The dominoes keep falling as Musk and his businesses take one blow after another. Most recently, Tesla’s Cybertruck recall has caused another wave of chaos for the business and its customers. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s recall effectively applies to the 46,096 Cybertrucks in the US, marking the eighth such recall incident for the vehicle since it was launched in 2023. 

According to the investigation by the NHTSA, the Cybertruck’s safety issue stems from a steel trim this time, one that could fall off while driving and pose a risk to the car owner and the surrounding vehicles. Tesla’s Cybertruck problems keep multiplying every year, and this particular issue is not one that anti-Musk protestors have bought on, but one that Cybertruck owners have themselves reported to the NHTSA.

Cybertruck loose trim issue

A loose trim on either sides of the windshield has been identified as the main cause of the Cybertruck recall.

The Tesla Cybertruck Recall Summons Over 46,000 Vehicles Back

After gathering conclusive evidence of the Cybertruck’s panel defect, the recall was announced on March 20, 2025. The issue has been noted in all Cybertrucks manufactured between November 13, 2023, to February 27, 2025. 

A similar issue was seen last year and a recall was announced for 11,383 Cybertrucks that had a trim in the truck bed that was at risk of falling off. Another 11,688 trucks had been recalled at the same time for issues with the faulty windshield wiper. 

So what is the issue behind the Tesla Cybertruck recall this time?

Understanding the Cybertruck’s Loose Trim Issue

With the Cybertruck, the safety issue this time revolves around a loose panel that could detach at any time and cause damage to others on the road. Reports state that the issue arose due to an exterior panel on the left and right sides of the windshield, which runs the risk of detaching while driving. These stainless steel strips or “cant rail assembly” are glued onto the vehicle using a strong adhesive.

Now the NHTSA has found that the adhesive used in attaching these parts is vulnerable to “environmental embrittlement,” which means they are likely to wear out over time. The Cybertrucks recall is alarming both due to the frequency of recalls and the scale of the recalls. With recurring concerns around the vehicle, the production, design, and safety precautions around its development have been called into question.

What Does the Cybertruck Recall Mean for Owners?

Cybertruck owners should receive notification letters regarding the panel defects on May 19, 2025. Since this isn’t an issue that can be fixed with mere software updates, vehicle owners will have to take their trucks in for replacements to the company’s service department. 

Tesla will provide the replacement free of cost. For now, Tesla states that it isn’t aware of any reports of crashes or fatalities caused due to the issue, but the repair is a preemptive measure to ensure it doesn’t happen in the future. The adhesive and parts are likely to wear out more over time and increase the risk of an incident occurring. 

Tesla’s Response to the Cybertruck’s Recall

Tesla has promptly acknowledged the recall and offered to replace the adhesive with another type that will not be prone to the environmental embrittlement that has been pointed out this time. The company will also add a stud weld to reinforce the section and eliminate any lingering concerns over loose parts. The changes will also be made to the Cybertrucks still in their possession before they get shipped out.

The unique stainless steel body of the Cybertruck may have been a selling point of the angular vehicle initially, but it does appear the build, material, and unpainted form factor throw up new challenges every other day. From how the material responds to temperature and changing weather to the other shifting parts of its build, there may still be some room for testing the structure before future iterations of the truck are released.

The quality and build of these “bulletproof” Cybertrucks have always been questioned, and a recent video of the testing of the autopilot system by Mark Rober has also reignited debate on the quality of the vehicles. With the comparison video, Rober has been accused of manipulating and falsifying the results to support a competitor, but as a Tesla vehicle owner who plans to buy more of the company’s cars, he has reiterated that he has no stakes in tearing down Tesla.

Tesla’s Cybertruck Problem Is Only One of the Many Challenges Faced by Musk

With the Tesla recall news, the company believes that only 1% of the recalled vehicles are likely affected by the issue but it’s impossible to know if that’s true or which 1% is the affected section. While the Cybertruck’s safety issues are being resolved internally, it is also unsafe to own one of these attention-grabbing vehicles right now. 

The Dogequest website has been accused of exposing the personal details and location of Tesla owners and this is particularly dangerous right now as there have been widespread protests and acts of vandalism against Tesla cars. 

The irritation with Tesla products has more to do with the CEO Musk and his intrusion in the government rather than rage over how much of an eyesore the Cybertrucks are. Regardless of the reasoning, risking the lives of individuals is never an acceptable form of protest and could set a very dangerous precedent of prolonged violence in the coming months. 

Tesla Stocks Don’t Look Too Good Right Now

The resistance aside, Tesla has also witnessed a mammoth drop in its stocks, falling over 40% in recent months. There are a variety of concerns causing this shift, but it must be acknowledged that sales of the Cybertruck never really caught up to any of the expectations before its release. Investors are losing faith in the company’s capacity to recover, despite many government officials acting as salesmen for the vehicle. CEO Musk has enough of a cult status that he could be able to convince more of his followers to support the shaky business, but we’ll have to wait and see how it plays out.

For now, if you own the Cybertruck in the US, you should consider reaching out to the closest Tesla repair center and see what you need to do about the loose trim. The reason behind the Tesla Cybertruck recall may seem like a minor one but it could cause serious harm to others on the road if left ignored.

What are you more surprised by, the eighth Tesla Cybertruck recall or the fact that the NHTSA government body is still intact and able to issue rulings for this recall? Let us know. For more insights into the world of EVs and technology, subscribe to Technowize!

tagged in Cybertruck loose trim issue, Cybertruck panel defect, Cybertruck safety issue, Tesla Cybertruck crash risk, Tesla Cybertruck problem, Tesla Cybertruck recall, Tesla recall news
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