The old saying goes: You can’t win them all. Tesla flopped in J.D. Power’s most recent Vehicle Dependability Survey, placing 30th out of 33 manufacturers.
Tesla has celebrated various awards from J.D. Power over the past several years, including the firm’s initial EV Ownership Study and the APEAL Study, which tests an owner’s emotional connection to their car. However, the Vehicle Dependability survey was a different story.
The survey tracks 177 specific problems in eight categories, including powertrain, exterior flaws, and HVAC issues, among other things. The 2021 study assesses the 2018 Model Year, allowing three years of driving time to open up some vehicles’ shortcomings.
33,251 owners were surveyed for this year’s study, with Lexus taking the top spot with 81 problems per 100 vehicles. Porsche, Kia, Toyota, and Buick rounded out the top 5.
However, near the bottom of the list is Tesla, which J.D. Power’s surveyed owners said had 176 issues per 100 vehicles. While Tesla does not officially allow J.D. Power to contact vehicle owners for surveying, enough data was given through independent sources to give the automaker a qualifying score.
Interestingly, since 2018 was the Model Year that was tested for the 2021 survey, it seems that there could be an explanation for the subpar ratings. Tesla was only a few months into Model 3 production in 2018 after initial deliveries of the sedan began in Summer 2017. Admittedly, CEO Elon Musk called this period “production hell” as it gave the Tesla manufacturing team a variety of headaches during the period. Over the years, Tesla has refined its production processes, giving it more credibility in terms of quality. While this is unconfirmed, it could be the reason for the subpar ratings.
In 2021, Tesla has gained a reputation for building quality vehicles that are void of some of the most notorious issues that owners complained about in past years. Despite the occasional complaint or mishap during delivery or early ownership, Tesla has improved significantly, according to teardown expert Sandy Munro, who was critical of early Model 3 builds that would be applicable for the J.D. Power survey.
Tesla Model Y build quality shows vast improvements in recent production vehicles
Munro was vocally dismissive of the early Model 3, complaining of panel gaps, paint quality, and overall manufacturing issues. Calling the car “terrible” in terms of build quality, Munro has changed his tune since then. Most recently, Munro drove a 2021 build of the Model 3 from Michigan across the United States. He told Teslarati in an interview in January that he was overwhelmingly pleased with the new builds of the vehicle. Only minor complaints were received, and some were not at the fault of the manufacturer.
Tesla has had a tumultuous relationship with its vehicles and has confronted most issues with answers. Musk has stated that he is open to constructive criticism, and Tesla has used it to improve their vehicles’ quality. While the J.D. Power survey may be discouraging, it will be interesting to see how the company’s marks are in three more years when the 2021 builds of Tesla’s cars are tested, especially as the automaker’s focus on manufacturing quality has become an undeniable focus in recent times.
A Tesla Cybertruck driver in the United Kingdom had their all-electric pickup seized by local police in the Greater Manchester area after the department cited “legitimate concerns.”
Last Thursday, police saw the pickup on the roads and decided to pull the driver over. Greater Manchester Police said:
“Whilst this may seem trivial to some, legitimate concerns exist around the safety of other road users or pedestrians if they were involved in a collision with the Cybertruck.”
🚨 A Tesla Cybertruck, which is illegal to drive in the UK due to safety concerns, has been seized by police in Greater Manchester
“Whilst this may seem trivial to some, legitimate concerns exist around the safety of other road users or pedestrians if they were involved in a… pic.twitter.com/cqhdPok3DM
— TESLARATI (@Teslarati) June 16, 2026
The Cybertruck in question was, according to the BBC, registered and insured abroad and was confiscated. The driver, who is a UK resident, was reported.
The Greater Manchester Police Department then added:
“The Tesla Cybertruck is not road-legal in the UK and does not hold a certificate of conformity.”
The Cybertruck cannot be legally driven in the UK because it has no UK Type Approval for operation in the country. This is due to some safety concerns, which are related to its angular shape and design. The stainless steel exoskeleton has sharp edges and projections that violate UK/EU rules on pedestrian protection.
Tesla has considered creating what it referred to as an “international version” that would be approved for operation in Europe. However, there has been no real movement on that front by the company, as it has been focused on the Robotaxi rollout primarily.
A new report claims that Apple is in the process of developing what would be the missing link for Tesla to get CarPlay.
