Tesla's Recall Repair Resulted in a Burn Mark and Panel Gap on This Cybertruck | Carscoops

      Tesla's repair appears straightforward, but one owner claims it worsened his truck.

      The recall affects 46,096 trucks with defective steel trim that can detach while being driven. The remedy includes applying new adhesive patches and securing the cant rail panels with nuts. However, one owner noted worse fitment of the panels and a burn mark after the recall repair.

      Tesla's Cybertruck has faced challenges since its launch, and the recent recall repair is raising fresh concerns regarding quality control. In mid-March, Tesla announced a recall affecting nearly all Cybertrucks delivered so far, totaling 46,096 units.

      The problem involves a steel trim panel along the top of the windows that can detach while driving. The remedy is quite simple: Tesla service technicians will use extra adhesive and add two new nuts to secure the panels. Yet for at least one owner, this “fix” seems to have caused additional problems.

      In a post on the CybertruckOwnersClub forum, the owner shared that his truck returned from the recall work with three new issues.

      Firstly, the trim rail no longer aligned properly with the surrounding panels. Secondly, a burn mark appeared near one of the studs, and lastly, the steel trim showed scratches from the service. Such errors would be irritating even on an inexpensive vehicle, let alone on a truck priced between $80,000 to $100,000 or more, as some early buyers have paid significantly higher amounts.

      The owner expressed his dissatisfaction in a forum post describing his experience:

      “I picked up my truck yesterday after the service visit, and the cant rail trim does NOT look good at all. The gap is slightly smaller but still very uneven and misaligned. Additionally, a circular burn mark is on the base of the new trim piece (a welding mark), and I also noticed scratches on this brand new trim.”

      He further commented, “Tesla should NOT be performing ‘after-market’ welding at a service center; they should manufacture a clean part from the factory with the bolts/studs pre-attached. This is unacceptable for a major vehicle manufacturer, especially for early adopters.”

      To be fair, Tesla's official repair bulletin doesn't mention welding, so the origin of the burn mark remains unclear. It could be a heat-related blemish or a result of grinding. Regardless, this is not what one would expect from a six-figure vehicle, and when combined with visibly misaligned trim, it leaves a negative impression.

      Nonetheless, this is the only report of its kind seen so far. It may be an isolated incident, and Tesla could rectify the situation. However, as more Cybertrucks are on the road, it will be important to monitor if similar complaints arise.

      Tesla's "Fix": Adhesive, Patches, and Nuts

      Despite procedural adjustments, Tesla asserts that not all but most Cybertrucks are susceptible to this defect. In their new service bulletin, the company details the repair steps and even provides a video guide. The process begins with a technician removing the side panels and inspecting both the cant rail and the underlying frame.

      Tesla suggests that while some trucks may technically be fine without the additional adhesive, the majority will require it. Two of the three correction codes involve using new butyl patches, with one needing just two patches and the other requiring eight. Regardless of the number of patches, all recall procedures necessitate the installation of two new nuts.

      These nuts are placed on studs at either end of the cant rail. According to Tesla’s service manual, some trucks might begin the procedure without a nut present on the stud, but all should have them installed by the end of the process. Notably, these studs are intended to help keep the panels flush and aligned, or at least that is the plan.

      Attention for Wrapped Owners

      Additionally, Cybertrucks that have been wrapped by third-party companies may incur cosmetic damage when the cant rail is removed and reattached during the recall. Tesla reportedly will not cover the costs to replace those third-party wraps, meaning if you spent a significant amount on a matte black vinyl wrap, you might face an unpleasant surprise.