The Tesla Model S P85D was the best-performing car that Consumer Reports ever tested, with the electric sedan receiving a better-than-perfect score in late August.
The score was so eye-popping that Consumer Reports received plenty of backlash for its superior rating of the car.
However, that was for performance. In a stunning turnaround, Consumer Reports didn't find the same to be true when rating the overall reliability of the Model S. As part of Consumer Reports' annual Auto Reliability Survey — which elicited 1,400 survey responses from current Model S owners — Tesla's Model S sedan was rated with a worse-than-average overall problem rate.
According to the Auto Reliability Survey, current Model S owners took issue with everything, from the vehicle's drivetrain to its power equipment, charging equipment and even the center console. There were even complaints about the sunroof squeaking, leaking and rattling.
All this means the Model S hasn't received Consumer Reports' recommended designation. The 2015 Model S also scored worse than last year's model in areas such as steering, suspension and climate control. However, Consumer Reports points out that those problems can be resolved with no cost to owners via Tesla's warranties.
Overall, though, Consumer Reports finding that the Model S' reliability doesn't match its performance should raise several questions for prospective owners of the vehicle, with the rating even strong enough to possibly detract drivers from going electric altogether.
It will be interesting to see what Tesla CEO Elon Musk makes of Consumer Reports' newest rating of the Model S and the overall reliability of the car.
