The most common warranty claims for electric cars are almost all unrelated to their electric powertrains, according to new data from the Warranty Solutions Group (WSG).
Only two of the 10 most common repairs on EVs are specifically linked to batteries, motors and charging. The rest are the same mechanical and electrical issues experienced by petrol and diesel cars.
WSG’s latest Market View Report analyzed data from 800 cars across 18 brands. It shows that as the UK’s EV fleet ages, warranty claims are increasing but the fundamental problems aren’t unique to electric technology.
Failure of the 12V battery topped the list of problems, followed by broken shock absorbers. Air conditioning and suspension arm issues came next, with charger port problems – the first EV-specific failure – ranking fifth.
On-board charger failure was the only other EV-specific issue in the top 10, coming in ninth. While charger port repairs cost a relatively modest £119 on average, on-board charger issues carried a £1,038 repair bill.
EV warranty pay-outs are approximately 27% higher than those for internal combustion (ICE) vehicles. The average EV claim costs £827.55 compared with £623.10 for ICE cars.
Replacing an EV’s drive battery – though rare – can cost between £8,000 and £12,000, significantly raising the average. Additional training, specialized tools and increased labor time for complex EV repairs also contribute to higher costs.
Most reliable EV brands
Hyundai emerged as the UK’s most reliable EV brand with a claim rate of just 3.7% for its electric models. The South Korean manufacturer also had among the lowest average payouts at £309 per claim.
Toyota ranked second with its bZ4X model showing a 3.88% claim rate, though with higher average repair costs of £690.
Kia, Hyundai’s sister brand which shares the E-GMP EV platform, placed third with a 4% claim rate and average repair costs of £324.
Mainstream manufacturers including Nissan, Vauxhall, Renault and Honda all featured among the 10 brands with the lowest EV warranty claims. Premium brands generally performed worse, with Tesla the only luxury manufacturer in the top 10, placing ninth.
The Motoring Ombudsman reports EV-related disputes have increased 60% in 2024, but remain far less common than issues with conventional vehicles.
“This rise aligns with the growing adoption of EVs in the UK. However, despite this increase, EVs still generate fewer complaints per vehicle compared to their non-EV counterparts. Based on our latest data, there was one dispute for every 195 EVs, compared to one in every 41 petrol, diesel, and hybrid models,” said Bill Fennell, chief ombudsman.
“Most EV complaints stemmed from customer service issues, followed by technical problems with the vehicles themselves. As the EV market matures, addressing these concerns will be critical for manufacturers and retailers to build consumer trust and satisfaction,” Fennell added.
