If you thought Tesla’s Cybertruck had peaked with its bold design and high-tech promise, think again—the story isn’t just about a stylish pickup, it’s about how safety credibility, power management, and ongoing fixes shape the vehicle’s real-world performance. But here’s where it gets controversial: a single update can ripple through perception, sales, and even how confident buyers feel about a vehicle that’s already sparked debate since day one.
Tesla recently celebrated a major safety milestone for the Cybertruck, announcing that 2025 Cybertrucks built after April 2025 earned IIHS Top Safety Pick+ status. This award signals strong performance across updated crash tests, superior front crash prevention, and effective headlights, among other strengths. In true social-media style, Tesla’s official Cybertruck account marked the achievement with a post on X featuring a clip that critiqued early skepticism about the vehicle’s safety.
What changed to earn this rating? The IIHS notes that for 2025 models built after April 2025, Tesla revised the front underbody structure and the footwell area to boost occupant protection in driver-side and passenger-side small overlap crashes. The vehicle’s moderate overlap front test came back with a good rating, and the updated side-impact test also scored highly. The Cybertruck’s front crash prevention performed well in pedestrian scenarios, with standard Collision Avoidance Assist helping avoid collisions in both daytime and nighttime tests across scenarios involving children, adult pedestrians, and crossing paths. High-beam assisted headlights further contributed to the top-tier rating.
Alongside the safety accolade, the Cybertruck stands out in another way: it’s one of only two full-size pickups to receive IIHS’s Top Safety Pick+ and the only one equipped with Tesla’s advanced self-driving features via the Full Self-Driving (Supervised) system. In practice, this means the Cybertruck can navigate city streets and highways with minimal human supervision, adding a safety layer beyond passive crash protection.
Reaction from the community was mixed but leaned toward praise for safety gains. Tesla highlighted the moment by sharing a short clip that spotlighted a critic who had doubted the vehicle’s ability to pass safety tests, underscoring the ongoing debate about how much stability and safety autonomy add to a vehicle’s value.
Beyond safety, attention has shifted to Powershare with Powerwall, a bidirectional charging feature Tesla has highlighted for Cybertruck owners. Powershare would let the Cybertruck act as a portable power source for homes, appliances, tools, and even other EVs, with capabilities for vehicle-to-load (V2L) and vehicle-to-home (V2H) energy sharing. Introduced in 2023 as part of Tesla’s energy ecosystem expansion, this feature promises a practical edge during outages and remote work scenarios.
However, despite the long wait and repeated promises, Powershare with Powerwall has not yet shipped. Tesla recently told owners that the feature remains in development and is now slated for release in mid-2026, citing the need for more time to design, test, and ensure reliable energy sharing across various Powerwall configurations and generations. The company also indicated that additional Powershare capabilities are in the works to accelerate the transition to sustainable energy.
Owners’ frustration has grown with the delays, particularly for those who bought Foundation Series Cybertrucks expecting Powershare at delivery. Lead Cybertruck engineer Wes Morrill acknowledged the challenge, explaining that coordinating seamless power sharing between the Cybertruck, Powerwalls, and existing wall connectors is complex. The negotiation between two grid-forming devices must occur without network connectivity and across multiple hardware generations, all while meeting strict safety certifications. While some transparency is appreciated, many owners feel let down by repeated postponements.
Separately, Tesla issued a light-bar installation fix after a recall exposed an adhesive-primer issue tied to a third-party primer supplier. The fix moves from adhesive mounting to a bracket-based, mechanical attachment, ensuring the light bar remains secure. The repair—documented in Service Bulletin SB-25-90-001—can be performed by Mobile Service technicians and is offered at no charge, provided there’s no delamination or damage. The issue did not involve any accidents or injuries according to NHTSA records.
This light-bar repair marks the third Cybertruck recall of the year, following earlier fixes for exterior trim panel detachment and overly bright front parking lights addressed via over-the-air updates. Taken together, these developments illustrate a vehicle still in the balancing act of ambitious technology, real-world reliability, and customer expectations.
Why this matters: the Cybertruck’s growing safety credentials, paired with ongoing energy-sharing ambitions and routine maintenance fixes, shape how buyers perceive its value and reliability. Will IIHS’s Top Safety Pick+ help translate safety credibility into stronger sales, or will charging-related delays and recalls keep parts of the audience skeptical? Your thoughts—or experiences—about safety, power-sharing, and the practicality of owning a high-tech electric pickup are welcome in the comments.
