Tesla has just recalled just over 46,000 Cybertrucks. As the U.S. Highway Safety Administration explains, the body panels are likely to detach. Indeed, "the reinforcement, an exterior trim made of stainless steel panels, can peel off and detach from the vehicle.".
This design issue "may pose a road hazard to motorists behind and increase the risk of injury or a crash." As of March 14, 2025, the American company has received more than 150 repair requests, fully covered by the warranty, related to a body that is peeling off. So far, there have been no reported road accidents.
Tesla Glue Problem
This major failure stems from the glue used by the electric car manufacturer. After conducting an investigation, Tesla realized that the glue used to attach the steel body could deteriorate due to environmental factors, such as the weather.
It appears that low or high temperatures affect the adhesive. To correct this, Tesla will now use a less sensitive glue, combined with a frame welded inside the steel panels and attached by rivets to the structure of the pickup. This new design method is currently being added to Tesla's assembly line.
100% of Cybertrucks produced
Unsurprisingly, Elon Musk's group will repair all affected Cybertrucks free of charge. The 46,096 pickups subject to a recall have been assembled between November 13, 2023, and February 27, 2025. This is actually all Cybertrucks produced since the launch of commercial production, points out analyst Dan Ives. All electric pickups built with the old glue, but not yet delivered, will be corrected as soon as possible.
This is not the first time that the Cybertruck has been the subject of a recall. In the space of one year on the market, Elon Musk's futuristic monster has accumulated a total of seven recalls. This is a sad record for Tesla. We will particularly remember a recall issued last June regarding poorly integrated exterior trim pieces that threatened to detach. At the same time, sales of the electric pickup are struggling to take off. With 12,000 units sold per quarter, the Cybertruck is far from the ambitions displayed by Elon Musk. The controversial billionaire hoped to sell between 250,000 and 500,000 pickups per year.
Tesla in bad shape
This new major recall comes as Tesla is experiencing a general decline in sales. In February 2025, Tesla recorded a drop of nearly 45% in its sales in Europe, weighing down the used car market. While Tesla's stock price collapsed in a few weeks, the controversial positions of Elon Musk, who has become Donald Trump's right-hand man, have also contributed to tarnishing the group's brand image. Tesla is also facing a wave of acts of vandalism, so much so that the American president did not hesitate to talk about terrorism.
Source: NHTSA
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