Tesla recalls over 3,800 Cybertruck models due to accelerator pedal issue

Published: 19 April 2024 at 11:23

Business

Tesla has recalled 3,878 Cybertruck models as the accelerator pedal is at risk of getting stuck, following a viral video showing a loose rubber cover pinning the pedal down. Sales were temporarily halted after contact from the NHTSA. The EV maker will replace or repair the assembly for affected owners.

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Tesla Halts Cybertruck Production and Deliveries Due to Safety Issue

Tesla has halted production, sales, and deliveries of its newest vehicle, the Cybertruck, due to a safety issue with the accelerator pedal getting stuck when pressed down. This problem has led to a suspension of deliveries for some customers, with reports of the pedal cover coming loose and causing the vehicle to accelerate uncontrollably. Complaints from Cybertruck owners include issues with build quality, braking, and acceleration.

Tesla Cybertruck Owner's Accelerator Pedal Gets Stuck, Goes Viral

A Tesla Cybertruck owner in Southern California experienced his accelerator pedal getting stuck due to a loose rubber cover, leading to a viral TikTok video with millions of views. Some Cybertruck deliveries have been paused due to an accelerator issue, with delays reported and owners informed. Tesla has not issued an official recall or pause yet. The owner plans to continue driving the Cybertruck without the accelerator cover and will investigate the issue further on his next day off. Prior to the incident, he had driven the Cybertruck for over 2,000 miles.

Tesla recalls almost all cars sold in America due to small warning lights on instrument panel, while an investigation into steering problems is underway for over 334,000 vehicles

Tesla is recalling almost all cars sold in America, totaling 2.2 million vehicles, including the Model S, Model Y, and Cybertruck, due to warning lights on the instrument panel being too small. Safety regulators found that the font size of the brake, park, and antilock brake warning lights did not meet federal safety standards, potentially making critical safety information difficult to read and increasing the risk of accidents. Additionally, an investigation into steering problems with over 334,000 Tesla vehicles is underway, with 115 complaints and more being received by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Tesla Cybertruck (Wikipedia)

The Tesla Cybertruck is a battery electric full-size pickup truck built by Tesla, Inc. since 2023. Introduced as a concept vehicle in November 2019, it features a triangular body design with flat sheet metal panels made of stainless steel.Tesla was initially aiming to bring the vehicle into production in 2021. After a series of delays, production Cybertrucks were first delivered to customers in late November 2023. As of December 2023, the Cybertruck is available only in North America. Three models are offered: the tri-motor all-wheel drive (AWD) "Cyberbeast", a dual-motor AWD model, and a rear-wheel drive (RWD) model, with EPA range estimates of 250–340 miles (400–550 km), varying by model.

Tesla Cybertruck Owners Violating Resale Agreement Face Consequences

Tesla's owner agreement prohibits Cybertruck resale within a year, with violators facing fines or cancellations. Despite warnings, some owners list their vehicles for resale at high prices, risking cancellations and bans from future Tesla purchases. Dennis from Arizona, an IT manager, attempted to sell his Cybertruck for a hefty markup but faced consequences of canceled reservations and warnings from Tesla. Celebrities like Serena Williams and Spike Lee own the Cybertruck, which has a long waiting list. Tesla's pre-order agreement clearly states consequences for bad faith actions like resale attempts.

2009–2011 Toyota vehicle recalls (Wikipedia)

