Take A Hike: Consumer Reports Responds To Tesla's Outrage Over Model 3 Average Reliability Rating

Consumer Reports has fired back at Tesla, issuing a statement that defends its recent report that predicts Model 3 to have “average reliability”. “Tesla appears unhappy that CR expects the new-to-market Tesla Model 3 to be of average reliability, which is generally a positive projection for any first model year of a car.” says CR in a press release sent to Teslarati.

The nonprofit organization that aims to educate consumers on the value of product, that can be anywhere from a household vacuum cleaner to an automobile, through its product testing reinforces its methodology for making predictions. “Here’s how we make the prediction” notes CR, addressing Tesla’s claim that the organization’s “automotive reporting is consistently inaccurate and misleading to consumers”.

“CR uses survey data it receives from car owners to predict the expected reliability of new cars being introduced to the market by looking across a manufacturer’s historic results (akin to how a weather forecaster predicts it will be sunny) — separate from the hands-on road tests we use for our overall score.” reads the press release.

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TheSteve - 10/25/2017 1:58:46 PM

+1 Boost

Consumer Reports "crystal balls" the future Model 3's reliability numbers, and predicts they'll be average.

Tesla's Elon Musk gets his shorts in a knot because CR is not swooning all over the Model 3 like a Tesla fan does.

You know what the solution is? Wait until the Model 3's production numbers get high enough to report meaningful "initial defects" stats, and then publish those numbers. Simple! At that point, either CR or Musk can proclaim "Told 'ja so!"

Let's just hope they're not both wrong.

TheSteve - 10/25/2017 4:15:51 PM

-1 Boost

BobM wrote "...Consumer Reports can't rate something that's still being figured out..."

This is true. And it's important to note that CR **DIDN'T** rate the Model 3's reliability. Perhaps this is the distinction Musk misses, too.

CR *predicted* (i.e., what they speculate will happen) the Model 3's reliability, based on what they know of current Tesla models, of Tesla Motors, and what they think will happen next. It's all very subjective, as predictions that aren't based on science, are. CR clearly stated that their Model 3 thing is a *prediction*, and not an actual rating based on actual numbers drawn from actual sales.

Suffering arises when one does not like how another thinks. Someone (CR) thinks "the Model 3 will be average" and another (Musk) gets upset about that because (paraphrased) "you don't think highly of me and my products. Therefore, I will be angry at you, and I slam you and attempt to discredit you in the hope that my perspective will be received by others as being more truthful."

SanJoseDriver - 10/26/2017 4:22:27 AM

+1 Boost

I think the CR response was completely fair and reasonable. Tesla over-reacted with the initial release. It was also interesting to see CR toss some lighthearted compliments in the response:

"For the Model 3, we looked at more than 2,000 consumer survey responses about Tesla models. In fact, the Tesla Model S is now reported as having above average reliability for the first time ever. The Tesla Model S is also currently CR’s top rated car, period. (Kudos on both, Tesla!)"

MDarringer - 10/26/2017 8:22:32 AM

+3 Boost

Elon made a massive miscalculation and if anything has brought even more negative press to the Model 3 nightmare.

PUGPROUD - 10/26/2017 1:35:09 PM

0 Boost

While I admire Elon Musk, when you do things other mere mortals cannot, make billions (on paper) and reach media rock star status you begin to believe in your own pontification. Who can possibly question the great man?

RzRBackCarGuy81 - 10/26/2017 1:38:21 PM

+1 Boost

Making the prediction on how their past vehicles have done and based on consumer's actual responses is not wrong. History can be a precursor to the future. Why do you think there are credit ratings, insurance scores, and so on. Yes you can buck the trend and build a vehicle that is impeccably reliable this time around but the ODDS are slim. My mother-in-law has a model X, and that thing is a $150k piece of garbage. Horrible fit and finish quality inside and out, constantly having to take it into the shop. When you buy a vehicle that priced, you expect it to be better in all areas. You don't expect your body lines to have pinky finger gaps on one side of the hood and nothing on the other, a-pillar trim misaligned an falling off, constant falcon-wing door issues, the list goes on and on. So if the last two vehicles you produced came out low in quality and reliability, what makes CR think you're somehow gong to be different now when you can't even get the car out to the customer in any sort of timely manner or even close to your initial goals. Recreating the wheel is what Elon thinks he is best at, and while he has had some innovative ideas, the wheel is still the best wheel available.

Now I will say the acceleration was quite impressive, just the instant torque, but other than that, I was very dissatisfied. And of course, when she comes to town, I have to drive everywhere and am stuck driving this dumb vehicle looking at that eyesore of a hideous screen in the dash. To me, the interiors on the cars are hideous. There is no beauty to it. The 3 looks to be much worse.