Tesla Model 3 Loses Coveted Consumer Reports Recommendation

Model 3 owners are complaining about malfunctioning electrics, rear window cracks, and loose body trim.

Cracking Glass

Tesla's blockbuster of an electric car, the Model 3, has received some glowing reviews. But now the cracks are starting to show.

The nonprofit Consumer Reports decided to pull its "recommended" rating today, citing new "reliability data" collected from a 2018 survey.

It's not the first time the Model 3 lost the "recommended" label. In 2018, Consumer Reports first removed the "recommended" label from the Model 3 for its sub-par braking distance before changing its mind in May 2018 after the carmaker shipped an over-the-air update.

Main Culprits

The Model 3 is also not the only car that is losing the rating: the Cadillac 300, Dodge Charger, Acura RDX, BMW 5 Series, and Volkswagen Tiguan are also losing Consumer Reports' "recommended" rating.

The main culprits with the Model 3: "problems with paint, trim, and electronics" according to an official update.

Owners complained of freezing and malfunctioning screens, small cracks in rear windows, and issues with loose body trim, according to data from Consumer Reports' 2018 owner satisfaction survey that includes input from the owners of 470,000 vehicles.

Long Term Reliability

Consumer Reports has dinged Tesla's quality testing and long term reliability before. Today's update cites prior problems with Tesla's offerings, including Model S suspension problems in 2017 models and hardware issues concerning the Model X SUV's falcon-wing doors.

But that's not to say the Model 3 is a bad vehicle: Consumer Reports still lists the Model 3 as the "most satisfying car," and Tesla's 2015 Model S even broke Consumer Reports' rating system by essentially exceeding all expectations.

READ MORE: Consumer Reports reverses itself again, no longer recommends Tesla Model 3 [The Verge]

More on the Model 3: Elon Musk Slashes Tesla Model 3 Price to Long-Awaited $35,000