Flying Panels and Bad Glue: Recalls Keep Stacking Up for Tesla’s 'Indestructible' Cybertruck

Rows of Cybertrucks sat outside Gigafactory Texas last July, a sharp reminder of Tesla’s bold promises and growing challenges. Tesla Inc. reported that overall vehicle deliveries fell 9% in 2025 to 1.64 million, a drop that allowed rivals to overtake it as the world’s top electric-vehicle seller.

The Cybertruck, which Tesla once hyped as nearly indestructible, is becoming a symbol of those challenges.

Since its late 2023 launch, the futuristic pickup has drawn plenty of attention some for its polarizing design, some for backlash tied to CEO Elon Musk’s politics. But just as often, it’s been in the spotlight for another reason: recalls.

And those recalls are piling up fast.

In 2025 alone, nearly 116,000 Cybertrucks were recalled, according to an analysis of National Highway Traffic Safety Administration data. Financial news site Finbold found that number was more than double the total in 2024, the truck’s first full year on the market. Put another way, Tesla recalled an average of about 318 Cybertrucks per day last year.

So far, the Cybertruck has been recalled 10 times—a striking number for a vehicle that’s only been on sale for a little over a year.

One of the most eyebrow-raising recalls came in March, when Tesla addressed an issue that could cause a stainless-steel body panel to fly off while the truck was in motion. According to the recall report, the adhesive used to hold the panel in place was “susceptible to environmental brittleness.” The fix? Finding better glue.

That wasn’t the first time Tesla ran into bonding issues. In April 2024, the company recalled nearly 4,000 Cybertrucks after drivers reported the accelerator pad could come loose, raising the risk of the pedal getting stuck. Tesla said the repair would take less than 15 minutes but the recall report noted the problem stemmed from an “unapproved change” during assembly that involved using soap as a lubricant.

Lighting issues triggered another major recall in October, when more than 63,000 Cybertrucks were pulled back because their front lights were too bright, creating a hazard for other drivers.

Other recalls since the truck’s debut include:

More than 27,000 vehicles recalled in September 2024 due to delayed rearview camera images.

About 11,700 recalled in June 2024 over problems with windshield wipers and exterior trim.

Nearly 2,500 recalled in November 2024 after a drive inverter fault that could cause the truck to lose torque a fix Tesla estimated would take three hours per vehicle.

Some issues blurred the line between hardware recalls and software fixes. In December 2024, Tesla addressed a problem involving a tire-pressure warning light, and Cybertruck was also included in a broader recall over a warning indicator displayed in a font deemed too small. Those remedies arrived via over-the-air updates, and many Tesla fans argue software fixes shouldn’t count as “real” recalls.

Still, Tesla isn’t alone in leaning on software. While Tesla led in the number of vehicles affected by software recalls in 2024 and 2025, Ford topped the list for the most recall actions overall.

Despite the steady drumbeat of issues, Cybertruck enthusiasm hasn’t completely faded. This spring, owners gathered for a Cybertruck meetup at an off-roading facility in Gatesville. And last month, a police department in the Houston area began testing Cybertrucks as potential patrol vehicles.

Sales, however, tell a tougher story. By the third quarter of 2025, Cybertruck sales totaled 16,097 units—down 38% from the year before. Tesla is now pinning hopes on its upcoming Cybercab, scheduled to enter production in April, to help revive momentum. But given Tesla’s history of missed timelines, there’s skepticism that the rollout will be smooth.

For now, Tesla hasn’t taken its eye off the Cybertruck. Earlier this month, Musk’s Boring Co. highlighted its new “Cybertunnel,” an underground route that cuts transport time between Gigafactory Texas sites from 12 minutes to under one minute.

Whether that kind of efficiency can offset mounting recalls and the gap between hype and reality remains to be seen.