Just months after its much-anticipated launch, Tesla‘s futuristic Cybertruck has hit another pothole. The electric carmaker agreed to recall nearly 4,000 of the newly released pickups due to a potential safety defect that could cause unintended acceleration, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
The recall, covering all 3,878 Cybertrucks produced between November 13, 2023, and April 4th, 2024, stems from an issue with the vehicles’ accelerator pedals. Soap used as a lubricant during assembly at Tesla’s Austin, Texas factory reduced the adhesion between the pedal and its pad, allowing the pedal to potentially stick, the safety agency said in its notice Friday.
While no injuries have been reported from the defect so far, the risk of uncontrolled acceleration poses a significant crash hazard. Some Cybertruck owners had already taken to social media, posting videos of pedals becoming stuck and detailing how firmly braking was needed to halt their vehicles.
For the embattled automaker, the accelerator pedal recall deals another blow amid a remarkable downturn in 2023. Tesla’s sales dipped in the first quarter compared to a year ago – a first since Covid’s onset – as competition from legacy brands’ new electric models intensified. The company’s US market share slipped from 62% to 51% in that span.
Wall Street has taken notice, with Tesla’s stock plunging around 40% year-to-date on escalating concerns about its ability to maintain the torrid growth of recent years. Billionaire CEO Elon Musk further rattled investors this week by announcing plans to cut 10% of Tesla’s workforce, even as two senior executives departed.
The Cybertruck’s road so far has been a bumpy one. After years of delays and production false starts, the much-hyped pickup with its aggressive, angular styling finally reached customers last November. But with a lofty starting price of over $80,000, the vehicle’s polarizing design may limit its mainstream appeal.
For Tesla owners affected by the latest recall, the company will replace or repair the faulty accelerator pedal assemblies free of charge. However, the recurring safety issues and demand challenges facing its lineup threaten Tesla’s dominance in the electric vehicle space it pioneered.
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