Tesla recalls most Cybertrucks due to trim detaching from vehicle

Tesla is recalling nearly all Cybertrucks in the United States to fix an exterior panel that could detach while driving, the company said on Thursday, the latest in a series of call-backs for the pickup truck.

The recall covers just over 46,000 vehicles built from November 2023 through February 27 of this year, Tesla said in a filing with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

While Tesla does not break out deliveries of its Cybertrucks, the recalled vehicles represent a vast majority of the Cybertruck vehicles on the road, based on analyst estimates.

The recall could prove to be a setback for Tesla, whose stock has lost about half its value this year as the electric vehicle maker grapples with rising competition, an aging lineup, and backlash against CEO Elon Musk's controversial role overseeing cuts to federal spending in the Trump White House.

Tesla is recalling the cars because of the risk of a stainless steel exterior trim panel detaching from the vehicle, causing a potential road hazard and raising the chances of a crash, it said.

"Recalls of the entire production for a physical item such as body panels focus attention on quality issues that Tesla has avoided for many years," said Sam Fiorani, vice president at research firm AutoForecast Solutions. "Reputations take a long time to build and can be tarnished very quickly."

Demand for the unconventional EV pickup had already shown signs of weakness toward the end of last year, following several delays.

Analysts have also pointed to a change in sentiment toward the EV maker from existing customers and potential new buyers, as reactions toward the brand such as protests at Tesla stores across the U.S. and sales boycotts emerge.