Do Tesla Cybertrucks Rust In The Rain? Lead Engineer Defends Vehicles

Owners of Tesla’s new Cybertruck are complaining that despite its heavy-duty futuristic aesthetic, the vehicle rusts easily. But an official with the electric vehicle maker says that’s not the case.

California drivers shared their experiences on the forum at cybertruckownersclub.com. The truck launched in November and retails for about $60,000 to $100,000.

“Just picked up my Cybertruck today. The advisor specifically mentioned the cybertrucks develop orange rust marks in the rain and that required the vehicle to be buffed out,” a user named Max who lives in Sacramento wrote in January.

They later added that: “I picked it up in Dublin yesterday (Thursday) it was pouring raining, drove it up to Sacramento and there’s a bunch of tiny orange specks and a few water spots. The orange dots aren’t huge, they’re very tiny but they’re apparent.”

Another user named Alex, of Los Gatos, encountered a similar situation.

“Picked up CT on 1/22 and noticed an orangish tint and spots I couldn’t remove on the hood,” they wrote. “I hit it with a pass of Bar Keepers Friend and Windex and it completely cleaned up the surface.”

The truck has an ultra-hard stainless-steel exoskeleton that helps reduce long-term corrosion, according to Tesla’s website.

Wes Morrill, a lead engineer for the Cybertruck, took to X to set the record straight last week.

“Stainless is reactive and free iron that sits on it will rust. It's surface contamination only and can be cleaned off easily,” he wrote, advising drivers to use Bar Keeper’s Friend or a non-scratch Scotch Brite pad. “... Clean it anytime or don't if it doesn't bother you. It's not the base metal. The specs are about the size of the pin of a pinhead.”