- Tesla agreed to formally inform house owners it could recall all 46,100 Cybertruck pickups. In response to U.S. visitors security administration NHTSA, the glue fixing the outside sheet steel in place might turn into brittle and fail, risking an accident ought to it detach and fall whereas driving.
Tesla’s Cybertruck, initially touted for its superior design, is dealing with sudden points associated to its sturdiness in chilly climate circumstances. The car’s exterior panels, that are secured with adhesive, have been discovered to delaminate in colder climates, the place the bonding agent can turn into brittle and fail.
This growth has prompted the U.S. Nationwide Freeway Visitors Security Administration (NHTSA) to supervise a recall of the 46,100 Cybertrucks delivered to prospects.
The recall goals to interchange the bonding agent used within the car’s building.
Regardless of its strong options, resembling the power to resist low-velocity bullets, the Cybertruck’s vulnerability to chilly climate underscores the significance of rigorous testing throughout numerous environmental eventualities.
“The treatment part makes use of a unique structural adhesive not liable to environmental embrittlement,” NHTSA mentioned in a submitting posted to its web site on Tuesday.
It explains why Tesla halted all outbound deliveries of its electrical pickup truck final week. In response to NHTSA that was vital since there had not been an answer discovered but to right the issue.
“Tesla anticipates that autos in manufacturing will start receiving the treatment on or round March 21,” it continued, including all autos produced previous to the repair however not but shipped to the shopper will likely be retrofitted utilizing the brand new adhesive previous to supply.
It is the newest embarrassment for Elon Musk, who has unfold himself too skinny over his varied firms whereas serving moreover within the White Home as one among President Trump’s closest advisors.
Tesla didn’t reply to a request from Fortune for remark.
Homeowners already unfold phrase of the issue on social media
The recall, which impacts all fashions constructed between November 2023 by February 2025 and already out within the discipline, is linked to an proprietor’s criticism filed to NHTSA particularly concerning a “cant rail” lining the lateral facet of the roof the place the steel panelling had come free.
After being notified late in February, Tesla investigated the declare and decided the wisest plan of action was to provoke a recall. The corporate will now repair the issue without charge to house owners.
“If the cant rail stainless-steel panels separates from the car whereas in drive, it might create a street hazard for following motorist and enhance their danger of damage or a collision,” NHTSA continued.
marco.foste @MarcoFoster schrieb
— iWashtaging Suzimiya (@Suzimiya) March 15, 2025
'YouTuber “WhistlinDiesel” reveals how poorly made the Tesla Cybertruck is by tearing one aside along with his naked fingers 👇🏻 pic.twitter.com/OWuaZNt3aC
The proprietor criticism submitted to NHTSA was restricted to the cant rail, however Tesla will little doubt have seen the quite a few posts on social media concerning different at-risk areas the place the glue fails and sure use the chance to interchange the adhesive used elsewhere earlier than any additional complaints land on its desk.
Cybertruck’s continued issues
It’s the newest embarrassment for a truck that arguably marks the primary time Musk’s eager instincts for merchandise have gone incorrect, leading to a bonafide flop.
The Cybertruck has confirmed a nightmare for Tesla, delayed a number of instances and nonetheless someway managed to come back in over worth and under-spec in comparison with the guarantees made in the course of the unique 2019 idea.
It’s additionally been dogged by recollects to repair each software program and {hardware}.
To this point, cumulative deliveries since launch have been properly beneath 50,000 out of an put in capability of greater than 125,000 vehicles yearly.
Tesla followers will level out that it nonetheless outsells its rivals, just like the Ford F-150 Lightning and the Rivian R1T, two pickups from firms value a mixed $50 billion.
Tesla’s is greater than 14 instances as useful, nevertheless, exactly as a result of traders count on each new product to be a smash hit that blows all different competitors out of the water.
Since engineers needed to work furiously to finish the design of the Cybertruck, they’d fewer man hours and assets to dedicate to creating a strategically way more vital $25,000 entry automobile first teased by Musk in 2020. It stays unsure whether or not such a Mannequin 2 will, in reality, ever be launched.
This story was initially featured on Fortune.com
