2025 brand new Cybertruck fail - now stuck in service

[FLlovesCyberTrucks]

Yes, apparently, despite refinements at the factory, as of February 2025, Tesla is still producing 'Lemon' cybertrucks right off the production line, and I don't mean Lemon-colored wraps!!

As Tesla doesn't let you drive your new vehicle before "acceptance", there is really no way to find out that your new truck's autosteer and FSD are going to be defective.

Despite 150 miles on the road, despite updating to the latest software build with the newest FSD, despite rebooting and rebooting, despite having active subscriptions, complimentary trial, and paid, there is simply no working autopilot or FSD available on the vehicle. It doesn't function: click on the globe and you'll see the message "Autosteer not available". Click a second, or a third time, and the message will then state "What part of 'Autosteer not available' do you not understand?!? Click all you want, mister, but you've got yourself a lemon."

Ok, calm down! It's just an expensive new truck purchase with a problem out of the gate.

"Told you so" said the family, and half of my disapproving friends.

At least my friends at Cybertruckownersclub.com forums have been just great!! Thank you, one and all.

But after getting the very practical advice on the forum to drive the truck and let it calibrate, to download, to update, to reboot, and to perform an ancient ritual dance while standing on the tonneau cover under a full moon, the autopilot/FSD remains completely hobbled.

The FIX!!

"Easy fix", says the service advisor at the local Tesla SC, "we'll just flash the firmware, reboot it, and have the car back to you in an hour, before your complimentary cup of coffee starts to cool." I hope you're right I replied.

Sensing my unease, he continued "These things rarely happen, and when they do, it's usually a quick fix. You won't even need a loaner vehicle."

The FIX!! didn't work!!

Three long hours later, they grab me in the lounge, and say we need some more time, we're giving you a loaner car, but we'll have this fixed by 3PM, or tomorrow at the latest.

They set me up with a Model X loaner (yes!) but it was filthy and stank (no!) and the left turn signal didn't work. Side note: the yoke sucks compared to our squircle!!!!

But it gets worse...Service technicians are stumped!!!

I went on my way with the beat up MX to run some errands (no left turn signalling!!), but by 3PM, I received the phone call from the SC that no Cybertruck owner wants to hear, that the vehicle is presently INOPERABLE, they have no fix, and the local service technicians are STUMPED. This information was related to me by a service advisor so I might have missed a few details.

Were there a bunch of techs literally walking around the vehicle scratching their heads? Don't know - didn't see - wasn't there. All I know is that this is an "anomaly" and that they've never seen it before. They suspect the computer is to blame, but really aren't entirely sure of that either, could be a camera, or a sensor, or a camera sensor, or could be something else; they just don't know.

What now??

Our state has a lemon law. This is STRIKE ONE. But I love the truck, I don't want to return it, I want it back and functioning. It's like no other vehicle I ever owned - the model X seems puny and primitive by comparison. The CT's is more of a 'jet', and the Model X is more of a single-engine plane... Okay, maybe a turborprop, but not a jet!! I digress - point is I love my CT.... 40 years of driving cars, and nothing at all comes close.

The Brave New Hope (to the rescue?)

There is a place where stumped service techs can turn when they just can't fix, don't know, or can't tell. Tesla has a centralized CT engineering team, at a secret underground base somewhere (more likely a furnished office in the factory in Austin, TX). In any event, their location may be a mystery, but their presence is well-known to the local service team.

Anyhow, they have the answers, but there is a queue. And by 'queue' they mean a wait, a backlog of problems, and not a short wait, but a l-o-n-g wait.

Q. Can I have the inoperable truck back??
A. No!!

Q. How long is the queue that I'm in line for to have the truck's vital signs evaluated by remote monitoring and diagnosis???
A. Long, could be D-A-Y-S but hopefully not W-E-E-K-S!!

And so...the upshot of all this...

I need to leave the car in the service dept over the weekend, and through most of next week until they are ready to give me an update on the truck I bought, but don't really own any more... {big sad face, weeping}

First world problems!! But seriously, this CT has been produced for a long time now, and Tesla is experienced with handling service issues. If they think they need to replace the computer, order the damn part, give me my the truck back in the meantime. Just don't hold it hostage in service for weeks diagnosing problems. And that, if you've read this far, is really all I'm griping about!

