NEW YORK: Problems with body hardware, paint and trim are among numerous flaws with Tesla's Model 3, according to a major product-testing and review body in the US.
Consumer Reports says it can no longer recommend the newest Tesla due to complaints of owners, citing data on around 470,000 cars.
"Our latest survey data has surfaced numerous problems reported by Model 3 owners," the organisation said online, explaining the removal of its recommendation for the electric sedan.
The decision by the non-profit organisation is based on results of its annual reliability survey.
The Model 3, which costs about US$44,000, is critical for Tesla, which hopes it becomes a mass market vehicle. Its other problems since launching in 2017 include production delays resulting in long wait times for buyers.
Tesla said in a statement that it has corrected many of the problems found in the survey.
"Not only are our cars the safest and best performing vehicles available today, we take feedback from our customers very seriously and quickly implement improvements any time we hear about issues," according to the statement, quoted in US media reports.
The majority of the issues have already been corrected through design and manufacturing improvements, Tesla's statement added.
Despite the difficulties, Consumer Reports said the car has "largely lived up to its promise as a highly competitive sports sedan, earning a respectable road-test score, which puts it not far behind the Audi A4 and BMW 3 Series."
Neither of Tesla's other cars, the Model S luxury sedan nor the Model X SUV, is recommended by Consumer Reports.
