Cybertruck Nightmare: Tesla’s Boldest Bet Is Crumbling—And Elon Musk Can’t Stop the Bleeding

The Cybertruck was supposed to be Tesla’s crown jewel—a stainless-steel beast that would redefine the future of driving. But just over a year after its flashy debut, that dream is disintegrating at high speed.

In a move that shocked the entire auto industry, Tesla has shut down parts of its Cybertruck production line and issued a massive recall of 46,000 units, citing a catastrophic design flaw that could literally send metal flying on the highway. The “indestructible” truck? It’s now being held together by glue—and even that is failing.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) revealed that the vehicle’s cantrail assembly, a critical panel bonded with structural adhesive, is prone to detaching while driving due to environmental degradation. Videos have flooded social media showing panels peeling off, doors misaligned, and other bizarre quality issues. Even Tesla’s loyalists are turning their backs.

But the glue isn’t the only thing unraveling. Since its launch in late 2023, the Cybertruck has been plagued with eight recalls, including a faulty accelerator, failing windshield wipers, and a backup camera delay—not to mention a complete propulsion loss in some units. This isn’t innovation. It’s a collapse in slow motion.

Wall Street has responded accordingly: Tesla stock has plummeted over 50% since its peak in December 2024. Despite two million reservations, the company only sold under 39,000 Cybertrucks in 2024, leaving thousands of unsold units piling up in warehouses.

What was meant to be Elon Musk’s defining triumph is quickly becoming his most public failure. And if this trend continues, the Cybertruck might be remembered not as a revolution—but as a warning.