A federal auto safety agency is recalling nearly 4,000 Tesla Cybertrucks after just five months on the market due to a defective accelerator pedal that can increase the risk of accidents, the company announced Friday.
The highly anticipated launch of Elon Musk's stainless steel-clad electric pickup truck began in November last year, four years after it was unveiled amid much fanfare and a failed demonstration of its shatter-resistant windows.
Tesla agreed to repair a throttle platform in the trucks that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says can get stuck.
When too much force is applied to the accelerator pedal pad, the pad can become detached or loose, causing the pedal to become trapped in the interior trim, according to the highway safety agency report.
Tesla first learned of the issue on March 31.
The recall includes trucks that were manufactured from November 13, 2023 through April 2024.
Tesla will replace or modify the accelerator pedal at no cost to the customer.
As of April 15, the report indicates that Tesla is not aware of any collisions, injuries or deaths related to the issue.
Just a day before, TikTok user José Martínez posted a video that went viral sharing his experience with his Cybertruck and demonstrating how the vehicle's pedal got stuck. Martinez said in the video that he was driving when the pedal got stuck and he “pressed the accelerator pedal to 100%.” He said he hit the brakes and parked the car.
This is the latest setback for Tesla. Musk recently announced that Tesla would lay off more than 10% of its global workforce, two executives have left, and car sales are falling.
The Times contacted Tesla for comment but did not receive a response before publication.
