Deliveries of Tesla Cybertruck delayed amid accelerator pedal concerns
What's the story
Tesla has postponed deliveries of its Cybertruck, without providing a public explanation for the delay. This information was discovered through discussions on the Cybertruck Owners Club forum, where users reported receiving notifications about their deliveries being rescheduled. One user revealed that their dealer informed them about a recall of the truck due to issues with its accelerator pedal. Another user received a text from Tesla, stating that deliveries are currently on hold for the same reason.
Delivery halt
Unconfirmed reports suggest a seven-day halt
Several other users received texts regarding issues related to "the preparation of your vehicle." A fan account of Elon Musk, @WholeMarsBlog, tweeted that deliveries have been paused for seven days. However, this information is confirmed and the carmaker did not respond to inquiries from The Verge. It's worth noting that the EV manufacturer disbanded its PR department years ago, and typically does not respond to reporter questions.
Safety concerns
Accelerator pedal issue raises significant safety concerns
The main concern appears to be related to the accelerator pedal getting stuck. A video posted by a Cybertruck owner, depicted how their accelerator pedal cover got stuck and "held the accelerator down 100%, full throttle." The owner noted that pressing brake stopped the truck from accelerating further, but if they released it, the truck would start accelerating again. This is a significant safety concern for a vehicle that weighs 3,175kg, and can reach 0-97km/h in less than three seconds.
Legal
Previous incidents and regulatory response
In another incident reported on the Cybertruck Owners Club forum, a user claimed their vehicle accelerated into a signal pole on its own, and neither brake pedal nor airbags functioned properly. However, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration blamed user error in its 2021 review of complaints about Tesla cars accelerating on their own. Prior to this review, the Musk-owned firm settled a class action lawsuit in 2018 related to similar claims, thereby avoiding a trial.