Edmunds purchased a Cybertruck to road test, it was totaled before that happened

[Demovictory9]

https://www.edmunds.com/car-news/2024-tesla-cybertruck-damage-long-term-wrapup.html

Well, this didn't go as planned. We bought a Tesla Cybertruck last summer with the intent of putting it through our One-Year Road Test program, but just a few months into owning Elon Musk's brutalist pickup, things came to a screeching halt. Literally.

On December 11, 2024, our Cybertruck was parked on the street outside of a restaurant in West Hollywood when a compact sedan blew through an intersection and crashed into the Tesla's driver's side rear wheel and bumper. As you can see from the photos, there was significant damage to the wheel, tire, stainless steel panel and bumper, to say nothing of the dozens upon dozens of innards that were broken in the process. The impact was hard enough to push the 6,660-pound Cybertruck partially up onto the curb, and part of the rear axle had actually broken off and dropped onto the ground, which gouged into the pavement as the Cybertruck was dragged onto a tow truck.

Then came the headache
Ordinary body shops were unwilling to touch the Cybertruck. We had to use a Tesla shop, and it had to be specially certified to work on the Cybertruck's stainless-steel body. Of those, only two were within a 50-mile radius of Los Angeles, the most Cybertruck-dense population on the planet.

The first shop in Huntington Beach quoted a one-month wait just to get an estimate. And if we wanted to proceed with repairs, we'd then have to wait six more months. The reality of this situation: We'd have to tow our undrivable truck to Huntington Beach, get the estimate, tow it away and store it someplace for five months, then tow it back to be fixed. That was a no-go.

Two months after the accident, we finally had a visual estimate. To tear the Cybertruck down for a thorough inspection cost $1,128, and the resulting quote totaled $57,879.89 to repair our truck. The value of the truck unblemished was $86,160. So, after all that, our Cybertruck was considered a total loss.

The damage might not look extensive at first glance, but the key thing that destroyed our truck was the rear wheel being pushed inward, destroying a huge chunk of the rear suspension, the rear drive motor, the rear-wheel steering setup, and a ton of other parts.

Here's the breakdown:

Stripes and moldings: $619
Motors and components: $4,191 (including $3,000 for an EV drive unit)
Motor mounts: $77
Wheels and parts: $1,758
Steering: $2,040
Rear suspension: $9,149 (including $2,500 for a new suspension crossmember)
Cab and components: $3,800 (including $3,240 for a high-strength steel frame)
Bed: $8,762.79 (including $1,595 for the outer panel, $4,280 for the aluminum rear section and $1,055 for the bed floor)
Tailgate: $2,495
Rear bumper: $2,417.73
Rear body, lamps and floor plan: $1,668.50 (including $800 for the inner taillamp assembly)
Miscellaneous parts: $357.22
Other parts: $5
Paint and materials: $610
Tax on parts and materials: $3,320.65
Labor: $16,584
Sublet repairs: $25
Grand total: $57,879.89

[Meowmee]

1. Crazy, this monstrosity is a disaster in more ways that one

[benfranklin1776]

3. Perfectly emblematic of its delusional creator.

A thorough disaster to his core, totally bereft of useful functionality and wreaking destructive havoc on everything in his sphere of rancid influence.

[DFW]

4. Owners of such vehicles are endowed by its creator with certain unalienable fights:

Strife, uncertainty and the prospect of hopelessness.

[2naSalit]

8. And that's before...

The accident.

[North Shore Chicago]

2. Ridiculous!

Every time I see one of these, I give it AND the driver a one finger salute.

[Skittles]

5. proof it is made for stupid rich assholes

like we didn't already know...........

[MichMan]

7. The asshole would have been the person that blew through the intersection and smashed into it.

Hopefully they received a ticket and a resulting insurance rate increase for causing it.

As you can see from the photos, there was significant damage to the wheel, tire, stainless steel panel and bumper, to say nothing of the dozens upon dozens of innards that were broken in the process. The impact was hard enough to push the 6,660-pound Cybertruck partially up onto the curb, and part of the rear axle had actually broken off and dropped onto the ground, which gouged into the pavement as the Cybertruck was dragged onto a tow truck.

The damage might not look extensive at first glance, but the key thing that destroyed our truck was the rear wheel being pushed inward, destroying a huge chunk of the rear suspension, the rear drive motor, the rear-wheel steering setup, and a ton of other parts.

[Skittles]

10. for that amount of money

you'd think it would be.......a bit more hardy

accidents happen

rich assholes do too

[yardwork]

17. A compact sedan totaled a parked Cybertruck.

[MichMan]

18. I suggest studying up on the physics of momentum

[yardwork]

35. Let's pause here.

No offense to you personally, but this is a perfect example of the mistake Democrats make.

Instead of going for the jugular and dropping a humiliating sound bite on our enemies - and Elon Musk is definitely my enemy - we get too deeply into explanations and details and stuff.

"A compact sedan totaled a parked Cybertruck" is what to say.

Simple. To the point. True. Devastating.

Let THEM make excuses and give detailed explanations of the physics of...