The 2009–11 Toyota vehicle recalls involved three separate but related recalls of automobiles by the Japanese manufacturer Toyota Motor Corporation, which occurred at the end of 2009 and the start of 2010. Toyota initiated the recalls, the first two with the assistance of the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), after reports that several vehicles experienced unintended acceleration. The first recall, on November 2, 2009, was to correct a possible incursion of an incorrect or out-of-place front driver's side floor mat into the foot pedal well, which can cause pedal entrapment. The second recall, on January 21, 2010, was begun after some crashes were shown not to have been caused by floor mat incursion. This latter defect was identified as a possible mechanical sticking of the accelerator pedal causing unintended acceleration, referred to as Sticking Accelerator Pedal by Toyota. The original action was initiated by Toyota in their Defect Information Report, dated October 5, 2009, amended January 27, 2010. Following the floor mat and accelerator pedal recalls, Toyota also issued a separate recall for hybrid anti-lock brake software in February 2010.As of January 28, 2010, Toyota had announced recalls of approximately 5.2 million vehicles for the pedal entrapment/floor mat problem, and an additional 2.3 million vehicles for the accelerator pedal problem. Approximately 1.7 million vehicles are subject to both. Certain related Lexus models and the Pontiac Vibe (the latter being based on the Corolla) were also affected. The next day, Toyota widened the recall to include 1.8 million vehicles in Europe and 75,000 in China. By then, the worldwide total number of cars recalled by Toyota stood at 9 million. Sales of multiple recalled models were suspended for several weeks as a result of the accelerator pedal recall, with the vehicles awaiting replacement parts. As of January 2010, 21 deaths were alleged due to the pedal problem since 2000, but following the January 28 recall, additional NHTSA complaints brought the alleged total to 37. The number of alleged victims and reported problems sharply increased following the recall announcements, which were heavily covered by U.S. media, although the causes of individual reports were difficult to verify. Government officials, automotive experts, Toyota, and members of the general public contested the scope of the sudden acceleration issue and the veracity of victim and problem reports. Various parties attributed sudden unintended acceleration reports to mechanical, electric, and driver error causes. Some US owners that had their recalled vehicles repaired still reported accelerator pedal issues, leading to investigations and the finding of improper repairs. The recalls further led to additional NHTSA and Toyota investigations, along with multiple lawsuits.On February 8, 2011, the NHTSA, in collaboration with NASA, released its findings into the investigation on the Toyota drive-by-wire throttle system. After a 10-month search, NASA and NHTSA scientists found no electronic defect in Toyota vehicles. Driver error or pedal misapplication was found responsible for most of the incidents. The report ended by stating, "Our conclusion is Toyota's problems were mechanical, not electrical." This included sticking accelerator pedals, and pedals caught under floor mats.However, on October 24, 2013, a jury ruled against Toyota and found that unintended acceleration could have been caused due to deficiencies in the drive-by-wire throttle system or Electronic Throttle Control System (ETCS). Michael Barr of the Barr Group testified that NASA had not been able to complete its examination of Toyota's ETCS and that Toyota did not follow best practices for real time life-critical software, and that a single bit flip which can be caused by cosmic rays could cause unintended acceleration. As well, the run-time stack of the real-time operating system was not large enough and that it was possible for the stack to grow large enough to overwrite data that could cause unintended acceleration. As a result, Toyota has entered into settlement talks with its plaintiffs.

Tesla, Inc. (Wikipedia)

Tesla, Inc. ( TESS-lə or TEZ-lə) is an American multinational automotive and clean energy company headquartered in Austin, Texas, which designs, manufactures and sells electric vehicles, stationary battery energy storage devices from home to grid-scale, solar panels and solar shingles, and related products and services.Tesla was incorporated in July 2003 by Martin Eberhard and Marc Tarpenning as Tesla Motors. The company's name is a tribute to inventor and electrical engineer Nikola Tesla. In February 2004 Elon Musk joined as the company's largest shareholder and in 2008 he was named CEO. In 2008, the company began production of its first car model, the Roadster sports car, followed by the Model S sedan in 2012, the Model X SUV in 2015, the Model 3 sedan in 2017, the Model Y crossover in 2020, the Tesla Semi truck in 2022 and the Cybertruck pickup truck in 2023. The Model 3 is the all-time bestselling plug-in electric car worldwide, and in June 2021 became the first electric car to sell 1 million units globally. In 2023, the Model Y was the best-selling vehicle, of any kind, globally.Tesla is one of the world's most valuable companies. In October 2021, Tesla's market capitalization temporarily reached $1 trillion, the sixth company to do so in U.S. history. In 2022, the company led the battery electric vehicle market, with 18% share. As of 2023, it is the world's most valuable automaker. Also in 2023, the company was ranked 69th in the Forbes Global 2000.Tesla has been the subject of lawsuits, government scrutiny, and journalistic criticism, stemming from allegations of whistleblower retaliation, worker rights violations, product defects, and Musk's many controversial statements.

Tesla Cybertruck Crash in Beverly Hills Involving Owner and Valet

A Tesla Cybertruck crashed into the Beverly Hills Hotel sign with conflicting reports on whether it was the owner or a valet driving. The owner was later revealed to be responsible despite initial blame on the valet. Elon Musk suggested the valet may not have expected the truck's acceleration. No injuries reported, and the Beverly Hills Hotel confirmed no involvement of their staff in the incident.

