Cybertruck spots/corrosion

[Sarge588]

Bearded Tesla Guy had a great video about this today:

Sponsored

 

[Gigahorse]

I have a service appointment early March to address this, I have a feeling they're just going to use an equivalent of Barkeeper's Friend to remove the spots and then go over the surface with high grit sander or something? Should it be present in a vehicle at delivery? No. Did it stop me from buying the car? Hell no.

As someone else said, I've seen no indication (on my CT anyway) that these are corrosion; as in, the surface itself oxidizing or eroding in a way that's commensurate with corrosion. The spots come out, and that seems to be that.

I suspect Tesla will hand guidance to the delivery centers for steps to correct the presence of these spots during the detail and wash process just before delivery.

Yea definitely interested to see the truck after Tesla is done with it, and hopefully there are no issues moving forward.

 

[Gigahorse]

This happens to ANY car transported by rail or stored near a rail yard. The solution would be wrapping cars during transport, like you see a lot of higher-end mfgs do... but that ain't Tesla. They will say it's environmental, provide instructions how to remove, which will involve an abrasive to remove foreign material without damaging SS. Some people will get lucky convincing their SC to do it for them, but most will just keep whining about it or fix it themself.

I plan to BKF mine ASAP and keep laughing at everyone else worried about it.

Rail dust happens sure, no argument there.
This may be rail dust on the CT, possible yea.

What I don't agree with is when someone drops $120,000 on a vehicle for them to be expected to purchase products and spend significant time outside of regular car washes to have that $120,000 vehicle look decent.
Not the end of the world but with a price tag that high come some expectations.

 

[vertigo3pc]

Rail dust happens sure, no argument there.
This may be rail dust on the CT, possible yea.

What I don't agree with is when someone drops $120,000 on a vehicle for them to be expected to purchase products and spend significant time outside of regular car washes to have that $120,000 vehicle look decent.
Not the end of the world but with a price tag that high come some expectations.

I'll be honest: I think Tesla is selling and delivering these cars before they were prepared for it. I do think it's rail dust or outside contaminants, I just don't think Tesla told the delivery centers how to properly clean the CT before delivery. Tesla always does a wash and detail before delivery to customers, and they told me in my delivery that they were washing and detailing my CT. So I think they did whatever the normal delivery process is: wash, clean, vacuum, tire dressing and deliver.

They didn't advise the delivery teams that additional steps would be necessary, especially since these CT's are the first being delivered outside of TX. TX deliveries didn't need rail transport, but the CT's outside of TX seem to have the issues. If the spots were raised or pock marks, something indicating corrosion of the stainless steel panel itself, I would think it's a bigger issue.

TL;DR: CT deliveries outside of TX, or anywhere they are transported long distances (and by rail), the delivery centers weren't advised or given the tools to remove the spots, which cannot be removed by a simple wash.

 

[Gigahorse]

I'll be honest: I think Tesla is selling and delivering these cars before they were prepared for it. I do think it's rail dust or outside contaminants, I just don't think Tesla told the delivery centers how to properly clean the CT before delivery. Tesla always does a wash and detail before delivery to customers, and they told me in my delivery that they were washing and detailing my CT. So I think they did whatever the normal delivery process is: wash, clean, vacuum, tire dressing and deliver.

They didn't advise the delivery teams that additional steps would be necessary, especially since these CT's are the first being delivered outside of TX. TX deliveries didn't need rail transport, but the CT's outside of TX seem to have the issues. If the spots were raised or pock marks, something indicating corrosion of the stainless steel panel itself, I would think it's a bigger issue.

TL;DR: CT deliveries outside of TX, or anywhere they are transported long distances (and by rail), the delivery centers weren't advised or given the tools to remove the spots, which cannot be removed by a simple wash.

100%
If it was a 40k truck and they were slamming out 1,000 a day no problem
But for a $120,000 truck that there are maybe 50 a day rolling out the fit/finish/issues are high, even for an early Tesla

 

[countryboy]

Rail dust happens sure, no argument there.
This may be rail dust on the CT, possible yea.

What I don't agree with is when someone drops $120,000 on a vehicle for them to be expected to purchase products and spend significant time outside of regular car washes to have that $120,000 vehicle look decent.
Not the end of the world but with a price tag that high come some expectations.

