The Tesla Motors Inc (NASDAQ:TSLA) Model S scored 99/100 on the Consumer Reports owner satisfaction survey, the highest score that any car has gotten in years, reports Jerry Hirsch for the LA Times. Consumer Reports said that being fun to drive, environmentally friendly, and having luxury features are usually important for a high owner satisfaction score, so it’s no surprise that the Model S, which satisfies all three points, did so well. Tesla Motors Inc (NASDAQ:TSLA) founder and CEO Elon Musk tweeted the good news, “Tesla Model S Consumer Reports customer satisfaction survey highest of any car on road at 99/100.”
Tesla customers are very satisfied
“In testing, the Model S stands out for its innovative design, outstanding performance and surprising practicality. These results suggest Tesla owners are very, very satisfied,” said Jake Fisher, Consumer Reports’ director of automotive testing. The Porsche Boxster came in second overall.
The high ranking is great news after the third Tesla Motors Inc (NASDAQ:TSLA) Model S caught fire, this time in Tennessee, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration opened a formal probe into the fires. So far, the Model S has been able to warn drivers about the fire with enough time for them to pull over and get out of the vehicle safely, but investors are still concerned that this could be the start of a deeper problem. Car fires are extremely common – the National Fire Protection Agency says that there are about 17 per hour in the US – but those fires have a variety of causes and the NHTS is especially concerned that all three fires started after the vehicles had an accident. If the Model S consistently catches fire during an accident it makes the car significantly more dangerous, especially for cases where the driver temporarily loses consciousness.
Tesla has no recall plans
Tesla Motors Inc (NASDAQ:TSLA) has approached GM looking for tips on how to prevent future auto fires. The Chevy Volt hasn’t had any fires similar to the recent Model S fires even though they have sold 58,000 units with an estimated 300 million miles on the road. There were fires during the crash test phase, but GM was able to make the cars safer without seriously redesigning the battery. Musk has said that there are no plans for a recall, but the fact that the question had to be asked shows that he has a problem on his hands, owner satisfaction notwithstanding.
