Edmunds Cars - Our Tesla Cybertruck Was Totaled: This Is What Happened

[scottf200]

Video description:
Our Cybertruck was hit while parked on the streets of West Hollywood in late 2024, and it quickly became apparent that getting it fixed — or even getting an estimate — was going to be an arduous process. Well, six months later, we can finally give you the lowdown on our experience, from the initial estimate to the eventual sale of the truck. Join Edmunds’ Brian Wong in this video as he tells you everything you need to know about what happened to our totaled Cybertruck.
00:00 Intro
00:44 Ownership Experience
02:09 How It Got Damaged
02:44 Getting a Repair Quote
05:15 Totaling & Selling Our Cybertruck
06:31 What If It’s Your Cybertruck?
07:36 Cybertruck Specific Expenses?
08:20 Lessons Learned
08:55 Edmunds’ Take



Gemini summary:
Here is a summary of the YouTube video about the Edmunds' Cybertruck incident:

The video details Edmunds' experience with a dual motor Cybertruck Foundation series purchased in summer 2024 for a one-year road test. Despite some initial promise, issues like poor visibility were noted. In December, the truck was hit while street parked, suffering significant damage to the driver's side rear wheel and bumper, pushing it onto the curb and breaking the rear axle.

Repair proved challenging as most body shops wouldn't work on the stainless steel body, and certified centers were limited with long wait times. A full assessment revealed extensive damage, including to the suspension, rear bed casting, structural frame, and rear drive unit. The estimated repair cost was nearly $58,000, with over $40,000 in parts.

Given the high repair cost (almost 70% of the remaining value) and potential for a branded title, Edmunds decided to total the truck. They sold it for $8,000, resulting in a loss of over $94,000 in six months. The incident highlights potential difficulties for Cybertruck owners regarding insurance, limited repair options, wait times, and potential value loss due to the truck's unique construction. Edmunds plans to continue their road tests with other vehicles.

Sponsored

 

[cyberos]

If only Edmunds had street parked a Ford F150 instead…

 

[Coagulation]

If only Edmunds had street parked a Ford F150 instead…

Any other vehicle wouldn’t have been news.

What I don’t understand is how insurance seemingly didn’t come into play. I guess I can watch the whole video vs the Gemini summary.

 

[scottf200]

Any other vehicle wouldn’t have been news.

What I don’t understand is how insurance seemingly didn’t come into play. I guess I can watch the whole video vs the Gemini summary.

Watch the video to get the full info.

Edmunds is very well known and not just an average Joe's vehicle. They have a lot of experience. They had a few issues with theirs from the beginning.

Trouble finding a Tesla place that did Cybertrucks.

Lot of broken casting (bed) and rear drive train pieces that drove up the repair cost. Cost to repair was a lot vs remaining value.

 

[BobSaidSo]

Video description:
Our Cybertruck was hit while parked on the streets of West Hollywood in late 2024, and it quickly became apparent that getting it fixed — or even getting an estimate — was going to be an arduous process. Well, six months later, we can finally give you the lowdown on our experience, from the initial estimate to the eventual sale of the truck. Join Edmunds’ Brian Wong in this video as he tells you everything you need to know about what happened to our totaled Cybertruck.
00:00 Intro
00:44 Ownership Experience
02:09 How It Got Damaged
02:44 Getting a Repair Quote
05:15 Totaling & Selling Our Cybertruck
06:31 What If It’s Your Cybertruck?
07:36 Cybertruck Specific Expenses?
08:20 Lessons Learned
08:55 Edmunds’ Take



Gemini summary:
Here is a summary of the YouTube video about the Edmunds' Cybertruck incident:

The video details Edmunds' experience with a dual motor Cybertruck Foundation series purchased in summer 2024 for a one-year road test. Despite some initial promise, issues like poor visibility were noted. In December, the truck was hit while street parked, suffering significant damage to the driver's side rear wheel and bumper, pushing it onto the curb and breaking the rear axle.