I used to look at it that way too, but then I was forced to change my perspective... Tesla taught me that just because I can afford a fancy car now I am not entitled to end-to-end perfection. My first Tesla was $100k, Model S 90D. It came with dents and scratches, spent it's first week in bodyshop. My second was $56k, still friggin expensive to me, also came with defects, dents on delivery. My third, well, more of the same, you get the idea. Tesla sucks at this. I'm just glad the rust is NOT CAUSED BY A DEFECT in the material, and a SUPER EASY SOLUTION exists. In fact, it's still better than their painted cars, because it's repairable to perfect and nearly undamageable, whereas the paint on all of my other Teslas has been terrible from the start!

 

[Gigahorse]

I used to look at it that way too, but then I was forced to change my perspective... Tesla taught me that just because I can afford a fancy car now I am not entitled to end-to-end perfection. My first Tesla was $100k, Model S 90D. It came with dents and scratches, spent it's first week in bodyshop. My second was $56k, still friggin expensive to me, also came with defects, dents on delivery. My third, well, more of the same, you get the idea. Tesla sucks at this. I'm just glad the rust is NOT CAUSED BY A DEFECT in the material, and a SUPER EASY SOLUTION exists. In fact, it's still better than their painted cars, because it's repairable to perfect and nearly undamageable, whereas the paint on all of my other Teslas has been terrible from the start!

Hopefully it is not a manufacturing problem, we don't know for sure yet.

Will chalk that up to a difference in opinion. If I am paying $120,000 for something it better not have plastic hanging off or be covered in rust I can't wash off a week after taking delivery

 

[countryboy]

Hopefully it is not a manufacturing problem, we don't know for sure yet.

Will chalk that up to a difference in opinion. If I am paying $120,000 for something it better not have plastic hanging off or be covered in rust I can't wash off a week after taking delivery

Rephrased so we agree - no proof there IS a manufacturing problem. I agree with your point about quality. I used to get free car washes and loaners, liked that a lot. But the Tesla of today doesn't care if your car is delivered with bird poop or rusty dust on it. Good thing IT DOES WASH RIGHT OFF, just using BKF instead of soap, a few extra minutes of scrubbing. It's just like all the other Tesla let-downs... just gotta let go and focus on all the amazing awesome things instead. I almost switched brands for your very reason... but for what?!? Maybe someday, but who else is gonna build anything like CT!!???

 

[ideaXfactory]

Don't really know, to me it seems like it was a production issue. Maybe some with problems are those that sat out on the lot for weeks while waiting for parts... A LOT of construction is still going on all around the Texas Gigafactoy. Tesla would NEVER admit to it being on their dime... but they also will quietly address it quickly as it pertains to production/delivery.

 

[vertigo3pc]

I really think it was just an oversight in the delivery process. CT's were delivered in TX in December and January, but the spots story never appeared until it was vehicles shipped to California or other states. I think the delivery should have included cleaning off rail dust from an unpainted metal surface. They detail the vehicles for delivery, but didn't know to do this specific step. Tesla again unprepared for selling the truck, but not necessarily wrong with the manufacturing.

 

[ideaXfactory]

Some stainless shops run "clean" and do not allow any carbon steel to be worked in the same environment. And sometimes it takes them years to get to that point. All of these problems have been seen before.

 

[Cybertruck2024]

So if I go through a touchless car wash, there is zero chance these issues will be addressed? Everyone keeps talking about all these "easy" hand applied solutions. "Keep a bottle of windex, use barkeepers friend, microfiber towel and rubbing alcohol." I haven't hand washed one of my vehicles in 20 years, and they always look spotless because I do a touchless car wash every time they get dirty. If my tried and true approach becomes useless, then I'm having doubts about the CT for the first time.

Has any current owner used only touchless car washes to positive result?

 

[vertigo3pc]

You can use the touchless car wash, but it won't remove the spots. Remove the spots with the BKF, and then wash your car as normal.

 

[BannedByTMC]

I'll be honest: I think Tesla is selling and delivering these cars before they were prepared for it.

Basically the same story for every new model from Tesla.

 

[vertigo3pc]

Basically the same story for every new model from Tesla.

Must not be too much of a dealbreaker, they're still selling...

Sponsored