Popular electric car maker Tesla is issuing another recall of its Cybertruck following a faulty windshield wiper issue that could affect driver visibility in 11,688 models. Another 11,383 Cybertrucks are also on their way back to the factory because of a faulty trim in the truck bed that can come loose while driving, creating a road hazard for others.
Regardless, for Cybertrucks manufactured between November 13, 2023, to June 6, 2024, the front windshield wiper motor controller may stop working due to “electrical overstress to the gate driver component” according to the NHTSA notice issued for the problem. Tesla service identified the issue on February 2, 2024, and has since conducted further tests to understand the scope of the problem, resulting in the eventual recall. The company will replace the wiper motor for those affected free of charge.
A separate NHTSA notice covers the truck bed trim issue, stating that “on affected vehicles, the sail applique or adhesion may not have been installed according to specification, which may cause the sail applique to become loose or separate from the vehicle.”
The issue was first noticed on December 28, 2023, when an undelivered Cybertruck was found with a single missing applique at a Tesla delivery centre after being hauled on a vehicle carrier, and a second instance was noticed on May 11, 2024, on a customer vehicle leading to the recall.
However, you need not worry other than finding something else to drive when your Cybertruck is in the shop. Tesla will replace or rework the sail applique “such that the assembly meets specifications and ensures sufficient adhesion between the applique and the vehicle’s deck rail” at no extra charge.
The Cybertruck has been plagued with issues since launch, and this isn’t the vehicle’s first recall either. Earlier in April, Tesla had recalled 3,878 Cybertrucks over the risk of a jammed accelerator pedal. When you’re driving an almost four-ton polygon on wheels that can go zero to 60 MPH in around 2.6 seconds, a jammed accelerator pedal becomes a very serious issue for everyone in each direction for miles.
The Cybertruck also has one of the largest windscreens on a production vehicle and only has one wiper to clear it off. You can imagine the chaos a failed wiper motor can cause, especially in the rain.
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