Tesla Rolls Out Free Fix for Cybertruck Trim Issue—Here’s What to Know

Tesla has issued a recall for 46,096 Cybertrucks from the 2024 and 2025 model years after U.S. regulators identified a serious safety defect.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) found that a stainless steel trim panel on the Cybertruck’s exterior can detach while driving, creating a road hazard and increasing the risk of accidents.

The affected trim, known as the cant rail, is a cosmetic panel attached to the vehicle with an adhesive and fasteners. Tesla determined that the adhesive used in the assembly can delaminate due to environmental factors, causing the panel to loosen and possibly separate from the truck. The recall includes all Cybertrucks built between November 13, 2023, and February 27, 2025.

Tesla first became aware of the issue on January 7, 2025, after receiving a field complaint about partial delamination. Additional reports surfaced on January 31, prompting an internal engineering study. While initial tests did not detect separation, further investigation uncovered 151 warranty claims related to the defect. On March 11, 2025, Tesla decided to voluntarily recall all affected vehicles.

Tesla plans to replace the cant rail assembly at no cost to owners. The new component will use an improved adhesive that is resistant to environmental embrittlement and will be reinforced with a stud and nut for extra security. The company expects to begin using this upgraded assembly in production starting March 21, 2025.

Tesla service centers will begin notifying customers on March 20, 2025, and official recall letters will be mailed by May 19, 2025. Owners can contact Tesla at 1-877-798-3752 or the NHTSA Vehicle Safety Hotline at 888-327-4236 for more information.

This recall is the latest in a series of quality control concerns for Tesla’s highly anticipated Cybertruck, which has faced multiple production challenges since its release.

Here’s the Cybertruck timeline regarding this trim issue:

• January 7, 2025 – Tesla first discovered a customer complaint about partial delamination of the Cybertruck’s cant rail panel.
• January 13, 2025 – Tesla launched an internal engineering study to assess the issue.
• January 31, 2025 – Another field report of delamination surfaced.
• February 6, 2025 – Tesla conducted pull tests but did not detect separation at that time.
• February 21, 2025 – The NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) notified Tesla about a Vehicle Owner Questionnaire (VOQ) from a Cybertruck owner reporting a detached cant rail panel.
• February 21 – March 7, 2025 – Tesla expanded its investigation to include complaints from social media and service records.
• March 11, 2025 – Tesla voluntarily decided to recall the affected vehicles.
• March 18, 2025 – Tesla formally submitted its recall report to the NHTSA.

Tesla’s roughly 8-10 weeks to take action is on the faster side of the 6-12-week range for traditional automakers handling similar trim recalls. For instance, Toyota’s 2023 recall of 12,150 Tacoma trucks for loose bed trim took about 10 weeks from detection to filing, per NHTSA records. GM’s 2022 Silverado trim recall (17,000 units) clocked in at about 12 weeks.