April 16th, 2025 (Chicago, IL) – The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recalled Cybertrucks once again due to safety concerns involving an exterior panel detaching from the trucks while driving, which could be a road hazard for other drivers.
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This exterior panelling, called a “cant rail assembly”, runs along the left and right sides of the windshield between the windshield and the roof. It is not supposed to come off. However, the adhesive used by Tesla is not adequate for vehicular use, and is “susceptible to environmental embrittlement.” Videos have surfaced online of the paneling being removed by hand in some cases, further proving that the adhesive used to attach the paneling is inadequate.
What Went Wrong?
The adhesive used to attach the paneling to the Cybertrucks is considered prone to “environmental embrittlement.” This means that the adhesive can become brittle and weaken over time. This weakened adhesive is unable to hold the cant rail in place as a consequence, leading to the paneling flying off of the trucks while they’re moving down the road.
What Models Are Affected By the Recall?
All Tesla Cybertruck 2024 to 2025 models made from November 13th, 2023 to February 27th, 2025 are affected by Tesla’s 8th Cybertruck recall. This includes nearly 46,000 vehicles.
What Is Tesla Doing to Remedy the Recall?
Tesla is offering to replace the paneling with one secured by an adhesive that is better suited for vehicular use, as well as securing it with additional methods. This repair is free of charge for Cybertruck owners and covered under warranty. Tesla is mailing out owner notification letters. They are expected to be sent to impacted Tesla owners by May 19th, 2025.
Cybertruck owners can contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752, as well as the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s vehicle safety hotline at 888-327-4236, or by going to nhtsa.gov.
What Are Some Other Reasons Cybertrucks Have Been Recalled?
Cybertrucks have been plagued with a host of issues since they went on sale, and this is Tesla’s 8th Cybertruck recall. What are some other defects that have caused Cybertrucks to be recalled?
Drive Inverter Fault
In November 2024, Tesla recalled a certain lot of 2024 Cybertrucks due to a fault in the drive inverter, causing the vehicle to experience a loss of drive power to the wheels. This increases the risk of a motor vehicle accident, which can lead to serious injury or death.
Tesla remedied this recall by replacing the driver inverter free of charge for affected vehicles. Notification letters were mailed out on January 4th, 2025.
Rearview Camera Delay
The rearview cameras, which have been a requirement in newer vehicles since May 2018, may experience delay after shifting into reverse. This delay reduces the driver’s view of what’s behind them, which increases the risk of a crash. Due to this faulty rearview Cybertruck camera, the vehicles were considered to have failed to comply with the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard regulations.
Tesla remedied this recall by releasing an over the air software update, free of charge. Notification letters were mailed by November 25th, 2024.
Loose Trunk Bed Trim Sail Applique
The cant rail assembly isn’t Tesla’s first issue with adhesives. In June 2024, Tesla recalled a certain lot of Cybertrucks due to the trunk bed trim sail applique being possibly improperly adhered, leading to loose appliques. This is a serious issue, as the applique could detach and cause an accident.
Tesla remedied this issue by applying an adhesion promotor and pressure sensitive tape, or by replacing missing appliques as necessary. Notification letters were mailed August 18th, 2024
Windshield Wiper Motor
In June 2024, Tesla once again recalled a lot of Cybertrucks. This time, it was due to the motor on the windshield wiper failing. This was due to an excessive electrical current. Windshield wiper failure can cause a decrease in visibility, resulting in a crash.
Tesla service offered free windshield wiper motor replacements as a remedy to this recall. Notification letters were sent out October 1st, 2024.
Accelerator Pedal
In April 2024, Tesla had to recall a lot of Cybertrucks due to the accelerator pedal becoming dislodged, which could lead to it becoming trapped by the interior trim. This can cause drivers to lose control of their speed, which could lead to a serious car accident.
Tesla service offered replacements and repairs of the accelerator pedal, free of charge. Letters were mailed June 18th, 2024.
Instrument Cluster/Panel
In January 2024, Tesla recalled its Cybertrucks due to an improper font size display for its brake, park, and antilock brake system (ABS) warning lights. This failed to comply with the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard, as the smaller font size can be hard to read or recognize, which could lead to critical information being missed.
Tesla released an over the air software update, free of charge, that fixed the issue.
Tire Pressure Monitoring and Regulating System
In December 2024, Tesla recalled Cybertrucks due to issues with the tire pressure monitoring and regulating system. The warning light may fail to remain lit between drive cycles, thus failing to warn drivers of low tire pressure.
Injured? A Product Liability Attorney at Ankin Law Can Help
If you or a loved one suffered harm that was caused by a vehicle defect, you may be entitled to compensation—regardless of whether the manufacturer issued a recall. A recall doesn’t erase your right to hold negligent companies accountable. At Ankin Law, our experienced product liability attorneys will fight to protect your rights and represent you in court if necessary.
Contact us today for a free consultation. We work on a contingency fee basis, so you won’t pay anything unless we win your case.
