June 28, 2024 – The renowned consulting firm J.D. Power has recently released its 2024 Initial Quality Study (IQS) of new vehicles in the United States, providing insights into the quality landscape of the automotive industry. The report places Ram at the top of the list, boasting a Problem Per 100 (PP100) score of just 149, significantly below the industry average of 195.

Trailing Ram, Chevrolet, Hyundai, Kia, Buick, and Nissan round out the top five, all maintaining PP100 scores below 170. However, despite its status as the leading electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer in the US, Tesla finds itself in a less enviable position, ranking near the bottom of the list with a PP100 score of 266, surpassing the average by 66 points.
According to the report, Tesla’s subpar performance is attributed to issues stemming from the company’s adjustments to traditional vehicle functions, such as turn signal and wiper controls, which have garnered negative feedback from owners. Notably, since being included in J.D. Power’s studies in 2022, Tesla has consistently struggled in the realm of new vehicle quality.

Furthermore, the study highlights a trend in which plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs) exhibit significantly higher maintenance demands compared to their gasoline-powered counterparts. Specifically, the PP100 score for PEVs stands at 266, notably exceeding the 180 mark set by gasoline and diesel-powered cars. Owner complaints range from false alarms and unnecessary traffic warnings to issues with automatic braking systems. Notably, the rear-seat reminder feature alone accounts for 1.7 problems per vehicle across the industry, even when the rear seats are unoccupied.
The findings underscore the challenges facing the EV market, particularly Tesla, in balancing innovation and consumer satisfaction. As the industry continues to evolve, it remains to be seen whether manufacturers can address these issues and improve overall vehicle quality.