Tesla Is Recalling Cybertrucks Again

Vehicle & Pedestrian Safety Standards

• Several commenters question how Cybertruck styling (sharp edges, blade-like corners) passes US safety standards, especially for pedestrians and cyclists.
• Discussion clarifies that US NHTSA and IIHS historically focus on occupant safety; systematic pedestrian protection tests are only now being added to NCAP for MY2026 onward.
• Euro NCAP and other regions explicitly rate pedestrian protection, which is why Cybertruck is effectively not legal there without modifications (e.g., rubber edge guards).
• Others note that US regulators do consider pedestrians indirectly (e.g., banning rigid hood ornaments), but critics say this is minimal and outdated.
• Some point out that traditional pickups (F-150, Silverado, Ram) are already extremely dangerous to pedestrians due to high hoods; Cybertruck’s lower hood may help, but its sharp edges and mass still worry many.

Adhesives, Lightbar Recall & Build Quality

• The recall concerns an optional, dealer-installed lightbar glued to the top of the windshield with incorrect primer; Tesla’s fix adds mechanical fasteners and tape as redundancy.
• Thread dives deep into adhesives in auto manufacturing: windshields are glued in; trim, badges, spoilers, and some composite panels often use adhesives or VHB tape.
• Multiple commenters argue Tesla seems unusually failure‑prone with adhesives and QC, citing prior glass and trim issues.
• Cybertruck’s stainless panels are reportedly glued to an aluminum unibody, contradicting earlier “exoskeleton” marketing; skeptics blame rigid materials and differing thermal expansion for panels and trim working loose.
• Service manual procedures for the primer look “lab-like” and easy for dealership techs to botch.

Design, Reliability & User Experience

• Many call Cybertruck ugly, hostile to pedestrians, and obviously “concept car”–ish; others praise the “cyberpunk” look, structural safety for occupants, home-backup capability, and FSD performance.
• Reports of misaligned panels, leaks, missing trim, and breakdowns contrast with owners who say later Cybertrucks and Chinese-built Teslas are solid.
• Some frame Cybertruck as a beta product for “pioneers,” with the expectation of early failures; others argue that at its price point, customers should not be beta testers.

Broader Context: Recalls, Competition & Musk

• Commenters note recalls are common across the industry (Ford’s numerous recalls, including steering-loss issues), but Tesla gets disproportionate attention due to Musk’s notoriety and extreme valuation.
• Debate over whether Tesla’s manufacturing is “weak” or impressively efficient given scale and vertical integration.
• Rivian is praised for driving experience but criticized for reliability. BYD is described as a solid budget EV maker blocked from the US by tariffs and safety/homologation barriers.
• Several threads critique Musk’s hands-on role in Cybertruck design, “cult-building” persona, and political behavior; others maintain he is clearly innovative but lacks discipline about which ideas are good.