Tesla Model S (Wikipedia)

The Tesla Model S is a battery electric executive car with a liftback body style built by Tesla, Inc. since 2012. The Model S features a battery-powered dual-motor, all-wheel drive layout, although earlier versions featured a rear-motor and rear-wheel drive layout.Development of the Model S began prior to 2007, under the codename "WhiteStar". The Model S was officially announced on June 30, 2008, and a prototype vehicle was unveiled in March 2009. The Model S debuted on June 22, 2012. A revised, dual-motor, all-wheel-drive version, known as the 60D, debuted on October 9, 2014. The 60D was followed by the 70D, which made dual-motor and all-wheel drive the standard, followed by the 85D, P85D, and P90D. Along with these updates, Tesla offered the Autopilot driving assistance system. The first major design refresh came in April 2016 when the Model S was updated with a new front hood design. In October of the same year, hardware became standard that supports Tesla's Full Self Driving (FSD) capability. As part of the update, integrated standard cameras around the car were added. In February 2017 the Tesla Model S P100D debuted, which included a revised motor and was the first electric vehicle to have an EPA estimated range exceeding 300 miles (483 km). The second major design refresh, codenamed "Palladium", was introduced in June 2021, offering a new "Plaid" performance model, along with a revised interior, powertrain, and suspension.The Model S became the first electric car to top the monthly new-car-sales ranking in any country, leading twice in Norway, in September and December 2013 and in Denmark in December 2015. Sales passed 250,000 units in September 2018. The Model S was the top-selling plug-in electric car worldwide in 2015 and 2016, although it was later surpassed by the Model 3. Upon its release, the Model S received positive reviews, with praise for its acceleration and range, although initial models received criticism for their high cost and braking issues.

Tesla's Stock Plummets Below $150 Amidst Falling Sales and Job Cuts

Tesla's stock dropped below $150 per share, erasing gains from the past year due to declining sales and job cuts. The company's shares are down 12.4% for the week and over 39% for the year. Tesla also announced a 10% global workforce reduction of about 14,000 jobs and plans to reinstate Elon Musk's $56 billion pay package that was previously rejected by a Delaware judge. Analysts describe the first quarter sales numbers as an 'unmitigated disaster' amidst increased competition and slowing electric vehicle sales growth.

Tesla Model 3 (Wikipedia)

The Tesla Model 3 is a battery electric mid-size sedan with a fastback body style built by Tesla, Inc., first introduced in 2017. It is marketed as being more affordable to more people than previous models made by Tesla. The Model 3 was the world's top selling plug-in electric car for three years, from 2018 to 2020, before being knocked from the top spot by the Tesla Model Y, a crossover SUV based on the Model 3 chassis. In June 2021, the Model 3 became the first electric car to pass global sales of 1 million. In November 2021, new features were added such as a power-operated trunk, heated steering wheel, new center console similar to the Model Y's with two wireless phone chargers, chrome trim replaced with matte black trim, USB-C ports, and a heat pump.An upgraded Model 3 with revamped interior and exterior styling was introduced in late 2023 for countries supplied by Tesla's Shanghai, China factory, and then in North America and other countries supplied by the Fremont, California factory in early 2024.

Tesla Model Y (Wikipedia)

The Tesla Model Y is a battery electric mid-size crossover SUV produced by Tesla, Inc. since 2020. The vehicle was presented in March 2019 as the company's fifth production model since its inception after the Roadster, Model S, Model X and Model 3.After its 2019 introduction, the Model Y started production at the Fremont Factory in California, US in January 2020. Production at Giga Shanghai, China was added in December 2020, and at Giga Texas, US since late 2021. Deliveries from Giga Berlin, Germany started in March 2022.The Model Y is based on the Model 3 sedan, with around 76 percent of parts being shared between the two. While most Model Y are configured with two-row seating, in the US the Model Y offers optional third-row seats for a seven-passenger seating capacity.In 2023, Tesla delivered 1.2 million Model Ys, making it the world's best-selling vehicle that year, surpassing Toyota Corolla and becoming the first electric vehicle to claim that title. With at least 2.16 million units delivered since its start of production up to December 2023, the Model Y is also the most popular electric vehicle of all time.

Gigafactory Texas (Wikipedia)

Gigafactory Texas (also known as Giga Texas, Giga Austin, or Gigafactory 5) is an automotive manufacturing facility in Austin, Texas built by Tesla, Inc. Construction began in July 2020, limited production of Model Y began before the end of 2021, and initial deliveries of vehicles built at the factory took place at an opening party called “Cyber Rodeo” on April 7, 2022.The factory produces Model Y cars for the Eastern United States and is also planned to be the main factory for the Cybertruck and the company's next-generation vehicle. It also serves as the site of Tesla's corporate headquarters. Tesla employs over 20,000 people at the factory and expects to eventually have a staff of 60,000 as production ramps up. It is the country's second biggest factory by size as well as the second-largest building by volume in the world after the Boeing Everett Factory.

