Summary
Tesla is recalling over 46,000 Cybertrucks in the U.S. due to a defect causing exterior trim panels to detach while driving, posing a crash risk.
The recall affects nearly all Cybertrucks produced from November 2023 to February 2024. Tesla will replace the faulty rail panel assembly.
While no injuries have been reported, the company has received 151 warranty claims.
The recall adds to Tesla’s challenges amid falling stock prices and backlash over CEO Elon Musk’s political involvement. Tesla shares fell 1.4% after the news.
I’m no car engineer, but wtf are they glued?!
Lots of stuff on cars is glued. Your windshield, for one. The difference is correctly applying the appropriate adhesive.
I guess it’s hard to screw in glass. I didn’t expect that of panels though
Maybe my perspective is entirely painted by the fact that I’ve only owned cars from the 90s-2001 but I feel like you usually have screws for things that aren’t the windshield. Hell the back window of a 1991 Jeep Cherokee is held in by a gasket, no glue no screws just pressure. So it seems a bit stupid to rely on just glue for something that is presumably going to be exposed to the environment and can change consistency under heat like during the summer and spring.
Cars a combination of all kinds of shit. Rivets, welds, adhesive, clips, you name it. Aluminum frame cars use more adhesive. High-end applications where the heat of welding can cause dangerous warping also is a factor. The Lotus Elise, for example, uses adhesive rather than welds. Bolts or rivets put holes in things and that’s not always tolerable.
Not to mention, a hole creates a stress point. Rivets are extremely strong, but they create a perforation in the riveted material, which reduces its overall strength. Properly applied adhesive uniformly distributes forces over a larger surface area. Industrial grade adhesive when properly applied beats out just about every other form of fastening.