By Kat Tenbarge and Lora Kolodny -
CNBC
A federal vehicle safety regulator said it has contacted Tesla after the owner of a Cybertruck went viral over the weekend after claiming the vehicle's accelerator pedal got stuck while driving it. he was driving.
Jose Martinez said he was driving his new Tesla Cybertruck at his local race track in Southern California last Thursday when the car started accelerating on its own. He explained that he firmly pressed the brake, was able to stop the vehicle and realized that a rubber cover attached to the accelerator had come loose and immobilized the pedal. Martinez stated that
he had had the vehicle for six days
.
Over the weekend, Martinez learned that some Cybertruck deliveries had been disrupted, he said in a phone interview with NBC News. On Sunday morning, he made a TikTok in which he showed the problem with the accelerator. As of Monday afternoon, Martinez's video has been viewed nearly 2 million times on TikTok and nearly 6 million times on the social network on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter that the Tesla CEO bought and rebranded. , Elon Musk.
“As soon as I released the brake, it shot forward again,” Martínez explained to NBC News. “I had space to realize what was happening. “It wasn't a situation where there were cars in front, a building or a tree.”
Multiple Tesla news sources have reported at least a week's pause in some Cybertruck deliveries related to an accelerator issue. Cybertruck enthusiasts on an owners forum have said they have received calls alerting them to delivery delays for an undetermined amount of time due to a throttle problem.
Tesla has not announced any official recalls or pauses and did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
In Martinez's case, he said he discovered he could continue driving the Cybertruck without the throttle cover. He explained that he plans to test the vehicle further with him during his next day. Martinez works in car sales. He said that before the incident,
he had driven the Cybertruck for more than 2,000 miles
, on a round trip to San Francisco.
“Other than that, it's a pretty solid car,” Martínez stated. “I know saying 'aside from this' makes it sound like it's not a big deal, and it is.”
“Because it's such a large vehicle, and it has a lot of power, I feel like safety things definitely have to be a priority to be addressed and fixed,” he added.
A spokesperson for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), which tracks recalls, investigations and complaints, said in a statement to CNBC that “NHTSA is aware of this issue and is in contact with the manufacturer to gather additional information.”
Previously, Tesla initiated a voluntary recall of its vehicles in January 2024, including the Cybertruck, to make the font size of its touch screens more readable.
In December, NHTSA told CNBC that it had contacted Tesla after a car reviewer on YouTube claimed that the Cybertruck's sharp edges had cut his hand.
Previously, safety experts had raised concerns about the vehicle's speed, weight and sharp edges.
The first accident involving a Cybertruck occurred in California in December.
A Toyota Corolla collided with a Cybertruck
, and although the driver of the Tesla suffered minor injuries, the Corolla appeared much more damaged than the Cybertruck in the photos.
At least one anonymous person previously posted a message on a Cybertruck owners forum about a problem with his accelerator and brake, in which he said he hit a pole. NBC News was unable to contact the user or independently verify his account. Other forum members have cast doubt on his story and expressed skepticism about Martinez's TikTok.
The Cybertruck has been marketed as an extremely durable and high-performance vehicle, which has generated intense interest and scrutiny over it and its entry into the market.
During the Cybertruck launch event in 2019, the car's “unbreakable” glass window shattered. Even so, the car quickly became a status symbol and center of cultural excitement.
Numerous examples of Cybertrucks on the roads have caused a sensation on social media
. Some celebrities, like Kim Kardashian, have flaunted them. In January, there were more than 2 million reservations for the Cybertruck, according to Barron's.
“Four years ago, I was sitting in front of the computer watching the presentation,” Martinez explained. “I thought it was great, so I made the deposit that same night.”
However, he added that he is not a “fan” of Tesla, adding: “My perception of Elon Musk a few years ago, compared to my perception now, has changed.”
Martinez's video and the reported delays come at a
tumultuous time for Tesla
.
Musk announced Monday morning that Tesla was laying off more than 10% of its global workforce.
In an email to the company, obtained by CNBC and NBC News, Musk wrote: “Over the years, we have grown rapidly with multiple factories around the world. With this rapid growth there has been duplication of roles and job functions in certain areas. As we prepare the company for our next phase of growth, it is extremely important to examine all aspects of the company to reduce costs and increase productivity.”