By Cyber Era NG Special Correspondent
Despite being originally marketed as an exceptionally durable vehicle, Tesla’s (TSLA) Cybertruck has been marred by complaints about its quality since launch.
These problems are well exemplified by the six recalls that affected the electric pickup in 2024 – five of which targeted specifically the Cybertruck.
In total, Finbold’s research found Tesla called up to 57,332 Cybertrucks for checkups and repairs – an average of 172 units per day since the year started – according to the data available through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
Most of the recalls were over mechanical issues, such as improperly attached parts, the danger of the accelerator pedal getting stuck, or even a loss of driving power.
The biggest recall – possibly affecting more than 27,000 vehicles – involved a delay with the rearview camera, which was solved with an over-the-air (OTA) firmware update.
Tesla Cybertruck may be suffering from a 200 per cent recall rate in 2024
Though Tesla has been tight-lipped over the total number of Cybertrucks delivered, many have used the recall figures to try and gauge the total number of units shipped.
One of the most credible estimates, provided in the Kelly Blue Book and covering the first three quarters of the year, posits that 28,250 have been shipped by September 30.
These numbers reveal an alarming fact that the electric pickup may already have a 200 per cent 2024 recall rate, meaning that it is possible that almost every single Cybertruck was affected by at least two recalls this year.
Still, as a co-author of the research, Andreja Stojanovic pointed out: “Despite the recall rate potentially approaching 200 per cent, the situation might prove similar to the broader reputation of Tesla cars as spontaneous combustion engines. The actual number of instances in which Tesla vehicles caught fire for no apparent reason is minuscule compared to what the public perception and online representation suggest.”
Ultimately, though the potential maximum number of recalled Cybertrucks gives cause for concern, it is important to remember that the most arduous fixes in 2024 were estimated to take no more than three hours and that the actual number of units that needed repairing could be only a fraction of the maximum estimate of 57,332.
