Tesla Cybertruck User Reports Vehicle Failure after 70 Miles; Owner claims early issues allow for bug fixes
In a recent turn of events, Shane Misner, a Cybertruck owner from Kansas, encountered a critical failure during his first drive from the Tesla showroom. A screenshot from Shane's post on Facebook, showing his Cybertruck's center touch screen displaying a message, "Pull Over, Vehicle Shutting Down," before shutting down, has been making rounds on social media.
Despite this initial setback, Shane's Cybertruck, driven for 8,000 miles over 3 months without any issues prior, is now at the service center for major repairs. Satesh Raju, another Cybertruck owner, has driven his vehicle for the same distance without encountering any problems.
The failure caused Shane's Cybertruck to shut down completely, requiring a tow truck to transport it back to the showroom. During charging, the left rear motor of Shane's tri-motor Cybertruck failed. Steve Dallas, another Cybertruck owner, claims that early models, particularly tri-motor versions, may have issues with their inverters.
Tesla's official service manual time studies for the Cybertruck's drive inverter and motor replacement tasks suggest that the typical flat rate time (FRT) allocated for removing and replacing a front drive unit inverter is about 3.6 hours. Although this refers specifically to the inverter which is integral to the motor drive unit, the motor replacement process is closely tied to inverter and drive unit replacement steps and likely falls within a similar time range.
Rear drive inverter replacements also involve detailed steps and likely take a comparable amount of time given similar complexity. User-reported installation durations are limited but consistent with Tesla’s official times, suggesting a few hours for professional installation.
This work requires specialized tools, proper safety procedures, and professional expertise, not typical casual DIY experience. Therefore, installing a new motor or related drive unit on a Tesla Cybertruck typically takes around 3.5 to 4 hours in a professional service setting based on Tesla's own labor time standards.
Tinsae Aregay, a journalist covering Tesla and the EV space, regularly provides updates on Tesla-related news. He can be followed on Twitter at @TinsaeAregay for daily Tesla news. Some fellow Cybertruck owners came to Tesla's defense, stating that one vehicle dying on the first drive doesn't mean all Cybertrucks have reliability issues.
The article encourages readers to share their thoughts in the comments section. Despite the initial failure of Shane's Cybertruck, he now defends Tesla, stating that it's better to address issues early in the vehicle's life.
[1] Tesla Service Procedures, Drive Inverter and Motor Replacement, Tesla Inc., [link to source] [2] User Experience Discussions on Tesla Repairs, [link to source] [3] Tesla Service Procedures, Rear Drive Inverter Replacement, Tesla Inc., [link to source] [4] Third-Party Commentary on Tesla Repairs, [link to source] [5] Tesla Service Procedures, Front Drive Unit Removal and Replacement, Tesla Inc., [link to source]
- The failure in Shane's Cybertruck, a critical issue that required a tow truck, was attributed to the left rear motor, with some suggesting that early tri-motor versions may have issues with their inverters, as indicated by Steve Dallas.
- The process of replacing the drive inverter or motor in a Tesla Cybertruck, as outlined in Tesla's service manual, typically takes around 3.5 to 4 hours, highlighting the need for specialized tools, safety procedures, and professional expertise.
