Truck broke down Friday night. Horrible grinding sounds.

[Lawlypops]

EVs have a few parts, but when something goes wrong, well, it really goes wrong.

-Crissa

Thanks for the info Crissa. It’s helpful for me to be able to make some sense of this. Is this something that could happen intermittently? The noise/feeling it made at the beginning of this had happened a few other times when accelerating out of a turn on dry ground. I thought it was just a traction issue.

Truck only had 450 miles on it.

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[Mini2nut]

Sounds like every CT owners nightmare.

Please keep us posted on what the root cause was and exactly what parts had to be replaced under warranty.

Did your SC give you a loaner? It sounds like your CT may be out of commission for a significant amount of time.

 

[Lawlypops]

Sounds like every CT owners nightmare.

Please keep us posted on what the root cause was and exactly what parts had to be replaced under warranty.

Did your SC give you a loaner? It sounds like your CT may be out of commission for a significant amount of time.

They haven’t even contacted me yet. We have our Model Y lease that is on extension (just another cluster F of Tesla, was supposed to turn in on pickup of truck). So we will just drive that for now.

 

[rlhamil]

I suggest you give the entire manual a read through.

For anyone wanting to get ahead of the game, like if you've got the order but a few months wait for VIN and delivery, the manual is available online (HTML) or downloadable (PDF) at https://www.tesla.com/ownersmanual/cybertruck/en_us/

Of course the manual is also available on the center screen...if everything's working and you don't mind sitting in the vehicle to read it.

Since I read compulsively, even toothpaste ingredients while in the bathroom, this will not be a hardship for me. For anyone that really wants their Cybertruck, even if they're not such an avid reader, it should still be fun and get them ahead of at least knowing what features exist, even if they don't remember where in the menus all of them can be found.

I've got an estimated October - December delivery date (no VIN yet obviously), so having thought of it (thanks!), I'm getting the manual now.

I have Apple devices, which means Apple Books. For anything I have, will have, or rent with a PDF (or rarely epub) manual downloadable, I put a copy in there. That means I can read it anywhere, in the dark, on the phone, even if the print is small on the phone. And it's searchable, which helps if you just want a fast answer in the boonies at odd hours. Just make sure the ones for things like vehicles that you never know when you'll need are downloaded to the phone and not just out on iCloud, so that you'll have them even in the absence of a cellular signal. Most ebooks unless they are picture books with a lot of big pictures (or have embedded media) take less space than a song, so unless your phone is really tight for space, it shouldn't be a hardship to keep a bunch of manuals on there.

In Apple Books, I have manuals in a separate "collection" which is a lot smaller than my entire library, to make them easier to find.

That can be a major convenience, compared to flipping through a printed manual (still good to have and keep! no charge needed), esp. under otherwise uncomfortable situations that may leave one a bit rattled, if it becomes habit.

For a Tesla, the manual may reflect the software update. So you'd want to check and update it periodically, or definitely before a long or adventurous trip.

If Tesla was really nice, they'd put it on Apple Books or Kindle (free for freely downloadable ebooks); I don't know about Kindle, but Apple Books will tell you about updates to something you got through them rather than added yourself, and make it easy to get the updates.

edit: unusually for most automakers, the service manual is also available, although I only see the online HTML, not a download. I suppose that makes sense to stay current.

https://service.tesla.com/docs/Cybertruck/ServiceManual/en-us/

If parts are under discussion and you don't know what's involved, that might help, although it will certainly require some searching and digging. Dealing with busy service people that are themselves still learning something new, getting what clue you can on your own (without acting as if you know more than they do!) can be helpful in reaching a good outcome sooner, or at least with less frustration.

 

[PAPAB]

The same thing happened to me about 20 miles out from delivery, April 26! A huge grinding sound underneath and rearward...and the truck bucked up and would not move. Not a fun thing on Friday afternoon traffic. It took a while to get it to drive, but I was able to drive it back to the SC in Charlotte; without any regen braking. After a week or so it was repaired: both rear drive shafts and U-joint were replaced. Service staff were great.I have driven it 1800 miles since…no problems. The VIN was just under 7,000. What was your appx VIN?

