Consumer Reports no longer recommends Tesla's Model 3 sedan, the publication said on Thursday.
The vehicle lost its recommendation due to feedback from Consumer Reports' annual reliability survey. Consumer Reports subscribers cited problems with the Model 3's door handles, loose interior trim and molding, paint defects, and cracked windows. The Model 3 now has an overall vehicle score of 65 out of 100 points, and a predicted reliability rating of two out of five points.
In addition to the Model 3, Consumer Reports does not recommend Tesla's Model S sedan or Model X SUV. It previously recommended the Model S sedan, but the vehicle also lost that recommendation due to reliability issues.
A Tesla representative told Business Insider that it has fixed "the vast majority" of the Model 3 issues cited by Consumer Reports subscribers.
"We’re setting an extremely high bar for Model 3," the representative said. "We have already made significant improvements to correct any issues that Model 3 customers may have experienced that are referenced in this report, and our return policy allows any customer who is unhappy with their car to return it for a full refund."
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Tesla's vehicles have received a wide range of feedback from Consumer Reports and its subscribers. The automaker placed 19th among 33 brands in the publications 2019 overall ranking of auto brands, and has topped the publication's ranking of the most satisfying auto brands for three consecutive years. But Tesla was rated 27th of 28 brands in the publication's 2019 ranking of the most reliable auto brands, and Consumer Reports placed the Model X among its 10 least reliable vehicles.
The Model 3 topped Consumer Reports' 2019 owner satisfaction ranking for cars, and the publication has complimented the vehicle's handling and acceleration, while criticizing its touchscreen-based controls, ride stiffness, and rear seat comfort.
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