Autoblog and Yahoo may earn commission from links in this article.Despite serious competition from several manufacturers, Tesla remains the undisputed EV bestseller, and its thanks largely to the super popular Model Y. Having sold 317,800 units in 2025, the next closest EV was the Model 3, at 172,800 vehicles sold. The competition lags way behind, with Ford Mustang Mach-E, Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Chevrolet Equinox all hovering around the 50,000 mark.The Model Y certainly offers a lot of space, tech and pace for the money, but now in its seventh year of production, we can get a clear look into how it has performed when it comes to reliability. Long term ownership satisfaction is primarily influenced by how durable and low stress a vehicle is to own, and we have closely examined the reliability scores as assessed by Consumer Reports (CR), as the data is collected from actual customer feedback. It is not funded or sponsored by any manufacturer. Each vehicle is also purchased outright by CR to ensure unbiased reporting.Tesla Model Y Historical Reliability DataTeslaView the 3 images of this gallery on the original articleModel Y model yearCR Reliability Verdict out of 1002020362021312022382023672024562025302026 (major update)81 (Predicted)Tesla may have been the major force behind pushing the auto industry to take EVs seriously, but it has certainly not been smooth sailing. The Model S was often criticized for poor fit and finish, as were early versions of the Model 3 when it was first released. Huge customer demand, many new unproven technologies and relying too much on a heavily automated production process caused severe bottlenecks, quality issues and supply delays. It took a while to resolve the problems, and expectations for the Model Y were certainly higher from the start.AdvertisementAdvertisementReleased three years after the Model 3's debut, it shared many of its core components and the lessons learned during production made it a far smoother rollout. But suspension issues and build quality problems plagued the early cars, and the reliability scores never strayed above the thirties between 2020 and 2022. Owners of 2023-on vehicles have expressed much higher satisfaction levels overall, with the powertrain, suspension and in-car electronics in particular being mostly trouble-free.The Tesla Model Y reliability rating averages soon shot up, although 2025 saw an uncharacteristic dip in reliability, with the fit and finish of the bodywork and paint being the most common complaints. Tesla is constantly tweaking and upgrading its vehicles, making updates tricky to link to specific model years, but it did announce a major overhaul for the Model Y for the 2026 MY, to bring it in line with the refreshed Model 3.TeslaBased on historical data, and early owner feedback, the 2026 Tesla Model Y has been awarded a class-leading 81/100 predicted reliability rating. Many of the updates and improvements have already been rolled out in the Model 3, and as these two share drivetrain layouts and in-car tech, the Model Y should prove to be a solid and durable EV during the second phase of production.The NHTSA has issued six recalls in 2026 so far, but these aren't all for the 2026 model. It is still advisable to ensure that any potential purchase has had any recall work carried out.Model Y Vs. Rivals:NissanView the 3 images of this gallery on the original articleMake and Model2026 Predicted Reliability Score out of 100Nissan Ariya (now discontinued)73Ford Mustang Mach-E60Chevrolet Equinox43Hyundai Ioniq 526Chevrolet Blazer EV19The Model Y competes in the hotly contested midsize EV segment, and while there are some impressive rivals, it really has the market all to its own in terms of sales figures. Looking at the predicted reliability ratings for other midsize EVs also reveals that it is at the head of the class for durability as well.AdvertisementAdvertisementThe Nissan Ariya was the closest, with a 73/100, but due to tariffs and resultant high production costs it has been discontinued in the US. The Mustang Mach-E sold 51,620 units last year, placing it fourth overall, behind the Chevrolet Equinox (57,945), and way behind the Model Y, but it scored a decent 60/100 and has been constantly improving its results year-on-year, making it one of the few EV models here that should provide a relatively trouble-free ownership experience aside from the Model Y.The Equinox may have outsold the Mach-E, but it has only been around since 2024, and early production niggles and issues with the electronics have kept its reliability scores low for now. The Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Chevy Blazer EV are two of the worst performers here, and there really is no excuse for such dismal scores, especially considering that the Ioniq 5 has been around since 2022.TeslaThe Tesla Model Y emerges from this comparison the clear winner. It may not be perfect, but thanks to constant improvements, a recent major refresh, and a well-developed package that now includes a base model that's $5,000 cheaper than last year, we can expect it to continue to set the standards in the midsize electric SUV class.This story was originally published by Autoblog on Jun 24, 2026, where it first appeared in the Features section. Add Autoblog as a Preferred Source by clicking here.