The most and least reliable electric cars named and shamed
SOURCE:Daily Mail
You'd expect EVs to breakdown less because they have fewer moving parts than petrol or diesel models. But is that true? We reveal the EVs that are reliable and those that aren't...
The electric car market has more offerings than ever, with drivers able to choose from over 135 new models.
But once you've bought an electric car, how reliable will it be?
To answer this crucial question as more and more people make the move to electric and learn to live with an EV, leading consumer champion What Car? surveyed EV owners in its latest Reliability Survey.
Gathering data on 34 pure electric models, the study revealed that electric cars are mid-league when it comes to reliability.
Electric SUVs are more robust than other types of EV; the former scored 89.3 per cent reliability while the latter scored 87.7 per cent - down from 90.7 per cent last year.
But which models are going to keep you on the road for the longest, and which will let you down? Here's the countdown of the 10 you can rely on - and three that suggest faults could occur and trigger breakdowns as well as high repair bills.
MOST RELIABLE ELECTRIC CARS
10. Volvo EC40 (2021-present) - 94.5%
Most common faults: Battery pack 10%, non-motor electrics 10%, bodywork 5%, charging system 5%
Average repair cost: £0
Typical time off road: 33% one day or less, 33% one day to a week, 33% more than a week
The Volvo EC40, previous C40 Recharge, had faults for 30% of owners but Volvo paid for all repairs
The EC40 - previously called the C40 Recharge - arrived in April 2024, making it one of Volvo's longest standing electric models.
Owners of the small electric coupe SUV, which has a range of up to 358 miles, found problems were quite common: 30 per cent of owners told What Car? that their car had some problem. Half of the cars that went wrong couldn't be driven.
The most faults were battery pack (10 per cent) and non-motor electrics (10 per cent).
However, Volvo paid for all repair work and two-thirds of cars were able to be driven again in less than a week.
9. Vauxhall Combo Life (2022-present) -95.3%
Most common faults: 12-volt battery 7%, sat-nav/infotainment system 7%
Average repair cost: £0
Typical time off road: 67% more than a week, 33% one day or less
The Combo Life Electric MPV only had issues 13% of the time but Vauxhall took a long time to fix cars
Vauxhall's Combo Life Electric MPV shares its underpinnings with the Citroen e-Berlingo and Peugeot e-Rifter.
You can get seven seats in all versions of the Combo Life MPV EV, so it's great for large family life.
It's solidly dependable too as on 13 per cent of examples had issues, and these were confined to the battery and infotainment system. Two-thirds of cars could still be driven.
However, Vauxhall took a long time to fix cars, with 67 per cent off the road for more than a week. But Vauxhall covered all work for free.
Most common faults: air-con 6%, battery pack 4%, motor electrics 4%, non-motor electrics 4%
Average repair cost: £0
Typical time off road: 83% one day to a week
The iX3's reliability is solid, with 19% of cars reported to What Car? as having a problem and BMW paid for all work
The BMW iX3 is the electric version of the standard, combustion X3.
It's popular for being an easy switch to make for X3 drivers, and a good, premium option SUV.
It's reliability is solid too, with 19 per cent of cars reported to What Car? as having a problem. Almost three quarters owners said their iX3 could still be driven and 83 per cent were fixed within 24 hours.
BMW also paid for all remedial work to be done.
7. Hyundai Ioniq 6 (2022-present) - 95.7%
Most common faults: bodywork 6%, charging system 6%, interior trim 6%, sat-nav/infotainment system6%
Average repair cost: £0
Typical time off road: 50% one day to a week, 50% more than a week
It's a very reliable EV to buy, as only 11% of owners told What Car? about any issues. Hyundai covered all costs
The Hyundai Ioniq 6 four-door coupe is known for being smooth, fast charging and well designed.
But it's also a very reliable EV to buy, as only 11 per cent of owners told What Car? about any issues.
The problems were relatively minor as well - bodywork or interior trim issues for instance - so all cars could still be driven.
Fifty per cent of the cars were fixed in a day or less but the other 50 per cent took more than a week. However, Hyundai covered all costs.
