New IIHS Video - Comparing the Cybertruck vs. F-150 Lightning in safety rating crash test

[JoeHill]

This is absurdly false. There were 4,430 pickup truck deaths in the US in 2024 meaning the Cybertruck accounts for 0.1% of the total.

WTF are you talking about? I'm not aware of any Cybertruck related death that wasn't due to extreme negligence like drunk driving at extreme speeds.

Thanks for backing up what I posted. Since the Cybertruck is roughly 0.1% of pickups on U.S. roads its fatality rate is very similar to all pickups. However the average pickup on the road is over a decade older than the average age of a Cybertruck. Now go compare the Cybertruck fatality rate to "pickups produced in the same time frame" ie last 2 years. Yes, numbers are small but the Cybertruck so far is the loser. Many accidents are the result of reckless and impaired driving but that doesn't excuse Tesla from deaths that would have been survivable if safety issues weren't overridden by the CEO. And yes there probable is some Darwinian self selection with those that purchase a Cybertruck. All the more reason not to ignore basic safety issues and allow them to incinerate themselves and others needlessly.

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[HaulingAss]

This forum has too many people with odd perspectives not supported by actual facts. It's gotten to the point where it's not even worth the time to respond to such idiocy. I've been around for over 60 years, on the Internet (and the pre-cursor, ARPANET) for over 40 years, and I've never seen this phenomenon, at least not in any way comparable to what I'm seeing on Tesla forums in the last 5 years.

Originally, the Internet was filled with smart, mostly reasonable people. Same with early Tesla forums. Now idiocy is everywhere, especially on Tesla forums. It's a complete 180.

 

[BrockN]

Yeah, I've never seen any new vehicle forum, whether it be a F-150 forum, a Silverado forum, etc. that didn't have at least a few people claiming they thought the headlights of whatever new vehicle they had could use some improvements.

The issue I took was that you tried to leverage the IIHS headlight test report to say it supported your personal observations. But my understanding is the Cybertruck got the highest IIHS score possible from the driver's perspective, it was only the glare test (oncoming drivers) that caused them to lower the overall headlight rating. I guess you were not aware of that.

And that supports my personal observation, the lights are very bright and effective, they do a good job of lighting up the scene in a relatively even manner, without the hotspot up close that many cars have and that ruins the driver's night vision. I'm 62 years old and my eye doctor just told me she can detect the beginnings of cataracts creeping in. But the Cybertruck headlights work really well for me, and I live at a latitude where we depend upon our headlights through the darker months. I also drive on a lot of twisty, rural roads without any artificial lighting, in the rain. That's why I suggested there is something different about your headlights? Could they be "Canadian Spec"? Could Tesla aim the headlights they send North lower to comply with stricter import requirements?



The uniformity of the beams (on my Cybertruck) are actually quite good. It's designed with the brightest part of the beam closest to the cutoff because that portion needs to project further down the road. Have you tried using the service menu to reset the aim? Because a lot of owners have said they were better than (a wide range) of their previous cars.

I do keep my headlight lenses clear of bugs and road grime. But I've done that on all my vehicles for decades. Because it doesn't take much of a road film, or too many insects, to dramatically reduce the light output.

If all else fails, have Tesla Service look at them. Maybe you got a bad reflector or something. Tesla just buys the lights from a supplier and I'm sure they don't test each one for conformity, they just spot test them here and there to keep the supplier honest.

I'm aware of the glare issue. My comment, perhaps not clear, was that I understood why glare was identified, because the way I see the light spilling out where it shouldn't be (IMHO) is going to contribute to glare experienced by oncoming drivers.

The lights are small and seem to be more impacted by dirt and grime on the surface than larger lights. I haven't thought about how science could or would support that, but have found that I'm out cleaning them just to find my way, when I wouldn't have needed to in my old S with HID bulbs.

After my first night drive, I dug into the manual and found the section on headlight adjustment. They seemed to be easily in spec, based on that document.

I've been thinking about how and where I can set up a test, using constant DSLR camera settings and camera position... somewhere very dark and quiet. I'd like to compare the truck with my Y and perhaps my old S if the new owner wants to cooperate. It would be really cool to use a drone, but I don't have one and I'm not sure I'm that interested in trying to source one, get the onboard camera to behave manually, hover in exactly the same position, etc.....

It's a matrix headlight, so my understanding is there are multiple LEDs with lenses or light guides to direct the light... so no reflector. I suppose it's possible some of my LEDs aren't actually active, or maybe there's some variability in the lens direction from the factory, but I rather doubt either are likely.

Well, that last paragraph sent me down an AI rabbit hole... and if the AI is right, the truck uses a reflectorless matrix design while my '23 Y uses a matrix/elliptical reflector/lens design (elliptical reflector, not the typical parabolic). I infer that the Y has more pixels to work with too (I couldn't get an exact number), while the truck has 100 pixels total, in four rows. It also sounds like Tesla could theoretically test each individual pixel to confirm they all work. I might see if that's something they could actually do, to eliminate one possible reason I don't like them...

Also interesting, my Y uses a mechanical cut-off shield in the headlight to switch between high and low beam. The truck apparently does not. That shield likely cuts off the beam more exactly, which might reduce perceived glare. So again, glare due to what amounts to less control of the beam pattern in the truck's headlight design.

 

[HaulingAss]

I'm aware of the glare issue. My comment, perhaps not clear, was that I understood why glare was identified, because the way I see the light spilling out where it shouldn't be (IMHO) is going to contribute to glare experienced by oncoming drivers.

