Tonneau cover leaks

[stebb1174]

I think that the backer is impervious enough that water just runs over it and doesnt soak in. ive survived this winter in pennsylvania with no crack so far at least.

Did you stuff the backer rod on the sides as well?

 

[EWELON]

Did you stuff the backer rod on the sides as well?

nope its just at that gap between the aerocover and the roof glass.

 

[BabOne]

So you think that water can sit in there and freeze and crack the glass? That’s the only thing stopping me from this solution.

Great question. I think as the water freezes it would expand towards the less resistant foam and/or spline and not break the glass but I live in southern Arizona so not an expert. If I encounter freezing temperatures I will let you know.

 

[stebb1174]

just to confuse, four solutions

1-force Tesla to remedy as it seems 2026 models are fixed
2-install the screen spline
3-install the backer foam
4-install the U shaped weather stripping

1, ive had them take a crack at it once, vastly improved with their work but not perfect, not sure ill ask again
2, cheap, might just order and test
3, same
4, i did buy, this will be my first choice, waiting for warmer weather

Well I'm here at the SC right now and I'm not feeling too optimistic about them being able to fix the situation. Their plan is to put on the missing slat and that's its. When I mentioned the area between the aeroflap and glass they gave me a speech/lecture how "it's not supposed to be waterproof". Looks like I'm going to have to do option 2 3 or 4 I'm leaning towards 3 or 4

Will follow up with an update after the service today. We have another storm coming.

 

[ARMANDO PADILLA]

Real solution to getting the vault dry.
1. A time machine to buy one of the trucks that was made with the extra slat and propper sealing, gets you 98% dry
2. Go to a service center 1-20x and hope to get the right person to do the fix.
3. Do what this guy I met at a supercharger did, and black silicone the whole thing, looked TERRIBLE but he said he used the truck for work and had some work tools destroyed by getting soaked. (he said it was OK that I took pictures and shared)

Full post with more pics here
https://www.cybertruckownersclub.com/forum/threads/100-waterproof-vault-using-black-silicone.46646/

yeah, I'm not doing this. That looks horrible. Even though I know I can do a much better job than this mess. But then what happens when you need to remove one of these panels?
my FS CB does have the extra slat on the tonneau cover and water still pours in like a fountain.
I like what eser50 did with that weatherstrip, but I'm going to bring it up to the SC to see what kind of BS they tell me. But at least give them a chance, maybe I'll get lucky and get a tech who actually knows something about the truck, and for sure check the work before leaving, not falling for the last-minute trick where they make you wait till closing time, and they literally turn out the lights as they bring your truck out and tell you "ok sir All of your concerns have been resolved" only to find out when you get home that not only are the issues still present but they broke a few more parts and used double-side-tape to hold it all together. true story.
luckily, my tools that went submarine on me were all hand tools, so no real harm was done, just a ridiculous nuisance. I keep the power tools in the $250 Tesla tubs that you can buy for $10 each at HD.

 

[EWELON]

yeah, I'm not doing this. That looks horrible. Even though I know I can do a much better job than this mess. But then what happens when you need to remove one of these panels?
my FS CB does have the extra slat on the tonneau cover and water still pours in like a fountain.
I like what eser50 did with that weatherstrip, but I'm going to bring it up to the SC to see what kind of BS they tell me. But at least give them a chance, maybe I'll get lucky and get a tech who actually knows something about the truck, and for sure check the work before leaving, not falling for the last-minute trick where they make you wait till closing time, and they literally turn out the lights as they bring your truck out and tell you "ok sir All of your concerns have been resolved" only to find out when you get home that not only are the issues still present but they broke a few more parts and used double-side-tape to hold it all together. true story.
luckily, my tools that went submarine on me were all hand tools, so no real harm was done, just a ridiculous nuisance. I keep the power tools in the $250 Tesla tubs that you can buy for $10 each at HD.

those tesla tubs arent waterproof either. or dust proof. get the husky ones from HD. theyre much more reliable, if youre that concerned about it.

 

[matttn]

Well I'm here at the SC right now and I'm not feeling too optimistic about them being able to fix the situation. Their plan is to put on the missing slat and that's its. When I mentioned the area between the aeroflap and glass they gave me a speech/lecture how "it's not supposed to be waterproof". Looks like I'm going to have to do option 2 3 or 4 I'm leaning towards 3 or 4

Will follow up with an update after the service today. We have another storm coming.

I had the missing slat installed May 2025 and my tonneau still leaks a ton. Try to press them on testing the appliqué where it meets the rear glass window and if they can check the foaming there.

I have a scheduled appointment on Monday but I’m still optimistic they’ll do it right and I’ll resort to the options others posted here.

But they did have the pending $275 “diagnostic fee” in the app if they deem the leak isn’t warranty related.

 

[stebb1174]

I had the missing slat installed May 2025 and my tonneau still leaks a ton. Try to press them on testing the appliqué where it meets the rear glass window and if they can check the foaming there.

I have a scheduled appointment on Monday but I’m still optimistic they’ll do it right and I’ll resort to the options others posted here.

But they did have the pending $275 “diagnostic fee” in the app if they deem the leak isn’t warranty related.

Well I just got my missing slat replaced and it seems to be leaking less but still a pretty significant leak on the passenger side and it's clearly between glass and aeroflap.

