Why Electric Cars Are More Likely To Be Recalled Than Gas Cars

With high-profile recalls like the Chevrolet Bolt EV and EUV battery situation, it may be surprising to learn that most EV issues are not related to the drive or power systems at all. That’s good news, considering the motor and battery components could cause serious safety concerns if they’re defective. According to a user survey in Consumer Reports’ Insights for More Reliable Electric Vehicles, the most common problem area for 2021 model year EVs was in-car electronics, followed by the climate system, with the major engine issues category only coming in at eighth place.

Most electric vehicle problems are for equipment not related to the drivetrain (motors, batteries, and cooling), with EV powertrain issues being half as common for 2021 model-year vehicles than ICE drivetrain issues in the same year (with EV owners reporting a problem rate of 0.17 for serious engine troubles, and ICE vehicle owners experiencing a problem rate of 0.36). Looking further back, though, things become a little more dire for electric vehicles, with serious engine problem rates for 2019 EVs becoming 2.5 times more common than drive system issues in ICE vehicles in the same year.