My Cybertruck Has Been In The Tesla Shop For 3 Weeks After 4 Days of Ownership. They Have No Idea What's Wrong and I Pay For Insurance

Seven days ago I wrote here at Torque News about a new Cybertruck owner Elan Michael who was facing big troubles with an unresponsive truck that in my opinion was potentially linked in the last 6th recall of the Cybertruck. Tesla is trying to make it right. But it's been 3 weeks since Elan's Cybertruck is in the shop and in a new message to Torque News he says they don't know what's wrong with it.

In a letter to Torque News, Elan shared the journey that began with so much hope and excitement. After waiting three years to receive the email confirming his Cybertruck was ready for pickup, he wasted no time, spending $105 on an Uber ride from Westchester to Tesla's Brooklyn delivery center to collect his futuristic truck.

Watch what he told me in this video from the Torque News Youtube channel.

Last night Elan wrote me the following:

"After waiting 3 years to finally get the email for the Cybertruck, I was so excited to receive it. I took a $105 Uber from Westchester to Brooklyn just so I could get it earliest. After just 4 days of ownership, I woke up and prepared to bring my family to Long Island NY for my mother's birthday, only to find the car dead. It was completely unresponsive, the doors wouldn't open, and I couldn't even take the charger out. I contacted Tesla, and they sent a tow truck to tow it away to a local Stamford CT Tesla service center."

It was supposed to be a weekend filled with family celebrations and the joy of driving one of the most coveted vehicles in the world. Instead, it became the beginning of a frustrating ordeal.

Three Weeks, Two Repairs, No Fix

Initially, Tesla technicians diagnosed the issue as a failure of the Cybertruck’s 48-volt battery system—an essential component powering many of the vehicle’s electronic systems. Unfortunately, the service center didn’t have the part in stock, delaying the repair by a week.

When the battery was finally replaced, the issue persisted. Tesla then pointed to the power conversion system (PCS) as the likely culprit. The PCS, which manages energy transfer within the vehicle, was repaired the next day. But once again, the fix didn’t resolve the problem.

Elan wrote me, "At first the technicians said it was the 48v battery that they didn't have in stock and would need to order. A week later they replaced the 48v battery and it did not fix the problem. Then a week later they said it was the power conversion system (PCS) and they repaired it the next day, but again, did not fix the problem."

So three weeks later, Tesla technicians remain stumped. "It has now been in the shop for 3 weeks, and they have no idea what is wrong," Elan explained. To make matters worse, he’s left paying for Cybertruck insurance and monthly payments on a vehicle he’s unable to use.

“I was only given a Model Y loaner,” Elan said, “and this has ruined the entire experience. At this point, I don’t even know what options I have other than lemon law.”

In New York, a vehicle qualifies under lemon law if it has been out of service for a cumulative 30 days or more within the first two years of ownership or 18,000 miles. With Tesla unable to diagnose or resolve the problem after three weeks, Elan’s case appears to be approaching that threshold.

Why This Matters To Cybertruck Owners?

Elan’s situation raises broader concerns for Tesla’s flagship vehicle. With its groundbreaking design and innovative systems, the Cybertruck represents Tesla’s boldest step forward—but it also introduces untested components that may not yet have the reliability of the company’s more established vehicles.

One such system is the truck’s 48-volt electrical architecture. Unlike traditional 12-volt systems, the 48-volt setup is designed for greater efficiency and performance, but it appears Tesla’s early implementation may have growing pains.

Similarly, repeated issues with the power conversion system suggest potential weaknesses in Tesla’s ability to manage energy flow in the Cybertruck. These failures, coupled with Tesla’s struggle to identify the root cause, highlight potential risks for other early adopters.

Tesla's Service Challenge

Tesla has faced criticism in the past for inconsistent service experiences and communication lapses, especially with newer models. However, the service at Tesla Centers has been getting better. The Cybertruck’s unprecedented design makes service challenges even more significant, as technicians may encounter unfamiliar issues with little precedent for troubleshooting.

While early production issues aren’t uncommon for new models, Tesla’s high-profile Cybertruck is under intense scrutiny, and its success hinges on the satisfaction of its first customers. Stories like Elan’s could become a defining narrative if Tesla doesn’t address these concerns quickly.

What Tesla Needs To Do

Tesla has an opportunity to turn this situation around, not just for Elan but for all its customers. Proactively communicating with affected owners, ensuring loaner vehicles meet expectations, and providing transparent timelines for repairs are all steps that can restore confidence. And Tesla seems to be doing that. 

This story tells me, as more Cybertrucks hit the road, Tesla must ensure that service centers are fully equipped to handle the truck’s unique systems. A failure to do so risks eroding the goodwill built over years of anticipation for this revolutionary vehicle.

For now, Elan remains without the Cybertruck he had waited years to own. Whether Tesla resolves his issue or he turns to lemon law, his experience underscores the importance of Tesla addressing these early hurdles quickly and effectively.

Have you experienced similar issues with a Tesla vehicle? Are you a Cybertruck owner facing unexpected challenges? Let us know in the comments or reach out to Torque News to share your experience.

Armen Hareyan is the founder and the Editor in Chief of Torque News. He founded TorqueNews.com in 2010, which since then has been publishing expert news and analysis about the automotive industry. He can be reached at Torque News Twitter, Facebook, Linkedin, and Youtube. He has more than a decade of expertise in the automotive industry with a special interest in Tesla and electric vehicles.