A Tesla Cybertruck driver has been arrested after attempting to cross a lake in what the company markets as ‘wade mode’, a feature designed for shallow water. The stunt, filmed and posted online, shows the vehicle submerging up to its windows before stalling, leaving the driver stranded. Police confirmed the arrest on suspicion of dangerous driving.
Sources close to the investigation reveal that the incident occurred at a reservoir in the Lake District, where the driver allegedly ignored warning signs. The Cybertruck was recovered after a five-hour operation. No injuries were reported, but the event has triggered an urgent safety probe by the UK’s Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency.
Documents obtained by this newsroom show that Tesla’s wade mode is advertised as allowing the Cybertruck to traverse water up to 30 inches deep. However, internal engineering emails suggest the feature was never tested on public roads in the UK. The DVSA is now examining whether Tesla misled consumers about the vehicle’s capabilities.
This is not the first time Tesla has faced scrutiny over exaggerated claims. In 2023, the company settled a class-action lawsuit in the US over autopilot performance. Now, with the Cybertruck’s unconventional design and marketing, regulators are questioning its roadworthiness.
The arrested driver, a 34-year-old man from Manchester, was released on bail pending further enquiries. His lawyer declined to comment. Tesla UK has not responded to repeated requests for comment.
But the real story here is not a single reckless driver. It’s the pattern. Tesla’s cybertruck was never intended for British roads. Its angular body, stainless steel skin and specs like ‘wade mode’ are clearly designed for a North American audience or tech enthusiasts. Yet the company has registered it for sale in the UK, bypassing stricter safety standards.
I’ve been chasing this for weeks. My sources inside the DVSA confirm that Tesla submitted its own crash test data rather than undergoing independent testing. That’s legal under current rules, but it’s a loophole that needs closing. The wade mode claim is just the tip of the iceberg. What else has Tesla not tested?
This vehicle, with its bulletproof body and promise of apocalypse-ready durability, is sold as a lifeboat. But when the water rises, it sinks. The question is: who else will drown before regulators act?
The DVSA probe could result in fines or a recall. But don’t hold your breath. Tesla has weathered worse storms. The real change will come when a parliamentary committee demands answers. Until then, every Cybertruck on a UK road is a risk we’re all paying for.
Follow the money. The Cybertruck’s price tag starts at £80,000. That’s a lot of cash for a glorified paperweight in a puddle.
