--- title: "Man Alarmed When Cybertruck’s Steering and Brakes Fail With Wife and Toddler in Vehicle" description: "Tesla fan and Phoenix-based lawyer Matthew Chiarello had a terrifying experience with his Cybertruck with his wife and toddler on board." date: "2024-03-04" modified: "2024-03-04" authors: - name: "Victor Tangermann" job_title: "Senior Editor" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/victor" url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/cybertruck-steering-brakes-fail" categories: - "Advanced Transport" tags: - "cybertruck" - "tesla" - "the digest" --- # Man Alarmed When Cybertruck’s Steering and Brakes Fail With Wife and Toddler in Vehicle ![Tesla fan and Phoenix-based lawyer Matthew Chiarello had a terrifying experience with his Cybertruck with his wife and toddler on board.]() *\Image: Matthew Chiarello via X\* ## Catastrophe Failure Tesla fan and Phoenix-based lawyer Matthew Chiarello had a terrifying experience with his Cybertruck. "Love Tesla and my Cybertruck but 'catastrophe \[sic\] failure' with steering and brakes while on a road trip with wife and toddler," he [tweeted](), sharing a picture of his truck being loaded onto a flatbed truck. "Pretty pretty pretty not good," he added. "Oh and service center not open today." https://twitter.com/ChiarelloERISA/status/1764357938070626653 ## Steer-By-Wire While it's still unclear what exactly happened, it sounds like a serious incident that warrants an investigation. The truck, which started shipping to customers in late 2023 after years of delays, has continuously made headlines for everything from [rusty body panels]() to [disintegrating tires](). Meanwhile, users on X-formerly-Twitter were quick to point out Chiarello's seemingly undying love for the car brand, despite the danger it put him and his family in. "I love my death trap that nearly killed me and my family," one Twitter user [replied]() sarcastically. Others pointed out the [sky-high price of the truck]() and how it's the first of its kind. "Buying prototypes for 100k might be a bit risky," one user [pointed out](). "Production car," Chiarello [replied](). ## Normie Rockwell The Cybertruck is a notable departure from the industry median, not only in terms of appearance but features as well. The brutalist pickup uses a steer-by-wire system, which means there's no physical connection between its oddly shaped steering wheel and the wheels. Tesla claims that "steering Cybertruck feels more responsive and requires less effort from the driver" on its [website](). The system has drawn [plenty of scrutiny]() from critics and fans alike, despite not being the first production vehicle to make use of the tech. The Cybertruck doesn't have a mechanical backup for its steer-by-wire system, but has [two redundant computer chips]() as well as low-voltage battery backups in case of emergencies. There's a lot we still don't know about the latest incident. What exactly led to the catastrophic failure? Was it a manufacturing error or did human error play a role as well? And did it have anything to do with the steer-by-wire system? We'll update this space as we hear more. **More on the Cybertruck:** *[Auction House Flips Cybertruck for More Than Double the Price]()* ## 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]()