Tesla Cybertruck
DROP ITby Tesla
Last verified September 13, 2026
💬 — ask a question or share feedback →The Cybertruck's 'armor glass' claim was famously contradicted at its own 2019 reveal event when the windows shattered live on stage, and the production 2024 model has since accumulated 11 NHTSA recalls in under two years -- the most of any vehicle in this comparison.
At the Cybertruck's November 2019 reveal, Tesla marketed its stainless steel body and 'armor glass' windows as being able to withstand a sledgehammer and resist a thrown steel ball without breaking -- Elon Musk had chief designer Franz von Holzhausen demonstrate this live on stage.
The armor-glass claim was contradicted live, on stage, in front of a global audience: both the driver and rear windows shattered when struck with a thrown steel ball, moments after a sledgehammer failed to dent the truck's body. Musk later said a prior sledgehammer hit had cracked the glass base, which is why the ball didn't bounce off as intended. Since the production 2024 Cybertruck reached buyers, NHTSA has issued 11 separate recalls -- more than any other vehicle in this batch -- covering real safety-relevant defects (an accelerator pedal pad that can dislodge and become trapped, a drive inverter fault that can cause a loss of power to the wheels, a rearview camera delay violating a federal safety standard) alongside more minor issues (an incorrect instrument-panel font size, trim panels that can detach, a light bar that can delaminate). NHTSA's complaint database lists 170 complaints for the 2024 Cybertruck.
The original 'armor glass' claim didn't survive its own reveal event, breaking on camera in front of the exact audience it was meant to impress. That's a marketing failure from day one, and the production vehicle's real-world record since hasn't been reassuring either: 11 NHTSA recalls in under two years on sale is the highest count of any vehicle checked in this batch, including a pedal defect serious enough to trap the accelerator and a drive inverter fault that can cut power entirely. Buzz and attention aren't the same as a clean safety record.
2024 Tesla Cybertruck Review: This Is Just Plain Cool — Doug DeMuro
Did the Tesla Cybertruck's windows really break during its reveal?
Yes. At the November 2019 reveal, both the driver and rear windows shattered on stage when Tesla's chief designer threw a steel ball at them to demonstrate the glass's toughness, moments after a sledgehammer failed to dent the body.
How many recalls has the Tesla Cybertruck had?
NHTSA lists 11 recalls for the 2024 Cybertruck as of this writing — the most of any vehicle checked in this comparison — covering issues from an accelerator pedal pad that can dislodge to a drive inverter fault that can cause a loss of power.