Tesla News: J.D. Power Puts Company at Rock Bottom of Build Quality Ranking
Every year J.D. Power survey’s recent car buyers, and comes away with a ledger of defects from the factory per 100 cars. Considering the reports of Model Y build quality issues, and the consistent disappointment in the quality of Tesla’s paint finish, it shouldn’t come as a surprise they didn’t fare well.
In fact, J.D. Power put the electric car maker dead last. On a list that saw Kia and Dodge come in first place with 136 problems per 100 vehicles, Tesla had 250.
This doesn’t translate directly to reliability, but instead gives an impression of quality control and finishing. Because many Teslas have been reportedly delivered with several obvious mistakes, they dived into the bedrock of this scoreboard.
However, there is a slight caveat for anyone not willing to accept these results. Tesla prevented J.D. Power from contacting their customers in 15 out of 50 states. Because of this, the figures represent a sample group made up of participants from the remaining 35 states where people own Tesla vehicles.
While there really isn’t any saving grace from being dead last on a quality ranking, it is clearly due to the company ramping up production of the Model Y, and ironing out any kinks in the manufacturing process. Hopefully they will be shaken by this tarnish on their reputation, and really get this sorted out.
A terrible reputation for quality control won’t make the mission of transitioning the Earth’s drivers to EVs any easier. Looking at legacy automakers who have plans to release EVs, like GM, Hyundai, and VW, one could see how this leaves them a nice entry point into winning over future electric car buyers.
