Consumer Reports stopped recommending the Tesla Model S to drivers Tuesday, only two months after giving the electric car a positive review.
While the independent consumer review group gave the Model S P85D a "perfect road-test score" back in August for performing "better in our tests than any other car ever has," a new, annual report doesn't rate the car as high, giving it a "worse-than-average" rating, according to TechCrunch.
Consumer Reports interviewed over 1,400 Model S owners and cited a "array of detailed and complicated maladies," with the main issues involving the drivertrain, power equipment, charging equipment and the huge tablet-like computer screen on the dashboard.
Additional complaints also involved "body and sunroof squeaks, rattles, and leaks," AFP reported. Consumer Reports said that these issues are almost all covered by the Model S' warranty.
The report dealt a financial blow to Tesla, as the electric car maker's shares dropped 11 percent to around $202 after it was released. However, the shares were able to recover half of that, finishing the day off 6.6 percent at $213.03.
The Model S has received plenty of praise since hitting the market in 2012 and has been at the top of Consumer Reports'annual car recommendations each year. However, the recent rating deprives the car of the chance to receive Consumer Reports' "recommended" designation, which the group says a car earns if it can "meet stringent testing, reliability, and safety standards, including having average or better predicted reliability."
A Tesla spokesperson commented on the report, telling TechCrunch in an email that Consumer Reports found that the company's service is rated as the best in the world by customers.
"Close communication with our customers enables Tesla to receive input, proactively address issues, and quickly fix problems," the spokesperson added. "Over-the-air software updates allow Tesla to diagnose and fix most bugs without the need to come in for service. In instances when hardware needs to be fixed, we strive to make it painless."
Despite the negative review, Consumer Reports stood by its August report about the car outdoing all other vehicles in regards to drivability, comfort and performance, AFP reported. The group also said that Tesla is currently working on the recently-reported issues.
"Despite the problems, our data show that Tesla owner satisfaction is still very high: Ninety-seven percent of owners said they would definitely but their car again," Consumer Reports said in the new report. "It appears that Tesla has been responsive to replacing faulty motors, differentials, brakes, and infotainment systems, all with a minimum of fuss to owners . . . For its early adopters, Tesla had made a practice of overdelivering on service problems under the factory warranty."
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