Cybertruck vs. River: Tesla’s Most Embarrassing Moment Yet

The Tesla Cybertruck is full of innovative features, from design to functionality. At the same time, it is also a model that continues to cause various controversies. Meanwhile, questions are being raised about the rough terrain performance, one of the Cybertruck’s boasts.

Elon Musk has announced that an update is being prepared for the Wade Mode, the Cybertruck’s amphibious feature. This suggests the vehicle already has the necessary hardware to support this function. However, a recently captured scene has cast doubts on its performance, given that Wade Mode is unavailable.

On May 27, a video believed to have been recently filmed in Azula Canyon in the US was posted on YouTube and other social media platforms. It shows a Cybertruck failing to cross a river. The Cybertruck came down a rather steep bank and jumped into the river out of curiosity but could not get up to the other side and became stranded.

As the water was deep enough not to submerge the entire wheel, the river crossing appeared to have been no significant problem. However, when the vehicle tried to climb to the other bank, the rear wheel could not come out and got stuck repeatedly. The driver went backward and attempted to cross the river again at a higher speed than the first attempt, but the results were not much different. According to the person who posted the video, the Cybertruck eventually escaped after being towed by a Chevrolet Silverado vehicle.

Several past cases have raised questions about the Cybertruck’s off-road driving performance. Before the official launch, a video of a Cybertruck prototype getting stuck on a muddy road in rural Texas and unable to move went viral. It also showed Tesla employees panicking when the vehicle did not move despite the shallow mud.

In the winter of 2023, shortly after the initial delivery of the Cybertruck began, the final prototype vehicle was stranded on a gently sloping snowy mountain and escaped with the help of a Ford F-150 vehicle. At the time, the towing scene video spread and attracted considerable attention, and Ford explained, “This is not an advertisement we created.”

In February 2024, the right rear wheel of a Cybertruck driving on an off-road course was twisted at an awkward angle. According to the photo, the steering bolt, a rear suspension component, appears damaged. However, the course is notoriously rugged, and other vehicles often break down.

The Cybertruck is equipped with a standard four-wheel steering system. This system includes a rear-wheel steering mechanism that utilizes components like tie rods like the front wheels. It has a more complex structure than typical rear-wheel drive vehicles, which usually only connect the suspension and drive shaft. Consequently, there is a higher likelihood of failure. Despite its high driving power and large tire surface area, the Cybertruck’s performance on rough roads is considered lacking compared to competing models.