Tesla recalls Cybertrucks due to faulty accelerator pedal that can get stuck

Tesla has issued a recall of nearly 4,000 Cybertrucks due to an issue that is causing the vehicle's accelerator pedal to get stuck when pressed down, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said on Wednesday.

The agency said the trapped accelerator pedal can cause the vehicle to accelerate unintentionally, increasing the risk of a crash. The accelerator pedal pad may "dislodge and cause the pedal to become trapped by the interior trim," the NHTSA said.

The recall affects all 2024 Cybertruck vehicles manufactured between Nov. 13, 2023 and April 4, 2024.

"An unapproved change introduced lubricant (soap) to aid in the component assembly of the pad onto the accelerator pedal," the NHTSA wrote in a recall document. "Residual lubricant reduced the retention of the pad to the pedal."

The NHTSA also noted in the recall document that if the condition is present and the driver attempts to apply the accelerator pedal, "the driver will detect the condition through immediate compromised performance and operation of the pedal."

Additionally, if the condition is present when the driver applies the brakes, the driver will receive "an audible and visual alert that both brake and accelerator pedals are being pressed," according to the NHTSA.

As of April 15, 2024, Tesla is not aware of any collisions, injuries or deaths relating to this condition, the recall document states.

Tesla service will replace or repair the accelerator pedal assembly free of charge, according to the NHTSA, and owner notification letters are expected to be mailed in June 2024. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3751. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-24-33-003.

Tesla lays off 10% of its global workforce

To prepare for Tesla's "next phase," the tech giant has decided to lay off 10% of its global workforce, according to multiple reports that cite a memo sent to employees by CEO Elon Musk earlier this week.

"Over the years, we have grown rapidly with multiple factories scaling around the globe," Musk said in the memo obtained by Electrek and CNBC. "With this rapid growth there has been duplication of roles and job functions in certain areas. As we prepare the company for our next phase of growth, it is extremely important to look at every aspect of the company for cost reductions and increasing productivity."

Musk and Tesla "made the difficult decision" to reduce its global workforce by 10% after conducting a "thorough review of the organization," according to the memo.

"There is nothing I hate more, but it must be done," Musk said in the memo. "This will enable us to be lean, innovative and hungry for the next growth phase cycle... It is very difficult to say goodbye."

USA TODAY contacted Tesla on Monday morning but did not receive an immediate response.

Tesla had over 127,000 employees in 2022, according to the company's 2022 impact report. This number grew to 140,473 by December 2023, CNBC reported.

Some employees affected by the layoff have already been locked out of system access, according to Electrek.

Gabe Hauari is a national trending news reporter at USA TODAY. You can follow him on X @GabeHauari or email him at [email protected].