Tesla Cybertruck Owner Says, “My Wheel Flew Off While I’m Driving On the Highway, It's So Weird, It's Concerning, Is There a Defect With Cybertruck’s Rims?"

Are the 2024 Tesla Cybertruck's wheels defective? One Cybertruck owner says they are after losing two forged aluminum wheels on his new electric truck. It's disturbing because they broke while driving at highway speeds. Is this an isolated issue?

Are the 2024 Tesla Cybertruck's wheels defective?

That's the question Jordan (@jordan8tatum) asks as he's sitting on the side of the road with his wife Tatum with two of his Cybertrucks wheels broken off. He also asks, "Does the Cybertruck have concrete rims?" 

That's the question I will answer in this report. 

First, picture yourself buying a 2024 Tesla Cybertruck for $80,000; you think it's bulletproof and indestructible. That's what everyone told you. You purchased the new electric Tesla truck for its luxury but more for its toughness.

The Cybertruck is known for its unique design and materials, including its ultra-hard 30X cold-rolled stainless-steel exoskeleton and armored glass. 

But what about its wheels?

Imagine that you and your wife are driving at highway speeds on the interstate, and you feel your truck begin to shake; you hear a loud pop, and the rear of your truck suddenly drops. 

You hear the same sound coming from the back of the truck, and you see your rear wheel bounce off to the side of the road in your mirror.

You immediately put on the brakes as your truck tilts to the left. You can get to the shoulder of the road and bring the truck to a stop. It all happens within a few seconds. 

You look at your wife, who has a stunned look on her face, and you say, "What just happened?" She is terrified now and can't say a word. You jump out of your truck, and the rear and front wheels have broken off from your new Cybertruck. You can't believe it. 

It happened to Jordan and Tatum.  

In his video, Jordan's Cybertruck can be seen on the shoulder of the busy highway with cars speeding past. His emergency lights are flashing as he shows the broken wheel. The tow truck has just arrived and backs up to his Cybertruck, which is undriveable. He instructs the tow truck driver to load the broken truck and take it to the nearest Tesla service center. 

Jordan reveals that the rear wheel has broken completely. The front wheel is still attached to the hub, but it's badly cracked and broken.

He can't believe what he's looking at. 

"All right, I'm showing you my broken Cybertruck rims. I don't know what kind of steel they are made of or if it's some kind of special metal alloy or something."

But it's almost like cider block; it crumbles, he says as he walks to the back of his Cybertruck. He reveals the rear wheel is also broken off at the studs. 

"This one broke off with the lugs and part of the wheel still attached. It almost broke off in a perfect circle. They aren't supposed to break off in a perfect circle like that.”

It's so weird, it's concerning. Is there a defect with the Cybertruck? He says that even in a crash, the Cybertruck rims shouldn't crumble. 

Jordan finishes, "I seriously think the Cybertruck Rims need a recall! Have y'all ever seen a rim snap off in a perfect circle?"

Are the 2024 Tesla Cybertruck's wheels defective?

Other than some Cybertruck owners complaining about premature tire wear, there are no problems with the Cybertruck's forged aluminum wheels. 

CBT News says Telsa did recall 2,431 Cybertrucks to address a faulty drive inverter that could cause a loss of power to the wheels. However, the faulty part does not affect the Cybertruck's wheels.

Tesla's official written statement notes, "If the inverter stops producing torque, the driver loses the ability to apply torque to the vehicle using the accelerator pedal, resulting in a loss of propulsion, which may increase the risk of a collision."

Jordan should have started the video sooner.

I think Jordan hit a high concrete curb or something hard that cracked both wheels. In the video, I can see that the rear wheel cladding has been broken, and part of it is completely missing, which tells me he hit something hard enough to break the rear wheel molding. 

That's why the rear wheel completely broke off at the hub. 

The front wheel also hit something but wasn't as damaged as the rear. After that, Jordan and his wife took the Cybertruck out on the highway. The wheels were so badly damaged already that the wheels broke with the vibration at 65-70 mph he was driving.  

Commenters agree with my Sherlock Holmes investigative assessment. 

theharryg1 - Wheels don't just fall apart for no reason. As much as I hate the cyber truck, this was definitely from a horrible driver.

MetalMayhem234 - Yes, crashing into a concrete barrier is INDEED defective.

Joemama4298 - He hits a curb at 100 mph, and the "Wheels are defective?"

B1-2C - It looks like he hit a curb hard with cast wheels in a heavy vehicle.

BadBoy - The quality of the rims has nothing to do here. Show us what you hit.

Neil DeVo - I'm a collision estimator; this happens to most cars when you smoke a curb. Something catastrophic happened here. Don't be fooled.

Cdelcast84 - The edge of the wheels tells the story. Why doesn't he show what the truck hit?

sunshine_state_life - They need to make those concrete curbs softer, man. Otherwise, people will sue the contractor for ruining their cars.

The violation guy - It depends on how hard you hit the curb; it doesn't just happen.

Jordan finishes by saying, "Even in a crash, the Cybertruck rims shouldn't crumble. I seriously think the Cybertruck Rims need a recall! Have y'all ever seen a rim snap off in a perfect circle?"

What should Jordan have done?

Tesla offers a wheel and tire protection plan owners can purchase separately, but the Cybertruck is not included.

Tesla says, "The Wheel and Tire Protection Plan (WTPP) is designed to provide a solution when an unforeseen incident occurs, damaging your vehicle's tires and wheels. From road hazards like potholes and debris to unexpected punctures, this plan provides 12-month coverage for repairing or replacing your vehicle's tires and associated wheels for a one-time fee per tire.”

Does Tesla’s warranty cover the wheels?Unfortunately, Tesla's Cybertruck warranty does not cover off-roading or driving on uneven surfaces. A report on Reddit reveals this about the Cybertruck’s warranty: 

Driving off-road:

Tesla's warranty says, "Driving over eleven, rough, damaged or hazardous surfaces, including but not limited to, curbs, potholes, unfinished roads, debris, or other obstacles, or in competition, racing or autocross or for any other purposes for which it was not designed."

Conclusion.

The Cybertruck is designed for tough duty, but no vehicle's wheels can withstand a severe hit like Jordan's Cybertruck likely did. It will be an expensive lesson, and he will pay for two new wheels and tires.  

What do you think happened to Cybertruck's wheels? Click the red Add New Comment link below and let us know.

How does the Cybertruck perform on a long road trip?

Check out my report titled; Tesla Cybertruck Owner Says, “I Took a Road Trip From NC to Toronto, Stopping Every 2 Hours To Charge For 20 Minutes Became Tedious”

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 and providing expert analysis on Subaru, which you'll find here, ensuring that you, as a reader, are always well-informed and up-to-date. Follow me on my X SubaruReport, All Subaru, WRXSTI, @DenisFlierl, Facebook, and Instagram.

Photo credit: Denis Flierl via Jordan