Skip to main content

Tesla Cybertruck Immediately Dies in Canadian Winter – Owner Bricks the Truck Trying to Use the Defroster, Says “In Love to Heartbroken on the Same Day”

A brand new Cybertruck owner from Canada says his truck bricked itself as he was trying to defrost it. After the truck died in less than 24 hours, the Cybertruck owner says he went from being “In love to heartbroken on the same day.”
Tesla Cybertruck

Rob Roth is a brand new Cybertruck owner from Alberta, Canada, and says his heart is broken after his truck completely fell apart less than 24 hours into ownership.

Rob adds that the Cybertruck bricked itself as he was attempting to defrost the truck before driving it.

Rob shared his story on the Tesla Cybertruck Canada group on Facebook and simply titled it “Heartbroken.”

 Here is what he wrote…

“I picked up my Cyberbeast yesterday afternoon, drove two hours home, and had a blast driving it last night with friends and family. This morning, I defrosted it and drove to work. At lunchtime, the defrost did not engage(46% battery left), would not go into Drive or Reverse, started giving me errors/warnings, and then shut right down.”

This is not an ideal situation for a truck with a starting price of $165,999 in Canada. Continuing his post, Rob provides more details about his failed attempts to revive the truck.

“I Spent the next 4 hours on the phone with Tesla service, trying to revive it by “boosting” it. We did revive power, and some things activated, but others did not. Eventually, nothing worked…even with boosting. I went back to meet the tow truck driver, and we were able to get some power with boosting again(maybe it’s because we boosted frunk again?) and got it in some sort of emergency mode and was able to limp drive it onto the tow truck.”

What’s interesting here is that Rob only drove his Cybertruck for approximately two hours; however, he has already spent four hours trying to revive it.

I don’t know about you, but I would be unhappy if I had to spend twice as much time trying to solve the issue with my brand-new vehicle than the entire time I was able to drive it.

As for what exactly went wrong, Rob hasn’t yet received a definitive answer from Tesla but says he believes it has something to do with the truck’s heating system.

Rob continues to write…

“I am unsure what happened, but I noticed later at night that the fan noise under the dash seemed louder than before. I just assumed it was because of the cold temperature (-18C) (-0.4F), but maybe something else was going on?”

Tesla employs a heat pump on the Cybertruck to increase the heating and cooling efficiency. This is good for preserving battery power and range, but there are questions about how effective this system is in harsh environments.

Whatever the cause, Rob is not thrilled with the whole situation and continues to write…

“Anyhow, I sure hope Telsa makes me whole on this. I feel like spending this type of money and having this sort of hassle within 24 hours is unacceptable. In love to heartbroken on the same day.😭💔”

Finally, Rob concludes his post with a picture of his Cybertruck loaded onto a flatbed. Most people would be unhappy with this sight, but Rob doesn’t seem too bothered writing, “Note: My Cybertruck does look awesome on that tow truck!”

Overall, the Cybertruck appears to be failing its first test in the Canadian winter and at the same time, breaking some hearts. Please let me know what you think in the comments. Share your ideas by clicking the red “Add new comment” button below. Also, visit our site, torquenews.com/Tesla, regularly for the latest updates.

Image: Screenshot from IMCARS YouTube channel

For more information, check out: Tesla’s Autonomous Cybercab Involved in First Minor Accident

Tinsae Aregay has been following Tesla and the evolution of the EV space daily for several years. He covers everything about Tesla, from the cars to Elon Musk, the energy business, and autonomy. Follow Tinsae on Twitter at @TinsaeAregay for daily Tesla news.

Automotive News
Electric Vehicle News and Reviews
News Opinion
Pickup Trucks
TorqueNews Hot Topics
Tesla
Tesla Cybertruck

Comments

Luana (not verified)    December 4, 2024 - 2:05AM

Permalink

Nah, you don't do stuff like taking your battery inside when it's a balmy -20C. You only do that if it's below -40C, and you don't have a block heater, or you know your battery is on its last legs. Although my Corolla started just fine in -40C weather without a block heater. Cybertruck is a joke.

Marc M (not verified)    December 2, 2024 - 5:01PM

Permalink

Crummy design. A heat pump will not "make" heat below about 40 degrees F (4.4 degrees C). Below those temperatures It will make heat by using an auxiliary source like an electric heating coil, propane or natural gas, heating oil, or a heat exchanger with an outside wood furnace (as a former home inspector, I've seen all of these). Trying to defrost / warm up a car with a heat pump will draw an enormous amount of power from the battery to heat the electric coil. Dead battery. Perhaps terminally dead.

