Tesla will have to do a (non-software) recall of all Cybertrucks already delivered to the USA because of a dangerous defect on the accelerator pedal.
Usually, Tesla can easily correct defects in its vehicles, involving a recall, through over-the-air (OTA) updates sent directly to the affected vehicles. This time, the brand will not be able to stop the workshop recall of all the Tesla Cybertrucks concerned. A possible failure of the accelerator pedal is the cause.
Advertisement
According to an article Electrek On April 19, the NHTSA (the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) launched a recall procedure for 3,878 Cybertrucks. This allows us to quantify the number of pickups that Tesla has actually delivered to customers since the end of November. However, this recall is not the only defect that Tesla pickup customers have had the opportunity to experience.
Lubricant under the pedal pads
Cybertruck owners have seen the upper part of the accelerator pedal (the pad) detach from its base. Under the pressure of the foot, this pad can get stuck in the trim and keep the accelerator fully pressed, even though the driver has removed his foot.
Although the problem may present a significant risk, there have been no accident victims to report. The first customer to experience the failure had the good reflex to press the brake, which made it possible to stop the vehicle. He recounted his misadventure on a Tiktok video:
How do we get to this situation? This is where it gets awkward for Tesla. When assembling the Cybertruck, a lubricant was used to position the pad on the pedal. The residue of this lubricant means that in the event of strong pressure on the pedal, the pad may move. According to Tesla, this is a “ unapproved change » of the assembly process.
Advertisement
The vehicles will all be checked to avoid future failures. Tesla quickly suspended delivery of the last Cybertrucks produced since the incident surfaced on March 31.
There is no doubt that the next step for Elon Musk will be to remove the accelerator pedal from his models, as he did with the switches. That's what he already planned to do on the Robotaxi after all: no pedals, no problem.
Other fairly classic problems on new models
On the Cybertruck, Tesla has implemented many innovations in the manufacturing process and in terms of on-board technology. The downside for first-time buyers is that they end up with cars that aren't yet completely reliable. They therefore wipe away all the technical problems that generally accompany the launch of a new product.
Block in the interior mirror that comes loose, problem adjusting the body panels, capricious door… there are many problems. For example, another driver shared on Tiktok the case of his central screen failure and a reboot of the system which took several hours. The video has been viewed 3.8 million times.
However, Tesla had time to carefully develop its Cybertruck, with all the delay in releasing the model. It is clear that like the manufacturer's other models, everything was launched in a hurry. An increasingly problematic trend, but which unfortunately concerns the entire automobile industry.