18-inch steel wheel Cybertrucks recalled for wheel stud separation hazard

Tesla has issued a recall covering 173 units of the 2024 through 2026 Cybertruck after the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration opened campaign number 26V255000 on April 22, 2026. The defect involves the brake rotor stud holes, which may develop cracks that allow the wheel stud to separate from the hub entirely. According to Tesla, the separation of a wheel stud while the vehicle is in motion can cause a loss of vehicle control, raising the risk of a crash.

The recall is limited to Cybertruck units equipped with the factory 18-inch steel wheels. That wheel configuration was offered as an option on a portion of Cybertruck deliveries before Tesla discontinued it in November 2025, citing low customer demand. Because the steel wheel variant accounted for a relatively small share of the Cybertruck’s total production volume, the number of affected units, 173, is notably small compared to prior Cybertruck recalls, some of which have involved tens of thousands of vehicles.

What causes the defect

Tesla’s explanation centers on structural fatigue in the brake rotor. The stud holes machined into the rotor are subject to stress concentrations during cornering and when the vehicle encounters sharp road irregularities. Over time, these forces can cause the material around the stud holes to crack. As cracking progresses, the stud loses its mechanical interference fit with the hub, and separation becomes possible. Because the stud connects the wheel to the brake and suspension assembly, its failure undermines the most fundamental element of vehicle control: the ability to steer and stop reliably.

The affected components span both axles. The recall covers the front and rear brake rotors, the wheel hubs, and the lug nuts, all of which Tesla considers part of the same assembly requiring replacement.

The fix

Tesla Service will replace the front and rear brake rotors, hubs, and lug nuts on all affected vehicles at no cost to owners. The remedy addresses both the cracked component and the associated hardware to restore the structural integrity of the wheel attachment system.

Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed on June 20, 2026. Until the repair is completed, owners of affected Cybertrucks may want to approach high-stress driving situations with additional caution, particularly sharp cornering at speed and travel on roads with severe surface imperfections, since those conditions are consistent with the stress loading described in Tesla’s own engineering summary.

Context: the Cybertruck’s recall record

This is not the first time the Cybertruck’s distinctive hardware choices have created complications. Tesla has issued multiple recalls for the model since deliveries began in late 2023, with issues ranging from software-related brake warning indicators to a more significant mechanical problem involving the accelerator pedal assembly in April 2024. The panel detachment recall issued earlier this year was among the more visible, covering more than 46,000 units over a defect in the cant rail stainless steel body panel, which could separate from the vehicle at speed. That recall, covered in detail here, required Tesla to replace cant rail assemblies with a redesigned version using improved structural adhesive and additional weld reinforcement.

The wheel-related recall announced this month is mechanically distinct from prior actions but falls within a broader pattern of early-production quality issues that have affected the Cybertruck since its launch. The relatively small number of units affected by this latest recall reflects the niche market share of the 18-inch steel wheel configuration rather than any indication that the problem is less serious.

Wheel integrity as a recurring EV industry issue

Wheel attachment integrity has emerged as an area of regulatory focus across several manufacturers in the EV segment. Earlier this year, Mercedes-Benz recalled 3,734 units of the 2025 G 580 EV over improperly fitted wheel bolts that could allow a wheel to loosen or detach during operation. Like the Cybertruck recall, the Mercedes action covered front and rear hardware and required dealers to replace the affected fasteners free of charge.

The parallel between the two recalls is instructive. Both involve failures in the mechanical interface between the wheel and the vehicle structure, and both were filed with NHTSA in 2026. The mechanisms differ, since the G 580 recall involved bolt fitment during assembly, while the Cybertruck issue involves fatigue cracking in the rotor material over time. However, the safety consequences are essentially the same: if the connection between the wheel and the hub is compromised, the driver loses meaningful control of the vehicle.

For a platform like the Cybertruck, which is marketed heavily on its capability credentials and is often driven in demanding conditions, including off-road use, rocky terrain, and trailer towing near or at the vehicle’s rated limit, the stresses on brake and hub components are particularly acute. Tesla’s decision to discontinue the 18-inch steel wheel option before this recall was announced may indicate that internal engineering feedback on the configuration’s durability had already raised concerns.

What owners should know

The Cybertruck’s size, weight, and performance envelope put it in a category of vehicles where a loss of wheel integrity at speed carries significant consequences, both for occupants and for others on the road. The Cyberbeast variant, for instance, produces more than 800 horsepower and can reach 60 miles per hour in approximately 2.6 seconds. At those performance levels, the forces transmitted through the braking and hub assembly are substantially greater than on a typical passenger car.

Owners who received notification of the recall should schedule service promptly rather than waiting for the official letter, which is not expected to be mailed until late June. Tesla’s service appointment system can be accessed through the vehicle’s touchscreen or the Tesla mobile application. The company has indicated that all repairs will be completed at no charge to the vehicle owner.

For its part, NHTSA’s decision to open a formal recall campaign rather than allow Tesla to pursue a service bulletin approach reflects the agency’s assessment that the safety risk is significant enough to require mandatory tracking and owner notification under federal motor vehicle safety law.