A Tesla fan and early user of the quirkily designed new Cybertruck says he had a terrifying experience when his vehicle suffered a "catastrophic failure" as he drove across the country with his young family.

Matthew Chiarello, an attorney who practises law in Phoenix, Arizona, contacted the carmaker's famous owner directly after the incident by messaging Elon Musk on the mogul's own social media site, X (formerly known as Twitter). He told the billionaire that the brakes and steering had failed as he drove with his wife and toddler.

Production of the Cybertruck was scheduled to start in late 2021, but various delays meant it didn't begin until July 2023 to produce vehicles for November deliveries. Prices vary, but can rise to around a cool $100,000 for higher spec vehicles.

Elon Musk with Cybertruck — Elon Musk introduces the newly unveiled all-electric battery-powered Tesla Cybertruck at Tesla Design Center in Hawthorne, California, on November 21, 2019. One user reported a "catastrophic failure." FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty Images

Experts still have some questions about the truck now it has hit the roads, and there has been feverish interest in the vehicle online. In December, footage of a Cybertruck struggling on a snowy hill went viral, but early users have been impressed, and a clip of Joe Rogan firing an arrow that barely made a dent in the car went viral.

This weekend, Chiarello's post alleging brake failure also sparked a stir online.

Chiarello posted a photo on X on Sunday, showing a Cybertruck being loaded on to a flatbed truck. He captioned the image: "Love @tesla and my @cybertruck but 'catastrophe failure' with steering and brakes while on a road trip with wife and toddler.... Pretty pretty pretty not good. Oh and service center not open today. @elonmusk."

Newsweek has contacted Tesla and Chiarello seeking further information and comment.

His post showed signs of going viral and has already been viewed more than 1.5 million times, while more than 700 X users reposted Chiarello's message to share it with their own followers.

It also drew more than 1,000 comments. One commentator appeared to question the wisdom of purchasing the Cybertruck in the first place.

"Buying prototypes for 100k might be a bit risky," the X user wrote.

But Chiarello hit back with a simple reply, by pointing out that it was a "production car." Others questioned why the driver still expressed "love" for the vehicle after alleging it had just proved dangerous. "I love my death trap that nearly killed me and my family," one person wrote sarcastically.

Others praised Chiarello for his bravery in taking on innovative new technology, saying that is how progress is made.

One X user told him: "First few months of completely new vehicles off a completely new production line will have many issues. Same for every manufacturer of every type of vehicle, ICE or EV. They'll be refined over time as usual. Tesla needs to look after the early adopters who take such a thing on."

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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.

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