Cybertruck: Wheels fall off – recall exposes sales disaster
Tesla is recalling the cheapest variant of the Cybertruck because there is once again an enormous safety risk. The campaign also reveals the model’s usually well-guarded sales figures, which speak volumes about the vehicle’s failure.
Wheels come loose while driving
The Cybertruck is certainly not a success story for Elon Musk’s US car manufacturer Tesla. There have been recalls in the past due to a number of defects in electric vehicles. Previous reasons have ranged from headlights falling off to loose trim parts and stuck accelerator pedals. Most recently, they wanted to boost sales with a new and cheaper basic model with rear-wheel drive. Now these cars are facing a recall due to serious defects, which also reveals the shockingly low sales figures of the ‘budget’ cybertruck. On the affected models, which are equipped with 18-inch steel rims, there is a risk of the wheels becoming completely detached from the vehicle while driving. The reason for this are possible cracks in the brake discs, which can arise from everyday stress in traffic or when cornering.
If the cracks go unnoticed, the wheel bolts can tear off the wheel hub. The problem not only affects parts installed at the factory, but also spare parts in the service centers. According to regulatory documents, three warranty claims related to the defect have been received so far. Fortunately, there have been no accidents or injuries so far.
Recall reveals extremely weak sales figures
In addition to the safety risk, the recall brings another detail to light. Like the car magazine Motor trend reported, the campaign only includes 173 vehicles. Tesla apparently did not sell more copies. The low number explains why the car manufacturer removed the cheapest version of the electric pick-up from its range shortly after its market launch. Although the model was around $10,000 (around 8,500 euros) cheaper than the all-wheel drive version, it apparently found hardly any buyers. Tesla usually hides the exact delivery figures of individual vehicle types. In its quarterly reports, the company often groups them together with older series such as the Model S or Model X in the ‘Other Models’ category. The official recall documents now provide a detailed insight. The affected vehicles were produced between late August and early November 2025 before production was halted due to lack of demand.
Replacement of the faulty parts
To solve the problem, the engineers in the workshops are now installing newly designed brake discs and wheel hubs. The updated components increase the contact area and are intended to reduce mechanical stress. In addition, new wheel nuts with a special coating are used, which ensure better torque retention under high loads. The repair is free of charge for the owners of the affected Cybertrucks. The first notifications have already been sent out and the actual replacement work is scheduled to begin on June 20th.
