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This is the last place you want to break down. In the freezing cold, alone in the Utah wilderness in a new GMC Hummer EV. But, that’s exactly what happened to TFL Truck reviewer and YouTuber Roman Mica. He called it “another TFL misadventure,” when he suddenly lost all power in the truck while off-roading in the Utah wilderness all alone.

He was testing new tires for the Hummer EV

The Fast Lane Truck had issues with ground clearance on the Hummer EV. On the truck that TFL owns, the air suspension would lower the truck at inopportune times. So, they guys went old-school and swapped the Hummer EV’s 35-inch tires for taller 37-inch tires for better off-road clearance.

In a previous video, the truck got high centered on a rock because it didn’t have the clearance to get over it. TFL wanted to test approach, departure and breakover angles with taller tires.

Mica took the truck to Moab, Utah.

A green 2023 GMC Hummer EV electric pickup truck is parked outside.
The 2023 GMC Hummer EV | General Motors

But then, going down a hill, the truck suddenly dies. It gave the driver a warning, “’Four-wheel drive mode unavailable, schedule service.’ It just died,” said presenter Roman Mica. “I’m pressing the accelerator, and nothing is happening.” That’s not what you want in a $115,000 EV truck.

Eventually, after re-setting the truck, he did get it going again – but only in two-wheel drive mode. He tried to get it up a steep hill in two-wheel drive mode, but the truck struggled. Then, with some momentum and the rear differential locked, Mica tried again. No luck. Finally, taking a different path, he made it. But, the  

The Hummer EV is not the truck you want to break down when you’re off-road. The Hummer EV weighs 9,000 pounds, so you’re not pushing it. But, when it works, it has all the goodies you want for going off-roading. It has several trail cameras, including one that shows you what’s going on under the truck. It can automatically air down the truck’s tires, it shows you your pitch and roll on a cool graphic, and of course, it has four-wheel drive.

And, of course, TFL did something that most off-roaders will tell you not to do: travel alone.

This wasn’t the first time it broke down

Cabin Area GMC Hummer EV
Cabin Area GMC Hummer EV | GMC

This wasn’t the first time that the TFL Hummer left Mica stranded. The last time was in traffic. By unhooking the battery, he was able to re-set the truck and get going again. Overall, Mica did get the truck home, but not without some struggles. The two-wheel drive mode was enough to hit the trails again, but it looks like there were some hairy moments as he wished he had four-wheel drive.

The bigger tires with more grip did help Mica get through the tough stuff, and home, even in two-wheel drive. But, of course, that’s off-roading, and why we like to test ourselves and our vehicles in the boonies. In the end, Mica got home fine. After parking the truck and having a McMuffin, the truck diagnosed and fixed the software glitch. The all-wheel drive and the all-wheel steering functions returned.

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Writer - Sedans & Coupes

Dan Mayfield

Dan joined MotorBiscuit in 2022 with over 20 years of experience in journalism and a lifelong passion for anything related to the automotive industry. He grew up wrenching a 1949 Ford pickup truck and an MGB with his dad, learning how not to wire a fuel pump (he inadvertently set the MGB on fire).

After earning a bachelor’s degree in photojournalism from the University of New Mexico, Dan has contributed his expertise to a range of local outlets, including the City of Albuquerque, US Eagle, and the Alliance for Local Economic Prosperity.

On weekends, Dan spends Saturdays enjoying “cars and coffee” chats and, on Sundays, he’s watching the Route 66 Cruise roll through town. He also races motorcycles, and it’s not unusual to find him elbows-deep in his latest cafe racer build.

Taking advantage of the local desert terrain, Dan also enjoys exploring and driving off-road in his trusty Ram Rebel pickup truck, which provides personal insights into his contributions to our Trucks, SUVs, & Crossovers coverage. Dan strives to give our readers unique information about the dynamic automotive market, reading anything that has to do with cars, trucks, bikes, 4X4s, and, in his words, “everything with a motor.”

Dan has earned a number of accolades from the Public Relations Society of America, and is a University of Southern California, Annenberg School of Communication and Journalism Fellow.