Image: Tesla
Tesla has quietly introduced a new safety feature for the Cybertruck with software update 2025.26, as spotted by Not a Tesla App. The update adds an overload detection system that warns drivers if they exceed the vehicle’s load rating, helping owners tow and haul more safely.
Software version 2025.26 started rolling out last month and also brought Grok 4 AI to Tesla vehicles. Cybertrucks that have received the update can now detect when their rear axle is overloaded and deliver specific, actionable guidance to the user. If the system detects excess weight, the truck displays the following message:
Rear axle load exceeds recommended limit
Remove cargo or rebalance trailer to prevent damage
Tesla suggests either removing weight or redistributing it across the trailer to reduce tongue weight. Owners using a weight-distributing hitch will also see improved balance and safety.
Tesla hasn’t detailed exactly how the system works, and the company even left the new feature out of the release notes for update 2025.26. However, it’s likely powered by a combination of air suspension data and rear motor feedback. By measuring the pressure needed to keep the truck level — or monitoring torque and strain on the rear axle — the Cybertruck can infer how much weight it’s carrying, no extra sensors required.
This latest feature highlights Tesla’s ongoing approach of improving vehicles via over-the-air software updates. It follows recent news of the Cybertruck performing impressively in crash testing by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), with a full safety report expected soon.
The overload detection capability makes the already rugged Cybertruck even more practical, further differentiating it from traditional pickups that lack such real-time intelligence. Expect more user-driven upgrades like this as Tesla continues to refine its first electric truck.
