How Tesla Fixed Recalled Cybertrucks Has Owners in Shock: Glue, Patches, and Two Nuts
Tesla’s Cybertruck, the angular, stainless steel beast heralded as the future of electric pickups, is facing yet another bump in the road — and this time, it’s literally peeling. A recent recall involving over 46,000 units — nearly every Cybertruck delivered so far — has triggered renewed scrutiny over the vehicle’s quality control. But it’s not just the scale of the recall that has raised eyebrows. It’s the nature of the fix.Glue, patches, and a pair of nuts. That’s the solution. And for some early adopters who shelled out upwards of $100,000, it’s not going down smoothly.
In mid-March 2025, Tesla issued a recall affecting 46,096 Cybertrucks. The defect centers around a steel trim panel — known as the “cant rail” — that runs along the top edge of the side windows. Reports indicate that the panel can become detached while the vehicle is in motion, posing a safety risk not only to the driver but to anyone nearby.
While Tesla’s fix may seem straightforward on paper, the real-world execution has already drawn criticism. One Cybertruck owner, posting under the handle @CTDriver on the CybertruckOwnersClub forum, detailed a troubling post-repair experience:“I finally picked up my truck yesterday after the service appointment,” he wrote. “The cantrail trim does NOT look good at all, the gap got tiny bit smaller, but still looks very uneven and misaligned. Plus, a circular burned mark appeared on the base of the new trim piece (welding mark), I also found a patch of scratches on this brand new trim.”
The Cybertruck was supposed to redefine what an electric vehicle could be: rugged, minimalist, futuristic. But with mismatched trim, visible scratches, and makeshift repairs involving glue and nuts, some early adopters are feeling like unpaid beta testers.Another wrinkle in this saga involves Cybertrucks that have been wrapped by third-party shops. Many owners opted to customize their trucks with vinyl wraps in various finishes — matte black, satin white, even camouflage.But Tesla has warned that the recall procedure might damage those wraps when technicians remove and reinstall the cant rail. More troubling still: the company says it won’t reimburse customers for wrap damage, even if it occurs during a mandatory safety recall.
This recall — and the simplicity of its fix — underscores the challenge Tesla faces as it scales production of a highly complex, non-traditional vehicle. The stainless steel exoskeleton, for instance, is harder to work with than traditional automotive sheet metal. That has ripple effects not only in manufacturing but also in repair and maintenance.