Tesla's net income doubles in Q4 but warns of lower sales growth this year

Tesla reported net income of $7.93 billion in Q4 2023, more than double the previous year, but warned of lower sales growth for the year. Excluding one-time items, the company made $2.49 billion, down 39% from a year ago. Tesla's quarterly revenue was $25.17 billion, up 3% from a year earlier. The company's sales growth rate was slower than previous quarters, and full-year sales rose 37.7%, short of the 50% growth rate CEO Elon Musk predicted. Tesla also noted that Cybertruck deliveries will ramp up this year and that revenue growth from energy storage is expected to outpace the automotive business.

Tesla Roadster (first generation) (Wikipedia)

The Tesla Roadster is a battery electric vehicle sports car, based on the Lotus Elise chassis, produced by Tesla Motors (now Tesla, Inc.) from 2008 to 2012. The Roadster was the first highway legal, serial production, all-electric car to use lithium-ion battery cells, and the first production all-electric car to travel more than 244 miles (393 km) per charge. It is also the first production car to be launched into deep space, carried by a Falcon Heavy rocket in a test flight on February 6, 2018.Tesla sold about 2,450 Roadsters in over 30 countries, and most of the last Roadsters were sold in Europe and Asia during the fourth quarter of 2012. Tesla produced right-hand-drive Roadsters from early 2010. The Roadster qualified for government incentives in several nations.According to the U.S. EPA, the Roadster can travel 244 miles (393 km) on a single charge of its lithium-ion battery pack. The vehicle can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph (0 to 97 km/h) in 3.7 or 3.9 seconds depending on the model. It has a top speed of 125 mph (201 km/h). The Roadster's efficiency, as of September 2008, was reported as 120 miles per gallon gasoline equivalent (28 kW⋅h/100 mi) (2.0 L/100 km). It uses 21.7 kWh/100 mi (135 Wh/km) battery-to-wheel, and has an efficiency of 88% on average.

Ford Recalls 43,000 Small SUVs Due to Fuel Leak Concerns

Ford is recalling nearly 43,000 newer models of Bronco and Escape SUVs due to fuel injector issues that could lead to gasoline leaks in the engine compartment, posing a fire risk. The recall includes 2022 Escape and 2022/2023 Bronco Sport editions with 1.5L engines. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration suggests checking the NHTSA website for affected vehicles. Owners can have a drain tube and leak-detection software installed for free at Ford dealerships. The recall, an expansion of a previous one in 2022, does not address repairing the fuel leaks.

Tesla seeks shareholders' approval for $56bn pay package for Musk after court rejection

Tesla, led by Chair Robyn Denholm, is asking shareholders to reapprove a $56 billion pay package for CEO Elon Musk after it was initially rejected by a US judge. Denholm stated that the board supports the original deal, believing in big risks for big rewards. Shareholders will also vote on relocating Tesla's corporate home to Texas. The company recently faced challenges with falling vehicle deliveries and share prices. Musk's compensation package was voided in January, with legal experts questioning Tesla's attempt to restore it through a shareholder vote.

Kia Recalls 427,000 Telluride SUVs Due to Roll Away Defect

Kia is recalling over 427,000 Telluride SUVs from 2020-2024 due to a defect in the intermediate shaft and right front driveshaft that may cause unintended vehicle movement while parked, increasing crash risks. The recall covers models manufactured between Jan. 9, 2019, and Oct. 19, 2023, with Kia estimating 1% have the defect. Owners will receive free updates to the electronic parking brake software and replacements for damaged shafts. Drivers are advised to manually engage the emergency brake and can check their vehicle's inclusion in the recall on NHTSA or Kia's platform. Notifications will be sent out starting May 15.

Investor concerns grow as Elon Musk juggles multiple companies, raising questions about his focus on Tesla

Investors are becoming increasingly concerned about Elon Musk's involvement in multiple companies like Tesla, Space X, Twitter, Neuralink, and more, leading to doubts about his focus on Tesla. Recent issues at Tesla, including a decline in sales and layoffs, have raised worries among investors. Despite Musk's success and autonomy in managing various ventures, the pressure may mount for him to prioritize Tesla or show increased commitment to the company.

Tesla (Wikipedia)

Tesla most commonly refers to:Nikola Tesla (1856–1943), a Serbian-American electrical engineer and inventorTesla, Inc., an American electric vehicle and clean energy company, formerly Tesla Motors, Inc.Tesla (unit) (symbol: T), the SI-derived unit of magnetic flux densityTesla may also refer to: