Posted on 02/19/2024 11:13:44 AM PST by Red Badger
Tesla's Cybertruck hasn't been on the road for long, but the stainless steel vehicles are already showing signs of rust, some owners are complaining.
The sport utility vehicles, which start at $57,390 and cost up to $96,390, were first delivered to customers in December. Just two months later, buyers are posting images on social media showing orange rust spots appearing on their new EV's exterior, in some cases after driving it in the rain.
Tesla did not immediately respond to CBS MoneyWatch's request for comment regarding the customer complaints.
In one online forum, Cybertruckownersclub.com, a Tesla Cybertruck owner posted close-up photos of little orange spots on his new vehicle which he says he drove in the rain for two days.
The poster, Raxar, said that when picking up his Cybertruck in February, an adviser alerted him to the issue.
"The adviser specifically mentioned the cybertrucks develop orange rust marks in the rain and that required the vehicle to be buffed out," he wrote.
Raxar said he tried using dish soap to remove the spots, but was unsuccessful.
Another forum user said he noticed "corrosion" on his vehicle's exterior, also after driving it in the rain.
"The Cybertruck has 381 miles on it, and has spent much of the 11 days in my custody parked in front of my house. Cold weather, rain and some direct sunlight later, I attached a few photos of the corrosion spots and a video," vertigo3pb, wrote.
Photo posted online of what one Cybertruck owner refers to as "corrosion spots" on the stainless-steel vehicle. SCREENSHOT/ CYBERTRUCKOWNERSCLUB.COM
Stainless steel is typically known for its extreme resistance to corrosion and general strength and durability, but is seldom used as a exterior material for vehicles because it's hard to mold. Indeed, the Cybertruck's design is rigid and angular.
For $6,000, Tesla offers to wrap the trucks in a black or white paint film, which the company says covers all exterior stainless-steel surfaces, and protects against scratches, according to its website. A clear paint film is available for $5,000.
A video of Tesla's not-yet-released owners manual posted online includes instructions for keeping the Cybertruck clean. It refers to potentially hazardous outside elements including oil, tree resin, dead bugs and road salt as culprits that could cause cosmetic damage to the electric vehicles.
Might better double-check. The growing flood of complaints reveals that all sorts of efforts have been made to deal with this - with no success. More likely - a Scotchbright pad might help... or sand paper.
Learn to format photo size.
Not my photo. But ok.
Patina - it is a feaure?
Here’s my SWAG: With all the electric circuitry in these EVs there is probably a current leak somewhere. The car is electrolyzing itself, oxidizing the steel.
Grew up Downriver of Detroit... A lot of vehicles had spots from Refineries and Steel Mills’ pollution...
People have the wrong idea about ‘stainless steel’.
Take one of your kitchen utensils outside and leave it exposed for a month and it will rust.
Rain and snow are pure water for the most part, and is very chemically active...................
Used to be a paper mill in Jacksonville. There was a car wash thing you drove thru when leaving to clean the acid off the employees cars................
Good guess.
The body is usually the return path, ground, to the battery..............
WHAT a BLITHERING idiot. It's not so "hard to mold" that they can't make kitchen sinks out of it but it is too hard to make body panels from. Stainless steel is also commonly used in exhaust components, which generally have much tighter curves (= harder to mold) than body panels.
It's not much used in cars for the simple fact that it isn't economical. Most cars still are built to a price point and stainless costs more than other perfectly adequate steels. Plus, and this might come as a shock to you, but the automotive industry DOESN'T WANT THEIR CARS TO LAST FOREVER.
Just in case you needed another reason to buy something else.
Yeah....I would put money on where they sourced their stainless steel from.
Small price to pay to prove you are saving the planet. Sucka!🤓
Stainless steel is very susceptible to rust when it scratched with any carbon steel ( nails, Brillo pad, iron dust, etc) Once corrosion of metallic contaminants begins, it’s over for stainless steel. Biggest lawsuits in history coming up….
stainless steel=It stains less
The rust resistance is dependent upon the amount of chromium in the mix.
Chromium is at a premium, so I bet it’s very low.................
That’s what happens when you use cheap untreated tinned metal.
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