Tesla has initiated a recall for virtually every Cybertruck it has delivered to customers due to a flaw that is causing the accelerator pedal to become stuck. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) revealed on Wednesday that the issue could lead to the pedal pad dislodging and becoming trapped in the vehicle’s interior trim when significant force is applied.
This problem stems from an “unapproved change” during the assembly process of the accelerator pedals, which introduced lubricant (soap), thereby reducing the retention of the pad, as stated in the recall notice. Although the truck’s brakes will still operate if the accelerator pedal becomes stuck, this is clearly not an optimal solution.
The recall affects all Model Year (MY) 2024 Cybertruck vehicles manufactured between November 13, 2023, and April 4, 2024, totaling 3,878 vehicles. This encompasses essentially every Cybertruck delivered to customers since its launch event last year.
The inevitability of a recall became apparent when Cybertruck customers were notified earlier this week of delivery delays, with at least one owner informed by their dealership that the truck was being recalled due to the accelerator pedal issue. Another Cybertruck owner showcased the problem on TikTok, demonstrating how the fault caused the accelerator to be stuck at full throttle.
According to the timeline outlined in the NHTSA filing, Tesla was first made aware of the defective accelerator pedals on March 31st, with a subsequent report on April 3rd. Following internal assessments to identify the cause, the company voluntarily issued a recall on April 12th. As of Monday this week, Tesla reported no incidents of collisions, injuries, or deaths attributed to the pedal fault.
Tesla is informing its stores and service centers of the issue around April 19th and has committed to replacing or reworking the pedals on recalled vehicles at no cost to Cybertruck owners. Additionally, trucks produced from April 17th onward will be equipped with a new accelerator pedal component and part number.
This marks the second recall affecting the Cybertruck, but it is the most significant. Previously, the company recalled 2 million Tesla vehicles in the US in February due to small font sizes on the warning lights panel, which was rectified through a software update.
While Tesla fans have been critical of the term “recall” in the past, given the company’s ability to address issues through over-the-air software updates, they may acknowledge that, in this instance, the term is appropriate.