Cybertruck love to all who love Cybertrucks!!!


PS - Interesting thread by another CT owner with vehicle stuck in service long-term who needed an engineering team to fix his problem (they even flew out from TX to take apart his truck to find the assembly error!!)

https://www.cybertruckownersclub.co...te-their-service-manual-for-cybertruck.15246/

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[Balthezor]

Ask them for a buy back. No need for a lemon law. Buy another. Does take time for them to approve it. But since the truck is essentially dead, the service manager can help expedite.

 

[FLlovesCyberTrucks]

I can try that approach - but the service dept's current position is that it 'hopefully' will only take a few days (no guarantees) until engineering at Tesla has a chance to look at it, and then finds the problem, then they will order part, and it will be fixed shortly after - from my understanding, Tesla is only going to do buybacks with multiple service visits consisting of multiple weeks, and we're just not there yet. So for now, I'm going to have to "trust the process" whether I like it or not. Was told the vehicle was inoperable - although it operated well when I brought it in, except for the autosteer/FSD computer issues!! So frustrating!!

Further, I think they said if I were to take the truck out of service dept (assuming it was operable), I'd lose my place in line - truck has to be there so when they get the call, they can connect the engineers.

 

[REM]

I can try that approach - but the service dept's current position is that it 'hopefully' will only take a few days (no guarantees) until engineering at Tesla has a chance to look at it, and then finds the problem, then they will order part, and it will be fixed shortly after - from my understanding, Tesla is only going to do buybacks with multiple service visits consisting of multiple weeks, and we're just not there yet. So for now, I'm going to have to "trust the process" whether I like it or not. Was told the vehicle was inoperable - although it operated well when I brought it in, except for the autosteer/FSD computer issues!! So frustrating!!

Further, I think they said if I were to take the truck out of service dept (assuming it was operable), I'd lose my place in line - truck has to be there so when they get the call, they can connect the engineers.

Yeah, this truck has a ton of very new and very bold technologies wrapped into one package, so it's to be expected that a couple things don't go quite as planned. The good thing is that engineering is on top of things, and they want to get to the bottom of the aberrations like yours.

 

[FLlovesCyberTrucks]

Yeah, this truck has a ton of very new and very bold technologies wrapped into one package, so it's to be expected that a couple things don't go quite as planned. The good thing is that engineering is on top of things, and they want to get to the bottom of the aberrations like yours.

The technology is amazing —people that have not had a chance to drive the truck or study all of its features have zero appreciation for how it was made or what it can do.

sure, it’s easy for people to point at the truck and tell you they don’t like its appearance, but their analysis doesn’t go much further than that. they lack curiosity.

 

[Woodrick]

Things happen. The fact that the techs can't readily find it suggests that it is not a common issue.

 

[Amuma]

Tesla doesn't create everything in house. If it's a faulty connector or chip or transistor it's not Tesla fault. They will fix this and give you your awesome truck back. All companies have issues. But obviously with dumb ass Elon rhetoric lately Tesla is on the hook for having to be absolutely perfect in every way possible.

 

[FLlovesCyberTrucks]

I'm not into politics. Funny you mention a connector - as the computer functions in every other conceivable way, and was re-flashed, and all SW reinstalled, it's probably some ancillary component as you say!

And all companies have issues - unfortunately, it's just particularly frustrating when you have to give back a new vehicle purchase to sit in a service shop - just griping!! Now if they just gave me a CT loaner.... I'm very passionate about the CT obviously - if anything, I think Tesla (and Tesla fans) have not adequately communicated to the public how the CT technology contributes to the ride quality and how steer by wire (with 4 wheels turning) makes this vehicle magic.

I see a lot of criticism - I should make a youtube video refuting it... A couple of examples:

Criticism: for a $XXX,000 vehicle it should have a center console tray

Answer: Ok, it doesn't - you've bought a 22nd century armored tank that can move through high water, climb over rocks, runs on electric power, and can out-turn and and outrun pretty much any sedan or truck in the world. Buy yourself a $30 console tray of the style you prefer.

