A Tesla Cybertruck owner in Texas found out the hard way that “Wade Mode” does not turn the all-electric pickup into a boat, despite prior claims from CEO Elon Musk.
According to the Grapevine Police Department, officers and firefighters responded to Grapevine Lake on Monday evening after a Cybertruck became stranded in the water near the Katie’s Woods boat ramp.
In a statement posted to social media, police said the driver intentionally drove the Cybertruck into the lake in order to test the truck’s Wade Mode feature. However, the vehicle soon became disabled and started taking on water, forcing the occupants to abandon the truck before emergency crews recovered it from the shoreline.
Cybertruck driver decides to drive his Truck into a local lake here in Texas. It ended exactly how you thought it would. 🤣 pic.twitter.com/rii6buSQzJ
— Joel Montfort (@jmontforttx) May 19, 2026
“Yesterday, GPD and GFD were dispatched to Grapevine Lake, where a Tesla Cybertruck was stranded in the water,” the department said. “The driver drove into the lake to use the ‘Wade Mode’ feature when the vehicle became disabled. The passengers abandoned the vehicle and the driver was arrested.”
Local reports say officers arrived at the scene just before 8 p.m. Monday. While the passengers exited safely, the driver was taken into custody and now faces multiple charges. Those reportedly include operating a vehicle in a closed section of a park or lake, not having a valid boat registration, and several water safety equipment violations.
Police also issued a warning following the incident.
“We want to remind drivers that although a vehicle may be physically capable of entering shallow freshwater areas, doing so can create legal and safety concerns under Texas law,” the department said.
ALSO READ: Washington State begs people not to use Tesla Cybertruck as a boat
The incident appears to stem from confusion surrounding Tesla’s “Wade Mode,” a feature available on the Cybertruck that raises the ride height and temporarily pressurizes the battery pack to help the truck travel through shallow water.
The feature has sparked plenty of online discussion since the Cybertruck launched, with some owners testing the limits of the truck’s off-road capabilities following Elon Musk’s comments that the Cybertruck could briefly serve as a boat.
Yesterday, GPD and GFD were dispatched to Grapevine Lake, where a Tesla Cybertruck was stranded in the water. The driver drove into the lake to use the “Wade Mode” feature when the vehicle became disabled. The passengers abandoned the vehicle and the driver was arrested. pic.twitter.com/iPJMaLzOEX
— Grapevine Police (@GrapevinePolice) May 19, 2026
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