As electric vehicle (EV) adoption continues to rise in the United States, a new study suggests dealership service departments may be struggling to keep pace with growing demand. The report, based on survey data from CDK Global, highlights increasing wait times and repeat service visits for EV owners — even as overall satisfaction remains high.
In the first half of 2025, U.S. EV sales exceeded 607,000 units, setting a new record. Despite this surge, 85% of new EV buyers reported needing dealership service within the first year of ownership. At the same time, only 28% of owners said they received same-day service in 2024, down from 40% the year prior. Those waiting three or more days for service rose from 9% to 14% during the same period.
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The study found that nearly one-third of EV owners felt their vehicles took longer to service than gasoline-powered cars. Non-Tesla owners were more likely to experience delays, with 34% reporting longer service times compared to 23% of Tesla drivers. However, non-Tesla owners were also more likely to report lower service costs. Just 13% of all EV owners said they paid out of pocket for service, and 16% of appointments were related to recalls, evenly split between Tesla and other brands.
The number of owners needing multiple visits to resolve issues is rising, particularly among non-Tesla drivers. Only 65% of non-Tesla owners said their service issues were resolved in a single visit, while 21% reported needing four or five trips to the dealership.
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Despite these challenges, there are signs of progress. Mobile servicing grew to 19% in 2024, up from 14% the year before. Dealer pickup services also saw modest growth, reaching 9% in 2024 compared to 6% in 2023. The report notes that while the data is based on customer surveys — and may include some bias — the statistics likely reflect real trends in ownership experiences as EVs become increasingly mainstream.
