Texas Man Arrested After Testing Cybertruck Wade Mode in Lake

High-Tech Feature Meets Real-World Consequences

A Texas man was arrested Monday after police say he intentionally drove his Tesla Cybertruck into Grapevine Lake to test the vehicle's "Wade Mode" feature, only for the truck to become disabled and start taking on water . The driver, Jimmy Jack McDaniel, told officers he intentionally drove the vehicle into the lake to try and use its "Wade Mode" feature, but the Cybertruck was disabled and took on water, prompting the driver and a passenger to abandon it .

Officers responded Monday to Katie's Woods Park Boat Ramp after reports of a Cybertruck partially submerged near the shoreline, where the driver allegedly told officers he purposely drove the vehicle into the lake to use the Cybertruck's "Wade Mode," a feature Tesla says temporarily raises the truck's ride height and pressurizes the battery system to help navigate shallow water and rough terrain . A video on Instagram shows how the Cybertruck got stuck in the lake after wading through the water for a few meters, with occupants seen exiting the truck, which eventually gets lifted onto the shore by a crane .

What Wade Mode Actually Does

Wade Mode allows Cybertruck to enter and drive through bodies of water, such as rivers or creeks , but Tesla explicitly states that Wade Mode is designed strictly for shallow water, not as a lake-crossing cheat code . Wade Mode defaults the vehicle's ride height to Very High and protects Cybertruck for up to approximately 32 inches of water, driving at slow speeds (1-3 mph) , with Wade Mode duration limited to 30 minutes .

Tesla's manual makes clear it is the driver's responsibility to gauge the depth of any body of water before entering, and damage or water ingress to Cybertruck as a result of driving in water is not covered by the warranty . The manual warns that uneven underwater surfaces, soft mud or strong currents can cause instability or sinking, potentially leading to serious damage . The feature is intended for shallow crossings such as streams, creeks or flooded road sections, rather than lakes or deep water environments .

Legal Troubles Beyond Vehicle Damage

Police said McDaniel is charged with operation of a vehicle in a closed section of the lake, not having a valid boat registration and other water safety equipment violations . Texas Parks and Wildlife registration and safety-equipment requirements explain why a vehicle in public water can become more than a normal traffic issue . The Grapevine Police Department said in a Facebook post: "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 vehicle was removed with the help of the Grapevine Fire Department's Water Rescue Team . According to reports, McDaniel says he's done it before but this time he got stuck — and went to jail . McDaniel said a crew has since returned the Cybertruck to him and he is hopeful he will be able to drive it again .

The Broader Implications

The lesson for owners is simple: Wade Mode is not permission to treat a $100,000-ish electric truck like a boat . Tesla frequently pushes impressive over-the-air software updates to enhance off-road capabilities, but code cannot override the laws of physics. No amount of software tuning will ever transform a heavy highway vehicle into a seaworthy vessel .

This incident highlights the gap between marketing advanced vehicle features and understanding their practical limitations. While automakers continue developing impressive capabilities like Wade Mode, the responsibility ultimately falls on drivers to use these technologies safely and legally. As electric vehicles become more sophisticated, incidents like this serve as costly reminders that advanced features require informed, responsible use rather than social media experimentation.