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One thing attention-grabbing has been happening with Tesla Cybertrucks. Tesla has been quietly changing their battery packs, seemingly a whole lot of them.
No less than since September, Tesla has been swapping out Cybertruck battery packs for brand new ones when they’re introduced in for different upkeep points.
The primary report we’re conscious of is from September 24. Tesla Cybertruck proprietor Matt Albers wrote:
“Anyone know what this implies? I introduced the CT in for the primary time since supply in February (VIN sub 2000) for the usual remembers and some minor points they usually’ve added this to the record.
“They’ve had the truck for greater than 2 weeks 
and I assumed it’d solely be a day! What does this even imply?”
The Tesla service screenshot mentioned “Cybertruck—Excessive Voltage Battery Substitute (Cell Facet Dent Induced Core Collapse).” Say what?? Matt reached out to the Tesla service group and requested “Hello. It seems to be like there was a further work merchandise concerning a battery alternative. Are you able to clarify what which means?” They responded as follows: “Hey Matthew, this can be a proactive alternative as our engineering group has seen that some cells might have aspect dents, which may trigger shorting in cells in packs developed round your automobile’s manufacturing date.”
Three months later, Christmas week, an analogous report has come out. A Cybertruck proprietor introduced his truck in to repair a sideview mirror he had by accident smashed whereas backing out of the storage in a rush. “Consequently, I submitted a service request to have it changed. Inside two minutes, Tesla accredited the request, however the estimate included that they have been additionally changing the high-voltage battery. Surprisingly, I haven’t encountered any points with the battery, nor have I obtained any error messages,” this proprietor, “ill1cit,” wrote.
“I dropped off the truck on the service heart a couple of days in the past, they usually knowledgeable me that there’s technically nothing fallacious with my batteries. Nevertheless, Tesla Engineering has requested that the battery pack be returned for a tear-down and inspection. Apparently, models produced across the similar time as mine have been experiencing points. Consequently, they’re taking my battery pack and changing it with a brand new one.
“I obtained my Cybertruck round July 1st, and my VIN is 21895. I simply wish to give a heads-up to anybody that has one constructed across the similar time as mine.”
So, we’ve acquired stories of this taking place throughout three months with Cybertrucks delivered between February and July!
So far as I can inform, that is principally a quiet recall. Why isn’t Tesla issuing a full, official recall? I can solely consider a few first rate explanations. One is that Tesla doesn’t need the unfavourable press from having to recall hundreds of Cybertrucks to exchange their batteries, maybe all Cybertrucks. That may very well be a giant black eye on Tesla and will additionally depress new gross sales. Secondly, one motive this is able to be such a black eye is as a result of it would presumably price Tesla some huge cash as properly. Changing hundreds of giant Cybertruck battery packs, the most costly a part of the automobile? That’s not low-cost. I assume that if Tesla finds no points with the cells within the pack, the pack can then be utilized in a brand new truck, however it’s nonetheless a whole lot of work and cash to take battery packs out, ship them again to the manufacturing facility, test them fastidiously, and set up them in a brand new truck.
One other potential clarification is it’s no huge deal and Tesla is simply being proactive. However, once more, if it’s no huge difficulty, why undergo all this work, time, and cash? Additionally, if it’s been a possible difficulty for a couple of months, it absolutely would have been extra proactive and safer to formally recall all Cybertrucks with the suspect batteries.
I simply complained the opposite day about calling over-the-air software program updates “remembers,” however this seems to be like communication malpractice within the different path. This seems to be like a actual recall that’s not been known as or filed as a recall.
Curiously, on this newest service go to, Tesla has adjusted the way in which it’s describing the difficulty, writing “Excessive Voltage Battery (AWD) (Take away & Exchange) – Take away and Exchange” as an alternative of “Excessive Voltage Battery Substitute (Cell Facet Dent Induced Core Collapse).” For positive, that preliminary description would freak folks out and result in extra social media posts and broader consideration.
Naturally, we don’t know quite a few particulars on this matter — we don’t know what number of battery cells have been recognized with “dent induced core collapse,” we don’t know the place they have been when recognized (e.g., in a buyer Cybertruck vs. a Cybertruck within the manufacturing facility vs. on the battery manufacturing line), we don’t know what number of Cybertruck homeowners have had their battery packs quietly swapped out whereas getting service for one thing else. Fortunately, Matt reached out with questions in September and the Tesla service tech was open about what was happening. With out that, this is able to actually be a thriller. That mentioned, Torque Information requested some necessary questions:
“There’s a lot to unpack right here. First, why did Tesla not talk with the proprietor way more clearly when the corporate determined to exchange his batterypack?
“Think about going to a different seller and discovering out, oh yeah, we determined to exchange your engine a few weeks again. Sorry, we didn’t inform you.
“Sure, Tesla added a line merchandise to the record of labor being finished; nevertheless, I feel everybody would agree if Tesla goes to exchange the complete high-voltage battery pack, then on the minimal, an individual ought to have contacted the proprietor to tell him of what’s happening.
“Second, how did the side-dented cells find yourself within the Cybertruck? Who and what course of is in charge for this difficulty? What’s the probability that this difficulty might trigger a battery brief? Has a battery brief occurred within the area? What sorts of accidents and injury has this difficulty induced to this point?
“The 2 questions raised above are necessary; nevertheless, the most important query left is the third: has Tesla knowledgeable the related regulatory organizations, and why is the EV maker not asserting an official recall so that each one affected autos can get a treatment?”
There are some good factors there on how we’d historically anticipate an auto seller or service technician to speak with an proprietor. Think about Volkswagen or Nissan doing issues on this approach and the way folks — particularly Tesla followers — would react to such conduct. The auto sellers can be completely roasted. Then, sure, there are all of these questions I raised above about how a lot of a threat that is, who has been affected, and why Tesla hasn’t issued an official recall.
Any extra insights on these issues? Any extra concepts on what’s happening?
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