Tesla Recalls 173 Cybertrucks for Brake Rotor Defects

Tesla is recalling 173 rear-wheel-drive Cybertrucks equipped with 18-inch steel wheels due to brake rotor defects that could lead to wheel detachment, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced.

The recall affects certain 2024-2026 model year vehicles, specifically the Rear-Wheel Drive Long Range variant produced between late August 2025 and early November 2025. According to the NHTSA filing, higher-severity road perturbations and cornering forces may strain the stud holes in the brake rotors, causing cracks to form. With continued use, these cracks could propagate, allowing wheel studs to separate from the hubs and potentially compromising vehicle control, which raises the risk of a crash.

Tesla identified the issue after preproduction testing in August 2025 revealed initial rotor cracking, though no studs detached at that stage. A change to a higher-friction grease on the lug nuts was planned to prevent nut loosening and resulting vibrations that contribute to the cracks. However, due to a production communication error, 173 vehicles were built with the previous grease formulation. Field reports confirmed the problem, including one service visit in October...