Tesla Recalls 173 Cybertrucks for Brake Rotor Stud Hole Issue

Tesla is recalling 173 Rear Wheel Drive Cybertruck Long Range vehicles over faulty brake rotors, the 11th such action for the model so far. A notice posted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration detailed the defect. Tesla states that brake rotor stud holes may crack and allow the stud to separate from the wheel hub.

On affected vehicles, higher severity road perturbations and cornering may strain the stud hole in the wheel rotor, causing cracks to form. If cracking propagates with continued use and strain, the wheel stud could eventually separate from the wheel hub. Tesla will completely replace the wheel hubs, rotors, and lug nuts free of charge for all affected trucks.

The recall applies to trucks built on certain dates using a specific shipment of lug nuts and grease, and cars with 18-inch wheels produced on certain dates. It is a subset of a subset of Cybertrucks. Sean Tucker, managing editor at Kelley Blue Book, said the issue traces to a production communication failure.

Tucker said the grease was not reducing friction enough and could loosen the nuts over time, causing vibrations that could crack the brake rotor. "So they changed the grease. " Tucker added that a very small change to design can have consequences years down the road.

Wired reported that Tesla had shifted a mere 46,096 trucks in the first 14 months of sales. Tucker noted that demand has not matched early expectations but described the recall as a narrow materials problem rather than a broad production shortfall. The recall stems from a specific materials issue involving the wrong grease on a particular shipment of lug nuts.

Tucker said it is not indicative of larger output problems for the stainless steel pickup.