Since its debut, the Tesla Cybertruck has stirred up plenty of buzz, but not all of it is positive. Reports are surfacing about reliability issues and strange malfunctions, much to the chagrin of owners. Just recently, one Cybertruck owner faced quite the debacle after washing their vehicle. After taking it through the car wash, their new $80,000 truck stopped working altogether. This incident has added fuel to the fire of customer complaints about the vehicle's reliability.
The TikTok user, @captain.ad, shared visuals of the breakdown, marking it as another odd chapter in the Cybertruck's early history. “It’s like I’ve got myself a paperweight now,” the owner lamented, playing right along with the online crowd who have humorously dubbed the vehicle “tin can” and “lemon.” The irony wasn’t lost on anyone, considering the Cybertruck is advertised as being bulletproof, yet is seemingly less than waterproof.
After attempting some resets to no avail, the Cybertruck came back to life after about five hours, thanks to some button-pushing wizardry on the steering wheel. The owner's response highlighted how Tesla had informed him this issue was recognized; the required screen reset, unlike other vehicles, takes much longer. “They said it’s known,” he explained. “Hopefully it gets addressed in the future.”
This isn’t the first time the Cybertruck has been under scrutiny. Tesla has included several warnings in the owner manual, cautioning users about potential car wash damage. Instructions recommend preventing damage by properly engaging “Car Wash Mode” to avoid mishaps such as damage to the charge port or windshield wipers. Damage occurring from washing is not covered under warranty, adding another layer of concern for owners.
The company’s reliability problems grew more pronounced this year, with the Cybertruck facing six recalls already. The latest one, ordered by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, concerns 2,431 vehicles needing new driver inverter replacements due to the risk of sudden loss of propulsion. If the accelerator pedal pad gets dislodged, it can obstruct the vehicle’s operations, raising serious safety alarms.
The Cybertruck is marketed for its aesthetic appeal, but many potential buyers seem increasingly nervous about its engineering flaws. Karl Brauer, who is recognized as an executive analyst at iSeeCars, has labeled the Cybertruck among the most unreliable vehicles of 2024, performing worse than 91 percent of its peers. "People aren’t buying the Cybertruck for functional truck attributes; this is more about the spectacle," said Brauer.
The director of insights at Edmunds, Ivan Drury, noted similar sentiments, saying the allure of the Cybertruck lies not in its reliability but rather its unconventional design. “Nobody's really buying it to use as an actual truck,” he noted, pointing out how some owners appear unconcerned about the vehicle’s quality issues.
On social media, reactions from users have ranged from mockery to outright disbelief. Phrases like “CyberBrick” and “CyberStuck” have emerged, hinting at the vehicle's growing reputation as unreliable. Images of stuck Cybertrucks have been circulating online, igniting conversations among its detractors. Lamenting about the vehicle, one Reddit user humorously questioned, "Who could’ve foreseen this obviously foreseeable development?" as they shared snapshots of Cybertruck incidents.
To make matters worse, the resale value of the Cybertruck has taken quite the hit, tumbling from $175,000 to about $110,000 according to reports. Owners hoping to recoup their investment may find it harder than expected as reliability issues come to light.
Despite its tumultuous launch and mounting challenges, Tesla remains resilient. Recently, they have rolled out price cuts across their lineup, trying to mitigate the impact of declining demand and heightened competition among electric vehicles. Nevertheless, the scrutiny and hurdles don’t seem to be letting up, as the Cybertruck is still confronting regulatory challenges due to its unique design and heft, particularly faced by European markets.
The Cybertruck's early days have proven to be anything but smooth. What started as hype has started to morph, with many questioning its practical use and overall reliability. With consumers holds their breaths, will long-term issues be resolved, or is this just the start of many more troubles for Tesla's futuristic pickup?