Consumer Reports Downgrades Tesla Models Over Safety Concerns

Matt Posky
by Matt Posky

Consumer Reports has been pretty hard on Tesla Motors over the past year. The primary point of contention in 2016 was the automaker’s perceived misrepresentation of the company’s Autopilot feature. CR wanted the automaker to disable hands-free operation until its system could be made safer and insisted that it make clear to consumers that it was not capable of true self-driving capability.

While Tesla addressed some of those concerns with its 8.0 software update last autumn, the consumer advocacy publication said it didn’t go nearly far enough — demanding that Tesla stop calling it Autopilot, disable automatic steering, and quit beta testing on its own customers.

Continuing those safety concerns into 2017, Consumer Reports has downgraded both of Tesla’s existing models, claiming the company failed to enable automatic emergency braking features it said would come as standard equipment. This is perplexing, as Model S and Model X vehicles equipped with first-generation Autopilot systems actually had this function.

“When we purchased our latest test car, we were assured automatic emergency braking would be enabled by the end of 2016,” explained Jake Fisher, director of Consumer Reports’ Auto Test Center in Colchester, Connecticut. “We’ve been waiting for this important safety feature, which is standard equipment on much cheaper cars.”

The change drops the Tesla Model S’ rating by two points and removes it from the top spot in the publication’s ultra-luxury car category. It’s now positioned behind the Lexus LS and BMW 7 Series. For the Tesla Model X, the score drops to 56 from 58, placing it near the bottom of the luxury midsized SUV category. Consumer Reports hasn’t been particularly fond of the Model X due to severe quality concerns and a lack of practicality.

However, the issue isn’t so much about scoring as it is Tesla’s continued inconsistency. The publication places an emphasis on safety and predictability, appearing somewhat disdainful of the automaker’s approach to both.

Consumer Reports says it will gladly restore the points once the manufacturer includes AEB on the models, though its stance on the matter remains firm. In its announcement, CR accused Tesla of selling “premium luxury cars without basic safety features that come standard on far less expensive vehicles, such as the $20,000 Toyota Corolla.” It also accused the automaker of lying about update timelines and inquired about potential compensation for owners who have driven for up to six months without safety functions and convenience features they may have expected.

Tesla, which is already facing an Autopilot-related lawsuit that it calls “inaccurate and sensationalistic,” did not respond. However, the all-electric manufacturer has stated that it will announce a software update for Thursday that addresses concerns over automatic braking. If it does not, we’ll certainly hear about it from Consumer Reports.

[Image: Tesla Motors]

Matt Posky
Matt Posky

A staunch consumer advocate tracking industry trends and regulation. Before joining TTAC, Matt spent a decade working for marketing and research firms based in NYC. Clients included several of the world’s largest automakers, global tire brands, and aftermarket part suppliers. Dissatisfied with the corporate world and resentful of having to wear suits everyday, he pivoted to writing about cars. Since then, that man has become an ardent supporter of the right-to-repair movement, been interviewed on the auto industry by national radio broadcasts, driven more rental cars than anyone ever should, participated in amateur rallying events, and received the requisite minimum training as sanctioned by the SCCA. Handy with a wrench, Matt grew up surrounded by Detroit auto workers and managed to get a pizza delivery job before he was legally eligible. He later found himself driving box trucks through Manhattan, guaranteeing future sympathy for actual truckers. He continues to conduct research pertaining to the automotive sector as an independent contractor and has since moved back to his native Michigan, closer to where the cars are born. A contrarian, Matt claims to prefer understeer — stating that front and all-wheel drive vehicles cater best to his driving style.

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  • Mcs Mcs on Apr 26, 2017

    TTAC:"However, the all-electric manufacturer has stated that it will announce a software update on Thursday" What was actually printed in Consumer Reports: "In a statement to Consumer Reports, Tesla says it expects the software update to come Thursday." So, they're actually announcing the update now and shipping it out Thursday. Actually, Toyota has AEB on even cheaper cars standard. It's standard on the $16k iA. My son got this ridiculously cheap insurance rate ($750/year) on his iA and we suspect that's the reason.

  • OldManPants OldManPants on Apr 26, 2017

    "Guard the door. I'll get a doctor. No one sees him like this." -"The way of the future. The way of the future. The way of the future."

    • See 1 previous
    • FreedMike FreedMike on Apr 27, 2017

      Except...what was Hughes going on about when he broke down? Jetliners. I seem to recall those being a thing about 10 years later. The man had issues, but being a visionary wasn't one of them.

  • CanadaCraig You can just imagine how quickly the tires are going to wear out on a 5,800 lbs AWD 2024 Dodge Charger.
  • Luke42 I tried FSD for a month in December 2022 on my Model Y and wasn’t impressed.The building-blocks were amazing but sum of the all of those amazing parts was about as useful as Honda Sensing in terms of reducing the driver’s workload.I have a list of fixes I need to see in Autopilot before I blow another $200 renting FSD. But I will try it for free for a month.I would love it if FSD v12 lived up to the hype and my mind were changed. But I have no reason to believe I might be wrong at this point, based on the reviews I’ve read so far. [shrug]. I’m sure I’ll have more to say about it once I get to test it.
  • FormerFF We bought three new and one used car last year, so we won't be visiting any showrooms this year unless a meteor hits one of them. Sorry to hear that Mini has terminated the manual transmission, a Mini could be a fun car to drive with a stick.It appears that 2025 is going to see a significant decrease in the number of models that can be had with a stick. The used car we bought is a Mk 7 GTI with a six speed manual, and my younger daughter and I are enjoying it quite a lot. We'll be hanging on to it for many years.
  • Oberkanone Where is the value here? Magna is assembling the vehicles. The IP is not novel. Just buy the IP at bankruptcy stage for next to nothing.
  • Jalop1991 what, no Turbo trim?
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