webb14leafs said:
I'm a little perplexed by your comments on the Model 3's reliability. Not refuting them at all, as I've read similar complaints before; but I know several Model 3 owners who absolutely love their car and have had no problems whatsoever. Most of them are hardcore fanboys though, so that might be why.
I don't have time to answer in great detail right now. This is what I can quickly post. It might be a few days before I can fill in some gaps. Your sample size is WAY too small. And, some hardcore fanboys may be omitting info or lying.
I'll give you these for starters:
https://teslamotorsclub.com/tmc/threads/shoddy-quality-and-poor-qc-and-missing-parts.117356/page-5#post-3516347 - just a partial list of failed drive units on Model 3's reported on TMC I collected. Here are 3 more I collected after that post:
https://teslamotorsclub.com/tmc/threads/car-not-safe-to-drive-pull-over-safely.145878/#post-3501980
https://teslamotorsclub.com/tmc/threads/car-not-safe-to-drive-pull-over-safely.145878/#post-3522971
https://teslamotorsclub.com/tmc/threads/car-not-safe-to-drive-pull-over-safely.145878/page-2#post-3529721
https://www.edmunds.com/tesla/model-3/2017/long-term-road-test/2017-tesla-model-3-monthly-update-for-april-2018.html - Edmunds had a really rough time with their Model 3 before it reached 5500 miles. Numerous folks around that time on TMC also had similar touchscreen maladies. To be fair, after their issues were fixed, it's been smooth sailing, so far.
Other vehicles:
Model X: look under Maintenance & Repairs at https://www.edmunds.com/tesla/model-x/2016/long-term-road-test/wrap-up.html. X is an engineering disaster. Tesla should abandon that vehicle before the warranty costs kill them.
Model S: ditto but look at https://www.edmunds.com/tesla/model-s/2013/long-term-road-test/wrap-up.html
I already talked about Model 3 reliability slipping.
https://www.cnbc.com/2018/10/24/tesla-reliability-slips-to-third-worst-in-us-consumer-reports-says.html
https://www.consumerreports.org/car-reliability-owner-satisfaction/tesla-model-3-loses-cr-recommendation-over-reliability-issues/
See where Model X is at https://www.consumerreports.org/car-reliability-owner-satisfaction/10-least-reliable-cars/
https://web.archive.org/web/20170103045814/https://www.consumerreports.org/car-reliability/10-least-reliable-cars/
https://web.archive.org/web/20171130145045/https://www.consumerreports.org/car-reliability/10-least-reliable-cars/
These guys on Model S were on their 7th+ drive unit:
https://teslamotorsclub.com/tmc/threads/drive-unit-replacement-poll.29834/page-27#post-1653580
https://teslamotorsclub.com/tmc/threads/6th-drive-unit-replacement-and-more.72974/page-2#post-1619754
https://teslamotorsclub.com/tmc/threads/drive-unit-replacement-poll.29834/page-27#post-1603011
Notice david99 was on his 8th DU yet he claimed his car is "100% reliable": https://teslamotorsclub.com/tmc/threads/how-reliable-is-your-model-s.117032/page-2#post-2788639
I called out https://teslamotorsclub.com/tmc/threads/2017-model-3-reliability.127618/page-2#post-3137992 for claiming "In six years of owning Tesla I have not been in for service. There is none. Tell me how that works on a BMW", yet he posted a bunch of work and even at the beginning, bringing in his car once a month!
Look at these percentages: https://teslamotorsclub.com/tmc/threads/two-thirds-of-early-model-s-drivetrains-may-fail-by-60-000miles.58763/page-2#post-1279598.
Please look over the FAQ at https://www.consumerreports.org/car-reliability-owner-satisfaction/consumer-reports-car-reliability-faq along w/the percentages in a 12 month window for a given model year (is shorter for the latest model year) to be considered average: https://www.consumerreports.org/car-reliability-owner-satisfaction/car-reliability-histories/
This is concerning: https://teslamotorsclub.com/tmc/threads/ripped-undercarriage-composite-from-the-rain.131903/ - many folks have run into this. Compare to testing Nissan did w/Leaf on this: https://teslamotorsclub.com/tmc/threads/ripped-undercarriage-composite-from-the-rain.131903/#post-3124264.
Numerous folks on TMC have had cracked glass roofs on the 3, seemingly not due to debris damage. I don't know even 1/3 of the Tesla drivers at my work (we have over 200 across all models at my work) but on the 3, I have seen 1 report of a cracked roof and another w/a cracked roof + debris hit, so Tesla won't cover his. And, not everyone there posts about their issues, let alone cracked roof glass.
This affects the X: https://teslamotorsclub.com/tmc/threads/acceleration-shudder.74184/.
This is for the S: https://teslamotorsclub.com/tmc/threads/clunking-sound-is-costing-me-a-bundle-to-fix-out-of-warranty.93857/
Other expensive S problems include the $700+/each door handles, MCU (e.g. https://teslamotorsclub.com/tmc/threads/2700-to-fix-mcu-might-diy-but-how-much-to-reprogram-new-unit.94391/) and touchscreen. S reliability has been spotty.
Numerous folks have had S and 3 battery packs replaced, for whatever reason. I can't think of a single one replaced for failure here on MNL. Sure, there's been the very rare case of a bad module, which gets swapped out, and of course, there are folks who had replacements due to capacity loss (which is not a reliability problem, but rather a degradation issue as the pack still works).
Below are example of how fanboys can get confused:
http://www.mynissanleaf.com/viewtopic.php?p=498198#p498198
http://www.mynissanleaf.com/viewtopic.php?p=498705#p498705
In short, it seems like every vehicle the Tesla puts out is a rush job, possibly w/insufficient validation and testing and possibly insufficient validation of changes. Or, they have manufacturing consistency problems or all of these. See https://teslamotorsclub.com/tmc/threads/automotive-reliability-and-durability-testing.56176/, for comparison.
I've been here on MNL since mid-2011. I can't think of even 3 Leaf motor/gearbox assemblies being replaced for failure, let alone say 8 in total, including for noise (extremely rare). I know Leaf's reliability record. I was active on Priuschat from 06 to mid-2013 and I'd seen gen 3 Prius launch (model year 2010), Prius c (brand new vehicle got https://www.autoblog.com/2012/11/01/consumer-reports-says-prius-c-most-reliable/ in its 1st year, even though CR doesn't like it nor recommend it), Prius v and Plug-in Prius launches. Those have good reliability ratings and I don't see Tesla levels of issues for vehicles of similar age.
Remember that automakers have a financial incentive to have low warranty costs...
Based on their track record, I don't have very high confidence that the 3 in the long term will be anywhere near as reliable as known reliable models of Toyotas and Hondas.