The Motor Ombudsman, the Ombudsman dedicated to the automotive sector, has recorded the highest quarterly volume of consumer complaints about electric vehicles (EVs) during the opening three months of 2023.
A total of 273 disputes were logged during the first quarter of this year, compared to 104 for the same period in 2022, reflecting the ever-increasing demand for pure battery[1]driven models by today’s motorists. Furthermore, in March alone – one of the key periods for new car registrations, 115 complaints were received from consumers about EVs.
This marked the first time that The Motor Ombudsman’s Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) service had witnessed an excess of 100 contacts about an electric car in a single month. Mirroring the trend seen in the last two calendar years, customer service and a consumer’s experience at the point of buying an electric car, drove the majority – nearly a third of complaints about EVs in the first quarter, up from 27 per cent in Q1 2022.
Examples of dissatisfaction that resulted in motorists bringing their complaint to The Motor Ombudsman, included cancellations and delays for the delivery and handover of new vehicle orders, incorrect vehicle specifications at the point of delivery due to parts shortages, and the miscommunication about the provenance of a vehicle when it was sold. For those who encountered purchase issues, around 70 per cent were in relation to a brand new car, with the remainder originating from the acquisition of a used model.
For the first quarter of 2023, the vehicle chassis area was responsible for causing around a fifth (21% p ercent) of electric vehicle complaints – the same proportion as Q1 2022, with sources of discontent stemming from problems with the brakes, suspension and wheels. Range gained greater prominence in the opening three months of this year at 12 per cent (versus 6 per cent in Q1 2022), with many EV owners reporting that they were unable to travel the distance on a full charge quoted by a retailer or manufacturer – a problem that was accentuated due to reduced battery capacity in colder weather during winter.
Accounting for 10 per cent of disputes in Q1 2023 (a slight rise versus 7% for Q1 2022), interior and cabin systems issues were the fourth biggest cause of consumers referring their EV complaint to The Motor Ombudsman between January and March. Aesthetics-related problems, such as defective seat trim, and scratches on the centre console and door handles on a new car, where amongst the snags raised by customers. Similarly, vehicle owners expressed concern about failures of in-car equipment, such as faulty USB ports, climate control interfaces, heating, and in-car microphones, preventing the use of such features. Registered Number 06517394, England ‘The Motor Ombudsman’ and the ‘Motor Industry Codes of Practice’ logo are trademarks of The Motor Ombudsman Limited Electrical and software glitches plagued 9 per cent of those who submitted complaints about an electric car between January and March.
Vehicles not recognising keys, apps not working due to software malfunctions, and electrical problems causing safety system failures, were all amongst the issues highlighted in case submissions during the past three calendar months.
In regards to the exterior of the car (making up 6 per cent of EV disputes reported since the start of 2023), vehicles sold with broken door latches, automatic wing mirrors locking in the closed position, overspray paint on the door sill, and grazes on the alloys at the point of handover, were just some of the difficulties raised by consumers with The Motor Ombudsman last year. Vehicle charging problems, also at 6 per cent of complaints in the first quarter, were principally orientated around failures of the main charging unit within the first months of ownership, and the inability for the vehicle to charge to its potential due to software issues. Post-purchase frustrations originating from batteries, included them going flat or draining too quickly, but were nevertheless responsible for the smallest number of concerns, at just 4 per cent of issues reported since the start of 2023.
Out of the individuals who submitted a complaint in relation an electric vehicle during the first quarter, a full refund emerged as the most desired resolution for 27 per cent of consumers to help bring their dispute to a close, followed by compensation (17 per cent) and the rejection of the vehicle (per cent). Furthermore, for those motorists who attributed a monetary amount to their preferred outcomes, the average value equated to £13,000, a marked rise from the figure of £10,800 recorded in Q1 2022.
