The Cybertruck was sold as a revolutionary, ultra-durable, futuristic armored vehicle. But now, Tesla is warning some owners that the wheels could literally come off. The issue, it seems, stems from a fault involving the brake rotors and wheel studs.
According to a notice from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), “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.” Translation: If you hit a bump or take a hard turn, the studs holding the wheel could crack. Keep driving, and the wheel could separate from the hub.
This recall affects about 173 Cybertrucks, all of which are Rear-Wheel-Drive (RWD) Long Range models from 2024 to 2026 equipped with 18-inch steel wheels. Models with 20-inch wheels are not affected. Ironically, Tesla reportedly discontinued this version last year due to weak demand.
Also, according to the notice, Tesla says it is not aware of any collisions, injuries, or deaths linked to the issue. However, the company noted that three warranty claims may be related to the defect.
This marks the 11th recall involving the Tesla Cybertruck. As per a report from CNET, in October 2025, more than 6,000 Cybertrucks were recalled because a light bar could detach and create a road hazard. In March of the same year, around 46,000 units were recalled because a trim panel could come loose while driving. Back in April 2024, roughly 3,878 Cybertrucks were recalled due to accelerator pedals getting stuck, creating the risk of unintended acceleration. Several other software and hardware-related issues have also triggered recalls since the vehicle launched.
To make matters even more concerning for Tesla, this is not the only recall the company is dealing with this week. The automaker is also recalling more than 200,000 Tesla Model Y, Tesla Model S, Tesla Model X, and Tesla Model 3 vehicles in the U.S. due to “loss of the rearview camera image,” which regulators say could increase the risk of a crash.
At the same time, some Cybertruck owners have also complained online about rust appearing on parts of the vehicle’s stainless-steel body. Together, the recalls and complaints are adding pressure on Tesla and on Elon Musk, especially for a vehicle that was introduced as one of the company’s boldest products yet. Tesla sold just 20,237 Cybertrucks last year, far below Musk’s reported goal of 250,000 units annually, as the truck’s high price and repeated issues appeared to cool some of the early excitement around the vehicle.
For a truck marketed as ultra-durable and apocalypse-ready, the Cybertruck has spent a surprising amount of time back in the repair shop.
Ogbonda Chivumnovu
