Tesla's Design Overhaul Frustrates Owners, Downgrades Quality in Latest J.D. Power Study

Tesla's quality rating has declined in J.D. Power's 2024 Initial Quality Study, released on June 27, due to controversial design changes. The removal of turn-signal stalks and relocation of key functions have frustrated owners and raised concerns about increased distractions.

Tesla's Quality Declines in 2024 J.D. Power Study Amid Controversial Design Changes, Frustrating Owners

As Bloomberg reported, Tesla Inc.'s quality, once a benchmark for the entire electric vehicle market, has now declined, as evidenced by a decrease in its score in J.D. Power's Initial Quality Study for the 2024 model year, released on June 27. This decline, following controversial design changes, including removing turn-signal stalks, has frustrated owners and sent ripples of concern across the industry.

Once the undisputed leader in electric vehicle quality, Tesla finds itself on par with Rivian Automotive Inc. and legacy manufacturers like General Motors Co. The study, a bellwether for vehicle reliability during the first three months of ownership, has revealed significant dissatisfaction among Tesla owners. The relocation of fundamental functions, such as the horn and window controls from the center of the steering wheel to a button on the wheel spoke, and the replacement of turn-signal stalks with directional arrow controls have not been well-received.

In an interview, Frank Hanley, J.D. Power’s senior director of auto benchmarking and study's author, noted, “It’s not being well received. In an emergency, when you have to hit the horn, you don’t necessarily want to have to think about it. We see customers commenting that eyes-off-the-road time is increasing because they have to hunt around.”

Ram Tops J.D. Power Quality Rankings; EV Makers Lag Behind with Higher Problem Rates

The study revealed that Ram, Stellantis NV's truck and van division, topped the rankings with 149 problems per 100 vehicles, followed by GM's Chevrolet and Hyundai Motor Co.'s namesake brand.

According to MSN, Porsche was the most problematic luxury manufacturer, with 172 issues per 100 vehicles, followed by Toyota Motor Corp.'s Lexus line and Hyundai's Genesis premium brand. The industry average was 195 issues per 100 vehicles, with Stellantis' Dodge model line at the bottom for non-electric vehicles, having 301 issues.

Electric vehicle manufacturers fared worse in the study. Tesla and Rivian had 266 problems per 100 vehicles, while Polestar had the most issues at 316 per 100. Hanley explained that while EVs have fewer components that can wear out, they often feature cutting-edge technology that can fail, leading EV owners to visit dealerships at a rate three times higher than gas-powered vehicle owners.

General Motors emerges as a beacon of success in the industry, earning six segment awards, including top rankings for the Chevy Equinox as the most problem-free compact SUV and the Chevy Silverado as the top heavy-duty pickup truck. This success story from a legacy manufacturer provides a glimmer of hope for the industry's future.

Ford's redesigned F-150 pickup, the company’s best-seller, was not included in this year's study because the automaker reserved 60,000 units for additional quality inspections in the first quarter. According to Hanley, this exclusion had a dual impact, as the gas-powered F-150 generally boasts high quality, whereas the electric F-150 Lightning has been subpar.

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