The lights are small and seem to be more impacted by dirt and grime on the surface than larger lights. I haven't thought about how science could or would support that, but have found that I'm out cleaning them just to find my way, when I wouldn't have needed to in my old S with HID bulbs.

After my first night drive, I dug into the manual and found the section on headlight adjustment. They seemed to be easily in spec, based on that document.

I've been thinking about how and where I can set up a test, using constant DSLR camera settings and camera position... somewhere very dark and quiet. I'd like to compare the truck with my Y and perhaps my old S if the new owner wants to cooperate. It would be really cool to use a drone, but I don't have one and I'm not sure I'm that interested in trying to source one, get the onboard camera to behave manually, hover in exactly the same position, etc.....

It's a matrix headlight, so my understanding is there are multiple LEDs with lenses or light guides to direct the light... so no reflector. I suppose it's possible some of my LEDs aren't actually active, or maybe there's some variability in the lens direction from the factory, but I rather doubt either are likely.

Well, that last paragraph sent me down an AI rabbit hole... and if the AI is right, the truck uses a reflectorless matrix design while my '23 Y uses a matrix/elliptical reflector/lens design (elliptical reflector, not the typical parabolic). I infer that the Y has more pixels to work with too (I couldn't get an exact number), while the truck has 100 pixels total, in four rows. It also sounds like Tesla could theoretically test each individual pixel to confirm they all work. I might see if that's something they could actually do, to eliminate one possible reason I don't like them...

Also interesting, my Y uses a mechanical cut-off shield in the headlight to switch between high and low beam. The truck apparently does not. That shield likely cuts off the beam more exactly, which might reduce perceived glare. So again, glare due to what amounts to less control of the beam pattern in the truck's headlight design.

There is a lot of speculation there, I'm just going by how well my Cybertruck illuminates the road compared to a wide variety of other modern vehicles I've driven in the pitch black. Oh, and also on other owners who find the headlights excellent. Oh, and how the IIHS gave them their highest rating (except for the excessive brightness in other drivers eyes).

That's why I questioned whether your headlights are defective or mis-adjusted (up/down OR left/right).

 

[REM]

Many accidents are the result of reckless and impaired driving but that doesn't excuse Tesla from deaths that would have been survivable if safety issues weren't overridden by the CEO.

You are delusional.

 

[pricedm]

...doesn't excuse Tesla from deaths that would have been survivable if safety issues weren't overridden by the CEO.

What "safety issues" were "overridden by the CEO"?

 

[CyberGus]

What "safety issues" were "overridden by the CEO"?

I'm sure he's referring to the electronic door release, which is problematic post-collision.

But this is true of all Teslas, not just the truck. (Well, maybe not the Semi...?)

 

[pricedm]

I'm sure he's referring to the electronic door release, which is problematic post-collision.

But this is true of all Teslas, not just the truck. (Well, maybe not the Semi...?)

…and the issue with that oh so nice and quiet laminated glass. A real chore to break.

Actually, it is interesting how China is looking into mandatory way for people outside the vehicle to be able to open doors post-crash for occupant removal. I mean heck if I have a broken leg or collarbone or concussion from an automobile crash, highly unlikely I’m going to be able to figure out how to manually open the door of any vehicle, due to my injuries.

Bottom line is automobile crashes are more and more survival because the cars are so much safer. Just like when soldiers started wearing helmets. Instead of dying in the battlefield, they suffered a concussion.

 

[HaulingAss]

I'm sure he's referring to the electronic door release, which is problematic post-collision.

But this is true of all Teslas, not just the truck. (Well, maybe not the Semi...?)

Which raises the question: Just how many other CEO's are similarly reckless? Let's look at a list of vehicles with electric door latches (as opposed to purely mechanical releases):


Audi

• Q8 e-tron
• A8 (D5 generation)
• e-tron

BMW

• iX
• i7
• 7 Series (G70)
• i8

Chevrolet / General Motors

• Corvette (C6 generation)
• Corvette (C7 generation)
• Corvette (C8 generation)
• Cadillac Lyriq
• Cadillac CTS (2nd generation)
• Cadillac XLR

Ford / Lincoln

• Mustang Mach-E
• Lincoln Continental (D544)
• Lincoln Aviator (U611)

Hyundai / Kia / Genesis

• Genesis models (newer)

Lexus

• RX (new models)
• NX (new models)

Porsche / Volkswagen Group

• 911 (992)
• Boxster
• ID EVs

Rivian

• R1
• R2

Other Brands

• Lucid models
• Fiat 500e (2nd generation)
• Fisker Karma
• Karma Revero
• Maserati GranTurismo
• McLaren models
• Ferraris (recent)
• Rolls-Royce models
• Dodge Viper (1997)
• TVR Tuscan
• Aston Martin DB9

But Tesla is singled out? When will the BS stop? These forums are becoming a real drag with people purposefully talking BS to throw shade on Tesla. I haven't seen a single person call out Mary Barra for the same thing (or any other CEO of any other automaker, only Elon). Pure BS.

 

[HaulingAss]

…and the issue with that oh so nice and quiet laminated glass. A real chore to break.

This (laminated glass) is very common in the auto industry with higher end vehicles. The difference with Tesla is they have a small army of anti-Tesla/anti-Elon bots and tag along haters trying to throw shade on something that is very common industry wide.

Just shameful.

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