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 problems with its new electric vehicle, about six months after it began deliveries.
The third and fourth Cybertruck recalls involve physical repairs that typically require booking a service appointment at a Tesla center. One recall concerns problems with the liner, which can loosen and come 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 the Cybertruck windshield wipers for affected customers.
Tesla did not provide an immediate response to requests for comment regarding these recalls.
Four years after CEO Elon Musk’s initial unveiling of the Cybertruck and two years after production began, the vehicle was launched, with limited deliveries, in November at an event in Austin, Texas, USA.
Musk has described the Cybertruck as “a better truck than a truck, while also being a better sports car than a sports car, all in the same package.” He often touts 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 hit a record 1,300 Cybertruck shipments in one week.
Aside from the Cybertruck issues, Tesla has faced challenges in the first half of the year. The share price is down 25% year to date and sales have fallen due to an outdated product range, increased competition in China and a declining brand image, partly attributed to “antics” and “rants policies” of Musk, according to a recent survey. Tesla is going through a significant restructuring process, which includes a workforce reduction of at least 14%.
