Tesla to recall more than 46,000 Cybertrucks due to exterior panel issue
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Tesla accounts for a large portion of recalled vehicles in the US.
PHOTO: EPA-EFE
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AUSTIN – Tesla is recalling 46,096 Cybertruck vehicles in the United States to fix an exterior panel that could detach while driving, the latest in a series of call-backs for the pickup truck since 2024.
This could prove to be a setback for Tesla, with the success of the Cybertruck seen as instrumental to its growth, as the company grapples with rising competition and an ageing lineup, while consumers, faced with high borrowing costs, choose less expensive hybrids.
The recall is over issues of the cant rail – a stainless-steel exterior trim panel – delaminating and detaching from the vehicle, the company said on March 20.
As a remedy, Tesla’s service will replace the rail assembly free of charge.
A detached panel can become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash, according to the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s notice on the recalls.
While Tesla does not break out deliveries of its Cybertrucks, the recalled vehicles would represent a vast majority of the pickups on the road based on analyst estimates of total Cybertruck deliveries.
Demand for the unconventional EV pickup has already shown signs of weakness toward the end of 2024, following several delays.
Shares of Tesla fell close to 2 per cent in pre-market trading.
Tesla shares, initially boosted post-election due to Tesla CEO Elon Musk’s relationship with US President Donald Trump, have fallen nearly 42 per cent in 2025 amid a sluggish EV market and concerns over Mr Musk’s role in the government potentially distracting from leading his companies.
Analysts have pointed to a change in sentiment toward the EV maker from existing customers and potential new buyers, as reactions toward the brand such as protests at Tesla stores across the US and sales boycotts emerge.
Tesla accounts for a large portion of recalled vehicles in the US.
In 2024, Tesla vehicles accounted for 21 per cent of all US recalls in the first three quarters of the year, according to recall management firm BizzyCar.
However, most issues for the brand’s cars were usually resolved with over-the-air software updates. REUTERS
