg. battery composition, the seller pays for the risk the same dollar gets more (and better) miles. I'm quite confident ICE will very soon be a niche power source, I will boldly say the tipping point is 2030 :) https://www.teslarati.com/tesla-leads-vehicle-longevity-mileage-study-finds/#:~:text=The%20study%20revealed%20that%20electric%20vehicles%2C%20in,with%20an%20average%20lifespan%20of%2016.8%20years. https://www.teslarati.com/tesla-leads-vehicle-longevity-mile...
- bigfatkitten 2y ago
  On most modern vehicles, the body rusts out, the suspension sags, the paintwork calls it quits and the trim falls apart well before the powertrain dies.
qwerpy 2y ago
Many of the dings against reliability are “recalls” that get patched OTA. I’ve owned 3 over the past 7 years and the only time I’ve gone in for a repair was because the motorized truck bed cover wasn’t closing on its first try. I had to press it twice for a few weeks until I got it fixed. Yes, it’s an anecdote. But it’s my “lived experience” as they say.
- nickthegreek 2y ago
  Owning 3 cars of the same car over 7 years doesn’t scream reliability to me.
  - qwerpy 2y ago
    I bought a 3, traded it in for a Y because we had kids, gave the Y to my wife and bought a CT for myself.
    - apparent 2y ago
      What made the CT an attractive purchase for you? I don't mean to be rude, but I just haven't figured out what makes people want to buy them.
      - qwerpy 2y ago
        The honest reason is I loved the look from the moment it was unveiled. I’ve had Teslas for years and this one is the same thing I’m used to but bigger and has massive cargo space, which is useful now that I have kids whose toys (strollers, bikes, skis/snowboards, ride on cars, etc) take up more and more space. It also powered my house during an extended power outage, and drives itself when I need a break. I love the thing. Just wish it wasn’t wrapped up with so much political angst.
        apparent 2y ago
        Appreciate the reply, thanks. I had heard so many stories about build issues (as with other new Tesla models), and it's pretty expensive too. I wasn't sure what attracted people enough to overcome these downsides (and the polarizing aesthetics, of course). But if you've got skis and ride-on cars, I see how the bed would make this a winner over the Model X.
DaiPlusPlus 2y ago
Am Seattle-based Tesla owner, using the same Model X I bought in early 2018 with FSD the HW3 retrofit - right before Elon started going off the deep end… It’s been almost 7 years and I’ve spent a grand total of $0.00 on servicing the car, even after the warranty expired. That compares favourably to my last car, a Ford, which had the dual-clutch transmission issue. (Yes, Anecdotes are not data; also, as a Tesla shareholder I desperately want to see Elon ousted; he’s like a reverse-Schindler…)
- rybosworld 2y ago
  Ford is not known for building reliable cars. They are consistently below the average on that metric. Anecdotes are not data, but the one guy I know that is a die-hard Ford buyer has more car problems than anyone I've known. Point being that if your previous baseline is Ford, I'd expect most brands to seem unbreakable.
  - DaiPlusPlus 2y ago
    Fair. My mum’s Toyota Yaris is almost 20 years old now and you really wouldn’t know.
colechristensen 2y ago
I’d like to see the actual distribution of issues because the impression that i get is that a few people have a lot of problems and a lot of people have few to no problems.

toomuchtodo 2y ago

Tesla’s drivetrain and battery longevity is unmatched compared to legacy auto, but non powertrain reliability issues and repair times are legitimate points. https://www.notebookcheck.net/Model-Y-Juniper-expected-to-last-20-years-as-Tesla-vehicles-now-beat-diesel-car-lifespan-in-new-EV-longevity-study.956459.0.html https://www.notebookcheck.net/Model-Y-Juniper-expected-to-la... https://www.notebookcheck.net/Fast-charged-Model-S-battery-gets-warranty-replacement-at-416-000-miles-in-a-testament-to-Tesla-longevity.863684.0.html https://www.notebookcheck.net/Fast-charged-Model-S-battery-g... https://www.nature.com/articles/s41560-024-01698-1 https://www.nature.com/articles/s41560-024-01698-1

