YouTuber Cody Detwiler, known as WhistlinDiesel, has put Tesla’s highly anticipated Cybertruck through a series of rigorous tests, revealing significant flaws in the vehicle’s durability. The video, released on Friday, showcases Detwiler comparing the Cybertruck to a Ford F-150, highlighting where the Cybertruck excels and where it falls short of expectations.
Detwiler’s Tennessee-based team tested several of the viral claims about the Cybertruck, including its supposed blast-proof capabilities. They strapped C-4 explosives to the door frames of both vehicles and while the Cybertruck’s steel doors held up, the F-150’s doors did not fare as well.
However, the most significant issue arose during a routine truck task. After the F-150 failed a simulated pothole test, Detwiler attempted to tow it using the Cybertruck. In a shocking turn of events, the Cybertruck’s bumper and hitch broke off, splitting the frame. “Our whole frame just snapped!” Detwiler exclaimed during the video. “The hitch is hooked up to what? It just came off. You can’t even fix that. That’s a totaled truck. What good does the hitch do if it’s just barely on aluminum?”
The Cybertruck is listed as having a towing capacity of 11,000 pounds, nearly double that of the F-150. The service manual for the Cybertruck specifies that it is composed of varying grades of aluminum and steel. It remains unclear if the Cybertruck had sustained critical rear-end damage before the towing attempt. Earlier in the test, the Cybertruck’s front suspension lowered itself without driver input, and the rear hit a concrete abutment with force, potentially causing stress or breakage.
Detwiler first discovered the Cybertruck’s tow hitch during a speed bump test, which exposed it through damage. He continued to subject the vehicle to extreme tests, including the viral “Frunk finger test,” which has challenged many other enthusiasts.
Social media posts collected by CarSnoops indicate that Detwiler began testing the Cybertruck in late May, with the video being released in early August. At the end of the video, Detwiler expressed his concerns about the vehicle’s failures and his attempts to contact the manufacturer. “They’re ignoring my messages, there are memes everywhere about it, and they haven’t contacted me,” Detwiler said. “It’s not a way of me being offended. It’s more that I’m mind-blown about it. I’m going to find every single weak link in this truck, and I’m not being biased; I’m doing it with other trucks too. It’s not like I just hate the Cybertruck.”
After receiving no response from Tesla via social media, Detwiler reached out to a contact he obtained earlier when he had issues charging the vehicle. He texted, “There are critical failures on the Cybertruck that need to be addressed.” He was advised to contact his local Tesla service center but remains determined to see improvements made. Detwiler has stated that if the Cybertruck is returned fixed, he will subject it to further testing.
Detwiler’s extreme tests, while intended to entertain, have exposed potential weaknesses in the Cybertruck, prompting calls for Tesla to address these issues for the benefit of future owners.