Safety regulators have recalled nearly all Tesla Cybertrucks in the US to fix an exterior panel that could “detach” while driving, causing a potentially hazardous projectile.
It’s the latest in a series of call-backs for the controversial Tesla pick-up truck.
And it marks another setback for the electric car brand, which has faced significant backlash in recent months since chief executive Elon Musk joined President Donald Trump’s inner circle.So why does Tesla keep recalling its Cybertrucks?
And will we ever see them on Australian roads?
Why is Tesla recalling Cybertrucks?
It all comes down to something very simple — glue.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s recall warns an exterior panel that runs along the left and right side of the windshield could detach while driving.This thin stainless steel strip, known as a “cant rail assembly”, sits between the windshield and the roof on both sides.
It’s bound to the truck with a structural adhesive.
But there are concerns this glue can essentially be broken down by cold and hot weather.
“That’s causing the problem now, where a panel can literally leave the vehicle and fly off while you’re driving,” Paul Maric, founder of automotive website CarExpert said.
What is Tesla doing?
This recall covers more than 46,000 Cybertrucks — that’s most that have been sold in the US to date.
Regulators say the solution is using an adhesive that’s not vulnerable to “environmental embrittlement”.
Basically, better glue.They say “additional reinforcements” are also needed.
The safety regulator’s order says Tesla became aware of the problem early this year. Tesla say they’ll replace the panels free of charge.
It comes as videos showing people ripping panels off Cybertrucks with their bare hands went viral online in recent days.
What are the past recalls?
This is the eighth recall issued by Tesla since the Cybertruck deliveries began in late 2023.
This included a call-back in November where a fault in an electric inverter caused the drive wheels to lose power.Before that, in April last year, the futuristic trucks were recalled to fix acceleration pedals that were getting stuck in the interior trim.
Other recalls were related to the windshield wipers and display screen.
But while recalls “sounds like a bad thing”, Mr Maric says it’s pretty standard.
“They’re generally things that are picked up after production that a manufacturer wants to fix for safety reasons,”
he said.
“So recalls are good in the sense that people may be getting on top of these little problems and fixing them.”
