Californian truly believed his $100K Tesla Cybertruck could be a boat... and it didn't go to plan
- A Tesla Cybertruck owner got their EV stuck in the mud
- The American owner had tried to cross the river in Wade Mode
- The California Highway Patrol had to come and rescue the Tesla
Published on Apr 28, 2025 at 6:07 PM (UTC+4)
by Henry Kelsall
Last updated on Apr 28, 2025 at 9:15 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Emma Matthews
An American Cybertruck owner from California tested Elon Musk’s claim that the Tesla Cybertruck was also a boat, only to find it didn’t go as planned.
The Californian activated the special ‘Wade mode’ that the truck has, and was attempting to cross a river before the idea unraveled.
Naturally, its owner wasn’t happy with what happened, given what Tesla’s CEO claimed the truck could do.
Even more annoying for the owner was that the warranty for the Cybertruck doesn’t cover water damage if it’s used this way.
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What the Californian did with his Cybertruck
According to reports, the owner of the EV from Truckee, California, activated Wade mode on his vehicle.
He’d hoped the truck would act as a boat and easily cross a river.
But he soon found out the mode didn’t work as he thought it would.
It very quickly got stuck and wouldn’t move out of the mud.
The incident necessitated a rescue operation from the California Highway Patrol in Truckee.
And they explained the problem in a Facebook post.
The post led with the caption:
“Cybertruck activated ‘Wade Mode’… and waded a bit too far….”
On top of that, they said that while they are all for testing boundaries, perhaps it’s best not to test ‘the waterline.’
“Remember folks, ‘Wade Mode’ isn’t ‘Submarine Mode,” the Highway Patrol jokingly also said.
Tesla won’t cover water damage in the warranty
Despite the issues, the $150,000 Cybertruck owner will sadly not be able to get Tesla to pay for the damage.
This is because the company doesn’t cover water damage in this manner in its warranty.
Wade mode only allows for the suspension to lift and pressurize the battery, to traverse shallow water.
However, it’s easy to see why the owner gave it a go.
In September 2022, Musk posted on X that the Cybertruck ‘will be waterproof enough to serve briefly as a boat, so it can cross rivers, lakes & even seas that aren’t too choppy.’
However, that isn’t quite what the truck actually does.
So, make sure you remember: Cybertrucks are for wading, not sailing.
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Henry is a content writer with nearly ten years experience, having written for various publications since 2017. Qualifying with a Sports Journalism degree from Staffordshire University, Henry loves all things automotive but has a particular soft spot for classic Japanese cars and anything Lancia. He also has a curious passion for steam locomotives.
