Tesla announced on Tuesday that it is recalling the majority of its Cybertrucks in the United States due to problems with the windshield wipers and exterior trim. This move marks the fourth recall for the 2024 Cybertruck in just five months, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The latest recall affects 11,688 Cybertrucks from the 2024 model year. Tesla identified that the front windshield wiper motor controller could fail due to excessive electrical current, potentially leading to non-functioning wipers. This poses a significant safety risk, especially in wet weather conditions. The recall covers all trucks manufactured up to June 6. Tesla plans to replace the wiper motor, having already inspected 20 motors recovered in February as part of their investigation into early motor failures.
In a separate issue, Tesla is recalling 11,383 Cybertrucks due to concerns that the trunk bed trim sail applique might have been improperly attached. This defect could result in the applique becoming loose and creating a road hazard. The company’s service team will address this by applying an adhesion promoter and pressure-sensitive tape or replacing the missing trim at no cost to the vehicle owners.
These recalls are the latest setbacks for the futuristic Cybertruck. Elon Musk’s company has not yet disclosed the number of Cybertrucks delivered to consumers in its quarterly reports. Tesla’s investigation into these issues began in December when problems were noticed in an undelivered Cybertruck. By May, the company identified a second instance in a customer vehicle and found additional cases of loose or detached appliques due to improper installation or adhesive issues.
Earlier in the year, Tesla recalled nearly 4,000 Cybertrucks to fix an issue with the accelerator pedal pad, which could come loose and get lodged in the interior trim, forcing the vehicle into maximum acceleration. One driver narrowly avoided a crash by holding down the brake pedal. Tesla first became aware of this issue on March 31 and issued a voluntary recall on April 12.
The recalls represent a significant blow to Tesla, which has faced a challenging year with poor earnings reports and increasing competition from Chinese electric vehicle manufacturers. The Cybertruck, inspired by the sci-fi film “Blade Runner,” began deliveries in November 2023 after years of delays and a difficult production ramp-up. Elon Musk himself described the production process as “digging our own grave.” Thomas Monteiro, a senior analyst at Investing.com, noted that recalls are common in the auto industry and the severity of the accelerator pedal issue remains unclear. However, given the ongoing uncertainties surrounding Tesla, the company had no choice but to take swift action to address these problems. As Tesla works to resolve these issues, it remains to be seen how these setbacks will impact the company’s future in the competitive electric vehicle market.