[MichMan]

41. My apologies for using logic in any discussions

Clearly it isn't appreciated here. Must be a result of my engineering background. I'll try and avoid it in the future

[yardwork]

43. Exactly. Plenty of us are scientists and engineers here.

But we're learning that we don't win political arguments by getting into the weeds.

We need simple understandable slogans in order to win elections.

[MichMan]

45. Maybe I should just to refer to Musk as Hitler, and vandalize a few with swastikas

That would get a lot more rec's than mentioning boring stuff like physics. Alas, there are no dealerships anywhere near me.

[exboyfil]

48. Exactly I hate carnival barkers

And that is what we got running the country. There are enough out there that love them.

[Scrivener7]

19. But, but, but ... it's bulletproof!! What a joke. Despite the excuses of the tesla fans here.

My first car was a Suburu. It was hit in the left rear while parked by a car moving at at high speed. The axle held. The body kind of skewed of shape, but somehow the repair guys were able to straighten it out and do the body work for about a thousand dollars, and I drove it for another 2 years without a problem, then sold it for near the price I had bought it used.

[MichMan]

25. I saw Bo Duke jump the General Lee over a creek with a washed out bridge and drive away

[yardwork]

36. You think it's helpful to mock DUers instead of Tesla?

Noted.

[Metaphorical]

56. I loved my suburu

One of my favorite cars was a Suburu Forester, until it was t-boned by a kid one day. Even then, it was drivable, though the insurance wrote it off as totalled. Fantastic car, had few engine issues, and took to mountain driving outside of Seattle like a champ.

[Aussie105]

6. Unscheduled rapid deconstruction event . . .

It's a tough looking truck, looks like it can take a few knocks, until . . .

I'm guessing the yearly insurance bill for one of these is horribly expensive?

Musk is the King of the RUDE, as in Rapid, Unplanned Disassembly Event.

[MichMan]

9. No vehicle could take a hit like that without being totaled

As you can see from the photos, there was significant damage to the wheel, tire, stainless steel panel and bumper, to say nothing of the dozens upon dozens of innards that were broken in the process. The impact was hard enough to push the 6,660-pound Cybertruck partially up onto the curb, and part of the rear axle had actually broken off and dropped onto the ground, which gouged into the pavement as the Cybertruck was dragged onto a tow truck.

The damage might not look extensive at first glance, but the key thing that destroyed our truck was the rear wheel being pushed inward, destroying a huge chunk of the rear suspension, the rear drive motor, the rear-wheel steering setup, and a ton of other parts.

[hlthe2b]

12. That isn't what the article implied ("that no vehicle could take a hit like that without being totaled" )

at all. If one wants to project what the average compact car would have sustained--fine, no argument. But, this is supposed to be the "Hummer-like" ultimate vehicle (monstrosity) that goes anywhere. No vehicle built like an aluminum (tin) can take this hit without being totaled- agreed.

I'll take what Edmunds actually saw, documented, and wrote, and not the excuses from Tesla.

[MichMan]

21. "I'll take what Edmunds actually saw, documented, and wrote, and not the excuses from Tesla."

I didn't see where Edmunds wrote anything like it being a "Hummer-like" ultimate vehicle (monstrosity) that goes anywhere, nor did I see any statement from Tesla in the link regarding this collision. Where in the OP did Tesla make any comments at all, as I missed them somehow?

The only thing that Edmunds said in criticism was the difficulty on getting estimates on getting it repaired.

It is not immune from the laws of physics regarding momentum.

I wouldn't own one as a) I won't own a truck or SUV and 2) won't buy any EV, but I understand why it was damaged enough to be a total loss.

[hlthe2b]

27. Do not make claims I never said. I made the Hummer comparison and that was

IMMENSELY clear given I used quotation marks when I referenced Edmunds while ALSO directly linking it to Edmunds--something not done with the "HUMMER-LIKE" quote that simply references the advertising and buyer's impressions. And if you have actually talked with someone who owns or was looking at them, the machismo attitude for the vehicle is very similar to that of Hummer's early adopters.

I see that you are an immense defender and fan of Tesla Cybertrucks. Well, welcome to it. I'm sure your fellow Michiganers will love your attitude--especially in Detroit.

[MichMan]

31. Yes, clearly I must be an immense defender and fan of a vehicle that I already stated I would never own.

"I wouldn't own one as a) I won't own a truck or SUV and 2) won't buy any EV, but I understand why it was damaged enough to be a total loss."

I have a friend that does own one and he is nothing as you described. He owns several hi tech manufacturing facilities in Michigan that employ a couple hundred people.

[hlthe2b]

32. Yet more cybertruck/Tesla defense. Umm ok... LOL

(Hint. If you really want to divorce yourself from your prior defense of Tesla/Cybertruck, don't talk about the one person you know who doesn't fit the stereotype of every other Cybertruck owner. The stereotype sticks for a reason, regardless of the one exception to the rule that you and you alone 'know.'

[yardwork]

37. Very illuminating.

Interesting.

