After enduring countless delays, Tesla has finally begun delivering its highly anticipated Cybertruck to customers across the United States. However, the company might have benefited from postponing these deliveries a bit longer, if only to remove the debris and dirt from these six-figure vehicles before handing them over to eager buyers.
Recent reports from the Wall Street Journal reveal that some new Cybertruck owners have received their electric pickups in less-than-pristine condition. Complaints have emerged of trash left in the cabin and mud smeared on the exterior. In the rush to meet delivery deadlines, Tesla apparently skipped essential steps, leaving protective film on windows and body panels, along with muddy handprints on the truck’s stainless steel surfaces.
In the past few months, over two dozen Cybertruck owners have taken to social media to share their dissatisfaction, posting images of trucks with muddy floors, dusty interiors, sticky residue, and blemished outer panels. Some have also reported strange white streaks in the truck bed and a hazy film on the windshield that obscures visibility.
This issue isn’t entirely new; one Cybertruck owner mentioned to the WSJ that their truck was delivered in April with similar issues, indicating that the problem has persisted over time. The condition of the trucks seems to vary depending on the delivery location.
Tesla’s delivery process, which relies on a network of centers across the country to prepare vehicles for customers, has reportedly struggled under the pressure of getting the Cybertrucks out the door. Former employees suggest that understaffing and confusion about how to properly clean the truck’s unique stainless steel surface have compounded the issue, with each Cybertruck taking at least two hours to detail—significantly longer than the 45 minutes needed for a Model Y.
However, the problem extends beyond just inadequate cleaning. Some Cybertrucks have been delivered with factory trash still inside, such as empty Red Bull cans found in door cubbies, and in some cases, the trucks appeared as though they had been driven before delivery.
Given that the Cybertruck now starts at nearly $100,000 following a price cut by Tesla, this is far from the treatment buyers expect. Adding to the concerns, some owners have reported more serious issues like warped tailgates and even rust spots on their brand-new trucks.