Apple and Tesla have been reportedly working together for some time to give Tesla owners the opportunity to utilize CarPlay within their vehicles. While many owners are more than happy with Tesla’s in-house UI, which is seamless, effective, and smooth, some still want CarPlay, which does have its advantages.
A report from 9to5Mac now states that a new CarPlay technology that was highlighted during the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) would potentially be the bridge between Tesla and Apple. With the addition of a feature known as “Route Sharing,” which gives a navigation app the ability to share routing data with the vehicle, Tesla would be able to launch CarPlay in its vehicles, the report states.
CarPlay has not been a priority for Tesla because it has done extremely well with its in-house UI, but some drivers are just used to it. Additionally, it could improve Tesla’s subpar Navigation or offer improved app capabilities, especially with iMessage.
Route Sharing is an intended addition to CarPlay’s iteration in iOS 26.4, which was released in March:
The addition of CarPlay would undoubtedly be welcome, but at the same time, it seems like Tesla realizes it is not of the utmost priority. There are so many things that Tesla is working on currently within its own vehicles, especially attempting to solve self-driving.
Back in February, Bloomberg had reported that Tesla was still working on bringing CarPlay to its vehicles, but it had not due to app compatibility issues and incredibly low adoption rates of iOS 26.
This bottleneck could buy Tesla the proper amount of time to develop CarPlay for its vehicles. It would be a welcome addition, and could be brought on with either the Summer or Fall 2026 Software Updates.
Tesla deliveries got a big boost in expectations from Wall Street firm Goldman Sachs, who believes the company will report some stronger-than-expected numbers when the second quarter comes to an end in the coming weeks.
Goldman Sachs has raised its vehicle delivery forecast for Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA) in the second quarter of 2026, signaling growing confidence in the electric vehicle leader’s near-term momentum despite mixed market signals. Analyst Mark Delaney lifted the bank’s Q2 estimate to 420,000 units from a previous 405,000, surpassing the Visible Alpha consensus estimate of 400,000.
The upward revision stems from stronger-than-expected sales data across key regions. Europe stands out with projected year-over-year growth of 85-90 percent, driven by robust demand for Tesla’s Model Y and refreshed offerings. China posted high single-digit gains, while markets like South Korea and Australia also contributed positive momentum. These gains help offset mid-teens declines in U.S. deliveries through May, where broader EV market headwinds and competition persist.
Goldman extended its optimism to the full year, increasing its 2026 delivery projection to 1.73 million vehicles from 1.72 million. Longer-term forecasts remain unchanged, with 1.88 million units expected in 2027 and 1.96 million in 2028. The bank also nudged its 2026 earnings-per-share estimate higher to $1.35 from $1.30, reflecting anticipated margin benefits from higher volumes and operational efficiencies.
Despite these positive adjustments, Goldman maintained its Neutral rating and $375 price target on Tesla shares. At current trading levels near $411, the stock sits about 8-9 percent above the target, highlighting ongoing valuation concerns even as delivery momentum builds. Tesla’s Q1 2026 deliveries totaled 358,023 units, setting a baseline for recovery expectations in the current period.
This update arrives as Tesla prepares to report official Q2 figures shortly after June 30. Investors and analysts will closely watch not only headline delivery numbers but also regional breakdowns, average selling prices, and progress on energy storage deployments and autonomous technology initiatives.
The move by Goldman Sachs underscores a broader narrative for Tesla: while legacy auto markets face softening demand and tariff uncertainties, Tesla’s global footprint and product pipeline provide resilience. Europe’s surge reflects pent-up demand and policy support for EVs, while China’s steady growth highlights Tesla’s competitive positioning against local rivals.
Tesla still has its work cut out for it, including U.S. price sensitivity and intensifying competition. Yet Goldman’s revision adds to a series of analyst notes suggesting Q2 could mark a turning point. As Tesla pushes toward higher production rates at facilities in Fremont, Shanghai, and Berlin, sustained execution will be key to validating these higher forecasts.
We have said numerous times that deliveries are becoming a less important metric in the grand scheme of things, as AI truly takes precedence in the company’s thesis.
For Tesla bulls, the Goldman note reinforces faith in underlying demand trends. For skeptics, the unchanged rating serves as a reminder that delivery beats alone may not immediately resolve valuation debates in a high-interest-rate environment. Tesla’s stock reaction will likely hinge on the official numbers and management commentary in the coming weeks.
Tesla Cybertruck driver gets pickup seized for ‘legitimate concerns’ in UK
Apple is developing the missing link for Tesla to get CarPlay: report
