Some owners of Tesla's Cybertruck are noticing rust-like stains on the vehicle's stainless steel body, potentially caused by magnets. A viral video highlights how these marks can appear shortly after purchase. While the steel is rust-resistant, it is not immune to surface corrosion under certain conditions.
Tesla's Cybertruck features body panels made from a cold-worked stainless steel alloy, similar to that used in SpaceX rockets. This material is designed to be strong and corrosion-resistant, but owners have reported orange stains resembling rust appearing on the surface.
In a Facebook Reel viewed more than 16,000 times, auto-enthusiast creator Molesrcool examined these issues. "A lot of these rust stains are being caused by people putting magnets on their car, and they're very difficult to get out, if you can get them out at all," he said. He added, "This is not what you want your car to look like, less than a year into owning it. I can't imagine what's gonna happen to ones in cold climates with lots of salt on the road."
The stains often stem from environmental factors or contamination. Road salt, coastal air, or iron particles from magnets can compromise the protective oxide layer formed by chromium in the alloy, leading to surface discoloration rather than deep rust. Magnets, which may contain or attract tiny iron particles exposed to moisture, can transfer these contaminants when placed on the panels.
Discussions in the video's comments debated the steel's properties. One user noted, "I thought magnets didn’t stick [to] stainless steel," prompting explanations that cheaper grades or cold-worked alloys can exhibit weak magnetism after forming and stamping. Fully austenitic stainless steel is typically non-magnetic, but processing can alter its structure.
Reports of such staining appear scattered, often linked to specific environments or usage. In many cases, the marks can be removed through cleaning or polishing. Tesla opted for unpainted stainless steel to simplify manufacturing and achieve the vehicle's distinctive appearance, forgoing traditional paint protections. Owners are advised to wash regularly, avoid magnets, and consider protective wraps or films to prevent contaminants from affecting the bare metal.
This transparency about the material's limitations highlights trade-offs in the Cybertruck's design, where exposed metal makes blemishes like fingerprints or water spots more visible than on painted vehicles.