Dec 5 (Reuters) - Electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids

are seeing concerns over their reliability easing but they still

lag gas-powered vehicles, a survey by an influential U.S.

non-profit organization showed on Thursday.

EVs now have 42% more problems than their gas-powered

counterparts, down from last year's 79%, according to the

Consumer Reports (CR) annual auto reliability survey.

Plug-in hybrids have 70% more problems than internal

combustion models, improving from the 146% more problems it had

last year. Internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles and hybrids

remain the most reliable vehicle types overall.

On a brand reliability scale, which consider the weighted

overall problem rate, Tesla came in at 17th place while

Rivian ranked last at 22nd.

Tesla owners reported some build quality issues, including

body hardware, paint and trim, noises and leaks, and problems

with electrical accessories, the report said.

The survey ranked legacy automaker Ford at the 13th

position, adding that its least reliable model is the F-150

Hybrid.

Japanese automakers Subaru and Lexus - Toyota's ( TM )

luxury brand - topped the reliability chart.

"While brand rankings can guide you to the showroom, it is

critical to look at reliability for specific models before

making a purchase decision," said Jake Fisher, senior director

of Consumer Reports' Auto Test Center.

The Consumer Reports survey covers 20 problem areas

including engine, electric motors, transmission and in-car

electronics. The organization gathered data on more than 330,000

vehicles from the 2000 to 2024 model years, with a few newly

introduced 2025 models.