Tesla has officially issued a new physical safety recall for a highly specific subset of Cybertrucks. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recently published a notice detailing a mechanical issue regarding vehicles equipped with the factory 18-inch steel wheels.
While recalls are standard in the automotive industry, this specific filing inadvertently gave us a fascinating look into the exact production numbers of a recently canceled trim level.
The Defect and Remedy
According to NHTSA Campaign Number 26V255, the recall addresses a manufacturing defect where the brake rotor stud holes may crack. This cracking could potentially allow the wheel stud to separate entirely from the wheel hub, causing a loss of vehicle control and increasing the risk of a crash.
Fortunately, the real-world impact has been exceptionally minimal. There have been zero reported accidents or injuries related to this defect, and the recall was initiated after Tesla identified the issue through just three standard warranty claims.
To permanently resolve the problem, Tesla Service will replace the front and rear brake rotors, wheel hubs, and all lug nuts at no charge. Official owner notification letters are expected to be mailed out on June 20, 2026.
The Short-Lived Long Range
Perhaps the most interesting detail hidden within the official recall documentation is the exact number of affected units. Since these specific 18-inch steel wheels were exclusively shipped on the ill-fated Cybertruck Long Range trim before Tesla officially canceled that configuration, this NHTSA filing confirms exactly how many Long Range models actually made it into customers' hands.
This short-lived model cut out many of the Cybertruck’s unique features for little savings. It wasn’t a great value, and the data shows that Tesla sold just 173 RWD Cybertrucks.
For a trim level sold for nearly 3 months, those sales numbers tell us exactly why it was canceled, before Tesla put together the new Cybertruck AWD.
What About New AWD Orders?
If you recently ordered a new base model Cybertruck AWD, there is no need to panic.
Tesla is using this exact same wheel design, now officially known as the 18-inch "Molten" wheels (previously referred to as the Standard wheels), as the default option for the incoming Cybertruck AWD base models.
However, because deliveries for these new AWD models are not scheduled to begin until June at the earliest, buyers can expect their new trucks to roll off the assembly line already equipped with the revised, defect-free parts.
