Tesla has been under increased scrutiny of late for safety-related reasons. A recent viral Cybertruck crash in Houston prompted concerns around the “Full Self-Driving” mode, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is currently examining nine crashes where it’s alleged that drivers weren’t properly alerted to take control. But a new safety award is likely to throw a wrench into that building narrative.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) just awarded the Cybertruck with the Top Safety Pick+ honors, and it’s the only pickup truck on the market to land it. Tesla will likely place this award on the shelf next to the Cybertruck’s recent Five-Star Safety rating from the NHTSA, which must make that aforementioned investigation a little awkward.
But once again, it’s the only pickup available on the market to earn top marks from both agencies. An Elon post on X is surely forthcoming.
The IIHS does safety tests on numerous features, far more extensive than when Joe Rogan shot his compound bow at the Cybertruck. They tested for “crashworthiness” in multiple categories, crash avoidance and mitigation, and driver and pedestrian crash-test performance metrics as well. In each category, it achieved a “Good” rating, and the crash test dummies inside appeared mostly unharmed.
The only area where it didn’t do well? The rear passengers in the chest category. There, it earned the not-as-good “Acceptable” rating.
As can be expected, Tesla fans rushed to praise the achievement in defiance of recent media reports on safety. “The critics said it wouldn’t even pass, and now it’s the ONLY truck in its class to sweep the 2026 TOP SAFETY PICK+ award,” wrote one X user. “Huge win for the engineering team, turns out that stainless steel exoskeleton is more than just a look!”
Another chimed in: “If they would just build it to look like an old Chevy or an old Ford it would be game over.”
Of course, the handful of reports of cases involving the Cybertruck bursting into flames, and fears of passengers being able to escape properly, are the background for numerous lawsuits, and might cut into that enthusiasm for some.
How this safety rating impacts those concerns and sales for the often not-for-everyone $69,990-plus price remains to be seen. The Cybertruck is still a polarizing vehicle, but now owners can brush off allegations of what some think is a somewhat obnoxious design and respond with a simple, “Hey, I’m just trying to be safe.”