Repair proved challenging as most body shops wouldn't work on the stainless steel body, and certified centers were limited with long wait times. A full assessment revealed extensive damage, including to the suspension, rear bed casting, structural frame, and rear drive unit. The estimated repair cost was nearly $58,000, with over $40,000 in parts.

Given the high repair cost (almost 70% of the remaining value) and potential for a branded title, Edmunds decided to total the truck. They sold it for $8,000, resulting in a loss of over $94,000 in six months. The incident highlights potential difficulties for Cybertruck owners regarding insurance, limited repair options, wait times, and potential value loss due to the truck's unique construction. Edmunds plans to continue their road tests with other vehicles.

Edmunds is about as reliable as Reuters. In fact, Edmunds love to put cold water on Tesla

Sincerely,
A happy Cybertruck owner

 

[sjarriel]

This does come across a bit like a hack piece about the CT. I have mine insured through Tesla. When I backed into the side of my house by accident and damaged the right rear, I took it to the local Tesla collision center (in Houston). They quickly assessed the vehicle, and gave me an initial quote. I did have to leave the truck with them at that time, and it took about a month for them to get the parts and get it repaired, but the insurance covered a rental car. I was out my deductible, but nothing else. My experience with my first Tesla (a Sig Series Model S) was not as straightforward when it needed repair from a minor fender-bender, as finding a 'Tesla certified' repair shop wasn't so easy. But now that Tesla has their own collision centers in major metro areas, there really isn't a problem. And the comments about the vehicle being totaled would be the same for any vehicle brand.

 

[koolio]

Agree, that if it were any other vehicle it wouldn’t be news or a video. The fact that they claim they lost money by totaling it and not having insurance cover it is highly suspect. It def has a negative slant to the article bc the take away for the average brain dead person will be CTs lose value and insurance won’t pay for a totaled vehicle.

 

[BobSaidSo]

Agree, that if it were any other vehicle it wouldn’t be news or a video. The fact that they claim they lost money by totaling it and not having insurance cover it is highly suspect. It def has a negative slant to the article bc the take away for the average brain dead person will be CTs lose value and insurance won’t pay for a totaled vehicle.

Ask yourself, why no video on 2023 Toyota Tundra trucks who had to have entire engine rebuilds.

Edmunds, Reuters, Consumer Reports all hate anything Tesla, so when a nail is stuck in a Tesla tire, Breaking News is alerted!

 

[dalton108]

I mean, isn’t it possible that they just didn’t have collision on the car and only liability?

Curiosity got the best of me—he makes some claim about it being commercial insurance and therefore it doesn’t work “like yours.” No further explanation. Full disclosure, I’ve never really liked this guy.

Also, I think it’s total bullshit that he never describes the speed of the collision or what kind of car hit the CT only that it was a little four-door car. Not for nothing nor does he say anything about what happened with the other driver did they die are they fine? Did I mention I hate this guy?

Also, he says when things totally out of left field happen they try to take lessons from it. In what world are car accidents “totally out of left field?” ?

There are somewhere around 20 to 30,000 MVAs in the US per day. The state of California sees about 1500. About 100 to 300 of those per day are parked cars being sideswiped. *These are estimates calculated with the help of ChatGPT.

I’ll just submit to you that something that happens this fucking frequently cannot be properly described as “coming out of left field.” ?

“Old Faithful” only erupts about 17 to 20 times per day. ?

 

[Ken in Miami]

Apparently this is the only “new model” vehicle they have tested or they would know parts are very hard to get on any new model vehicle and most repair shops will have issues getting a true estimate until vehicle is disassembled. I’ve been through this a few times and insurance companies usually total the vehicle if the estimate is over a percentage of the vehicle replacement cost for comparable replacement. The reason they total the vehicle and brand the title “ salvage” is to make sure their liability ends when they hand you the check. A new car buyer would buy gap insurance to cover the depreciation the day you drive it off the lot.
I have a black label Lincoln that had minor damage to front bumper and hood. Hood is aluminum and body shops will not “repair “ aluminum hoods due to the metal properties. Then the time to wait for parts not available. It’s just the way it is.
This article was written by someone who has no experience in new model vehicles.
Purchase the correct insurance and it works out and you will be happy n a rental the same day that your insurance picks up the tab on your rental. I would think all electric vehicles are best repaired by qualified technicians. You would not ever want your vehicle back after major repairs, take the check.

