Tesla Is Recalling Every Single Cybertruck RWD Because the Wheels Can Literally Fall Off

By Noah Bennett · May 27, 2026

Tesla is recalling every single Cybertruck RWD ever produced — all 173 of them — because the wheels can crack around the brake rotor stud holes and literally detach while driving. The affected vehicles were built between March 2024 and November 2025. Three warranty claims were filed, no crashes or injuries reported. Owners will be notified after June 20 for free repairs. And yes, the fact that Tesla only ever made 173 of these is arguably the bigger story here.

Wait — Only 173 Were Ever Made?

Let that number sink in for a moment. Tesla produced the Cybertruck RWD over a span of roughly 20 months, from March 2024 to November 2025. In that time, they built 173 units. That is not a typo. One hundred and seventy-three. For context, Toyota sells more Camrys in a single afternoon than Tesla sold Cybertruck RWDs in nearly two years.

The production number is buried in the recall filing, but it deserves to be the headline. When a recall affects "all units" of a product, you normally picture hundreds of thousands of vehicles. When the total production run of a vehicle variant does not even fill a mid-size parking garage, something has gone fundamentally wrong with either the manufacturing process, the demand, or both. I have been following the Cybertruck saga since that infamous unveil event, and even I was not prepared for a number this low.

The RWD variant was supposed to be the affordable entry point to the Cybertruck lineup — the version that would bring the stainless-steel truck to a wider audience. Instead, it appears to have been produced in quantities more consistent with a limited-edition supercar than a mass-market pickup truck. Whether this reflects supply constraints, quality issues during production, or simply a lack of buyer interest in the base model is a question Tesla has not answered.

How Do Wheels Just Fall Off a Truck?

The technical issue is both simple and alarming. The 18-inch wheels fitted to the Cybertruck RWD can develop cracks around the brake rotor stud holes under normal driving loads. Those stud holes are what keep the wheel attached to the hub. When they crack, the wheel loses its structural connection to the vehicle. The wheel can then detach while you are driving. On a highway. At speed. With other cars around you.

I want to be clear about what "cracking around the brake rotor stud holes" means in practical terms. This is not a cosmetic defect. This is not a vibration or a noise you might notice and get checked out. This is a failure mode where the structural integrity of the wheel itself is compromised at the exact point where it connects to the vehicle. When those cracks propagate far enough, the wheel has nothing holding it on. It becomes a very expensive, very heavy piece of debris rolling down the road on its own.

Tesla identified the issue after receiving three warranty claims — which, given that only 173 units exist, means roughly 1.7% of all Cybertruck RWDs ever made have already experienced the problem. That failure rate, extrapolated over time and miles driven, is significant enough that recalling the entire production run is the only responsible response.

Tesla Service Centers Also Used the Faulty Parts

Here is the detail that elevates this recall from embarrassing to genuinely concerning: Tesla's own service centers were using the same defective wheels as replacement parts. That means if you brought your Cybertruck RWD in for any kind of wheel service, there is a chance the replacement wheel you received has the same cracking defect as the one it replaced. The recall explicitly notes this, which suggests the quality control failure extended beyond the manufacturing line and into the service supply chain.

This is not something that should happen at any automaker, let alone one that positions itself as a technology leader. Quality control on safety-critical components like wheels should be among the most rigorous checks in the entire production process. The fact that defective wheels made it through manufacturing and then continued circulating through service centers points to a systemic failure in Tesla's quality assurance pipeline for this vehicle.

What This Means for Cybertruck Owners and Tesla's Reputation

If you own one of the 173 Cybertruck RWD units, you will receive a notification after June 20 with instructions for a free wheel replacement at a Tesla service center. Do not ignore this. Do not wait. A wheel detaching at highway speed is one of the most dangerous failure modes any vehicle can experience, and the fact that no crashes have happened yet is a matter of luck, not engineering.

For Tesla as a company, this recall adds to a growing list of Cybertruck quality issues that have plagued the vehicle since its launch. The stainless-steel body panels, the wiper system, the bed liner, and now the wheels — the Cybertruck has become a case study in what happens when a vehicle is rushed to market before the engineering is fully resolved. I keep waiting for the Cybertruck to turn a corner and start delivering on its admittedly ambitious promises, and instead each month brings a new reason to question whether it was ready for production at all.

Recalling all 173 Cybertruck RWDs because the wheels can fall off is the kind of headline that writes itself. The safety issue is serious and demands immediate attention from owners. But the production number — 173 units in 20 months — might tell a more damning story about the Cybertruck's future than the recall itself.