Tesla Cybertruck Owner Says, “My $100K Steel Brute Raised a White Flag In Front Of a Bucket of Soap, What Happened Next With Tesla Support Was Even More Absurd”

Why your Tesla Cybertruck might go dark at the carwash.

A user (@dictator1314) on TikTok says, "A Cybertruck owner in California just went through an automatic carwash, and it might be the most expensive car wash of his life. There was no accident, no off-roading, and after ten seconds of the high-pressure rinse, the Cybertruck went completely dark." 

"The touchscreen froze, the doors wouldn't open, and it was as if this $100,000 steel beast raised a white flag in front of a bucket of soap." 

"What happened next was even more absurd. When he reached out to Tesla support for help, they didn't give him a solution. Instead, they sent him a link to the owner's manual. Tesla's exact words were 'Please refer to page 198. You must activate the carwash mode before washing."  

"So, before you wash your Cybertruck, you are expected to tap through the central touchscreen and manually inform the vehicle that you are about to give it a bath. You need to read the manual before rinsing your truck."  

The Cybertruck is an armored vehicle built from ultra-hard stainless steel, engineered to survive a zombie apocalypse. 

Yet, it can't handle a trip to the local automated carwash without throwing a digital tantrum. This isn't just a funny anecdote; it reveals a significant gap in the user experience of Tesla's flagship truck.

The story, widely circulated by a user named @dictator1314 on TikTok, is stark and alarming: Is there a problem with the Tesla Cybertruck when it goes into an automatic carwash? The answer, unfortunately, is a resounding yes for some unprepared owners. 

Imagine entering a high-pressure rinse, and within ten seconds, your $100,000 steel truck decides to quit. The touchscreen is frozen, the entire dashboard goes "completely dark," and critically, the doors wouldn't open. 

It would be terrifying if a piece of future tech became a very expensive brick. 

Some owners say it's happened to them and that their truck goes dark. Here's why and the solution for Cybertruck owners. 

The Mandatory Safety Protocol: Car Wash Mode

So, why does a truck designed with such robust build quality suffer such a spectacular failure when hit with water and soap? The problem isn't a hardware failure from the wash itself, but a software oversight rooted in advanced features. This vehicle requires a specific, manual deactivation sequence: the "Car Wash Mode."

Why does the Tesla Cybertruck need a car wash mode? Unlike a traditional pickup, the Cybertruck is packed with features that behave badly in a tunnel wash:

• Suspension: The air suspension often uses GPS or load sensors to self-level or adjust height; a carwash's motion and jets can confuse it.
• Charge Port: The electric charge port door must be firmly locked to withstand high-pressure water jets.
• Wipers and Sensors: Automatic rain-sensing wipers and parking sensors must be disabled to prevent erratic movements or false alerts.
• Auto-Door Activation: The pressure on the panels and the proximity to the wash equipment can trigger the auto-opening doors or frameless windows, causing catastrophic damage.

When the owner skipped this critical step, the truck's sophisticated systems, sensing an unknown, high-pressure, and potentially damaging environment, initiated a failsafe. Essentially, the car put itself into a defensive, low-power "stun" mode, which unfortunately caused the central screen, the key to all controls, to freeze. Cybertruck went completely dark in the automatic carwash, transforming it from a powerful machine into an uncommunicative brick.

Tesla's Failure to Support

Now, let's address the most maddening part of this story: the response from Tesla Support. 

After being stuck, the owner contacted Tesla, and their solution was to send a link to page 198 of the Owner's Manual, which states: "You must activate the carwash mode before washing."

While technically correct, this is a profound failure in customer service and user experience. 

Tesla effectively replied, "You didn't read the manual, so your problem is your fault." For a vehicle that prides itself on seamless, intuitive operation, requiring a deep dive into an owner's manual for a routine task like washing is a significant design flaw. This issue highlights the potential for the Tesla Cybertruck to go completely dark during an automatic car wash and not open the doors, a problem that could become widespread as more people take delivery.

Solutions and Practical Takeaways

How to fix a Cybertruck that goes dark after a car wash? The immediate fix, after you safely get the truck out of the wash (likely a tow or manual push), often involves a two-button reboot of the primary display or simply allowing the vehicle to dry out and reboot itself, but prevention is better.

The Cybertruck Carwash Checklist:

1. Activate Car Wash Mode: On the center display, navigate to Controls > Service > Car Wash Mode. This folds the side mirrors, locks the windows, disables Sentry Mode, and sets the wipers to the off position.
2. Choose the Right Wash: Always prefer touchless automatic washes. The stainless steel body is tough, but abrasive brush washes can leave hairline scratches, which are difficult to buff out of the raw steel.
3. Crucial Final Step: After the wash, remember to manually exit Car Wash Mode by tapping the option on the screen.

The ultimate solution is to expect Tesla to deliver via an OTA (Over-The-Air) software update, with a proximity-based trigger or a much clearer, automated prompt. The truck should be smart enough to detect the location, speed, and surrounding audio signature of an automatic carwash and ask the driver, "Engage Car Wash Mode?" This feature would eliminate user error.

A Question For Cybertruck Owners

Before your first car wash, had you read the owner's manual section that details explicitly the "Car Wash Mode" requirement, or did you learn about it only after a similar incident or seeing a similar story? Click the red Add New Comment link below and let us know.

Check out my Tesla Cybertruck story: Tesla Cybertruck Owner Says, “It’s a Futuristic Chrome-Plated Dumpster Designed On an Apple II By a Stoned Elon Musk, But Requires Less Maintenance Than a Goldfish”

I am Denis Flierl, a Senior Torque News Reporter since 2012. My 30+ year tenure in the automotive industry, initially in a consulting role with every major car brand and later as a freelance journalist test-driving new vehicles, has equipped me with a wealth of knowledge. I specialize in reporting the latest automotive news, covering owner stories, and providing expert analysis, ensuring that you are always well-informed and up-to-date. Follow me on X @DenisFlierl, @WorldsCoolestRides, Facebook, and Instagram

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