A Tesla proprietor mentioned he crashed his new Cybertruck right into a neighbor’s yard inside the first few hours of driving it — and he mentioned it is as a result of the automobile’s brakes did not work.
The proprietor, Bruce Freshwater, informed BI that the crash occurred on April 27 after he picked up the Cybertruck. He mentioned he pumped the accelerator when his daughter requested him to, however that nothing occurred when he hit the brakes.
“I held the brakes down, and the automobile actually wasn’t slowing down,” Freshwater mentioned.
Freshwater mentioned he went to make a flip and “the again wheels locked up.” In line with a report from the North Fayette Township Police Division in Pennsylvania, Freshwater acknowledged that his automobile went ahead 50 ft and crashed into his neighbor’s yard. The Cybetruck then barreled into considered one of his neighbor’s vehicles. That automobile then ran right into a second automobile, Freshwater informed the police within the report, which BI has seen.
Freshwater’s Cybertruck, together with one of many neighbor’s autos, sustained “disabling injury,” in accordance with the police report. The second automobile had “reasonable injury,” the report mentioned.
Bruce Freshwater
Freshwater mentioned nobody was harm within the crash, but in addition mentioned a fuse was blown when the airbags deployed, so the Cybertruck cannot be pushed.
Freshwater mentioned a Tesla-recommended physique store gave him an estimate of between $16,000 and $30,000 to restore the automobile. He paid round $109,000 after taxes for the Cybertruck, which he purchased new from Tesla. He mentioned he is now working along with his insurance coverage firm to find out what occurs subsequent.
In the meantime, Freshwater mentioned he referred to as Tesla’s service line after the incident and heard again on April 29, two days after the crash, and once more per week later.
He mentioned a Tesla supervisor informed him that as a result of terrain, the accelerator could or could not disengage, they usually’re wanting into the braking challenge. He mentioned that was the final he heard from Tesla.
Tesla did not reply to BI’s request to confirm Freshwater’s account or to touch upon the state of affairs.
Bruce Freshwater
The Tesla proprietor posted in regards to the incident on X and mentioned Tesla “must take some duty.” Freshwater informed BI that he nonetheless makes automobile funds each month on a automobile he is not utilizing.
He mentioned no different Tesla homeowners have contacted him concerning an identical expertise, however the challenge he skilled might not be an remoted case.
Tesla voluntarily recalled 2024 Cybertrucks in April for an “unintended acceleration from trapped pedal.” The state of affairs could happen when the accelerator pedal pad dislodges and causes the pedal to turn into trapped by the inside trim, rising threat of crashing, in accordance to the Nationwide Freeway Visitors Security Administration.
The report mentioned the difficulty occurred due to an “unapproved change” throughout the automobile’s manufacturing wherein cleaning soap had been added to the meeting. Residual cleaning soap “decreased the retention of the pad to the pedal,” it mentioned.
Bruce Freshwater
The recall coated 3,878 Cybertrucks, the NHTSA recall report mentioned. As of April 15, there have been no recognized associated accidents, and by April 17, the autos in manufacturing have been apparently geared up with a brand new accelerator pedal element, the report mentioned.
Freshwater mentioned he was initially a giant fan of Cybertruck and ordered it the primary day it turned obtainable. However whereas he initially wished a Cybertruck alternative, he now is not positive what he hopes will come out of the state of affairs.
“With the spouse and the children, I am undecided they might ever get in it with me,” Freshwater mentioned. “So it comes all the way down to that, too.”
