Tesla Cybertruck More Prone to Breakdowns As Another Release Candidate Fails

New vehicle development is always tricky, and it can often lead to some embarrassing situations. Every carmaker has had its prototypes caught stranded on the side of a road somewhere, and Tesla makes no exception. We've recently seen more Cybertrucks that broke down, with their drivers feeling miserable while calling for assistance. On some occasions, these prototypes were covered with a tarp, as if Tesla was ashamed to be caught in such a disgraceful situation.

As Cybertruck development is drawing to an end and more tests are performed, it makes sense that these events happen more often than before. After all, Tesla has a sizeable Cybertruck fleet undergoing testing as it adds the finishing touches to the electric pickup. Software, for once, is complicated to fine-tune, especially as the hardware differs significantly from other Tesla models. And it's often the software that can get a car into trouble, even if it has a Tesla badge.

We've seen a similar pattern with Tesla Semi when the first units were delivered to PepsiCo. In the first three months of this year, at least nine Tesla Semis were seen broken down on the side of the road. We found out later that the culprit was a software bug that caused the cockpit screens to flicker or turn off. However, Tesla Semi's first recall was prompted in March by a faulty parking brake, so hardware can also cause headaches, especially for the first batches of a new vehicle model.

The Cybertruck seems to be in a similar situation as the delivery event is approaching. We reported a couple of weeks ago about a Cybertruck that broke down in the middle of the I-580 in Richmond. Moments later, the driver covered it with a tarp and left it there until a platform arrived, saving it from misery. That followed another similar incident in August.

A member of the Cybertruck Owners Club forum spotted another prototype that malfunctioned at a Supercharger station in Mojave, California. The truck refused to take a charge, pointing to a software issue. It had to be put on a platform and removed from the site, but not before pictures were made and questions were asked.

The guy who signs "CHC" on the forum parked his Ford F-150 pickup next to the Cybertruck, offering a rare side-by-side comparison. The Cybertruck appears lower than the F-150, but it's still huge when seen in person, bigger than it seems in pictures.

CHC also spoke with the Cybertruck driver, trying to squeeze some details about the pickup, but he wasn't very successful. The range remains unknown, as the Release Candidate Cybertrucks only display the battery percentage on the screen. The Tesla driver appreciates that it's "as good as or better than a Model X." That means about 350 miles (560 km), similar to a Rivian R1T Dual Motor with the Large battery pack.