[MichMan]

42. Since I only know one owner personally, I shouldn't take my own personal observations into account.

Much better to ignore that and just speculate about the motives and characterizations of fictitious people I have never met. That is why it makes much more sense to base opinions on people on stereotypes instead.

[hlthe2b]

44. Uh huh...

Sure...

[hlthe2b]

11. Good gawd... Those videos of the guy who made his own "replica" from what looked like JUNK aluminum....

was pretty spot-on in replicating the construction. Not to mention the unreliability and how intensely ugly these things are. When taken off-road, they fail and have to be hauled out by an actual 4x4 gas-powered truck. (Not that I have an issue with electric vehicles--just not this piece of crap).

[Scrivener7]

13. Makes me think it might not actually be bulletproof.

[MichMan]

22. See for yourself

I was actually passed by this very same Cybertruck (complete with the bullet damage) in Florida on I-75 last year.

[Scrivener7]

23. I guess unless the bullet hits the rear wheel. Or that stainless panel falls off, as they tend to do.

Sounds like you do love a Tesla, though.

[MichMan]

24. Sorry, good try

I refuse to buy any EV nor will I own a truck or SUV.

I do, however, understand the physics of momentum.

[Scrivener7]

26. That's nice.

[GoneOffShore]

14. Too bad, so sad

[benfranklin1776]

15. Not.

[UpInArms]

16. This dreadful thing is so

Poorly engineered …

It is the epitome of everything Eloonatic is

[Vinca]

20. There must be some consolation in knowing it makes a great trash bin.

[yellowcanine]

28. Who parks a brand new cyber truck on a busy street?

Just sayin’, that’s not a smart thing to do.

[onethatcares]

29. what's the scrap value?

aluminum beer cans are going for .80 / lb here.

[Stuckinthebush]

34. Pretty close!

From the article:

"After everything was said and done, we sold the remains of our Cybertruck to online auction site Copart for — deep breath — $8,000."

Yeesh!

[yardwork]

38. Even the raw materials are shit.

[Stuckinthebush]

54. Everything about the "truck" is

Even most of the people who buy them.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

30. These vehicles are crap

[yellowcanine]

33. High priced Edsel.

And maybe not as successful as the Edsel at that.

[doc03]

39. I wrecked the Ford Fusion I owned about 6 years ago, it looked much worse

than that cost $3000 to repair.

[Raven123]

40. I can't comment on how reasonable the damage is given the event, but what a hassle

Trying to find a Tesla approved repair shop, get the estimate and then the 2 month wait for the repair sounds closer to what I would expect if my house was hit.

[exboyfil]

47. Yes the delay is unacceptable

Especially to just get totaled back. You have to be wealthy to have $80K tied up doing nothing.

[DBoon]

52. This is the real problem

An accident like this would cause serious damage to many cars.

With a Cybertruck you have only 2 authorized repair shops in all of Southern California and a 6 month wait.

That is the real issue here

[exboyfil]

46. Wonder what the insurance premium

Is on this beast. Never paid more than $20K for a car.

[dalton99a]

49. Another example of Musk's waste, fraud and abuse

[usonian]

50. Edmunds should have purchased the Stanford University mod.

I love the smell of flame wars in the morning. It reminds me of Slashdot.

[karynnj]

51. Just the difficulty getting repair is enough to give pause to those who want this car

Even if this accident focused on an unusually vulnerable part of the car, ANY accident would result in the same difficulty getting estimates and the repair itself. Even a fender bender can be a pain in the neck to deal with, but this is unusually bad. With a normal car, you would need to get a police report, call the insurance company and have the car towed to a car repair place if (after the same accident) it was undrivable. Depending on your circumstances, you might have to rent a car for as much as a couple of weeks. The cost would almost certainly be a fraction of this cost.

[dsc]

53. The being totaled may or may not be a sin

given the fact it is either rear wheel or all wheel drive is a big part of that. This would be something like my car getting such a hit in the front. But I think the estimate and repair saga is nuts. LA is a massive city and to have to travel a minimum of 43 miles (the Ontario location) to get body work and for there to be a two month wait is unacceptable and likely is part of the reason that the cost of repair was so high. I live in a small town in a small county and I live within 30 miles of at least 3 and maybe 4 dealerships for my Kia. None of which even get me to a truly big city.

[democratsruletheday]

55. Former NBA star's son in a coma after his caught fire in accident

Alijah Arenas is a top college hoops prospect and USC's top commit. He's the son of former NBA star Gilbert Arenas:

https://www.si.com/college-basketball/top-usc-recruit-alijah-arenas-in-medically-induced-coma-after-car-accident

[Srkdqltr]

58. In a sort of way the post is like blaming the victim. Probably would have problems if it hadn't been hit.

Maybe it shouldn't have been parked there? Should have been moved before the accident.
Not exactly Tesla's fault really.

[Blue Owl]

59. They're pieces of shit, just like their inventor

[struggle4progress]

60. It's expensive, looks cheap, breaks easily, and is impossibly uneconomical to fix

So the folk that design, manufacture, and sell them can't make money without huge tariffs on competing products and very very large tax cuts for themselves