The announcement was made in a statement issued by the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
A trapped accelerator pedal may lead to unintended vehicle acceleration, heightening the risk of a crash, according to the auto safety regulator’s notice.
Tesla began delivering its Cybertruck electric pickup truck late last year after facing a two-year delay due to production challenges and battery supply constraints.
Tesla started deliveries of its Cybertruck electric pickup truck late last year, after a two-year delay due to production problems and battery-supply constraints.
“This is another black eye for Tesla, which has added to the chaos going on for Musk,” said Dan Ives, senior equity analyst at Wedbush Securities to The Guardian newspaper. “Cybertruck is the pedestal moment and a recall out of the gates is a bad look.”
Cybertruck launch issues
Elon Musk had touted the Cybertruck as the “best off-road vehicle,” but the trucks have been observed struggling in different terrains such as sand, snow, and dirt. In one instance, a Cybertruck had to be towed away by a Ford truck. Some owners have reported their Cybertrucks suddenly stopping during use, while others have experienced issues with the truck’s stainless steel exterior, which they claim rusts easily. Additionally, one owner noted that the windshield shattered during a hail storm.
During the vehicle’s unveiling, Musk asserted that the Cybertruck was bulletproof, but the claim was contradicted when a steel ball thrown by hand cracked its window.
Experts have also been warning about the potential insurance pitfalls of the cybertrucks for some months. According to reports, the truck’s design has complicated issues that will make repairs challenging. For example, the vehicles have thick stainless steel panels, which are an industry first. CEO Elon Musk noted that traditional auto presses cannot shape the 3mm thick material, which presents a challenge for standard paintless dent removal (PDR) techniques. While there is some precedent for repairing stainless steel, such as with the DeLorean in the 1980s, the Cybertruck’s unpainted finish complicates repairs.
Ensuring the body panels remain straight and usable requires extensive labour. Unlike traditional car panels, visually unappealing repairs cannot be hidden behind body filler and paint. Consequently, repairs must be flawless, which can be both time-consuming and labor-intensive.
High repair costs could lead to vehicles being declared total losses, as seen in the case of a Rivian R1T repair that cost US$42,000 after a minor fender bender.
Opting to replace panels instead of repairing them could reduce labor costs and speed up repairs, but it may introduce other issues. This approach could intensify existing problems Tesla owners face with their insurance companies, such as long repair times and high costs. These challenges are compounded by Tesla’s decision to use stainless steel panels, adding further complexity to the situation.
Recalls not uncommon
Tesla did not respond to inquiries regarding the recent reports or the recall.
Thomas Monteiro, senior analyst at Investing.com, noted that recalls are not uncommon in the automotive industry and the severity of the accelerator pedal issue remains unclear. However, amid the current uncertainty surrounding Tesla, the company had no choice but to take action.
“At this point, the company simply cannot risk the potential liability or bad publicity,” he stated.
