Tesla Cybertruck Horror: Family's Steering Failure Shock

Phoenix-based lawyer Matthew Chiarello faced a nightmare as Cybertruck's steering failed during a family road trip. Simultaneously, an auction house capitalized, selling the problematic vehicle for double its original price, raising concerns about the Cybertruck's safety and market value.

Tesla Enthusiast's Terrifying Ordeal Unveils Cybertruck's Safety Challenges and Unanswered Questions

"Love Tesla and my Cybertruck but 'catastrophe [sic] failure' with steering and brakes while on a road trip with wife and toddler," Matthew tweeted, attaching a photo of his truck being loaded onto a flatbed truck. "Pretty, pretty, not good," he added. Oh, and the service center is not open today."

While it's unclear what happened, it sounds like a serious incident that should be investigated. The truck began shipping to customers in late 2023 after years of delays and has consistently made headlines for issues ranging from rusted body panels to disintegrating tires, as per Futurism.

Meanwhile, users on X-formerly-Twitter were quick to point out Chiarello's apparent unwavering loyalty to the car brand despite the danger it put him and his family in. "I love my death trap that nearly killed me and my family," one Twitter user replied sarcastically.

Others pointed out the truck's exorbitant price and said it was the first of its kind. "Buying prototypes for 100k might be a bit risky," one user pointed out. "Production car," Chiarello replied.

The Cybertruck deviates significantly from the industry norm, both in terms of appearance and features. The brutalist pickup employs a steer-by-wire system, which means there is no physical connection between its unusually shaped steering wheel and the wheels.

Tesla's website claims that "steering Cybertruck feels more responsive and requires less effort from the driver." Even though it is not the first production vehicle to use the technology, the system has received much criticism from critics and fans.

The Cybertruck's steer-by-wire system does not have a mechanical backup, but it has two redundant computer chips and low-voltage battery backups in an emergency.

High-Stakes Gamble: Auction House Splurges on Cybertruck, Faces Tesla's Pricey Buyback Conundrum

According to CarScoops, auction house Cox Automotive recently sold a Foundation Series Cybertruck to a Porsche dealership in South Orlando, Florida, for an eye-watering $244,000, more than twice its original price.

The sale demonstrates how much of a status symbol the oddball pickup has become — not to mention its scarcity, which makes it ideal for collectors.

The move was also risky: in addition to being an exorbitant price to pay for a vehicle that has had its fair share of issues — from rusting stainless steel panels to deteriorating tires — Tesla has a clause in its paperwork requiring owners to request a buyback if they want to sell.

That means the auction house could face a $50,000 penalty — or the entire profit from the sale, which could be more than $100,000.

Photo: Steve Jurvetson/Flickr