Mark Ruffalo says his Kia EV is 'hands down a better car' than a Tesla, citing build quality as NHTSA probes 1.2M Tesla vehicles for suspension failures.
Mark Ruffalo, the actor known for playing the Hulk, has a new target: Tesla's build quality. On Wednesday, he posted on X that his Kia EV is "hands down a better car" than a Tesla and "feels luxury" in comparison.
"I mean… they are not well made cars," Ruffalo wrote, sharing an Autoblog article about a preliminary NHTSA investigation into Tesla. The probe covers nearly 1.2 million Model 3 and Model Y vehicles. NHTSA said it received 156 complaints alleging that a front suspension component detached, which could cause a "loss of vehicle directional control." No crashes, injuries, or deaths were known when the investigation opened, and the probe has not resulted in a recall.
Ruffalo has a long history with electric vehicles and Tesla. In 2012, he said he placed a deposit on a Model S, describing himself as number 6,345 on the waiting list. He tweeted in support of the automaker in 2014 when New York State considered banning Tesla for selling directly to consumers.
His views of CEO Elon Musk have since soured. Tensions surfaced in 2022, when Ruffalo said Musk was destroying his credibility after taking over Twitter. Ruffalo campaigned for Kamala Harris in 2024, while Musk spent at least $270 million supporting Donald Trump and other Republicans.
Representatives for Ruffalo, Kia, and Tesla did not respond to requests for comment.
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