Tesla is recalling almost all of its Cybertrucks because of a problem with the accelerator pedal. Cybertrucks The issue is with the accelerator pedal that could get stuck when pressed down. This mass recall comes shortly after the vehicles started shipping.
In its recall notice issued this week, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said the pad on the truck’s accelerator could become dislodged if enough force was applied to it. Once dislodged, the pedal could get trapped, leading to continued acceleration even when the brakes are applied. The recall blames the problem on the use of soap as lubricant during manufacturing.
“If the condition [faulty accelerator pad] is present and the driver attempts to apply the accelerator pedal, the driver will detect the condition through immediate compromised performance and operation of the pedal,” the NHTSA wrote. “In addition, if the condition is present when the driver applies the brake pedal, the driver will receive an audible and visual alert that both brake and accelerator pedals are being pressed.”
Tesla has agreed to recall the trucks and will fix the accelerator pedal at no cost. This recall affects 3,878 Cyber Trucks manufactured between November 13, 2023, to April 4, 2024, which likely includes almost all of the trucks shipped to customers so far. PopSci to its recall notice. Tesla did not immediately respond to PopSci’s request for comment. Elon Musk acknowledged the recall on X, formerly known as Twitter.bulletproof” durability, acknowledged the recall on X, formerly known as Twitter.
“There were no injuries or accidents because of this,” Musk wrote. “We are just being very cautious.”
Some Cybertruck owners beginning sharing their experiences of the accelerator getting stuck on social media last week. One Californian Cybertuck owner named Jose Martinez posted a video on TikTok explaining how the pad on his accelerator dislodged and got stuck on the driver-side carpet. Another Cybertruck owner who claims they experienced the issue says his truck continued accelerating even when he pressed on the brake pedal. Eventually, the driver alleged, he hit a light pole.
Unlike other Tesla recalls
Tesla owners over the years have come to expect recall notices with relative frequency. In just three years between 2020 and 2023, Tesla had 24 recalls of this Model Y SUV. In the past, Tesla has recalled vehicles for brake safety concerns, issues with its assisted driving software, and illegible warning lights. The sheer volume of the recalls sets the company apart. A 2022 analysis conducted by the price tracking firm iSeeCars.com found Tesla experienced the most recalls of any car brand that year, and by a wide margin. Tesla is somewhat unique though since the vast majority of those recalls are addressable via internet enabled, over-the-air updates. The Cybertruck recall is a notable outlier. Customers will actually have to physically have the truck serviced to address the accelerator issue.
This is not the first problem Cybertruck owners have faced in the vehicle's short life. Earlier this year, several owners reported seeing small orange dots on their vehicles that looked like rust. tiny orange spots appearing on the surface of their vehicles that looked like rust. One owner said the discoloration happened almost immediately after driving in the rain, just one day after buying the car. A Tesla repair technician reportedly told one of the affected drivers that they had a 'procedure' for dealing with the blotchy red specks.
[ Related: Owners are concerned about the Cybertruck potentially rusting after rain. ]
The rust-like spots and the apparent soap-induced accelerator pad issue seem to contradict Tesla's promotion of the Cybertruck as a tough, durable, off-road vehicle. Musk has previously called the vehicle 'badass' and possibly 'the best product ever..”
