Bulletproof but not corrosion-proof: Tesla Cybertrucks start to RUST after “two days in the rain”

02/20/2024 / By Ava Grace

Drivers have pointed out that Tesla Cybertrucks, which are reportedly able to withstand bullet fire, can easily develop rust after mere days in the rain.

Back in 2019, Tesla CEO Elon Musk bragged that the $79,000 Cybertruck is “literally bulletproof” thanks to its “ultra-hard stainless steel” body. But drivers have taken to Tesla online forums to lament the vehicle’s lack of resistance against corrosion. Several customers reported rust littering the outer shell after driving it for “two days in the rain.”

One driver named Will said: “Throughout the LA rain, I noticed the corrosion was forming on the metal like other people have noted – so I decided to start documenting it and bringing it to Tesla’s attention. They documented the corrosion, and told me they’ll give me a call next month when the tools have arrived and they can perform the service/repair.”

Will purchased his truck on Feb. 1 and had used it for a mere 11 days with just 381 miles on it. The truck “has spent much of the 11 days in [his] custody parked in front of [his] house,” he wrote. Will continued: “Seems like it’s much more prominent on the top metal that rises above the truck bed more so than anywhere else, but the spots are definitely everywhere in the metal.”

According to Will, the rusting issues emerged after he drove the Cybertruck in the rain. Another user named Raxar also experienced the problem, albeit mentioning that the issue showed up “after short periods of exposure to condensation.”

Raxar reportedly picked up their Cybertruck on Feb. 1, and was told by an advisor that the electric vehicle (EV) “develops orange rust marks in the rain and that required the vehicle to be buffed out.” They shared: “I know I heard the story of never taking out your DeLorean in the rain, but I just never read anything about rust and Cybertrucks.” (Related: Widow SUES Tesla over “dangerous” electric vehicle that KILLED HER HUSBAND.)

Rust spots on Cybertruck can be easily removed, one user claims

According to a report by the North Carolina-based Sperko Engineering Services, “the simplest condition under which rusting can occur on stainless steel is when a piece of ordinary carbon or low-ally steel is rubbed against the surface of an otherwise corrosion-resistant piece of stainless steel.”

“The iron from the ordinary steel will rub off onto the stainless steel surface as a film of unalloyed steel – and after exposure to moisture in the atmosphere for a few days, that unalloyed steel film will form ugly rust.”

However, stainless steel should not rust in normal rain – leading to theories about what could be the main cause of discoloration on several Cybertrucks. One user posted in the forum suggesting the rust specks are fallout from the environment or could be rail dust that occurred during shipping. When cars are transported by train from the factory, the metal wheels of the train cars running on metal rails create small particles of metal that fly into the air and land on the horizontal surfaces of the car.

Musk mentioned last year that owners will soon have the option of purchasing a tungsten carbide coating that helps protect against corrosion – but for an added unknown cost.

Meanwhile, one user named Daryoon shared a method of removing the rust spots. Daryoon reportedly used a clay bar on their Cybertruck to remove the specks of iron, with “all rust traces gone” after this. “[For] some of the other spots I found, I used a car polish and it cleaned up the rust spot but didn’t remove the warm hue that is the patina of the stainless steel,” Daryoon continued.

Visit FlyingCars.news for more stories about Tesla Cybertrucks and other EVs.

Watch this video that tackles what Tesla isn’t saying about the Cybertruck.

This video is from the High Hopes channel on Brighteon.com.