Tesla issues 11th Cybertruck recall over faulty brake rotors and wheel separation risk
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has confirmed the recall affects 173 Rear Wheel Drive Long Range models, with Tesla offering free replacements for affected components.
Tesla has issued its 11th recall for the Cybertruck, targeting 173 Rear Wheel Drive Long Range models due to a safety defect that poses a risk of sudden wheel separation. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration confirmed that on affected vehicles, higher severity road perturbations and cornering may strain the stud hole in the wheel rotor, causing cracks to form. If these cracks propagate with continued use, the wheel stud could separate from the wheel hub.
Investigations have identified the root cause as the use of incorrect grease on the lug nuts during production. This specific lubricant failed to reduce friction sufficiently, which allowed the nuts to loosen over time. The resulting vibrations were sufficient to crack the brake rotor stud holes, creating a scenario where wheels could detach from the vehicle while driving.
The recall is limited to a specific subset of the RWD Long Range fleet, built on certain dates using a particular shipment of lug nuts and grease, and equipped with 18-inch wheels. Sean Tucker, managing editor at Kelley Blue Book, noted that this issue stems from a production communication failure where a design change regarding the grease was not relayed to the factory floor in time.
Tesla has announced that it will replace the affected wheel hubs, rotors, and lug nuts free of charge for all 173 trucks involved. This incident adds to a series of quality control issues facing the vehicle, including a previous recall involving incorrect glue on steel trim panels and ongoing concerns regarding rust on the stainless steel bodies.
While the recall number of 173 might suggest low production volumes, Tucker clarified that this figure reflects a specific production batch rather than total sales. He described the affected group as a "subset of a subset," noting that the Cybertruck has not sold in the numbers Elon Musk initially projected, with only 46,096 units sold in the first 14 months of availability.
The event underscores the complexities of manufacturing high-performance electric vehicles, where small design changes can have unforeseen consequences years down the line. As the company addresses this materials problem, the recall highlights the rigorous oversight required to ensure safety in capital-intensive automotive production.
