Tesla’s Cybertruck, the angular, stainless-steel behemoth that Elon Musk once claimed could withstand bullets, is now facing its most embarrassing recall yet. The electric vehicle giant has issued its largest-ever recall for the Cybertruck, affecting more than 46,000 vehicles, after reports that part of the truck’s exterior trim can simply fall off while driving.
See also: Elon Musk’s Veterans Job Cuts Spark Outrage—Is This How We Treat Our Heroes?
When Your Truck Starts Falling Apart on the Highway
The issue, which involves a piece of the truck called the “cant rail,” has turned the futuristic vehicle into a potential road hazard. According to filings with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the stainless-steel trim panel can “delaminate and detach from the vehicle,” potentially causing accidents or creating obstacles for other drivers. Tesla has received about 150 complaints from drivers but says it is unaware of any crashes caused by the problem.
The recall covers nearly every Cybertruck produced since November 2023, when the vehicle first hit the market. Analysts estimate that Tesla sold roughly 39,000 Cybertrucks in the U.S. last year, meaning this recall affects almost the entire fleet. For a vehicle that was supposed to revolutionize the pickup truck market, this is a tough look—especially for a company already grappling with falling sales and a CEO who seems more focused on political controversies than fixing his cars.
This isn’t the Cybertruck’s first rodeo with recalls. Earlier issues included failing windshield wipers, accelerator pedals that could get stuck, and even the possibility of losing drive power to the wheels. But this latest problem feels particularly ironic for a vehicle Musk once touted as “bulletproof.” (Though, to be fair, he never said it was fall-apart-proof.)
See also: Hungary Declares War on Pride: New Law Bans LGBTQ+ Celebrations, Sparking Mass Protests
Tesla has assured customers that the issue will be fixed free of charge under warranty, but the recall adds to a growing list of headaches for the company. Tesla’s stock has plummeted nearly 40% since January, and analysts like Dan Ives of Wedbush Securities have described the company as facing a “tornado crisis moment.” Much of the brand damage, Ives argues, stems from Musk’s polarizing political statements and his increasingly divisive public persona.
The Cybertruck was supposed to be Tesla’s golden ticket into the lucrative U.S. pickup truck market, a segment dominated by gas-guzzling giants like Ford’s F-150 and Chevrolet’s Silverado. Instead, it’s become a symbol of Tesla’s struggles to deliver on its promises. With a starting price of over $72,000, the Cybertruck was already a tough sell for many consumers. Now, with reports of it literally falling apart, it’s unclear how much longer Musk can keep the hype alive.
See also: Heathrow Airport Shut Down After Massive Fire: Thousands of Flights Cancelled
Meanwhile, Tesla is also dealing with external challenges. On Thursday, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi announced that three individuals would face charges for setting fire to Tesla vehicles and charging stations, calling the acts “domestic terrorism.”
As for Musk, the self-proclaimed “Technoking” of Tesla, he’s remained uncharacteristically quiet about the recall. Perhaps he’s too busy tweeting about politics or planning his next SpaceX launch to address the fact that his stainless-steel dream machine is shedding parts like a snake shedding its skin.
For now, Cybertruck owners will have to make do with a temporary fix—and hope that Tesla can get its act together before the next recall. After all, when your truck starts falling apart faster than your stock price, it might be time to hit the brakes.
