In Consumer Reports’ December 2025 survey, electric vehicles (EVs) and plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) averaged about 80% more reported problems than gas-only cars. Conventional hybrids averaged 15% fewer. Those are averages from owner reports—not a verdict on every EV: CR named the Tesla Model Y its most reliable new EV in the report, and results vary by model and model year.
What Consumer Reports’ latest numbers mean
CR’s December 4, 2025 report compares owner-reported problems by powertrain. EVs and PHEVs each averaged about 80% more problems than gas-only vehicles, while conventional hybrids averaged 15% fewer. The figures do not mean an EV is 80% more likely to break down, nor do they predict the repair experience of a particular car. They summarize reported problems across vehicle groups.
The latest reliability ratings drew on about 380,000 vehicles, covering model years 2000 through 2025 and a few early 2026 models. CR’s powertrain comparison analyzes model years 2023–2025. The survey considers 20 trouble areas, from minor issues such as broken interior trim to major problems involving engines, transmissions, EV batteries, and charging. CR asks members about problems experienced during the previous 12 months, so these are owner-survey findings rather than laboratory failure rates or guarantees for future repairs. Consumer Reports’ 2025 reliability report and its hybrid and EV buying guide describe the survey and comparison.
How EVs, hybrids, and PHEVs compare
| Powertrain | CR’s December 2025 average vs. gas-only vehicles | How to read the result |
|---|---|---|
| Battery-electric vehicles (EVs) | About 80% more reported problems | A group average, not a prediction for every EV or a breakdown probability. |
| Plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) | About 80% more reported problems | A separate powertrain group with its own mix of models and reported issues. |
| Conventional hybrids | 15% fewer reported problems | These vehicles use a hybrid system but are not plug-in hybrids. |
| Gas-only vehicles | Comparison baseline | CR uses this group as the reference for the percentages above. |
CR attributes the higher EV and PHEV averages in part to newer designs and technology that manufacturers are still refining. It describes conventional hybrids as having a longer history and more mature designs. These are CR’s explanations for the survey results, not independently established estimates of what caused each reported problem.
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Why model-level reliability matters more than the average
CR reported the Tesla Model Y as the most reliable new EV in its December 2025 report. That designation applies to CR’s report and its survey vintage; it is not a universal ranking for all model years, markets, or future vehicles.
CR also identified EVs from Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis among the least reliable models from their respective brands. It described complaints involving a faulty Integrated Charging Control Unit (ICCU), which CR said had prompted recalls on vehicles from all three brands because failures could cause loss of power while driving. This does not establish that every EV from those brands has the defect. Before buying or driving a specific vehicle, check the recall status for its model year and VIN with the manufacturer or the relevant national vehicle-safety authority.
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In CR’s broader 2025 reliability results, EV-only startups Rivian and Lucid continued to struggle with reliability, while the Chevrolet Equinox EV was the only Ultium-based model with average reliability in that survey. These are time-bound findings, not claims about every vehicle those companies make or their current ratings. See CR’s December 2025 overview of the most reliable new cars for that report’s broader results.
What earlier Consumer Reports surveys said
The percentages have varied across annual releases. CR’s December 2024 release reported 42% more problems for EVs and 70% more for PHEVs than for internal-combustion-engine (ICE) cars; its 2023 release reported 79% more for EVs and 146% more for PHEVs. The December 2025 report put both EVs and PHEVs at about 80% more than gas-only cars.
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These figures come from different annual survey releases, with survey samples and covered model years that can vary. They are useful context, but they should not be treated as a controlled time series proving that reliability improved or worsened by a precise amount. The releases are available from CR for December 2024 and November 2023.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How to use the findings when shopping for an EV
- Compare the exact model and model year. A powertrain-wide average can conceal large differences between vehicles. Look for the model’s current reliability rating and owner-reported issue patterns, rather than applying the average to every candidate.
- Check recalls by VIN. A survey finding about a model or component does not tell you whether a particular used or new vehicle is affected, or whether recall work has been completed. Confirm the vehicle’s specific recall status.
- Ask what kind of problems were reported. Charging, battery, electronics, and other trouble areas can matter differently depending on your driving and charging needs. A reported problem count alone does not describe severity or repair cost.
- Consider reliability alongside fit. Range, charging access, space, price, and the way you use a car also matter. CR’s survey can help compare reliability, but it does not establish one best EV for every buyer.
Consumer Reports senior director of auto testing Jake Fisher said: “Many of the problems with EVs and plug-in hybrids are because they are newer designs compared to gas technology, so some kinks still continue to be worked out.” CR program leader of auto data analytics Steven Elek said: “One major reason why hybrids tend to be more reliable is that they’re mostly made by brands that make reliable cars, such as Honda, Lexus, and Toyota.” These comments offer CR’s interpretation of the pattern; the survey averages themselves do not prove a single cause.
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