Tesla has recalled all rear-wheel-drive Cybertrucks sold in the past two years due to a risk that the wheels could fall off. The US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) warned that fragile stud holes could cause the wheel stud to separate from the wheel hub, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
According to the NHTSA recall notice, “higher severity road perturbations and cornering may strain the stud hole in the wheel rotor, causing cracks to form.” If cracking continues with use, the wheel stud could eventually detach, leading to a loss of vehicle control.
Elon Musk’s company will replace the hubs, lug nuts, and front and rear brake rotors on all affected vehicles at no cost to owners. Due to poor sales, only 173 Cybertrucks are affected by the recall.
Musk had predicted annual sales of 250,000 Cybertrucks by 2025, but only just over 20,000 were sold last year. Registration data from S&P Global Mobility shows that Musk’s SpaceX was the largest buyer, purchasing nearly one in five Cybertrucks sold in the US in the fourth quarter of 2025, though registrations continued to fall.
Tesla lost its position as the world’s leading electric car seller to Chinese automaker BYD earlier this year, after two consecutive years of declining sales. The company also faces production delays, including a seven-year wait for the Tesla Semi, and reputational damage linked to Musk’s political views.
