Tesla recalls 46,000 Cybertrucks in latest setback for Elon Musk's EV company
Tesla has recalled nearly all Cybertrucks in the United States amid an arduous period for Elon Musk's electric vehicle company.
The latest setback for the EV automaker comes amid drooping stocks and backlash against Musk, who has become a controversial figure for his moves to slash the federal workforce under the Trump administration. Protests and even cases of vandalism have plagued Tesla dealerships across the U.S. as President Donald Trump, a staunch ally of Musk's, has vowed to prosecute those suspected of committing crimes.
The Cybertruck recall, the latest from Tesla, is to fix an exterior panel that could detach while driving, the company said. The recall covers more than 46,000 vehicles built from November 2023 through Feb. 27 of this year, Tesla said in a filing with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
The recall is the eighth for the SUV since January 2024.
Tesla recalls Cybertruck over exterior panel issue
Tesla said it is recalling the electric pickup truck because of the risk of a stainless-steel exterior trim panel detaching from the vehicle, causing a potential road hazard and raising the chances of a crash.
The NHTSA first notified Tesla of a Cybertruck owner who claimed a vehicle underwent a rail panel detachment Feb. 21.
Tesla, which indicated it is aware of 151 warranty claims possibly related to the recall issue, said its service will replace the rail panel assembly with a new one that meets durability testing requirements. The issue prompting the recall has not caused any collisions or injuries, the EV maker said.
Updated trim protection will also begin being used in the company's production on Friday, Tesla said. Vehicles produced before then but still in Tesla’s possession will be retrofitted before delivery.
Tesla stock struggles
The recall comes as Tesla has seen its stock plummet by more than 50% since December.
Amid the slump, Trump and his administration have publicly supported Musk in an effort to help the president's ally boost sales. Earlier this month, the president posed with a lineup of Tesla vehicles in front of the White House, later saying on social media he planned to buy a Tesla "as a show of confidence and support for Elon Musk."
The Cybertruck recall is just the latest from Tesla, which In February recalled more than 375,000 Tesla Model 3 and Model Y vehicles for a power steering issue.
Protests at Tesla
Musk's work through the Trump administration's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to drastically cut federal spending has sparked plenty of pushback, including protests, lawsuits and, in some cases, vandalism.Musk, who is categorized as a "special government employee," has made sweeping cuts to the federal government, implemented mass firings and canceled billions of dollars in contracts as the head of DOGE.
The moves have made Musk's Tesla dealerships frequent targets in recent weeks, and when the blowback has turned violent, Trump and Musk have both referred to the attacks as domestic terrorism. On Thursday, the Justice Department announced that three individuals are facing "serious charges" for allegedly using Molotov cocktails to set Tesla cars and charging stations on fire.
“The days of committing crimes without consequence have ended,” Attorney General Pam Bondi said in a statement. “Let this be a warning: if you join this wave of domestic terrorism against Tesla properties, the Department of Justice will put you behind bars.”
Earlier this week, the Vancouver International Auto Show also booted Tesla out of its annual event following the swarm of attacks on the brand's electric vehicles.
Contributing: Aysha Bagchi, Savannah Kuchar, Anthony Robledo, Paste BN; Reuters
Eric Lagatta covers breaking and trending news for Paste BN. Reach him at elagatta@gannett.com