Tesla has agreed to recall about 4,000 Cybertruck pickup trucks to fix a stuck gas pedal that increases the risk of crashes, the Federal Safety Agency announced Friday.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said in a notice posted on its website that the defect could cause vehicles to accelerate unintentionally. After numerous delays, Tesla began selling its first pickup truck, the Cybertruck, in November.
The recall is another setback for Tesla, the largest electric car maker in the United States. The company has been losing market share to emerging competitors, and this month reported a year-on-year decline in sales for the first three months of the year, the first time since the pandemic began.
Tesla’s recent woes have spooked investors, with the company’s stock price down about 40% since the beginning of the year.
The Federal Safety Agency says all 3,878 Cybertrucks on U.S. roads produced between November 13 and April 4 are defective because soap was used as a lubricant during assembly at Tesla’s Austin, Texas, factory. It was announced that the cause was that it was used. The soap residue “reduced the retention of the pads on the pedals,” officials said.
Tesla first received the customer complaint on March 31, and by last Friday had completed an evaluation and voluntarily recalled the affected vehicles, according to the notice.
The agency said Tesla was not aware that the defect caused a crash, injury or death. In recent days, some Cybertruck owners have posted videos and photos on social media explaining the defect and saying they were able to stop the vehicle by pressing the brake pedal.
Safety officials say Tesla will replace or repair the Cybertruck’s gas pedal free of charge.
The company has faced several recalls in the past year. In February, the company recalled more than 2 million vehicles because the font size on the warning light panels was too small. In December, the company recalled more than 2 million vehicles to change the Autopilot software and remind drivers to keep their hands on the steering wheel when using the system, which can perform certain driving functions. , a more prominent warning is now displayed.
Tesla did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The company’s CEO Elon Musk told employees this week that the company would cut 10% of its workforce. On the same day, two senior executives announced that they would be leaving the company.
Electric vehicle manufacturers have struggled to maintain their recent rapid growth as more established automakers have started making and selling battery-powered vehicles and demand for those vehicles has slowed. . Tesla has been slow to respond to its competition. The Cybertruck was the first new model since 2020, but its unusual angular design and starting price of more than $80,000 are expected to limit its appeal and sales.
Tesla’s market share in the U.S. was 51% in the first quarter, down from 62% in early 2023, according to Kelley Blue Book.
