Tesla Cybertruck Hit With Fourth Safety Recall Over Loose Wheel Studs

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued a recall for 2024–2026 Tesla Cybertruck vehicles due to wheel studs that can separate from the wheels. If this happens, the driver could lose control of the truck and crash. This is the fourth official safety recall for the Cybertruck since Tesla began delivering it in late 2023.

Tesla has not yet said exactly how many trucks are affected. The issue appears across multiple model years, not just the 2024 production batch that was the focus of earlier recalls.

A Familiar Pattern When New Vehicles Launch

The wheel stud problem is the latest in a string of recalls and service fixes. Tesla previously recalled Cybertrucks for a faulty drive inverter (a component that manages power distribution) in units built between November 2023 and July 2024. Another recall addressed backup camera failures in trucks made from November 2023 through September 2024. There have also been software corrections and smaller service bulletins fixing things like wiper motors and camera timing issues.

When automakers launch entirely new vehicle designs, early production units often need fixes after customers take them home. This has happened many times before—manufacturers learn what works and what doesn't once real-world driving begins. The advantage today is that software problems can often be fixed remotely through over-the-air updates, the same way your phone gets a software patch. Mechanical problems, like loose wheel studs, still require taking the truck to a service center.

What the Recalls Tell Us

Tesla's service records show that problems were concentrated in specific production batches and time windows. For instance, a service bulletin from July 2024 required replacing wiper motors from certain manufacturing batches. A camera timing fix required updating the truck's software from version 2024.20 to version 2024.32.5.2 or newer—suggesting Tesla was working through several rounds of software refinements.

The earliest affected Cybertrucks date to November 6, 2023, just after Tesla started delivery, and the most recent go through at least September 2024. That's nearly a full year of production covered by various recalls and fixes. The wheel stud recall extending into 2026 model year vehicles is notable: it could mean Tesla is still working out manufacturing issues, or simply being cautious about which components might fail.

One detail worth noting: Cybertrucks were not included in a broader Tesla recall about Autosteer misuse that affected its other vehicles. That suggests the Cybertruck's self-driving system works differently than Tesla's passenger cars.

The Cybertruck's Unusual Design

The Cybertruck is quite different from a typical pickup truck. It has stainless steel body panels, a 48-volt electrical system (most trucks use 12 volts), and a structural battery pack built into the frame. These departures from conventional truck design likely complicate the job of qualifying suppliers and assembling the vehicle, which may explain some of the early production problems.

The good news is that as Tesla has ramped up production, the frequency of issues appears to be slowing. That's the normal trajectory for new vehicles—early units are tougher, later ones tend to be smoother.

The wheel stud separation issue is serious because it directly affects how well you can control the truck on the road. No amount of software sophistication matters if the mechanical foundations—like wheels that stay attached—aren't solid. That's why this recall matters more than a firmware update.

Whether the wheel stud problem spreading to 2026 model year trucks signals ongoing manufacturing challenges or Tesla's conservative approach to safety will be worth watching. Either way, Cybertruck owners should be prepared for additional service actions as the company continues refining both hardware and software.

From a business perspective, Tesla has the infrastructure to manage these recalls. The company has an established service network and can push out software fixes over-the-air, which saves time and money compared to older automakers. The key question ahead is whether Tesla can reduce the frequency of safety issues as it ramps production toward its targets. If it does, these early bumps will fade as routine—which is what happened with the Model S, Model X, and Model 3 in their first years. If problems persist or worsen, it would become a real concern.