Tesla's Latest Recall? Wheels May Fall Off Cybertrucks

"Tesla is recalling its Rear Wheel Drive (RWD) Cybertruck Long Range over faulty brake rotors. In a notice posted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Tesla states that "brake rotor stud holes may crack and allow the stud to separate from the wheel hub." In which case, some RWD Cybertruck owners merrily driving along could be disconcertingly overtaken by their own wheels."

""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." The described failure mode links driving loads to cracking in the rotor stud hole and eventual separation of the wheel stud from the wheel hub."

"Tesla says it will completely replace the wheel hubs, rotors, and lug nuts free of charge for all 173 trucks affected by the recall. Sean Tucker, managing editor at Kelley Blue Book, explains how Tesla is once again in the position of fixing released models of the Cybertruck before something potentially dangerous occurs. "A car is such a complex machine that a very small change to design can have consequences years down the road," he says."

""This is literally about some grease [Tesla] discovered on the lug nuts that tighten to hold the 18-inch wheel to the brake rotor." Tucker says the grease was not reducing friction enough and could loosen the nuts over time, causing additional risk to wheel attachment. The explanation ties the recall to a specific material issue affecting how lug nuts clamp the wheel to the brake rotor."

Tesla is recalling 173 Rear Wheel Drive Cybertruck Long Range vehicles because brake rotor stud holes may crack and allow the stud to separate from the wheel hub. Higher severity road perturbations and cornering can strain the stud hole in the wheel rotor, leading to crack formation. If cracking propagates with continued use and strain, the wheel stud could eventually separate from the wheel hub. Tesla will replace wheel hubs, rotors, and lug nuts free of charge. The recall follows prior issues involving wheel-related components and concerns about stainless steel rusting. Tesla attributes the problem to faulty grease on lug nuts that may not provide enough friction, potentially loosening nuts over time.

Read at WIRED