Be glad it didn't catch on fire with anyone in it.

Roland Schoenke (not verified)    December 2, 2024 - 11:35PM

Permalink

I had a Mitsubishi ductless heat pump on my rancher, and it produced heat down to -10c. My guess is the larger less expensive units are not as efficient and require more input from the airhandler.

ColdFusion (not verified)    December 3, 2024 - 11:08PM

Permalink

Came here to post just that, as soon as I saw 'heat pump' I knew the problem. Amazing machines, super efficient heating and cooling, but pointless in any area where the summer is so dry that evaporative cooling is actually capable of doing the same thing for cheaper, or where winter is cold enough that you can no longer essentially 'air condition the outside to warm up the inside'
I heard they were good down to like 15 degrees F but even so, that disqualifies a ton of places. Even if you only have like 3 really cold days a year, those will be the days you need heating most.

John (not verified)    December 4, 2024 - 7:58PM

Permalink

What are you talking about. I have a 2023 Model 3 and have drive and parked for 10 hours at a time or longer at sub zero temperatures and have never been stranded. The heat in the car works great even at -20 below zero. Does it use more battery, sure, but preheat before your trip and the efficiency is just fine. Some people are so misinformed about EV’s. Obviously something was wrong with that vehicle. Most reasons anyone in an EV get stranded is due to human error (not charging when you’re supposed to). I get out of my car when I get home, plug in on my way into my house and the car charges at about 45 miles per hour and it has a full charge all the time. It preheats and precools on a schedule. I haven’t been to a gas station since June of 2023. At a supercharger it could be 400 miles per hour but I’ve only have to do any supercharging 3-4 times in the 18 months I have owned it and it’s typically only 10-20 minutes at a time while I run in for a coffee and bathroom break.

Bryan (not verified)    December 2, 2024 - 5:04PM

Permalink

Nice purchase you idiot!!! Hope that your HERO Mr.Musk himself was nice enough to get on the phone call and offer you a refund for that expensive TURD!!!!

Gordon (not verified)    December 2, 2024 - 6:09PM

Permalink

Older and new electric car batteries require a battery warmer function as well as battery tenderer for 12 v lead acid battery. My usa made nissan leaf does not have a battery warmer and the previous owner installed a 12 v battery tendorer before I purchased. Just like gasoline cars require block heaters Canadian auto dealers don't seem to mention block heaters are optional and you have to order them at purchase or pay more to do later. I can't even find out how to add battery warmer to my Leaf as a Canadian Nissan dealer told me to call the states but Nissan USA had no idea of the part number for a Canadian Leaf. Even though they probably have the same issue in Alaska and Northewn States. Warm batteries are likely essential to electric cars until the chemistry can be updated.
By the way, AMA has level 2 charge batteries they can throw into their service trucks to boost the charge on your electric car. They keep them in a Edmonton shop to stay warm. Contact them to see how they work. Boosting the 12 volt lead acid. Battery only helps the electronics of your vehicle.

Elon trump (not verified)    December 2, 2024 - 7:02PM

Permalink

Those shiny pieces of metal are the worst looking things on four wheels. And apparently, are as dependable as their "stellar" look.

JRCC (not verified)    December 2, 2024 - 7:16PM

Permalink

Elon lived in Calgary for a while when he was in college/university. If you’re under the delusion that Elon hasn’t known FOREVER that electricity is simply NOT EFFECTIVE or ADVANCED to the point where it can survive in the Prairie winters of the Canadian West!! He KNOWS THAT! Surely you intend to sue him for his lies and misleading marketing! SUE TESLA BLIND based upon his intimate preknowlege of the circumstances!

Jaybird (not verified)    December 2, 2024 - 8:05PM

Permalink

Up there in that type of weather, you need a diesel vehicle a vehicle that runs off of a battery. Can I stand up to that type of weather?

Elon Musk (not verified)    December 2, 2024 - 8:22PM

Permalink

Well, it paid my rent for one month boy, and I thank you for that. Now I'm busy working on the Federal subsidies I live off of -- a few billion a year. What's in YOUR wallet?!? LOL

D lawson (not verified)    December 2, 2024 - 8:48PM

Permalink

Should have bought a yota instead of a chrome dumpster.. anyone who spends any kind of money on one of these cyber trucks is a complete idiot

Holli Glembus (not verified)    December 2, 2024 - 8:50PM

Permalink

It gets stuck in a little mud regular cars can get through, what made you believe it would do well in snow and real cold? Good luck!