Last Updated 2 years ago
Knowing what electric vehicles you should avoid is as important as knowing what are the best models in the market. It is not common to search for the worst EVs, but this information will pay off when you plan to get your next EV.
A quick disclaimer, this not a hit piece. Actually, many buyers can become proud owners of any of these EVs and enjoy a nice drive.
With sales of electric vehicles soaring in the country by 50% year over year, the automakers are offering several options to fulfill different consumer needs. Sorting through all the models can be a daunting task and makes it hard to decide which one to buy.
Getting a sense of which EVs have not met users’ expectations is another good place to start your research. Luckily, a new report by BankingRate has gathered a list of the electric vehicles you should not buy.
The models in the report can be classified into two groups:
- Reliability and Performance
- Technical Issues
Let’s dig deeper into why you should avoid buying these seven electric vehicles.
EVs to Avoid Buying Due To Reliability and Performance
Mazda MX-30
The model MX-30 was the first electric offering of Mazda for the U.S. public in 2022 but the Japanese automaker discontinued this model in 2023, and it is not a suprise for anyone.
This MX30 was considered by TopSpeed as the EV with the lowest driving range you can buy. With a 100-mile range, Mazda was underperforming way below the EV average driving range of 216 miles.
Capable of delivering only 46% of the driving range of the average EV in the market, the Mazda MX-30 is not the best option to drive long distances nonstop.
Nissan Leaf
The Leaf was the first electric vehicle mass-produced by Nissan, and being the first one came with many mistakes during the learning curve.
Reports related to issues with this model range from the life of the battery to issues with the automatic emergency braking system. According to TheDriverAdviser the automatic emergency braking system in the Nissan Leaf may automatically stop the car, representing a major safety risk for drivers.
If this is not enough, models from 2013 to 2016 had a problem by automatically deactivating the airbags. This is a malfunction of the system responsible for detecting whether or not a passenger is present on the seat.
Can you imagine what would happen if the airbag is not activated in a car accident?
Porsche Taycan
Porsche has always been related to luxury and quality. However, these aren’t the first thoughts that come to mind of owners of any model from 2021 to 2023. Several customers have reported issues related to a faulty part responsible for the proper function of the cabin heating and defrosting.
The Taycan has a sleek design, but if you live in a place with pretty low temperatures, you should prepare to wear a jacket while driving this Porsche.
EVs to Avoid Buying Due To Technical Issues
Tesla Model X
As noted by TopSpeed, the Tesla Model X has offered not only quality issues but several recalls. The falcon-wings which started as a nice and innovative feature, ended up being a pain in the rear for many owners.
There are reports of the top-hinged doors being stuck halfway or hitting objects causing costly repairs. On top of these, recalls reported technical issues related to the airbag system malfunction and random emergency braking.
Even though the Tesla Model X offers cool doors as the Back to the Future’s DeLorean, you should take these other technical aspects before purchasing this $80,000 mid-size luxury SUV.
Chevrolet Bolt
Being one of the cheapest electric vehicles on the market comes with a high price.
Chevrolet has made it to the news headlines with the Bolt for a variety of reasons, from safety concerns related to GM’s robotaxi service using only this model, to constant recalls due to manufacturing defects.
In 2021, the Chevy Bolt was recalled due to defective batteries that could catch on fire. Then this year GM issued a recall AGAIN, but this time only for models from 2017 to 2023 due to a defect in the seat belt pretensioner that can cause – can you guess? – a fire after a vehicle crash.
Now you know that when someone says that the Chevrolet Bolt is “on fire”, they might not be speaking figuratively.
Ford Mustang Mach-E
The great bet of Ford to produce an all-time favorite car in an electric version did not turn out as expected. According to ConsumerReports, the Ford Mustang Mach-E manufactured in 2020 and 2022 were recalled due to a problem with the battery.
Nobody wants to have a good-looking car that could lose power in the middle of the road. The problem in the Mach-e was defined as an overheat of the battery due to hard acceleration.
If you want to have a Mustang to drive it as a Versa, this is an excellent model.
Hyundai Kona Electric
The South Korean automaker Hyundai is known for the high reliability of its cars. However, the Kona electric is the exception.
According to SlashGear the Kona has presented technical issues in the battery system and the motor that requires complete replacement in some cases.
As if that were not enough, drivers of the Hyundai Kona have also reported issues with the AC. There have been reports that the AC might not respond to adjustments or may not work at all.
Fortunately, the warranty covers these repairs but can take time to get fixed.