 

[mongo]

FWIW, the casting can be replaced in halves.
Also, the stainless panels dont get reworked, new ones get bolted on.
Also, front bumper camera gives visibility in front of the nose.
Also, a RWD EV would have the same drive unit damage as an AWD.

 

[dalton108]

Apparently this is the only “new model” vehicle they have tested or they would know parts are very hard to get on any new model vehicle and most repair shops will have issues getting a true estimate until vehicle is disassembled. I’ve been through this a few times and insurance companies usually total the vehicle if the estimate is over a percentage of the vehicle replacement cost for comparable replacement. The reason they total the vehicle and brand the title “ salvage” is to make sure their liability ends when they hand you the check. A new car buyer would buy gap insurance to cover the depreciation the day you drive it off the lot.
I have a black label Lincoln that had minor damage to front bumper and hood. Hood is aluminum and body shops will not “repair “ aluminum hoods due to the metal properties. Then the time to wait for parts not available. It’s just the way it is.
This article was written by someone who has no experience in new model vehicles.
Purchase the correct insurance and it works out and you will be happy n a rental the same day that your insurance picks up the tab on your rental. I would think all electric vehicles are best repaired by qualified technicians. You would not ever want your vehicle back after major repairs, take the check.

Well, the article is written by AI. Gemini specifically. The video from which the writeup is derived isn’t much better.

The problem is that the presenter gives no fucking information whatsoever that’s useful. He merely says we have commercial insurance and it doesn’t work like yours. There’s no explanation. They could be self-insured or only carry liability … if those things are the case, then this isn’t about how insurance works— it’s about them gambling and losing.

But, even that would be only part of the story, because this is clearly an accident caused by the other party. They either have at least liability insurance (per state law), or personal liability for the damage! So, what are we even talking about?!

This is all smoke and mirrors and bullshit! They never mention anything about them including what kind of car they were driving. All he ever says is “it was small” … well so the fuck what (“little boy” was relatively small - that doesn’t tell you how much energy is being released) how fast was it going!?

Did I mention I really hate this guy?

 

[Ken in Miami]

Well, the article is written by AI. Gemini specifically. The video from which the writeup is derived isn’t much better.

The problem is that the presenter gives no fucking information whatsoever that’s useful. He merely says we have commercial insurance and it doesn’t work like yours. There’s no explanation. They could be self insured or only carry liability if those things are the case then this isn’t about how insurance works it’s about them gambling and losing.

But that would be only part of the story, because this is clearly an accident caused by the other party. They have insurance or personal liability for the damage so what are we talking about?!

This is all smoke and mirrors and bullshit! They never mention anything about them including what kind of car they were driving. All he ever says is “it was small” … well so the fuck what (“little boy” was relatively small - that doesn’t tell you how much energy is being released) how fast was it going!?

Did I mention I really hate this guy?

Hundred percent agree
In my case my insurance company after investigation the same week would determine if the other party had insurance. Then would have wrote the check to me while they recovered losses from the other party. No one repairs a large stainless panel. If this person supplying this fantasy owns anything other than a Hyundai Accent with three different colored fenders I would be shocked!

 

[BobSaidSo]

Take note readers, Edmunds is pathetic!

 

[Coagulation]

Take note readers, Edmunds is pathetic!

Why? It took longer than they hoped to get a repair quote so then they had to take the loss instead of insurance? Pretty easy to follow, right?

Really though… the least important part of this video / article is regarding whatever insurance they were the person that hit them happen to have. Not relevant at all to someone using the review to make a purchasing decision. Yet it’s the core narrative.

Sponsored