The Lemon Index
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Electric cars

The most reliable EVs.

Every one drew more complaints than the average car. The Nissan Leaf came closest.

Chevrolet BoltTesla Model STesla Model Y

Photos: 4300streetcar · Granada · Kevauto (Wikimedia Commons)

22electric cars ranked
4.3×the complaints of gas cars, per car sold
128best: Nissan Leaf

Lower is better. 100 = the average car. Tap any EV for its problems, recalls, range and yearly cost.

#1Nissan LeafNissan Leaf*128automatic emergency braking#2Kia Niro EVKia Niro EV*162electrical#3Rivian R1TRivian R1T*197airbags#4Rivian R1SRivian R1S*231airbags#5Chevrolet BoltChevrolet Bolt244electrical#6Hyundai Ioniq 6Hyundai Ioniq 6*265electrical#7Hyundai Kona ElectricHyundai Kona Electric*272electrical#8Ford F-150 LightningFord F-150 Lightning288electrical#9Ford Mustang Mach-EFord Mustang Mach-E316electrical#10Tesla Model YTesla Model Y344automatic emergency braking#11Tesla Model 3Tesla Model 3366automatic emergency braking#12Cadillac LyriqCadillac Lyriq*413automatic emergency braking#13Polestar 2Polestar 2*414electrical#14Tesla CybertruckTesla Cybertruck*429body structure#15Kia EV6Kia EV6440electrical#16Tesla Model XTesla Model X482steering#17Chevrolet Blazer EVChevrolet Blazer EV*512automatic emergency braking#18Chevrolet Equinox EVChevrolet Equinox EV*630wipers and visibility#19Tesla Model STesla Model S679automatic emergency braking#20Hyundai Ioniq 5Hyundai Ioniq 5686electrical#21Volkswagen ID.4Volkswagen ID.4875electrical#22Kia EV9Kia EV9*1436electrical

* Under 50,000 sold: a rough score. Sales are Kelley Blue Book estimates for every brand (Tesla doesn't report U.S. sales by model). These scores use a shorter window than the main Lemon Index (complaints filed by the end of the year after the model year), so brand-new EVs like the Cybertruck get a fair, complete window. That's why a Tesla's score here differs a little from its main car page.

More electric-car data

Do electric cars catch fire more?

0.8 fire complaints per 100,000 EVs vs 0.5 for other cars

What an EV costs to drive per year

EPA yearly fuel cost for every EV vs its gas twin or rival

The most common EV problems

automatic emergency braking is 41% of EV complaints

Autopilot and driver-assist crash reports

Tesla filed 88% of them. Here's why that isn't the whole story

Questions

What is the most reliable electric car?

By owner complaints per car sold, the Nissan Leaf (Lemon Index 128), then the Kia Niro EV (162) and the Rivian R1T (197), model years 2021-2024. 100 is the average car.

Are electric cars less reliable than gas cars?

They draw more safety complaints. Across 22 EVs, owners filed 213 complaints per 100,000 cars sold, against 50 for other cars of the same years: about 4.3 times as many. Much of the gap is driver-assist systems, mostly automatic emergency braking. Without those complaints it's about 2.7 times.

Which electric car has the most problems?

The Kia EV9 (1436), then the Volkswagen ID.4 (875) and the Hyundai Ioniq 5 (686). Their top complaint area: electrical.

Do electric cars catch fire more than gas cars?

Fire complaints are rare for both: 0.8 per 100,000 EVs sold and 0.5 per 100,000 other cars, in the first year or two. See the fire page for the details.

Why does Tesla score badly?

Mostly one system. About 6 in 10 Model 3 and Model Y complaints are about automatic emergency braking, the car braking hard for nothing ("phantom braking"). Take those out and both rank among the best EVs.

Updated