Multiple Tesla Cybertruck incidents involving intense fires and trapped passengers have led to at least four deaths, according to reports obtained by The Guardian. The fires, which have occurred in Texas and California, have sparked lawsuits against Tesla alleging faulty design that prevents occupants from escaping.
In one incident in Baytown, Texas, in August 2024, a Cybertruck crashed and burned so fiercely that the driver's remains were reduced to a pelvis and ribcage. Firefighters struggled to extinguish the blaze as the battery repeatedly reignited. The victim, Michael Patrick Sheehan, a 47-year-old nurse practitioner, had owned the truck for only three months.
Lawsuits claim that the Cybertruck's electric door handles fail to unlock after a crash, trapping passengers inside. The vehicles also feature high-density laminated windows that are difficult to break, and stainless steel construction that complicates rescue efforts. Safety experts note that while fire-related entrapment is a known issue across Tesla models, the Cybertruck appears to have a disproportionate number of fatal incidents relative to its sales volume of around 60,000 units.
Elon Musk has promoted the Cybertruck as 'apocalypse-proof' with bulletproof capabilities, but critics argue that the focus on novel design has overlooked essential safety considerations. The Cybertruck has been subject to ten recalls, including for faulty accelerators. Tesla has not responded to requests for comment.
