Skip to main content

Tesla Cybertruck: Great in a crash, terrible in the snow

The Tesla Cybertruck continues to underwhelm

Tesla Cybertruck EV driving in snow.
Tesla

It was touted as a futuristic vehicle that could tackle anything from desert to open water to the surface of Mars — but it turns out the Tesla Cybertruck isn’t the all-terrain vehicle of your dreams. There are numerous reports, images, and videos showing the controversial EV stuck in snow.

While a big enough snowbank can theoretically strand anything, the white stuff that the Cybertrucks were thwarted by didn’t seem to be particularly heavy in many cases. One X (formerly Twitter) user, “Captain Lou,” described the situation as being “like finding a leprechaun that’s constantly getting stuck in a glue trap.”

Recommended Videos

Another storm, another CyberTruck needing a rescue.

It's like finding a leprechaun that's constantly getting stuck in a glue trap.

Credit: @iAmAndyPauly pic.twitter.com/l3MJZIin0i

— Captain Lou (@TheCaptainLou) January 7, 2024

It may be one of several things causing the trucks to struggle in winter conditions, but the tires are likely responsible for the bulk of the problems. It’s unknown if any of the stranded vehicles are AWD models, but that could also play a part. One thing that should work in the Cybertruck’s favor when it comes to gaining traction in snow is the vehicle’s excessive weight — particularly as the vehicle’s motors should put a lot of that weight over the drive wheels. Sadly though, that doesn’t seem to be enough in this case. Tesla may work out how to fix this, but for now, you should probably leave your weirdly shaped, excessively priced electric truck in the garage until spring.

Tesla Cybertruck driving in the desert.
Tesla / Tesla

On the plus side, it’s built like a tank

Despite its winter performance being below par, there are potentially a few positives to the Cybertruck’s design. Despite a limited number only being on the road for a few weeks, an accident has already been reported, and the Cybertruck involved came out relatively unscathed. According to a post on Reddit, the Cybertruck was left with a dent, a few scratches, and a missing rear fender, while the Toyota Corolla that collided with it was condemned to the scrap heap.

It is worth noting that, like many a ’90s Volvo, this kind of construction could be good for the truck itself but less than great for any occupants. Crumple zones work, and pretty much all modern cars have them for that reason. If you’re driving a large, unyielding metal box, then most of the energy from something like a head-on collision will turn you and whoever else is inside it into soup.

Actual crash physics has a few more factors at play, but some degree of give, like the Corolla obviously had, can be a lifesaver in many circumstances. So the solid construction is great news for the truck itself, but may turn out to be bad news for Cybertruck owners in the long run.

Dave McQuilling
Dave has spent pretty much his entire career as a journalist; this has included jobs at newspapers, TV stations, on the…
Topics
Tesla recalls nearly every Cybertruck due to faulty panel adhesive
Tesla recalls every Cybertruck because panels may fly off
Tesla Cybertruck parked outside with a mountain in the background.

Here we are again. Regardless of how you may feel about Elon Musk and his non-automotive projects and aspirations, Tesla has always been a polarizing topic in the autoverse. Beyond that, having been the innovator leading the charge at the forefront of the EV phenomenon, Tesla has been a lightning rod and poster child for everything great and awful in the world of electric vehicles, with its radically styled Cybertruck sitting at the heart of the maelstrom of swirling opinions and seemingly endless controversy.

For those who have lost count, this is now the eighth recall for Tesla's infamous Cybertruck. Elon's company topped the list of most recalled vehicles for 2024, and it seems like it is well on its way to the top of the leaderboard for 2025 with this latest recall.

Read more
Formula E celebrity rookie-to-racer event starts in Miami
Eleven celebs partnered with Formula E teams for weeks before the Miami event.
Brooklyn Beckham in a race car.

Can entrepreneurs, influencers, and celebrities master electric race cars? Find out now by checking out the Formula E channels or social media sites of the various celebrities and the Formula E teams that trained them for this two-day event at the Miami International Autodrome race track.

Eleven celebs partnered with Formula E teams for weeks before the Miami event. Team coaches and engineers stuck by the personalities as they got in shape in the gym and spent hours in racing simulators. The training led up to sessions in the Gen 3 Evo chassis race cars, which, as a point of reference, can accelerate 30% faster than a Formula 1 car.
Why train celebs and influencers to drive racecars
Formula E focuses on inclusion and sustainability. Training and streaming content involving celebrities working with Formula E teams and learning to drive the race cars is a brilliant way to attract motorsport fan attention and gather support for the values on which Formula E was founded.

Read more
We experienced Team O’Neil Winter Safe School with Ford performance trucks and SUVs
Even if you have mad skills, practice driving in slippery conditions is a good idea.
we went to team oneil winter safe school with ford trucks and suvs bronco raptor finishing the slalom course

Are you a safe driver in the winter with snow and ice-covered roads? Whether you finished driver's ed a few months ago or several decades ago, you can always learn new techniques, especially with new technologies developed to help drivers stay out of trouble. Even if you have mad skills and are good on vehicle tech, practicing driving in slippery conditions is a good idea.

Ford invited me to attend Team O'Neil's Winter Safe School in Dalton, New Hampshire, in late February. Any hesitation was instantly forgotten when a Ford rep said they'd lend me a 2024 Ranger Raptor pickup truck to drive from my home in northern Connecticut to and from the event. We'd also be driving other Ford performance vehicles during the class.

Read more