Regardless of political leanings or opinions about Elon Musk or Tesla (TSLA) , it is safe to say that the Tesla Cybertruck is an automotive conversation piece, to say the least.
Whether you have encountered one, ten, or 100 of them during your travels since it first went on sale in November 2023, it is very hard to ignore its bare-metal body of flat panels shining from across the road.
During its relatively short time on the market, the Cybertruck has been subject to a smattering of recalls involving various parts, from software glitches to powertrain issues and even the gas pedal.
A Tesla Cybertruck. According to new documents released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), it is the subject of a massive, new recall.
Tesla
Tesla’s Cybertruck faces a new Cyber-problem
According to new documents released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 46,096 units of the Cybertruck sold from November 13, 2023, to February 27, 2025, are being recalled due to an issue with its sleek, all-metal exterior.
Tesla states in NHTSA documents that the issue with the Cybertruck is with a cosmetic applique along the exterior of the vehicle called the “cant rail,” which it describes as “an assembly comprised of an electro-coated steel stamping joined to a stainless steel panel with structural adhesive.” Specifically, this part is the piece of metal that stretches from the base of the Cybertruck’s windshield, over the side mirrors, and above the windows towards the rear on each side of the car.
The manufacturer states that if the rail gets detached, it may create a detectable noise inside the cabin, and/or customers may be able to see the metal panel come loose or separate from their Cybertruck.
A close-up of the affected area on the Tesla Cybertruck. The specific part affected in the recall is the bare-metal beam above the side windows.
Tesla
Although Tesla says that the cant rail uses fasteners to stay secured to the car, the glue it also uses to keep it there is a different story. Unfortunately, as the car is exposed to environmental conditions, the automaker states that the adhesive could lose its ability to keep the metal piece in place.
“On affected vehicles, the cant rail stainless steel panel may delaminate at the adhesive joint, which may cause the panel to separate from the vehicle,” Tesla states on the NHTSA’s document.
As Tesla states, this phenomenon could become “a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.”
Unfortunately, for Cybertruck owners, this issue cannot be fixed via an over-the-air update and requires a visit to the nearest Tesla Service Center for repair.
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To remedy the issue, Tesla technicians will be tasked with securing the cant rail with a different, more durable glue that can withstand tough weather conditions. Additionally, to ensure that the metal piece doesn’t fly away onto the roadway, techs will weld a stud and a screw in a nut onto the panel to secure it.
Tesla says it first became aware of the problem in January 2025 when it uncovered a complaint about the issue. It is aware of 151 warranty claims that may be related to the recall issue, but no related collisions or injuries were reported.
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After an investigation, Tesla initiated a recall. They estimate that about 1% of the 46,096 affected trucks have the defect.
However, according to NHTSA documents, the fix has not been applied to vehicles in production as of March 18, 2025.
Tesla expects to begin servicing the issue on March 21. Affected owners will be notified by mail by May or can contact Tesla customer service to see if their vehicle is affected.
Tesla, Inc. is listed on the NASDAQ as TSLA.
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