Four Tesla models are among the 10 least reliable electric vehicles in America. At least that is what a new study that ranks vehicles based on recalls and safety concerns claims.

As per an electric car safety report released in December 2025, the Tesla Model 3 was the most troublesome electric car in America over the past five years. The report by the B2B car market eCarsTrade analyzed the number of official recalls to determine which electric cars face the most issues.

The researchers analyzed federal recall notices for EVs and ranked the models based on the number of distinct recall notices, the number of vehicles affected in those notices, and the number of times concerned EV owners searched for safety information online. This research also examined common problems in EVs to provide insight into the typical issues with electric cars.

What the study discovered about electric vehicles

After reviewing the data, it was found that the Tesla Model 3 had been flagged for a fix on seven occasions, affecting more than 429K cars. The Tesla Model 3 has the worst record of electric vehicle recalls, with more defective models on the road than any other EV brand.

Four Tesla models appear in the top 10 faulty EVs, with the Model S, Model X, and Cybertruck also having repeated safety issues. Tesla has recalled the Model S 10 times, more than the Model 3, though fewer vehicles have been affected (372K). The Model S has also been around longer than other Teslas, which is likely why it has more individual recalls over the years.

The Leaf from Nissan has been through eight recall campaigns, covering 334.8K vehicles. Leaf, however, has been on the market since 2010, which means it has been around longer than many other electric cars and has thus had more time for issues to arise.

The researchers also discovered that Volkswagen’s ID.4 required manufacturer repairs 18 times in five years, making it the most recalled EV in America. Volkswagen has issued a recall of close to 294K units of its ID.4 model. This is one of the most problematic newly launched electric vehicles in recent years. The fact that there have been so many recalls suggests the company may have rushed its ID.4 model to market without conducting adequate testing.

Chevrolet’s Bolt EV ranks fifth among the least reliable electric vehicles, with 177,100 cars affected by six recalls. The company had an issue with battery fires that reached a level of concern, stalling production in 2023.

What an expert has to say about the reliability of electric vehicles

“The recall data shows electric vehicles are breaking down in specific ways that gas cars rarely experience,” an auto expert from eCarsTrade commented.

• Suspension and axle failures account for most recalls because EVs weigh 30-40% more than gas cars, which can destroy components designed for lighter vehicles.
• Electrical wiring and short circuits are another problem that has affected 1.2 million vehicles. This is because EVs have high-voltage systems running throughout the car, which often create fire risks.
• Camera and visibility systems are also among the most common issues. EV automakers often replace mechanical mirrors with digital screens and sensors, and while these are cool features, they can easily fail when software crashes or moisture gets inside.

“These problems stem from intense competition pushing manufacturers to launch EVs quickly, sometimes before fully testing new systems,” they continued. “But as the industry matures and manufacturers learn from these early mistakes, recall rates should decline. EVs have fewer moving parts than gas cars, which means that in the long term, they should be less problematic and easier to maintain.”