--- title: "Cybertruck Turns Into Large Metal Brick After Going Through Car Wash" description: "For a vehicle specifically designed to go anywhere, Tesla's Cybertruck seems like an extremely poor choice for getting from point A or point B. Even keeping the vehicle clean is a bit of a nightmare. As one recent owner found out, even a car wash was able to defeat the 6,600-pound pickup. As spotted by […]" date: "2024-04-18" modified: "2024-04-18" authors: - name: "Victor Tangermann" job_title: "Senior Editor" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/victor" url: "https://futurism.com/cybertruck-brick-car-wash" categories: - "Advanced Transport" tags: - "cybertruck" - "elon musk" - "tesla" --- # Cybertruck Turns Into Large Metal Brick After Going Through Car Wash ![As one recent Tesla Cybertruck owner found out, even a car wash was able to defeat the 6,600-pound pickup.]() *\Image: Getty / Futurism\* For a vehicle ostensibly designed to go anywhere, Tesla's Cybertruck seems to have a lot of trouble in mundane settings. As one recent owner found out, even a car wash was able to defeat the 6,600-pound pickup. As [spotted by *Jalopnik*](), a routine visit through a car wash to get sand off the truck after a beach visit seemingly caused the entire vehicle to shut down. The center console went blank, turning the stainless steel monstrosity into a giant brick. "I'm about two and half months in and 3,400 miles," TikTok user captain.ad [said in a recent video](), "and it's not working right now." After holding down two buttons on the steering wheel to reset the screen, the dashboard made a strange noise. "That was a weird popping sound," the owner said, perplexed. https://twitter.com/StonkKing4/status/1780303955811278884 It's not exactly confidence-inducing to see a car that's meant to serve as a rugged off-the-grid base — and even a [way to get around Mars](), according to Tesla CEO Elon Musk — turn into a giant "Tesla Paperweight," as captain.ad quipped, after a routine hosing off. We've already seen our fair share of issues with the vehicle, from massive panel gaps and [cracked "armor glass]()" to [failing steering controls]() and [besmirched stainless steel](). Earlier this week, news emerged that Tesla [stopped delivering]() all Cybertrucks to address a glaring issue with the controversial vehicle's accelerator pedal. Fortunately, in the case of the car wash, captain.ad's vehicle mysteriously [started working again]() after he filed a ticket and went to bed. The vehicle seemingly needed a complete reboot, which was triggered by him holding down the two buttons the night before — but required five excruciating hours to complete. "Imagine if there was a zombie apocalypse, and you reset your Cybertruck," one TikTok user [commented](). Despite being designed to be a rugged truck ready for a dystopian hellscape, taking care of a Cybertruck sounds like a nightmare, requiring more babying than virtually any other pickup. Hilariously, Tesla [warns]() that the truck should never be washed in "direct sunlight" due to possible corrosion in the stainless steel. A special "Car Wash Mode," which closes all windows and disables wipers, should also be used to avoid damage. Drivers also have to opt out of regular car washes and are told only to use "touchless car washes" that don't make contact with the Cybertruck's surface. And in case you forget to follow any of this advice, you may be out of luck when it comes to having the company fix your broken-down truck. "Failure to put Cybertruck in Car Wash Mode may result in damage," the company's manual reads. "Damage caused by car washes is not covered by the warranty." "Damage caused by improper washing" is also not covered. As always, Tesla isn't in the business of talking to the media, so we're unlikely to find out what exactly caused the latest issue or if it was related to the owner cleaning his truck. But if there's one takeaway: don't take your luxury Tesla truck to the car wash — as ludicrous as that may sound. **More on the Cybertruck:** *[Tesla Recalling All Cybertrucks After Disastrous Issue With Accelerator Getting Stuck Down]()* ## Author I've been at Futurism since 2017, where my role has evolved to encompass design, writing, and increasingly editing. I've always been fascinated by space exploration and advanced transportation, which I've leaned into by interviewing luminaries in those fields while closely following the dimensions of policy and regulation that allow next-generation projects to succeed -- or, sometimes, to fail. I'm also keenly interested in the effects of generative AI on society, policies, and democratic institutions, as well as clean energy, physics and biology, and the vagaries of tech leadership. My work for Futurism has been cited by publications including Ars Technica, Gizmodo, PC Magazine, Jalopnik, Fox News, and the New York Post. I spent my childhood living in locations including Manila, the Philippines, and Geneva, Switzerland, attended McGill University, and now live in Toronto, Canada. Before Futurism I worked at AskMen and a small photography studio. In my free time, I'm an avid gardener, foodie, and craft beer lover, as well as a maker of artisanal hot pepper sauces. I have a magnificent dog named Freida. ### Author social links [Bluesky]()