Tesla’s Cybertruck is hyped as the future of off-road electric performance, but its first full year on the roads has been unkind to the The World’s Toughest Truck™.
The latest mechanical disaster for these low-mileage luxury EVs? A catastrophic wheel hub failure. It’s an issue so bad that it could leave the truck stranded or worse, lead to a complete loss of control.
What’s That Clunk: Cyberbeast Edition
Cybertruck owners report hearing a loud, unsettling clunking noise from the front suspension.
Four separate owners have described the same problem, and in true Tesla fashion, Service Centers were clueless about what was going wrong. It took three appointments for one driver before techs finally diagnosed the issue—a front wheel hub assembly that was so loose, owners could wiggle the axle bolt with their bare hands.
Take a look, it’s not easy to miss:
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“Ayep, I think I found your problem…”
Let’s be clear: the front wheel hub isn’t just a minor component. This is the bolt that keeps your wheel attached and turning with the massive torque from Tesla’s electric motors.
If it fails, the best-case scenario is a horrendous noise and vibration. The worst case? Well, does the phrase “catastrophic wheel failure” mean anything to you? Me neither, and I’m hoping to keep it that way.
A Non-Exhaustive List of Recalls
While this issue hasn’t hit the NHTSA recall list yet, I’d be surprised if it doesn’t make the cut. It would join a growing pile of shocking Cybertruck recalls that make you wonder if this thing was ever truly ready for the road (much less the much tougher off-road).
Here’s a rundown of the biggest mechanical failures so far:
- Stuck Accelerator Pedal – The accelerator pedal can get jammed under the trim, a terrifyingly basic design flaw. Somehow, this one didn’t kill anybody. (NHTSA Number 24V276000)
- Inverter Failure – The Cybertruck’s inverter can randomly fail, instantly killing acceleration. (NHTSA Number 24V832000)
- Windshield Wiper Failure – The single enormous wiper can just… stop working. (NHTSA Number 24V456000)
- Rearview Camera Delay – The rear camera image takes over two seconds to display, making it nearly useless. A major issue considering you can’t see out the back of a Cybertruck without it. Fixed with a software update, which I guess they didn’t release before shipping the truck… because they were too busy to…? (NHTSA Number 24V718000)
If You’re Curious… Here’s the Culprit
For the true blue gearheads in the audience, take a look at the teeth on this wheel hub assembly. Odd choice, right? I’ve never seen one like that.
Worst axle-to-hub connection ever?
byu/rruusu inCyberStuck
If you don’t know what you’re looking at, no sweat, mechanical Redditors with their oil-stained hands explain it:
“There are no traditional splines on a shaft. There is no shaft through the hub – a bolt replaces that. So the ‘face’ of the shaft has grooves in it that mesh with I assume corresponding grooves on the hub.
So it relies on the clamping strength of the bolt to keep the grooves from slipping…given the power those motors have, along with the weight of the truck, it seems…optimistic”
Or
“Tesla is creating problems that it has to solve with tech rather than solving existing problems.”
The Cybertruck was supposed to be the ultimate off-road EV, but these recalls and build quality issues suggest otherwise. Between loose wheels, failing inverters, and stuck pedals, it’s fair to say the only thing this truck is built for leaving drivers CyberStuck.
