"Quite dangerous"

Cybertruck video puts US regulator on alert

A video published on the internet showing that a loose cover on Tesla's Cybertruck electric pickup truck can pinch the accelerator pedal has alerted the US Transportation Safety Administration. They are in contact with the manufacturer to obtain more information, a spokeswoman for the NHTSA announced on Monday.

In the clip published on TikTok on Sunday, a driver reports that his Cybertruck suddenly accelerated on its own last week because the depressed pedal no longer released. He was able to brake, but as soon as he released the brake pedal, the car kept accelerating quickly, which is why he finally brought it to a halt and switched off the engine.

He then noticed that the glued-on decorative cover of the accelerator pedal had become partially detached and shifted forwards, the driver said in the video, which has been viewed several million times. The cover had become stuck in the rear wall of the footwell and permanently trapped the pedal when depressed.

Three-ton projectile
With its powerful batteries, the Cybertruck weighs around three tons and has a body made of thick stainless steel. The vehicle can also reach a speed of 100 km/h in just a few seconds. The video caused a correspondingly alarmed reaction, as uncontrolled acceleration on the road would pose a considerable danger.

There was initially no reaction to the video from Tesla, where company boss Elon Musk disbanded the press department years ago. The tech billionaire himself did not comment on his online platform X either. However, some Cybertruck buyers reported in online forums that their delivery dates had been postponed at short notice.

In the past, there have already been recalls at other car manufacturers due to problems with the accelerator pedal. Toyota, for example, had to recall several million vehicles around 15 years ago because the floor mat could shift and jam the accelerator pedal.