The Tesla Cybertruck was supposed to be the future of pickups—bold, rugged, and unlike anything else driving down the road. Rather, it has been an icon of auto woes, generating more recalls and furor than just about any new vehicle in recent history. Here’s how the Cybertruck became the most recalled, and perhaps most troublesome, pickup on the market.
Because production and deliveries began late in 2023, the Cybertruck has had a record-high number of recalls to date—eight in just 15 months, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Tesla is changing them out for new ones with higher-quality adhesives and more reinforcements. Besides these, there were other recalls as a result of the accelerator pedal that tended to stick in nearly 4,000 trucks. The trouble was the soap used in the manufacturing process that got in between the pedal pad and the pedal, causing the pedal to stick. It was different from software issues in that it was a mechanical fault that required a fix.
Certain trucks were plagued by drive inverter failure, which resulted in unprovoked loss of propulsion. Because the drive inverter translates battery power into usable torque, a failure could leave drivers stranded or result in accidents. Faulty windshield wiper motors, rearview camera lag, and even dashboard warning light fonts too small to comply with federal standards were the subject of other recalls, some of which were addressed through software patches. Tesla’s design decisions have also been the subject of controversy. The Cybertruck’s stainless steel body with sharp angles, though aesthetically pleasing, is also a concern for safety. Unlike regular cars with crumple zones and soft corners, the Cybertruck’s hard panels are hazardous to pedestrians. At up to 6,843 pounds before payload, it also makes other cars more dangerous to collide with. Blind spots have been reported by owners due to dense pillars, a large windshield with inadequate wiper coverage, and too much dependence on screens rather than the conventional rearview mirrors.
Despite all these limitations, the Cybertruck has still attracted people’s attention. Tesla agreed to take more than a million reservations and planned to make 500,000 cars annually, but the actual delivery was less than 50,000. Those who own the used Cybertrucks can now sell their trucks for much less than before, and some of them have been listed with prices that are almost half the original ones – $86,000 compared to $175,000. For a large number of customers, the truck’s shock factor is one of its most attractive features; thus, its ridiculousness and controversy are almost like being awarded the title of being one of the coolest ones.
There has been a jump in regulatory surveillance as well. Besides the National Transportation Safety Board, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is also probing Tesla’s Full Self-Driving technology, whereas frequent difficulties may result in some owners qualifying for lemon law protection. At the same time, the Cybertruck’s appearance has made it unavailable in such places as Europe, where the rules for the safety of people who walk require the car to have soft edges and other additional features that it is incapable of meeting.
The Cybertruck record brings to the fore the dangers of Tesla’s “move fast and break things” strategy. While Tesla has pioneered over-the-air updates and direct-to-consumer sales, a readiness to experiment with drastic designs without lengthy real-world testing has resulted in recurring issues. With increased competition from incumbent automakers and Chinese EV manufacturers, Tesla’s quality and safety brand is under tighter scrutiny than ever before.
The Cybertruck is arguably the most talked-about pickup of the past ten years; however, the main reasons that it has been discussed were not the best ones. After being the envy of the world for being a futuristic vehicle, it is now a saga of warning for its maker.
