The Tesla Cybertruck was unveiled at Tesla’s design studio in Hawthorne, California on November 21, 2019.
Tesla recently issued two additional recalls for its Cybertruck pickup trucks in the United States, as the automaker continues to face challenges with its new electric vehicle, about six months after it began delivering them.
The third and fourth Cybertruck recalls involve physical repairs that typically require scheduling a service appointment at a Tesla Center. One recall is for issues with the molding, which can become loose and fall off the trunk, while the other focuses on faulty motor controllers in the front windshield wipers.
According to a recall report posted on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) website on June 19, if a piece of trim separates from the vehicle while driving, it could pose a hazard to following drivers and increase the risk of injury or collision. Tesla plans to replace or rework the trim to ensure sufficient adhesion, the report states.
A second safety recall report on the NHTSA website explains that in some vehicles, the front windshield wiper motor controller may stop working due to an electrical overload in the gate driver component. A non-functioning wiper can reduce visibility in certain conditions, potentially increasing the risk of a collision. Tesla plans to replace the motor controller in Cybertruck wipers for affected customers.
Tesla did not provide an immediate response to requests for comment regarding these recalls.
Four years after CEO Elon Musk initially unveiled the Cybertruck and two years after it went into production, the vehicle was launched in limited deliveries in November at an event in Austin, Texas, USA.
Musk described the Cybertruck as «a better truck than a truck, but also a better sports car than a sports car, all in the same package.» He often promotes the truck as a vehicle that embodies the future.
A previous recall for the Cybertruck involved an accelerator pedal problem, in which the pedal could become loose and catch on the interior trim of the vehicle, causing unintended acceleration. This issue gained attention via a viral TikTok video created by a Cybertruck owner.
Recall information regarding the windshield wiper issue indicates that between November 13, 2023 and June 6, 2024, there were 11,688 Cybertrucks in the fleet. These numbers suggest a relatively slow start for the Cybertruck, Tesla’s first entry into the U.S. pickup market, where it faces competition from vehicles like the Ford F-150 Lightning and Rivian R1T.
In Tesla’s first-quarter shareholder update, the company said its Cybertruck production capacity exceeds 125,000 per year. During Tesla’s annual shareholder meeting in June, Musk revealed that the company achieved a record 1,300 Cybertruck shipments in one week.
Cybertruck issues aside, Tesla has faced challenges in the first half of the year. According to the report, the share price has fallen 25% year-to-date and sales have declined due to an aging product range, increased competition in China and a decline in brand image, partly attributed to Musk’s «antics» and «political rants.» to a recent survey. Tesla is going through a significant restructuring process, which includes a workforce reduction of at least 14%.
