Nearly 4,000 Tesla Cybertrucks, with a total value of around $240 million, are being recalled by the automaker after reported safety problems with their accelerator pedals. Drivers have been complaining about instances of these pedals getting stuck stuck all the way down, putting the almost 7,000 pound vehicle at an unexpected full throttle speed.
The safety concerns subsequently prompted the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to look into the problem. The administration discovered that the reason behind issues is soap.
Tesla reportedly implemented an “unapproved” change to the vehicle’s design, using a soap lubricant in assembling the accelerator pedal. The left-over soap residue then reduced the retention of the pad to the pedal, causing it to dislodge and get stuck down.
According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, this increased the “risk of crash” for those behind the wheel. According to the NHTSA, the issue impacts “all Model Year (‘MY’) 2024 Cybertruck vehicles manufactured from November 13, 2023, to April 4, 2024.”
Unlike most Tesla recalls, the issue cannot be fixed by an over-the-air software update. Cybertruck owners will have to respond to a letter from the automaker and bring their vehicle into a service center for a no-charge repair.
This recall comes after Tesla recalled millions of other vehicles in recent months over separate safety concerns. In January, the automaker recalled over 1.6 million cars in China because of concerns with steering software and door-locking systems. Prior to that, in December of 2023, over 2 million Teslas were recalled in the U.S. after an autopilot system was found to be partly faulty.
