Tesla Cyber Truck Recalled for Unintended Acceleration

Tesla is recalling Cybertrucks because the accelerator pedal may stick, causing the vehicle to accelerate unintentionally.

According to the U.S. Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), in affected vehicles, the pad attached to the pedal may detach and catch on interior trim, making it impossible to release once pressed. The cause is entirely soap.

Soap was used in an "unapproved" manner as a lubricant to attach the pad to the accelerator pedal during assembly. Soap residue makes it easier for the pads to slip off the pedals and catch on the interior trim.

The recall involves 3,878 vehicles, all of which are considered defective. The vehicles involved were manufactured between November 13, 2023 and April 4, 2024, and are believed to represent most, if not all, of the Cyber trucks delivered to customers to date.

Tesla will "replace or rework" the accelerator pedal assemblies at no charge to prevent this problem. On the other hand, NHTSA notes that if unintended acceleration occurs and the driver continues to depress the brake pedal, "the vehicle will come to a stop at the same speed as if the accelerator pedal were not depressed."

As of April 15, NHTSA said Tesla was unaware of any crashes, injuries, or fatalities resulting from this issue. The automaker first became aware of the problem through customer complaints on March 31.

Production of the Cybertruck began in July 2023 at a Tesla plant near Austin, Texas. The first handful of trucks were delivered to customers at an event in early December, meaning the trucks arrived two years behind schedule. At launch, the Cyber trucks cost more than promised and have a shorter range.

Despite the relatively short sales period, this is the second recall; the first, issued in January, was for a warning light font size that was too small.