Tesla recently issued a recall notice to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in the United States, stating that the CyberTruck is at risk of having the accelerator pedal stuck, which could lead to unintended acceleration. As a result, Tesla is initiating a recall for certain CyberTruck users.
Tesla has announced that if the accelerator pedal of the Cybertruck becomes stuck, it could affect its performance and operation, potentially increasing the risk of a collision.
This recall affects a total of 3,878 Cybertrucks, and Tesla's service department will replace or repair the accelerator pedal assembly free of charge.
The incident began when a Cybertruck owner posted a video on TikTok.
The owner claimed that the decorative cover of his Cybertruck’s accelerator pedal fell off during driving, got stuck in front of the pedal, and continuously pressed down on it, causing the vehicle to remain in an accelerated state.
In the video, the owner showed in detail how the accelerator pedal was jammed and explained, "Pressing the brake will stop the Cybertruck from accelerating, but if he releases the brake, the Cybertruck will start moving again."
Video Source: Tiktok user @el.chepito1985
This is an extremely dangerous situation for any vehicle, especially for a truck that weighs nearly three tons and can accelerate from zero to a hundred in less than three seconds.
Another user wrote in early April on the Cybertruck Owners Club forum that his Cybertruck suddenly accelerated and crashed into a signal pole, and throughout the incident, neither the brake pedal nor the airbags functioned.
A CyberTruck user shared their experience, sourced from Cybertruckownersclub.
Tesla attributed the issue to "unauthorized modification." During the assembly process of the accelerator pedal at Tesla's Austin, Texas factory, "unauthorized" introduction of lubricant (soap) was used to aid in assembling the trim onto the accelerator pedal.
When the owner forcefully presses the accelerator pedal, residual lubricant (i.e., soap) could cause the trim to shift, resulting in unintended acceleration of the vehicle.
Tesla's proposed solution is to either repair or replace the accelerator pedal.
X user @aaronjcash shared a video detailing the repair process following a CyberTruck recall.
Tesla staff begin by placing a drilling fixture on the accelerator pedal, drilling at specified locations, and then installing rivets. After completion, they use a mirror to meticulously inspect all corners and a vacuum to clear away metal fragments.
The video showcases a straightforward repair procedure, which appears quite simple. Due to the quick execution, some users have humorously dubbed it the "35-second recall repair."
https://s3.ifanr.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/aaronjcash.mp4
▲ CyberTruck recall repair process. Video source: X user @aaronjcash
However, not all recalled CyberTrucks undergo this repair.
Upon arrival at the service center, Tesla first measures "the distance between the decorative cover of the accelerator pedal and the bottom of the pedal backing."
If the distance measures 5 millimeters or more, the entire accelerator pedal assembly needs to be replaced.
Despite its seemingly crude approach, the recall plan for the CyberTruck is essential for ensuring driving safety.
It is currently unclear whether this rivet-fixing method is a permanent solution, or if Tesla might offer other permanent solutions in the future.
