Tesla Climbs to 9th in Consumer Reports’ Reliability Rankings Amid Persistent Issues

Tesla has surged to its highest-ever position in Consumer Reports' 2026 reliability rankings, landing at 9th place among 26 automotive brands. This marks a significant improvement from 17th in 2025 and a dismal 27th out of 28 in 2022. The advancement stems not from innovation, but from the company's focus on refining existing models rather than introducing new designs.

Survey data from approximately 380,000 vehicle owners—a 27% increase year-over-year—revealed persistent problems with electrically controlled doors. A Bloomberg investigation found Tesla as the most complained-about brand in regulatory filings, yet these recurring issues didn't prevent its upward trajectory in reliability scores.

"With Tesla, it's not that they've suddenly changed," said Jake Fisher, Consumer Reports' senior director for auto testing. "They've been building vehicles in the same plant that are very similar for a while now and they're able to improve them." The Model S exemplifies this pattern, maintaining Core design elements since 2011 while undergoing continuous refinement.