My initial instinct was to call them in the AM and show them my video of it leaking but would hate to lose $275 to hear them say again the bed is not supposed to be waterproof and it's within spec.

Keep us posted on what they say on Monday. Good luck.

 

[EWELON]

Well I just got my missing slat replaced and it seems to be leaking less but still a pretty significant leak on the passenger side and it's clearly between glass and aeroflap.

My initial instinct was to call them in the AM and show them my video of it leaking but would hate to lose $275 to hear them say again the bed is not supposed to be waterproof and it's within spec.

Keep us posted on what they say on Monday. Good luck.

thats exactly where mine leaked after the slat addition. the OEM seal at the glass side of the aeroflap just isnt robust enough to seal the entire length of that gap. any of the forum examples of treating that gap seem to work to mitigate that issue.

 

[Cybertruck2024]

those tesla tubs arent waterproof either. or dust proof. get the husky ones from HD. theyre much more reliable, if youre that concerned about it.

This is truly the optimal solution. Tesla never made a truck before and they obviously had no clue how to make a tonneau. Messing around with my warranty isn't worth it. I only travel with multiple carry-on suitcases now, all in Husky totes.

If I need to haul something larger than what fits in a Husky tote, I borrow my parent's Santa Cruz, because the engineers knew how to make a waterproof tonneau on the sub-$30k vehicle.

 

[JackCypher]

I don't need the extra slat on mine
I have never seen the holes you guys mention on my CB
but I have seen them on other trucks and know what it looks like.
so I will look into fixing the seal between the glass and applique .
its just so fuckn ridiculous when you show up to a job site in a fantastic truck you go pull your tools out and they are underwater because the rain somehow got through bulletproof steel and glass you feel like a clown at that point.

I agree with your point: You roll up in the bitchen futuristic Cybertruck, admirers standing around as you open the tailgate and your shit is soaked...

Cause in the future there is no rain?... or water is in pill form?

It is an oversight/defect. The tonneau cover was clearly intended to prevent water intrusion into the bed as the side overlap and channeling is design to redirect water on the sides from going into the bed.

Also, by observation of the tonneau cover it 'presents' as it blocks water as there is no light leak into the bed. So it does present as a non-permeable barrier.

Mine was missing the front slat - however is still leaks after Tesla repair. So I need to 'do-it-myself' at some point to replace with the larger seal.

 

[Gigahorse]

yeah, I'm not doing this. That looks horrible. Even though I know I can do a much better job than this mess. But then what happens when you need to remove one of these panels?
my FS CB does have the extra slat on the tonneau cover and water still pours in like a fountain.
I like what eser50 did with that weatherstrip, but I'm going to bring it up to the SC to see what kind of BS they tell me. But at least give them a chance, maybe I'll get lucky and get a tech who actually knows something about the truck, and for sure check the work before leaving, not falling for the last-minute trick where they make you wait till closing time, and they literally turn out the lights as they bring your truck out and tell you "ok sir All of your concerns have been resolved" only to find out when you get home that not only are the issues still present but they broke a few more parts and used double-side-tape to hold it all together. true story.
luckily, my tools that went submarine on me were all hand tools, so no real harm was done, just a ridiculous nuisance. I keep the power tools in the $250 Tesla tubs that you can buy for $10 each at HD.

The issue is having to use rubbermaid totes that are not an efficient use of space in a 100k vehicle in the "VAULT"
If you need to put a 3d printer, table saw, or any decent size stuff back there you may end up going the route this guy did to get it waterproof.

 

[CTOmaha]

My CT is in the shop for PCS issue, asked them about the vault leak at the top where the glass meets. Tech said we can fix that, so they added to ticket. Let you guys know what happens afterwards. Truck won't be ready for ten days though.

 

[DFeredinos]

Just had mine in for service for leak along the passenger side. They added the extra slat, and replaced both side panels. It still has a little leak on the side they’re saying “is within spec” as it’s not “waterproof” and that the rear window is because I have the removable panel for my cybertent. I’m going to try and fix it myself similarly to the original posted video, but it’s been raining a lot here in seattle so it’s hard to get a good beat on the resolution.

 

[HaulingAss]

I agree with your point: You roll up in the bitchen futuristic Cybertruck, admirers standing around as you open the tailgate and your shit is soaked...

You guys are hopeless. I fixed mine in 20 minutes and my truck lives outside 24/7 in the PNW rain and snow. Before that it leaked waterfalls into the center of the bed, now everything stays completely dry. I keep cardboard boxes, tool bags filled with power tools, and lots of other non-waterproof stuff in the bed, nothing gets wet or soggy. At best, after driving through a hard rain, there is a little seepage around the top of the tailgate but it just runs harmlessly down the tailgate and out to the road. Even parking nose-up or nose-down on a steep slope doesn't seem to make it leak.

That was in May of 2024, still dry. The Bakfip on my F-150 was another story. I never could get it to stop leaking. Plus, the foam cores absorbed water and became water-logged and very heavy. And the Bakflip is one of the most highly regarded tonneau covers on the market. Tesla hit it out of the park with this super strong and sturdy electric tonneau that vanishes out of sight when you need to haul big items, firewood, bark, etc.

Nothing else like it on the market.