The futuristic Tesla Cybertruck has been in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons this year. From durability questions to a slew of recalls, the Cybertruck has had a rocky start. According to recent data collated by Finbold, Tesla have had to recall over 57,000 Cybertrucks in 2024 alone — meaning updates for roughly 172 vehicles every single day since January.

The first Cybertruck-specific recall came in April, addressing a problem where the accelerator pedal could get stuck if too much force were applied. Tesla’s solution? Fixing the pedal in place with a rivet that reportedly took just 15 minutes to fit. Around 3,800 trucks were potentially affected, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

By June, things got busier. Two recalls were issued in one day, targeting a faulty front wiper motor and a loose trim piece. These issues could have affected 11,688 and 12,150 vehicles, respectively. Both were resolved with simple repairs taking about 30 minutes each.

Then came November, bringing a more significant problem: an issue with the drive inverter that could cause power loss. This fix was more time-intensive, taking around three hours to complete. Tesla estimated that over 2,400 Cybertrucks were impacted.

Tesla Cybertruck may face recall

Over-the-Air Updates

Tesla also leveraged its tech-savvy approach with an over-the-air (OTA) recall in September. This software update addressed a delay in the rearview camera display, affecting over 27,000 vehicles. While OTA fixes are convenient and don’t require a trip to the service centre, this one raised eyebrows as it may have inadvertently hinted at how many Cybertrucks Tesla might have sold — information the company usually keeps under wraps.

Between the recalls and manufacturing dates noted in NHTSA filings, some believe these events have pieced together a clearer picture of Cybertruck production and delivery numbers, though Tesla hasn’t confirmed anything.

Crunching the Numbers

Looking at the figures, it seems the Cybertruck may be underperforming compared to its lofty sales targets of 150,000 units annually. Kelley Blue Book estimated only about 28,250 pickups had been delivered by the end of September. Meanwhile, recall data suggests nearly 55,000 trucks were flagged for fixes during the same period. That means many vehicles were likely recalled more than once, heading towards a 200% recall rate.

While a 200% recall rate sounds alarming, it’s worth noting that these numbers reflect potential maximums and that half of the total were fixed without the user needing to visit a service centre. The actual number of trucks with serious issues is likely to be a tiny fraction of those requiring fixes.

Phil Huff
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