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Nikola recalls all the electric trucks it has built so far

Defect could lessen occupant protection in a crash

Nikola is recalling all the trucks it has built so far because of a seat belt defect. (Photo: Alan Adler/FreightWaves)

Nikola Corp. is recalling all 93 battery-electric Nikola Tre Class 8 trucks it has built to date because improper installation of the shoulder anchorage assembly of the seat belts could reduce protection in a crash.

Nikola imports cabs from Italy, where they are built by manufacturing partner Iveco, which is responsible for the defect.

The electric truck maker began regular production at a new plant in Coolidge, Arizona, in March. It reported to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration on Sept. 14 that it has no warranty or customer claims for the issue.

The assembly as designed and installed could become detached under the weight of a passenger. The seat belt anchor assembly design does not allow full thread engagement for the anchor bolt. It may cause cross threading, a condition in which a fastening screw does not engage correctly with a nut.


Discovered during predelivery inspection

During a predelivery inspection at a dealership on July 18, a Nikola employee discovered the shoulder anchorage on the passenger side seat belt was disconnected from the B-pillar adjuster.

Nikola told Iveco, which said the final torque on the passenger seat belt shoulder anchorage was not installed to specification.  

Nikola will replace the components of the seat belt anchor assembly and the adjuster on all vehicles for free. The replacement component is narrower than the original, allowing the assembly to completely thread.

Customer and dealer letters about the defect will be mailed between Oct. 1 and Nov. 1.


The NHTSA recall number is 22V689.

Milton trial resumes Wednesday

Separately, the federal fraud trial for Nikola founder Trevor Milton resumes Wednesday in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.

Dour market conditions, and possibly attention from the trial, dragged Nikola’s stock price 24.02% lower last week to close at $3.89 a share, just above its 52-week low of $3.82. 

Nikola beats Q2 revenue estimate on deliveries of 48 electric trucks

Lohscheller will succeed Russell as CEO of Nikola

Nikola CFO: Milton’s statements “could be inaccurate or exaggerated’

Click for more FreightWaves articles by Alan Adler.


5 Comments

  1. Bill smith

    maybe Trevor was misunderstood when talking about the tech they have bin working on and words can be taken in so many way depending on the people who like to hear what they want to hear people like to change up everything you say just to take away your stride because they have no vision of there own people like that are everywhere always have bin always will be if people don’t see that in a year they have bin doing just what Trevor has said as far as having trucks on the road seem like the only bad news for the truck is not there fault and they are fixing it before there is a problem that’s stand up if you ask me people this company is going to be as big as we make them it’s we the people not the haters invest now and get rich latter with nkla they are going to be a big deal in 5 years for sure I’m with them go with God and stay with grace

  2. Omar Lopez

    like with most new vehicles or trucks there will be issues related to safety or some mechanical irregularities. This technology is still new for the class 8 market and innovatios continue improve and progress in time.

Comments are closed.

Alan Adler

Alan Adler is an award-winning journalist who worked for The Associated Press and the Detroit Free Press. He also spent two decades in domestic and international media relations and executive communications with General Motors.