Criticism: There's a 5mm panel gap discrepancy between this and that.

Answer: They used air to bend bullet proof steel panels to cover the frame of your truck. The freakin model Y had discrepancies in the gaps. Does the gap impact your enjoyment of the vehicle - after 3 years of use, I promise you, you won't care. They are manufacturing inconsistencies that don't impact appearance or function, unless you sightline down an edge and obsess over it.

Criticism: How can you give money to Elon Musk?

Answer: I don't think I gave him anything - never met him. I understand he owns 15% of Tesla. I paid for a truck not a political contribution. What kind of POS car did you buy? Oh, it was made in China. Well my truck was built by Americans in Texas, by a company that studies ways to create sustainable energy, improve robotics and manufacturing/assembly lines, send launch vehicles into space, and advance civilization. And given that there are 2.5 million model Y's in the world, and only 80,000+ CT's, why don't you pick on your neighbors who drive Tesla's best selling car in the world, and not me with my truck.

 

[Mini2nut]

Keep us posted on the root cause. I predict it‘s something simple caused by an assembly line error.

I recently watched a video where a vehicle would not start after numerous technicians failed to find the root cause of a non start issue. The starter motor wasn’t even turning over. It wasn’t until a new technician who tried diagnosing the problem noticed that the windshield had recently been replaced. He proceeded to pop off the plastic cover near the rear view mirror and double checked the numerous electrical connections underneath. Sure enough the tech who replaced the windshield neglected to plug in one electrical connector all the way until it clicked. With the electrical connector now seated the new technician hit the starter button and the vehicle fired right up. The root caused by turned out to be a two second repair.

 

[thag]

Yes, apparently, despite refinements at the factory, as of February 2025, Tesla is still producing 'Lemon' cybertrucks right off the production line, and I don't mean Lemon-colored wraps!!

As Tesla doesn't let you drive your new vehicle before "acceptance", there is really no way to find out that your new truck's autosteer and FSD are going to be defective.

Despite 150 miles on the road, despite updating to the latest software build with the newest FSD, despite rebooting and rebooting, despite having active subscriptions, complimentary trial, and paid, there is simply no working autopilot or FSD available on the vehicle. It doesn't function: click on the globe and you'll see the message "Autosteer not available". Click a second, or a third time, and the message will then state "What part of 'Autosteer not available' do you not understand?!? Click all you want, mister, but you've got yourself a lemon."

Ok, calm down! It's just an expensive new truck purchase with a problem out of the gate.

"Told you so" said the family, and half of my disapproving friends.

At least my friends at Cybertruckownersclub.com forums have been just great!! Thank you, one and all.

But after getting the very practical advice on the forum to drive the truck and let it calibrate, to download, to update, to reboot, and to perform an ancient ritual dance while standing on the tonneau cover under a full moon, the autopilot/FSD remains completely hobbled.

The FIX!!

"Easy fix", says the service advisor at the local Tesla SC, "we'll just flash the firmware, reboot it, and have the car back to you in an hour, before your complimentary cup of coffee starts to cool." I hope you're right I replied.

Sensing my unease, he continued "These things rarely happen, and when they do, it's usually a quick fix. You won't even need a loaner vehicle."

The FIX!! didn't work!!

Three long hours later, they grab me in the lounge, and say we need some more time, we're giving you a loaner car, but we'll have this fixed by 3PM, or tomorrow at the latest.

They set me up with a Model X loaner (yes!) but it was filthy and stank (no!) and the left turn signal didn't work. Side note: the yoke sucks compared to our squircle!!!!

But it gets worse...Service technicians are stumped!!!

I went on my way with the beat up MX to run some errands (no left turn signalling!!), but by 3PM, I received the phone call from the SC that no Cybertruck owner wants to hear, that the vehicle is presently INOPERABLE, they have no fix, and the local service technicians are STUMPED. This information was related to me by a service advisor so I might have missed a few details.

