- Some Cybertruck owners are reporting issues they say occurred shortly after delivery.
- BI counted six owners online saying they’ve faced a “critical steering error” warning message.
- The issue appears to cause the EV to slow to a few miles per hour and flash a red warning screen.
Some Cybertruck owners are taking to the internet to report issues with their new Tesla pickup truck. Several say the issues started within days of receiving the vehicle.
Last week, Thomas Remo, known for his YouTube channel “Gear Down,” shared a video of his Cybertruck appearing to break down just moments after it was delivered.
In the video, Remo has just started to drive the vehicle onto the road when the truck begins to beep and its infotainment system flashes red with the alert: “PULL OVER SAFELY Critical steering issue detected.”
The warning message says the truck’s system has detected a “high voltage system error” and service is required as the electric vehicle may not be able to restart, according to multiple pictures of the error screen posted online.
As the warning message flashes, Remo’s truck appears to gradually slow to a few miles per hour.
“My foot is on the floor and it’s not moving,” Remo said in the video.
The YouTuber was able to reset the vehicle by turning it off and back on again, but said he experienced the issue four more times within 44 miles of driving it when he attempted to accelerate with the truck in “Beast Mode,” a driving mode similar to the Ludicrous mode which allows a Tesla to accelerate faster.
The vehicle was eventually towed to a Tesla service center, Remo said in the video.
“This car — it just doesn’t work,” he said. “This car is a lemon.”
According to a screenshot Remo shared online that he said showed the invoice from Tesla’s service center, the company said the issue was the result of a low voltage harness that connects to the ancillary bay. The technicians replaced the ancillary bay and ancillary cover at no cost to the owner, according to the invoice.
Multiple owners have reported the same issue
At least five others who identified themselves as Cybertruck owners online have posted that they had seen the same warning screen. One Cybertruck owner on a Cybertruck owners forum said they’d seen the warning message, but had less success resetting the vehicle.
“It was great for 5 minutes.. tried everything, restarting, screen is stuck black and keeps beeping,” they wrote on the forum. “Tesla really rushed these trucks out, what a nightmare.”
Another owner said they’d kept driving the vehicle over time for about 2,000 miles and seen it happen “randomly.”
“I just get out, lock the car, wait a few seconds, get back in and it usually works again,” the owner said on the Cybertruck forum, adding that they sometimes have to repeat the process two to three times and are waiting for the parts to come in to fix it at a service center.
Tesla and Remo did not respond to a request for comment.
According to the Cybertruck owner’s manual, the issue is not indicative of a steering problem.
“This alert indicates a possible issue with one of the multiple redundant sensors and actuators designed to make sure the steer-by-wire system always remains available while driving,” the manual says.
The alert can be cleared by exiting and re-entering the truck, according to the manual.
“If you attempt this successfully, and no further alert messages display in the touchscreen indicating potential steering issues or inability to drive, continue to your destination,” the manual reads. “If this alert occurs again during your next drive, or occurs multiple times over subsequent drives, it is recommended that you schedule service.”
It’s not the only issue Cybertruck owners are flagging online — owners have also pointed out issues with the ADAS system and charging. Since the truck’s release last November, a Reddit forum dedicated to examples of the truck running into issues, r/Cyberstuck, has taken off, garnering 10,000 members.
It’s unclear how many Cybertruck owners have experienced issues with the truck or what percentage the alleged issues represent overall. Many have shared positive experiences with the vehicle. In his first test of living with the truck, tech YouTuber Marques Brownlee said he was impressed by the vehicle.
“I think they really got themselves something solid here,” Brownlee said at the time.
Cybertruck owners have also proven to be a resilient bunch. After some owners began spotting rust specks on the truck earlier this year, the owners told Business Insider they were unfazed by the issue. They were quick to find ways to tackle it — sharing hacks for cleaning the truck and purchasing wraps to protect the stainless steel exterior.
Do you work for Tesla, own one, or have a tip? Reach out to the reporter via a non-work email and device at gkay@businessinsider.com
