Rahul Somvanshi
Tesla’s angular, stainless-steel Cybertruck just earned the highest safety rating possible from America’s top auto safety agency, surprising many who worried its unique design might be dangerous.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) conducted comprehensive crash tests to evaluate the vehicle’s safety performance. These tests simulate different types of collisions to measure how well vehicles protect their occupants. The Cybertruck earned five stars out of five overall, showing it’s among the safest vehicles on the road.
In frontal crash tests at 35 miles per hour, the truck earned top marks for protecting the driver. The passenger side scored slightly lower with four stars, but that’s still considered very safe. For side impacts, which included a barrier test at 38.5 mph and a pole test at 20 mph, the Cybertruck earned perfect scores.
The truck’s notable safety consideration is its rollover risk. NHTSA found the Cybertruck has a 12.4% chance of rolling in a single-vehicle, loss-of-control scenario. While this earned four stars out of five, it’s an important factor for drivers to consider during various driving conditions.
One important safety question remains unanswered: what happens when the Cybertruck’s stainless steel body impacts a pedestrian? NHTSA hasn’t tested this yet, even though they recently started including pedestrian safety in their evaluation program. The vehicle’s rigid exterior structure has raised concerns among safety experts about potential pedestrian impacts.
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The truck has faced some challenges. Since its launch in November 2023, Tesla has issued seven recalls. These included issues with the rear camera display not showing quickly enough, windshield wipers not working properly, and a jammed accelerator pedal. Tesla addressed these problems, but it demonstrates the complexity of introducing an innovative vehicle design.
Every other Tesla car has also earned five stars in crash tests, showing the company knows how to build safe vehicles even with unusual designs. The Cybertruck continues this trend, though in a more distinctive package.
The real-world performance evaluation is beginning as more Cybertrucks enter service. Current market response has led Tesla to increase discounts on the vehicle. But for those concerned about safety, the crash test results show that the truck’s distinctive design maintains strong occupant protection in collisions.
For potential buyers considering an electric truck, these test results provide important safety information. They demonstrate that despite its innovative design, the Cybertruck protects occupants at high safety standards. However, buyers should consider both the strong safety rating and the early technical issues in their decision-making process.
These safety test results have implications for electric vehicle development. The Cybertruck’s performance demonstrates that innovative vehicle designs can achieve high safety standards while incorporating new approaches to construction and materials.
