Today's Edition
The New York Times News Service
Tesla is recalling nearly all of its futuristic-style Cybertrucks after it found that an exterior trim panel was falling off and creating hazardous driving conditions, the company said Thursday. This is the eighth recall for the model.
The recall of about 46,000 vehicles includes all models that were manufactured from Nov. 13, 2023, when the Cybertruck was first produced, to Feb. 27. In a report filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration on Tuesday, Tesla said that only about 1% of the electric vehicles from this model were defective but that it would recall all the vehicles as a precaution.
As of March 14, Tesla had identified 151 warranty claims that might be related to the trim panel issue, according to the report, but the company said it was "not aware of any collisions, fatalities or injuries that are or may be related to the condition.”
The announcement marks one of the largest recalls for Cybertrucks in the model’s short and at times flawed history on the road. Other issues with the vaunted model have included losing drive power, its front-windshield wiper malfunctioning and an accelerator pedal getting stuck. Cybertrucks sell for about $80,000 to $100,000, depending on customization.
Tesla has told drivers that they may continue to drive their Cybertrucks until the company contacts them for a service appointment when parts become available in their regions.
Tesla first became aware of reports of a "partial delamination” of the stainless steel panel on Jan. 7, the report said. The cosmetic appliqué is known as the cant rail and is an "electrocoated steel stamping” joined to a stainless steel panel with an adhesive, the report said. The cant rail is then affixed to the Cybertruck with fasteners. On affected vehicles, the panel becomes unstuck at the adhesive joint.
