Tesla has just recalled several thousand Cybertrucks manufactured between the end of 2023 and the beginning of 2024. According to the NHTSA, the American federal agency responsible for road safety, the accelerator pedal of electric pickups harbor a defect that seriously endangers drivers and drastically increases the risk of collision. Explanations.
Tesla is a brand with a history of recalls. However, these are generally minor issues, with a few exceptions of course, that require a simple remote software update to correct. Concerning the Cybertruck, the electric pickup had not yet been recalled. Until now.
In fact, the manufacturer has just carried out to the recall of 3,878 Cybertrucks, i.e. all pickups manufactured between November 13, 2023 and April 4, 2024. But for what reasons? As specified by the NHTSA (editor’s note: the American federal agency in charge of road safety), these vehicles are all affected by a serious manufacturing problem on the accelerator pedal.
The accelerator pedal could get stuck due to a loose cover
To summarize, the Cybertruck pedal is dressed with a shiny plastic pad. However, it turns out that this cover can be dislodged depending on the pressure exerted by the driver’s foot. Result, the pad can get stuck in a recess just above the pedal. And as this concerned driver explains on TikTok, the accelerator pedal can stay depressed on its own, even after you lift your foot. A very serious problem therefore which transforms the Cybertruck into a real 3-ton missile…
Fortunately, keeping the brake pedal pressed allows you to cancel the acceleration and bring the vehicle to a complete stop. Enough to give a passenger time to venture under the pedals to remove the famous cover… According to the NHTSA, the problem comes from a unapproved component change on Cybertruck production lines.
Also read: What does a disassembled Cybertruck look like? Discover its manufacturing secrets in video… and this big flaw
Is it the lubricant’s fault?
In fact, a new lubricant has been used to facilitate the assembly of the pad on the pedal. However, excess lubricant reduced pad retention on the pedal. Depending on the pressure exerted by the driver on the pedal, the cover can then come loose and “compromise the operation of the pedal”, writes the American agency.
Aware of the seriousness of the problem, Tesla has decided to suspend all deliveries of the Cybertruck for an entire week from April 13 to 20. Several users were warned of the bad news by SMS: “We have just been informed of an unexpected delay regarding the preparation of your vehicle. We need to cancel your scheduled delivery next week and we will contact you again when we can give you a new date,” we could read. In its report, the NHTSA adds that Tesla was not aware of any collisions, injuries or deaths linked to this malfunction.