Tesla acted quickly after social media reports highlighted a dangerous problem with its new Cybertruck: the accelerator pedal can get trapped under a piece of floorboard trim, causing the truck to accelerate continuously.
From TikTok to Recall in 5 Days
A TikTok video from a Cybertruck owner highlighted the problem on April 15. Tesla suspended deliveries of the electric vehicle (EV) by April 16. On April 17, the company launched a formal recall. By the usual standards of the federal recall process, that’s lightning speed.
As with many social media claims, the truth is a little deeper. While the TikTok video may have spurred accelerated action, it was not Tesla’s first alert to the issue. According to the official safety recall report, “Tesla received notice of a customer claim of the condition present on an affected vehicle” on March 31, 2024, reviewed vehicle logs from April 2 to April 8, “continued additional testing relating to the scope and behavior of the condition” through the week of April 8, 2024, and “made a determination to voluntarily recall the affected vehicles” on April 12, 2024.
The company has recalled 3,878 Cybertruck EVs – every model delivered so far – to correct the problem. The company tells the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) that a decorative metal cover on the accelerator pedal can slide up and “become trapped in the interior trim above the pedal.”
That can cause the truck to accelerate continuously, though stepping on the brake pedal can still bring the truck to a complete stop.
Tesla tells NHTSA that factory workers made an “unapproved change” when they used soap to lubricate the pedal cover and make it easier to slide on. That can prevent the retaining clips that hold the cover in place from doing their job.
Tesla says it is unaware of any accidents or injuries caused by the issue. To fix it, Tesla will “replace or rework the accelerator pedal assembly such that the assembly meets specifications and ensures sufficient retention force between the pad and accelerator pedal to prevent the pad from dislodging.”
Recall repairs, by law, are free. Many cars are recalled, often more than once, during their lifespans. When the cars require a physical repair, the automakers try to contact every owner to bring them in. But they don’t always reach them all. Find out whether your car needs any free repairs with the VIN tool at our recall center.
