Close Menu
Technology Mag

    Subscribe to Updates

    Get the latest creative news from FooBar about art, design and business.

    What's Hot

    This Robot Only Needs a Single AI Model to Master Humanlike Movements

    September 4, 2025

    Samsung’s ultra-thin Galaxy S25 Edge is $400 off right now

    September 4, 2025

    Arkansas Hosts the Planet’s Only Public Diamond Mine

    September 4, 2025
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
    Subscribe
    Technology Mag
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram YouTube
    • Home
    • News
    • Business
    • Games
    • Gear
    • Reviews
    • Science
    • Security
    • Trending
    • Press Release
    Technology Mag
    Home » This Is Why Tesla’s Stainless Steel Cybertrucks May Be Rusting
    Gear

    This Is Why Tesla’s Stainless Steel Cybertrucks May Be Rusting

    News RoomBy News RoomFebruary 18, 20242 Mins Read
    Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Reddit WhatsApp Email

    Tesla says it uses proprietary stainless steel (possibly from Outokumpu of Finland, Europe’s largest producer, which runs a plant in Calvert, Alabama). However, even proprietary stainless steels can stain, especially if any cheaper steel fittings beneath the Cybertruck’s panels react with the stainless product.

    There are five basic families of “stainless steel”: austenitic, ferritic, martensitic, duplex, and precipitation hardened. Some containing chromium among other constituents, such as nickel and molybdenum, are more corrosion-resistant than others, forming an impervious and protective molecular-scale surface barrier of chromium oxide.


    The Cybertruck manual includes some startling care instructions for those who have bought the SUV, including when washing it is advised not to use hot water or clean the electric truck in direct sunlight.


    Stainless steel discoloration usually takes the form of small, dark brown pits on the steel’s surface. Exposure to sea salt and high temperatures can be one cause of such pitting. Some parts of California, a hot state with a 1,264-mile coastline, might, therefore, be worse than others for causing the orange flecks reported by Raxar and others.

    Once the chromium oxide barrier is breached, corrosion takes hold. And caveat emptor, because Tesla’s owner’s manual advises promptly removing corrosive substances, emphasizing not to wait until the Cybertruck is scheduled for a “complete wash,” whatever that is.

    The documentation says: “To prevent damage to the exterior, immediately remove corrosive substances (such as grease, oil, bird droppings, tree resin, dead insects, tar spots, road salt, industrial fallout, etc.). Do not wait until Cybertruck is due for a complete wash. If necessary use denatured alcohol to remove tar spots and stubborn grease stains, then immediately wash the area with water and a mild, non-detergent soap to remove the alcohol.”

    Pigeon poo is a well-known corrosive agent—guano is no friend to the fastidious car owner—but tree sap and bugs? Maybe that $5,000 Cybertruck wrap should ship as standard.

    Other care instructions—highlighted in this YouTube video at 23 minutes in—reveal how delicately Cybertruck owners need to treat their stainless steel electric SUVs. The washing stipulations alone include, somewhat amazingly, “Do not wash in direct sunlight,” “Some cleaners and car shampoos contain chemicals that can cause damage or discoloration,” and even “Do not use hot water.”

    Tesla was asked to comment on this story but did not respond.

    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit Email
    Previous ArticleHow to live your life in text files
    Next Article The Best Presidents’ Day Deals on Home and Kitchen Gear

    Related Posts

    If You Like Surround Sound, the Sonos Era 300 Is 20 Percent Off Right Now

    August 26, 2025

    Read This Before Buying a Window Air Conditioner

    August 26, 2025

    The Lenovo IdeaPad 5i 2-in-1 Is a Budget 16-Inch Laptop That Barely Squeaks By

    August 26, 2025

    Matter Is Finally Ready to Deliver the Smart Home It Promised

    August 26, 2025

    US EV Sales Are Booming—for Now

    August 26, 2025

    WIRED Might Have Found a New Best Bag in the World

    August 26, 2025
    Our Picks

    Samsung’s ultra-thin Galaxy S25 Edge is $400 off right now

    September 4, 2025

    Arkansas Hosts the Planet’s Only Public Diamond Mine

    September 4, 2025

    This Dyson air purifier shoots out fresh air like a jet engine

    September 4, 2025

    The Loophole Turning Stablecoins Into a Trillion-Dollar Fight

    September 4, 2025
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Pinterest
    • Instagram
    • YouTube
    • Vimeo
    Don't Miss
    News

    You can now attach 10,000 character blogs to your Threads posts

    By News RoomSeptember 4, 2025

    Meta is adding a new feature to let you add a bunch of extra text…

    The tech antitrust renaissance may already be over

    September 4, 2025

    8BitDo’s N64 Controller Is Better Than Nintendo’s Original

    September 4, 2025

    Google Photos now lets you animate your camera roll with Veo 3 for free

    September 4, 2025
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram Pinterest
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms of use
    • Advertise
    • Contact
    © 2025 Technology Mag. All Rights Reserved.

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.