Can The “Bulletproof” Uber-Rugged Tesla Cybertruck Pickup Withstand a Simple Automated Car Wash - What Owners Report Surprised Us

When the Tesla Cybertruck debuted, Tesla portrayed it as a very tough and durable vehicle. Even going so far as to discuss whether bullets can penetrate it, or if steel balls thrown at the windows could damage glass. We all know how those tests turned out. But here is a new challenge. Can a tough and rugged Cybertruck be damaged by driving through a car wash?

Tesla is pretty clear in the Cybertruck Owner’s Manual that the Cybertruck’s stainless steel body panels are easy to blemish and scratch. That is in direct contrast to the tough image Tesla portrays. Let’s look first to the official Tesla Cybertruck manual to see what clues it offers about possible damage to the vehicle from a simple car wash:

 - Cybertruck does not have a clear coat on the surface of the exterior body panels, meaning any scratches that appear are in the stainless steel panels themselves.
 - Tesla does not recommend taking Cybertruck through an automatic car wash.
Hand wash using a non-ionic pH-neutral waterless wash with a high-quality microfiber towel.
 - Mix a mild, pH-neutral soap (such as car shampoo) with water until it gets soapy.
 - Soak a soft cleaning sponge in the soap mixture and hand wash Cybertruck.

From the manual, we can see that Tesla is very worried about the Cybertruck’s paintless and clear-coat-free exterior finish being damaged by an automated car wash. It almost seems as if the Cybertruck is fragile and needs to be babied.

What Owners Report About Cybertruck Washing
It’s not uncommon for owners' manuals to warn vehicle owners not to use automated car washes and to instead hand-wash a vehicle. The manufacturers are simply trying to head off any damage claims. We all know that painted cars go through automaker car washes by the millions daily and don’t suffer any damage. But what about the Cybtertruck and its unique exterior surface? Owners have mixed reports of what happens. Let’s look at the Cyberbabies who fear damaging the truck by doing what most owners do routinely:
Cybertruck Owner JE - “I use touchless. My local places that use brushes want nothing to do with my Cybertruck. They think the edges are going to rip the brushes apart.”
Cybertruck Owner QT - “Always by hand.”
Cybertruck Owner DR - “When I don’t wash at home with a pressure washer and soaker system, I go to a brushless car wash.”

Now let’s look at the results reported by Cybertruck owners who treat their vehicle like, well, a pickup truck and actually go to automated car washes:
Cybertruck Owner DP - “I go through a brush-type conveyor automatic wash daily. I put it in car wash mode and free roll. No issues whatsoever in 10 months/32,000 miles.”

Cybertruck Owner - TR - “I did it! It came out near perfect. I’m impressed.”
Cybertruck Owner JR - “Almost 16 months I’ve been taking my Beast through a full tunnel wash with zero problems. I have a sub subscription, so I generally go 4 to 5 times a week since it’s near my house.”
Cybertruck Owner MK - “No issues yet. It will be fine.”
Cybertruck Owner CG - “Been washing mine at a regular car wash since we bought it 3 months ago. Haven’t noticed any issues.”

Some Cybertruck owners have used automated car washes, and they do report damage. Here are a few of those reports:
Cybertruck Owner AIH - “When mine gets too much red clay on it, I give it its monthly wash through an automatic car wash with brushes. There are definitely a bunch of scratches on it that I attribute to the car wash. But I also do not care, cuz this is the off-road edition Cybertruck.”
Cybertruck Owner JB - “My mirrors have been broken off twice. I still go through.”

As you can see, there are some owners who baby the Cybertruck and won’t dare to let a bush from a car wash touch their delicate truck. There are other owners who go “full-send” through car washes with brushes regularly and who either don’t find damage or don't care about minor surface swirls and scratches, because they own a truck. We’re not judging, just observing and reporting.

How To Take a Cybertruck Through an Automated Car Wash
With so many driver automation tools, the Cybertruck can be a tricky vehicle to allow through an automated car wash. If you need to or want to use one, here are the steps that Tesla suggests before you enter the wash:
1) Initiate Car Wash Mode: This closes all windows, locks the charge port, and disables windshield wipers, Sentry Mode, and walk-away door locking. To enable, touch Controls > Car Wash. Your vehicle must be stationary and not actively charging.
2) Enable Free Roll: This keeps your vehicle in Neutral and activates free roll for the duration of the wash, while preventing Cybertruck from applying the Parking brake if you leave the driver's seat. To enable, press on the brake pedal and touch Enable Free Roll; or shift into Neutral.
Car Wash Mode disables if the vehicle's speed exceeds 9 mph (15 km/h) or by touching Exit on the touchscreen.

Tesla issues this warning about car washes:

Failure to put Cybertruck in Car Wash Mode may result in damage (for example, to the charge port or windshield wipers). Damage caused by car washes is not covered by the warranty. Tesla is not liable for any damage caused by failing to refer to official guidance.

Cybertruck and Car  Washes
As you can see, many owners do use car washes, and some have reported damage. Others baby their Cybertruck and avoid car washes. They opt to hand-wash their “rugged, off-road bullet-proof vehicle.” We suggest living worry-free and using car washes with Tesla’s suggested modes of operation to prevent issues with the rollers.

If you’ve washed a Cybertruck, please tell us how it came out in the comments below. Your insight may help a fellow owner. 

John Goreham is the Vice President of the New England Motor Press Association and an expert vehicle tester. John completed an engineering program with a focus on electric vehicles, followed by two decades of work in high-tech, biopharma, and the automotive supply chain before becoming a news contributor. He is a member of the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE int). In addition to his fourteen years of work at Torque News, John has published thousands of articles and reviews at American news outlets. He is known for offering unfiltered opinions on vehicle topics. You can connect with John on LinkedIn and follow his work on his personal X channel or on our X channel. John employs grammar and punctuation software when proofreading, and he sometimes uses image generation tools. 

AI image created by John Goreham.