Tesla is recalling nearly all Cybertrucks in the U.S. due to a potential safety issue. The company announced this recall on Thursday, affecting over 46,000 vehicles made between November 2023 and February 27, 2024. This marks the eighth recall for the Cybertruck since January of this year.
The recall is necessary because an exterior stainless-steel trim panel could detach while driving, posing a risk of accidents. Tesla has reported 151 warranty claims that might relate to this problem, but thankfully, there have been no reported crashes or injuries.
While Tesla does not disclose specific delivery numbers for the Cybertruck, analysts believe that the recalled vehicles represent a significant portion of those on the road. This recall comes at a challenging time for Tesla, as the company’s stock has dropped about 50% in 2024. Factors contributing to this decline include increased competition, an aging vehicle lineup, and public backlash against CEO Elon Musk’s controversial decisions.
Demand for the Cybertruck had already been waning after several delays in its launch. In 2024, Tesla sold 1.79 million vehicles overall, but Cybertruck sales were only a small fraction of that total.
Experts note that recalls like this can highlight quality issues that Tesla has previously avoided. Sam Fiorani from AutoForecast Solutions emphasized that reputation can be damaged quickly, even for a company that has worked hard to build it.
In addition to the recall, Tesla is facing changing sentiments from both current and potential customers, with protests and sales boycotts being reported at its stores across the U.S. Despite these challenges, Tesla’s stock remained stable during afternoon trading on the day of the recall announcement.
In 2024, Tesla led the U.S. in vehicle recalls, with 5.1 million total. Most issues for Tesla vehicles are typically resolved through software updates, but this recall requires a physical fix. The company plans to replace the problematic trim panel assembly with a new design that has passed durability tests. This new version will use a different adhesive and include additional reinforcement.
Tesla expects to start using the updated trim in production soon and will retrofit any vehicles still in its possession before they are delivered to customers. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration first alerted Tesla about the potential issue on February 21.
Analysts believe that this recall will not significantly impact Tesla’s performance in the upcoming quarter, as Cybertruck sales are relatively small compared to the more popular Model 3 and Model Y.