jordanb 2y ago
The resale value plunge that EVs take (especially Teslas) suggest that the market is skeptical of these longevity claims.
- FeloniousHam 2y ago
  I think you're correct about the market skepticism: there simply isn't enough long-term real world data to know how long an electric car's battery (the critical piece) or integrated systems will last. There's also the issue of rapid technological advancement, like in the smartphone/computer early days. We're still learning about the fundamentals, eg. battery composition, the seller pays for the risk the same dollar gets more (and better) miles. I'm quite confident ICE will very soon be a niche power source, I will boldly say the tipping point is 2030 :) https://www.teslarati.com/tesla-leads-vehicle-longevity-mileage-study-finds/#:~:text=The%20study%20revealed%20that%20electric%20vehicles%2C%20in,with%20an%20average%20lifespan%20of%2016.8%20years. https://www.teslarati.com/tesla-leads-vehicle-longevity-mile...
bigfatkitten 2y ago
On most modern vehicles, the body rusts out, the suspension sags, the paintwork calls it quits and the trim falls apart well before the powertrain dies.

qwerpy 2y ago

Many of the dings against reliability are “recalls” that get patched OTA. I’ve owned 3 over the past 7 years and the only time I’ve gone in for a repair was because the motorized truck bed cover wasn’t closing on its first try. I had to press it twice for a few weeks until I got it fixed. Yes, it’s an anecdote. But it’s my “lived experience” as they say.

nickthegreek 2y ago
Owning 3 cars of the same car over 7 years doesn’t scream reliability to me.
- qwerpy 2y ago
  I bought a 3, traded it in for a Y because we had kids, gave the Y to my wife and bought a CT for myself.
  - apparent 2y ago
    What made the CT an attractive purchase for you? I don't mean to be rude, but I just haven't figured out what makes people want to buy them.
    - qwerpy 2y ago
      The honest reason is I loved the look from the moment it was unveiled. I’ve had Teslas for years and this one is the same thing I’m used to but bigger and has massive cargo space, which is useful now that I have kids whose toys (strollers, bikes, skis/snowboards, ride on cars, etc) take up more and more space. It also powered my house during an extended power outage, and drives itself when I need a break. I love the thing. Just wish it wasn’t wrapped up with so much political angst.
      - apparent 2y ago
        Appreciate the reply, thanks. I had heard so many stories about build issues (as with other new Tesla models), and it's pretty expensive too. I wasn't sure what attracted people enough to overcome these downsides (and the polarizing aesthetics, of course). But if you've got skis and ride-on cars, I see how the bed would make this a winner over the Model X.

DaiPlusPlus 2y ago

Am Seattle-based Tesla owner, using the same Model X I bought in early 2018 with FSD the HW3 retrofit - right before Elon started going off the deep end… It’s been almost 7 years and I’ve spent a grand total of $0.00 on servicing the car, even after the warranty expired. That compares favourably to my last car, a Ford, which had the dual-clutch transmission issue. (Yes, Anecdotes are not data; also, as a Tesla shareholder I desperately want to see Elon ousted; he’s like a reverse-Schindler…)

rybosworld 2y ago
Ford is not known for building reliable cars. They are consistently below the average on that metric. Anecdotes are not data, but the one guy I know that is a die-hard Ford buyer has more car problems than anyone I've known. Point being that if your previous baseline is Ford, I'd expect most brands to seem unbreakable.
- DaiPlusPlus 2y ago
  Fair. My mum’s Toyota Yaris is almost 20 years old now and you really wouldn’t know.

colechristensen 2y ago

I’d like to see the actual distribution of issues because the impression that i get is that a few people have a lot of problems and a lot of people have few to no problems.