Were there a bunch of techs literally walking around the vehicle scratching their heads? Don't know - didn't see - wasn't there. All I know is that this is an "anomaly" and that they've never seen it before. They suspect the computer is to blame, but really aren't entirely sure of that either, could be a camera, or a sensor, or a camera sensor, or could be something else; they just don't know.

What now??

Our state has a lemon law. This is STRIKE ONE. But I love the truck, I don't want to return it, I want it back and functioning. It's like no other vehicle I ever owned - the model X seems puny and primitive by comparison. The CT's is more of a 'jet', and the Model X is more of a single-engine plane... Okay, maybe a turborprop, but not a jet!! I digress - point is I love my CT.... 40 years of driving cars, and nothing at all comes close.

The Brave New Hope (to the rescue?)

There is a place where stumped service techs can turn when they just can't fix, don't know, or can't tell. Tesla has a centralized CT engineering team, at a secret underground base somewhere (more likely a furnished office in the factory in Austin, TX). In any event, their location may be a mystery, but their presence is well-known to the local service team.

Anyhow, they have the answers, but there is a queue. And by 'queue' they mean a wait, a backlog of problems, and not a short wait, but a l-o-n-g wait.

Q. Can I have the inoperable truck back??
A. No!!

Q. How long is the queue that I'm in line for to have the truck's vital signs evaluated by remote monitoring and diagnosis???
A. Long, could be D-A-Y-S but hopefully not W-E-E-K-S!!

And so...the upshot of all this...

I need to leave the car in the service dept over the weekend, and through most of next week until they are ready to give me an update on the truck I bought, but don't really own any more... {big sad face, weeping}

First world problems!! But seriously, this CT has been produced for a long time now, and Tesla is experienced with handling service issues. If they think they need to replace the computer, order the damn part, give me my the truck back in the meantime. Just don't hold it hostage in service for weeks diagnosing problems. And that, if you've read this far, is really all I'm griping about!

Cybertruck love to all who love Cybertrucks!!!


PS - Interesting thread by another CT owner with vehicle stuck in service long-term who needed an engineering team to fix his problem (they even flew out from TX to take apart his truck to find the assembly error!!)

https://www.cybertruckownersclub.co...te-their-service-manual-for-cybertruck.15246/

I’m sorry to hear your issue but applaud your story telling skills. Keep us updated

 

[cbr1000]

Thank you for sharing your experience. Please let us know how it goes. Hope they will get things sorted out for you soon.

If you planned on purchasing FSD in the distant future (years) how would you know it was defective on arrival?

Does everyone get a 30 day trial when purchasing new, or some way to test features on the truck that are not purchased day 1?

It would stink if you planned on getting FSD 5 years down the road and it didn't work.

 

[FLlovesCyberTrucks]

The problem involved even the basic auto pilot and auto steer not just FSD and yes all cyber trucks come with a 30 day trial of FSD, but they had extended mine to approximately 60 days for some unknown reason closer to the time of purchase.

 

[Leifmb]

The CT I picked up 27 Jan VIN 615xx hasn’t had a single problem. I couldn’t even find a defect worth “correcting” within the first 100mi/7 days. FSD worked instantly. I was very pleased with the vehicle at delivery which was a stark contrast to the plethora of problems my Model X refresh had in 2022. Just putting this out there for a positive take!

 

[Crissa]

The problem involved even the basic auto pilot and auto steer not just FSD and yes all cyber trucks come with a 30 day trial of FSD, but they had extended mine to approximately 60 days for some unknown reason closer to the time of purchase.

As far as I know, the current crop of trucks do not have access to Autopilot yet, only TACC; which is probably why they continue to offer free trials of FSD.

-Crissa

 

[FLlovesCyberTrucks]

As far as I know, the current crop of trucks do not have access to Autopilot yet, only TACC; which is probably why they continue to offer free trials of FSD.

-Crissa

not sure what you mean the Tesla term auto pilot just means TACC plus FSD if optioned as far as I know.


https://www.tesla.com/ownersmanual/cybertruck/en_us/GUID-101D1BF5-52D2-469A-A57D-E7230BBEE94B.html

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