Someone drove a Tesla Cybertruck into a lake to test Wade Mode. It didnt end well.

Source: Mashable Tech

Musk’s Durability Claims

• He claimed the steel‑plated Cybertruck is “apocalypse‑level safe.”
• He also said the Cybertruck would be “waterproof enough to serve briefly as a boat, so it can cross rivers, lakes & even seas that aren’t too choppy.”

The Grapevine Lake Incident

A driver took Musk’s comments literally and deliberately drove his Cybertruck into Grapevine Lake, an 8,000‑acre reservoir northwest of Dallas, Texas.

According to the Grapevine Police Department’s official Facebook post, the driver stated he was testing the Cybertruck’s Wade Mode feature. The vehicle became disabled, took on water, and was abandoned by the driver and passengers. The Grapevine Fire Department Water Rescue Team removed the vehicle from the lake, and the driver was arrested on charges of operating a vehicle in a closed section of a park/lake, along with multiple water‑safety violations.

Tesla’s Wade Mode Documentation

Tesla’s official owner’s manual for the Cybertruck explains Wade Mode as follows:

“Wade Mode allows the Cybertruck to enter and drive through bodies of water, such as rivers or creeks. The maximum wade depth is approximately 32 in. (815 mm), measured from the bottom of the tire.”

Musk’s Claims vs. Real‑World Conditions

Musk has also tweeted that the Cybertruck “needs to be able to get from Starbase to South Padre Island, which requires crossing the channel.” The crossing in question is roughly 400 m across the Brazos Santiago Pass, where the water depth is about 42 ft—far deeper than the 32 in. limit specified for Wade Mode. Consequently, the Cybertruck cannot safely make that crossing.

Prior Incidents

This is not the first time a Cybertruck has been driven into water and become stuck. Similar attempts have resulted in vehicle damage, potential warranty voidance, and safety hazards.

Bottom Line

Wade Mode is limited to shallow water (≈ 32 in). Deliberately submerging a Cybertruck in deeper bodies of water is unsafe, can void the warranty, and may lead to serious injury. Do not attempt it.