 

[Moter3d]

More than likely the large bolt that secures axle shaft to hub is loose. This will allow the axle shaft move inboard and not contact the hub. Axle shaft replacement is the fix.

 

[Mini2nut]

The same thing happened to me about 20 miles out from delivery, April 26! A huge grinding sound underneath and rearward...and the truck bucked up and would not move. Not a fun thing on Friday afternoon traffic. It took a while to get it to drive, but I was able to drive it back to the SC in Charlotte; without any regen braking. After a week or so it was repaired: both rear drive shafts and U-joint were replaced. Service staff were great.I have driven it 1800 miles since…no problems. The VIN was just under 7,000. What was your appx VIN?

Sounds like a newbie was on the assembly line that day.

 

[REM]

Sounds like an error was made during the assembly process.

came here to say that as well.

 

[Mini2nut]

Friday afternoon or Monday morning build?

 

[Startreknerd]

I was out taking my sister for her first ride in the truck and when I goosed it a bit, it made this clunking sound from the rear end. Then it sounded like something was dragging (there wasn’t but that was the sound).

So I was looking for a spot to pull over and at a light, there was another clunking, grinding noise and the truck was kind of bucking. When the light turned green the truck felt like I was driving on flat tires. Of course every error in the book was happening.

Across the street in the parking lot I went to hit park and the gear selector on the screen was not there. It wouldn’t let me put it in park for a very short time. During this time I was stopped but the truck kept making the grinding, clunking noise.

It gets weirder too. When I put it in drive it would make the same clunking noise and the screen would show I was going more than 0 MPH despite the fact that I was sitting still. I have a video of this but can’t get it to upload.

Lastly, put in a roadside assistance ticket and waited 30 minutes with no response. So called roadside and it took 50 minutes to get someone on the phone. Then the tow got all booked and when the driver showed up, I realized we can’t put in drive cause who knows what it will do. So put it in neutral and, unless I am missing something, it went back in park as soon as I got off the seat. So apparently someone has to be in the driver seat to keep it in neutral to get it on the flatbed. Sure they could’ve just dragged it up but seems short sighted to say the least.

Sorry for the lengthy post. This whole thing is beyond frustrating.

Tldr; CT started making weird noises and threw all errors. Making terrible sounds and bucking, I made it to a safe spot to park. At service now but I have no hope of seeing it again soon.

No pics or video?

 

[Lawlypops]

Here is a short video


Also, they did update me today that it is half shaft (axle) and knuckle. I have no clue if that makes sense based on the symptoms but sounds in-line with what some have said. Of course no ETA was given.

 

[Lasttoy]

FS or Beast?? AWD or Tri motor??
I'm mean as heck. Fed up with so many issues after 6 months. Sorry Elon, u need better end of line quality. I would have floored it.

 

[Lawlypops]

FS or Beast?? AWD or Tri motor??
I'm mean as heck. Fed up with so many issues after 6 months. Sorry Elon, u need better end of line quality. I would have floored it.

FS AWD. Yeah I’m getting pretty irritated here but mostly because of the lack of customer service. That comes from the top and clearly the top doesn’t care about people buying cars anymore. Regardless, I love my damn truck and just want it back. Plus it was supposed to go in for its wrap today ?

 

[Lasttoy]

U R correct about service. I've had a S since 2016. Now have 2. It was great service in the beginning. Wonderful.
Now horrible. Our SC is booked months out. Not enough technicians.
The app don't work. No one answers phone at HQ. I needed new pack. SC said ok to 90k pack. HQ said no such thing. I have 4 cars. If I get slightest problem, I'll make service ticket.
If Elon would get out of politics and spen time on the line, it might improve?? Put on 24/7 shifts. He's firing when he should be hiring.

 

[MountainRatMatt]

I suggest you give the entire manual a read through.

I'll get right on that after I...nope, nevermind, who reads the manual anymore?

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