6. Nissan Leaf (2019-2024) - 96.5%
Most common faults: battery pack 2%, brakes 2%, interior trim 2%, non-motor electrics 2%, suspension 2%
Average repair cost: 88% £0, 12% £301-£500
Typical time off road: 63% one day or less, 25% one day to a week
Few owners of the old Leaf had issues - just 15%. But repairs were expensive for 12% of owners
The Leaf was the first mass-market EV, and the second-generation ran from 2019 to 2024.
First deliveries of the all-new third-generation Nissan Leaf will begin in February, so owners will be happy to hear that the old Leaf has a very good reliability - hopefully the new Leaf will too.
Few owners of the old Leaf had issues - just 15 per cent in fact. Problems included electrical and suspension faults but most faults were easily resolved.
Sixty-three per cent of cars were out of the workshop in a day or less, and only 13 per cent were there for more than a week.
The problem though was the cost of repairs: 88 per cent of problems were sorted out for free, but 12 per cent of owners had to pay between £301 and £500.
5. BMW i4 (2021-present) - 96.8%
Most common faults: bodywork 5%, battery pack 3%, brakes 2%, non-motor electrics 2%, sat-nat/infotainment system 2%
Average repair cost: £0
Typical time off road: 67% one day or less, 25% more than a week
Some 16% of owners told What Car? they experienced issues but 83% could still be driven and almost 70% were fixed in a day
A luxury EV, the BMW i4 gives performance and style to EV buyers after a Gran Coupe.
The all-electric version of the 4 Series is also a highly reliable car, with only 16 per cent of owners telling What Car? they experienced issues.
And the majority of the problems were only bodywork related, with a few EV battery issues and some electrical system faults reported.
Eight-three per cent of cars could still be driven and 67 per cent were fixed in a day or less. Only 25 per cent were away from their owner for more than a week being worked on, and BMW paid for all work.
4. Tesla Model Y (2022-present) - 97.1%
Most common faults: battery pack 2%, brakes 2%, motor electrics 2%, interior trim 2%, suspension 2%
Average repair cost: £0
Typical time off road: 42% one day or less, 58% one day to a week
More than 1 in 10 Model Y owners said their cars went wrong, not many, and Tesla paid for all repairs - a relief for owners
The Tesla Model Y was last year's best-selling electric car in the UK.
Last year it was also the top-rated electric SUV by What Car? respondents, but this year it has dropped down to only the top three.
The Model Y is slightly less reliable according to drivers this year because 12 per cent of owners said their cars went wrong, with defects ranging from the EV battery pack to the motor and interior trim.
But fixes were delt with swiftly, with 42 per cent of Model Ys back on the road in a day or less and the remaining 58 per cent repairs in less than a week. And Tesla paid for all repairs - a relief for owners.
3. BMW i3 (2013-2022) - 97.4%
Most common faults: Motor electrics 4%, steering 4%, suspension 4%
Average repair cost: £0
Typical time off road: 50% more than a week, 25% one day or less, 25% one day to a week
The i3's low fault rate of 11% beats the Nissan Leaf and more expensive BMW i4. And in all cases BMW covered the cost of repairs.
We're into the top three most reliable cars - the podium places. And in bronze is the small, BMW i3 EV.
It's no longer on sale but its clearly a dependable small EV if you're looking to buy second hand.
Its low fault rate of 11 per cent beats the Nissan Leaf and more expensive BMW i4. And in all cases BMW covered the cost of repairs.
Owner’s view: 'Our current car is the second i3 we’ve owned over the past nine years. Both examples have been very reliable.'
2. Renault Scenic E-Tech (2024-present) - 97.5%
Most common faults: Electric motor 5%, sat-nav/infotainment system 5%
Average repair cost: £0
Typical time off road: 100% one day or less
The Renault Scenic E-Tech took home silver in EV reliability as only 11% of owners had issues and problems were resolved in a day or less and all were paid for by Renault
The Scenic became an EV in 2024, and it's been a reliable wagon ever since - and this year owners have awarded it a silver medal as a result.
Just 11 per cent of owners reported their cars had let them down, and all the issues were the same; either the electric motor or infotainment system.
All problems were resolved in a day or less - hence the high score - and Renault paid for every necessary repair.
1. Kia EV3 (2024-present) - 100%
Most common faults: None
Average repair cost: n/a
Typical time off road: n/a
Coming home with gold and full marks for reliability is the Kia EV3. The affordable SUV didn't have a single fault reported!
