Tesla’s pickup truck shows incredible strength in collisions, but an essential item disqualified it. See the full safety analysis.
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- Is the Tesla Cybertruck safe in collisions? Yes, the vehicle earned a “Good” rating in the IIHS moderate front overlap crash tests, protecting occupants well.
- What were the Cybertruck’s weak points in safety tests? The headlights and seat belt reminders were the main shortcomings, preventing a higher safety rating.
- Did the Cybertruck pass collision prevention tests? Yes, the vehicle was exemplary, avoiding all collisions at various speeds and conditions, including at night.
The Tesla Cybertruck, one of the most anticipated and controversial vehicles on the market, has just undergone rigorous crash tests, revealing impressive safety performance. Despite some initial concerns about its angular design, the electric pickup truck demonstrated robustness in occupant protection, a central pillar of the Tesla brand’s identity.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) awarded the Cybertruck a “Good” rating in the moderate front overlap crash test. This rating applies to models manufactured after April 2025, benefiting from reinforcement in the lower front structure. These results align with the 5-star rating previously reported for the Tesla Cybertruck in vehicle safety tests.
Occupant protection was a highlight. The driver dummy showed a low risk of injury to the head, chest, and legs. For the rear passenger, the risk of chest injury was rated as moderate. This performance shows that, even with discussions around systems like Autopilot and Full Self-Driving (Supervised), the passive safety of Tesla’s electric vehicles is a strong point.
In addition to impact resistance, the Cybertruck demonstrated excellence in collision prevention tests. The vehicle avoided all collisions at speeds of 12 and 25 mph (approximately 19 and 40 km/h) during both day and night. Impressively, it also performed well in nighttime tests at 25 and 37 mph (approximately 40 and 60 km/h) with moving, parallel obstacles, a crucial outcome given previous concerns about the vehicle’s interaction with pedestrians. In the broader context of electric vehicles, where electric vehicles are surprising in reliability and safety, the Cybertruck solidifies Tesla’s reputation.
The Achilles’ Heel: Lighting and Alerts
However, not everything was met with applause. The main factor that prevented the Cybertruck from receiving a “Top Safety Pick” award was the performance of its headlights. The IIHS observed that lighting systems that generate excessive glare in specific sections of the road do not receive full credit for visibility readings. The Cybertruck’s headlights exhibited this issue, along with deficiencies in other areas.
The lighting was considered inadequate on the left side of the road and when turning left, creating gaps in coverage. In contrast, the right side comfortably met almost all requirements, resulting in uneven overall performance. The headlight issue serves as a reminder of how crucial the illuminated transition and the future of automotive lighting are, especially for high-tech vehicles.
Another area for improvement mentioned was the seat belt reminder system, which also did not meet ideal standards. For the Cybertruck to contend for a “Top Safety Pick” award, Tesla will need to significantly enhance its lighting, and the IIHS will still need to subject it to small overlap and side crash tests, which have not yet been conducted.
Competition and the Overall EV Safety Landscape
Despite the challenges, the Cybertruck’s strong performance reinforces the positive safety trend among electric vehicles. Models like the BMW i4, Chevy Blazer EV, and VW ID.Buzz have also earned “Good” collision ratings in the latest IIHS tests. It’s important to note that other electric pickup trucks are at the top of the segment, such as the Rivian R1T, which outperformed the Cybertruck and earned the IIHS Top Safety Pick+ award in 2024. To learn more about one of its competitors, discover the incredible California Dune Edition from Rivian.
Safety remains a priority for electric vehicle manufacturers. While the Cybertruck has demonstrated strong occupant protection capabilities, the challenges with its headlights show there is always room for optimization. Interestingly, Tesla has also faced other issues recently, such as an urgent recall that impacted almost all models of the Cybertruck, a constant reminder of the complexity of modern automotive engineering.
Safety Comparison: Cybertruck vs. Selected Competitors
- Tesla Cybertruck:
- IIHS Rating: “Good” (moderate front overlap, after April 2025 update).
- NHTSA Rating: 5 Stars.
- Strengths: Robust occupant protection, excellent collision prevention.
- Weaknesses: Headlights and seat belt reminders.
- Rivian R1T:
- IIHS Rating: “Top Safety Pick+” (2024).
- Strengths: Superior overall safety performance, including lighting.
- BMW i4, Chevy Blazer EV, VW ID.Buzz:
- IIHS Rating: “Good” (moderate front overlap).
- Strengths: Solid performance in crash tests.
For the Tesla Cybertruck, the path to “Top Safety Pick” involves improvements to its headlights and the completion of additional tests. This performance, however, already positions it as a safe and innovative electric pickup truck on the global stage.
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Author: Fabio Isidoro
Founder and editor-in-chief of Canal Carro, he dedicates himself to exploring the automotive universe with depth and passion. A car and technology enthusiast, he produces technical content and in-depth analyses of national and international vehicles, combining quality information with a critical eye for the public.