Tesla has been forced to recall every Cybertruck it has ever sold after safety regulators raised an issue with the glue used to attach one of its stainless steel panels.
The US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) will oversee the recall of 46,100 Cybertrucks, marking the eighth recall for Tesla’s electric pickup truck since deliveries to customers began just over a year ago.
A report from the NHTSA warned that an exterior panel that runs along the left and right side of the windscreen can detach while driving, creating a hazard for other drivers.
The stainless steel strip, called a cant rail assembly, between the windscreen and the roof on both sides, is bonded to the truck’s assembly with a structural adhesive.
The remedy uses an adhesive which has not been found to be vulnerable to “environmental embrittlement”, the NHTSA said, and includes additional reinforcements.
Tesla will replace the panel free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be sent out on 19 May.
The recall of 46,096 Cybertrucks covers all 2024 and 2025 model years, manufactured from 13 November 2023 to 27 February 2025.
The NHTSA order said Tesla became aware of the problem early this year.
Videos showing people ripping the panels off Cybertrucks with their hands have gone viral on social media in recent days.
The Cybertruck, which Tesla began delivering to buyers in late 2023, has been recalled eight times in the past 15 months for safety problems, including once in November because a fault in an electric inverter could cause the drive wheels to lose power.
Last April, the futuristic-looking trucks were recalled to fix acceleration pedals that could get stuck in the interior trim.
Other recalls were related to windscreen wipers and the display screen.
It is the latest setback for the Elon Musk-owned electric car maker, which has come under attack since Donald Trump took office and empowered Mr Musk to oversee a new Department of Government Efficiency (Doge), which is slashing government spending.
While no injuries have been reported, Tesla showrooms, charging stations and privately owned cars have been targeted.
This week, organisers of the “Tesla Takedown” movement announced their biggest day of action, targeting 500 locations on 29 March.
“Take action at Tesla showrooms everywhere,” the organisers said. “Sell your Teslas, dump your stock, join the picket lines… Stopping Musk will help save lives and our democracy.”
President Trump has threatened anyone caught vandalising Tesla vehicles, showrooms or charging stations with draconian prison sentences.
In a post to Truth Social on Thursday, he wrote: “People that get caught sabotaging Teslas will stand a very good chance of going to jail for up to 20 years, and that includes the funders.”
Additional reporting from agencies.