The Kia EV3 is not only the most reliable EV of the year, it's also the only EV to not drop a single mark. However, with the car only released in 2024, the models reported on will have been almost new - so reliability might not be this bulletproof next year.
The affordable small SUV, which starts from around £33k, attainted a perfect 100 per cent reliability rating in What Car?'s survey, outperforming many bigger and more expensive EVs.
No participating owners found a single fault with their cars - no common faults were reported.
This meant there wasn't a typical time the car spent off the road or an average repair cost.
In other words its owners have nothing bad to say - there are no remarks.
So, in one happy owner's words: 'The EV3 was just what I’ve been looking for in an electric car, and it’s been totally dependable so far.'
LEAST RELIABLE ELECTRIC CARS
1. Hyundai Ioniq 5 (2021-present) - 80.7%
Most common faults: 12-volt battery 20%, bodywork 10%, interior trim 7%, non-motor electrics 7%, sat-nav/infotainment system 7%, electric motor 5%
Average repair cost: 90% £0, 5% £1-£100, 5% more than £1500
Typical time off road: 56% more than a week, 37% one day or less
A score of 80.7% can hardly be described as unreliable. But in relative terms, most EVs are performing better than the Ioniq 5
With a rating of 80.7 per cent, the Hyundai Ioniq 5 can hardly be described as unreliable. But in relative terms, most EVs are performing better, according to owners.
Unlike the 6 coupe that made it into the most reliable models, the 5 small crossover hasn't been ticking over very well in the last year.
Faults ranged from the 12-volt battery (20 per cent) down to sat-nav (7 per cent) and interior trim (7 per cent).
Overall, 42 per cent of Ioniq 5s went wrong - a significant proportion more than its Kia EV6 - and while both models had 12-volt issues, the 5s were undriveable due to them.
Fifty-six per cent of 5s were off the road, compared to 38 per cent of EVs - and Hyundai covered 90 per cent but Kia outdid its rival by paying for all expenses.
Both models have suffered from 12-volt battery issues, but more Ioniq 5s were rendered undriveable; problems put 56% of faulty Ioniq 5s off the road, compared with 38% of faulty EV6s. Another upset for Ioniq 5 owners is that Hyundai covered the cost of only 90 per cent of remedial work, while Kia coughed up for all expenses.
And in five per cent of cases owners had to pay a staggering £1,500 in repairs.
2. Hyundai Ioniq (2016-2022) - 80.1%
Most common faults: brakes 13%, sat-nav/infotainment 13%
Average repair cost: 89% £0, 11% £101-£200
Typical time off road: 70% more than a week, 30% one day or less
Another Hyundai and another, now discontinued, Ioniq. 90% of those that went wrong were unable to be driven until repairs were carried out
The Ioniq Electric family car is now discontinued, and that might be a good thing for EV shoppers.
Now becoming a little long in the tooth by EV standards, the main issues was how long drivers were left without their car when Ioniqs went wrong: 90 per cent were unable to be driven until repairs were carried out. 70 per cent of cars that went wrong spent more than a week being fixed.
But at least Hyundai paid for 89 per cent of repair costs.
Owner’s view: 'My car has suffered from problems with the electric motor, charging system and gearbox.'
3. Volkswagen ID.4 (2021-present) - 79.6%
Most common faults: Electric motor 18%, battery pack 11%, bodywork 7%, suspension 7%, 12-volt battery 4%, brakes 4%, motor electrics 4%, charging system 4%, non-motor electrics 4%, sat-nav/infotainment system 4%, steering 4%
Average repair cost: £0
Typical time off road: 14% one day or less, 67% more than a week
Over a third of VW ID.4 owners had complaints, and 67% of faulty owners' cars were off the road for more than a week
The Volkswagen ID.4 not only suffers more faults than many other EVs but it also takes longer to repair than its Audi Q4 e-tron and Skoda Enyaq siblings.
Common faults cover lots of categories, from the electric motor (18 per cent) to the 12-volt battery (4 per cent) and steering (4 per cent) and sat-nav (4 per cent).
Thirty-six per cent of ID.4 owners had complaints, and 67 per cent of faulty ID 4s were off the road for more than a week.
