Tesla’s ambitious Cybertruck, touted as an “apocalypse-proof” marvel, is once again under the spotlight for a critical safety recall. In a development that could leave owners quite literally losing their grip, certain Rear Wheel Drive (RWD) Cybertruck Long Range models are being recalled due to a defect that could cause wheels to detach while driving.
Another Bump in the Road for the Cybertruck
This latest incident marks the 11th recall for the futuristic electric pickup, adding to a growing list of concerns that have plagued the vehicle since its launch. Last year, nearly all Cybertrucks faced a recall over faulty adhesive on a steel trim panel, which posed a risk of detachment at speed. Now, the issue is far more fundamental: the very wheels that carry the truck.
According to a notice from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Tesla has identified that “brake rotor stud holes may crack and allow the stud to separate from the wheel hub.” The carmaker elaborates, stating that “higher severity road perturbations and cornering may strain the stud hole in the wheel rotor, causing cracks to form. If cracking propagates with continued use and strain, the wheel stud could eventually separate from the wheel hub.” The implication is stark: a wheel could potentially break free from the vehicle, creating a severe hazard.
The Grease That Caused the Grievance
The root cause, as explained by Sean Tucker, managing editor at Kelley Blue Book, points to a seemingly minor yet critical oversight. “This is literally about some grease [Tesla] discovered on the lug nuts that tighten to hold the 18-inch wheel to the brake rotor,” Tucker notes. He reveals that the incorrect grease failed to provide sufficient friction, allowing lug nuts to loosen over time. This loosening could lead to vibrations, ultimately causing cracks in the brake rotor.
“So they changed the grease,” Tucker explains, “However, that message didn’t get to the production floor in time, and they built 173 with the wrong grease. It’s a very specific materials problem.”
Tesla has committed to replacing the wheel hubs, rotors, and lug nuts free of charge for all 173 affected trucks, ensuring that owners won’t have to bear the cost of this manufacturing misstep.
Sales Performance and Production Puzzles
While the number of affected vehicles — 173 — might seem low, sparking speculation about Cybertruck production volumes, Tucker clarifies that this recall pertains to a “subset of a subset” of trucks built on specific dates with particular shipments of components. It’s not indicative of overall low production, but rather a targeted issue.
However, the broader sales narrative for the Cybertruck remains challenging. Despite Elon Musk’s enthusiastic pronouncements of “demand off the charts!” and over a million reservations in late 2023, actual delivery figures tell a different story. The previous “wrong glue” recall, which impacted nearly all Cybertrucks produced at the time, inadvertently revealed that Tesla had only managed to shift a modest 46,096 units within the first 14 months of sales. This performance falls significantly short of the initial hype and expectations for Tesla’s polarizing electric pickup.
These recurring production issues and subsequent recalls underscore the complexities of bringing a radically new vehicle design to market, even for an experienced innovator like Tesla.
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