Cybertruck Cant Rail Recall: Service Day Reality Check

We held off on the Cybertruck wrap for this exact reason. The cant rail recall requires Tesla to pull the exterior rail assemblies off the truck. If we’d already wrapped it, those rails would come off with the vinyl. Rewrapping on our dime, no option to dispute it. So after a SoCal EVs trip to Las Vegas, we came straight home and booked the service appointment at Upland.

Man in plaid shirt driving toward the Upland Tesla service center on a clear morning

What the Cant Rail Recall Actually Covers

The recall targets the adhesive holding the exterior cant rail trim to the truck. In extreme cold (think Northeast winters), the bond can harden and eventually fail, sending trim pieces off the vehicle at speed. California owners aren’t the primary concern here, but the recall applies regardless, and there’s no reason to skip it.

Both left and right cant rail assemblies get replaced, along with the sail baffles underneath. I had to look up what a baffle even was. It’s the black structural panel beneath the rail, part of the roof assembly. That gets replaced too.

Man driving with open desert highway stretching ahead and mountains on the horizon

What Tesla Added to the Work Order

They put two things on the invoice I didn’t request. First: a windshield camera cleaning. That front-facing camera sits behind the rearview mirror housing, and I’d been getting dashboard notifications about it for weeks, especially on morning school runs when direct sunlight hits the glass. I figured it was just a quirk. Apparently worth fixing. They pulled the housing and cleaned the windshield behind it at no charge.

Second: a tire rotation for $65. I declined. We’re under 3,000 miles since the last tire swap, and America’s Tire rotates for free, no tire purchase required. Costco does the same. The suggestion made sense on paper, not on the invoice.

The Loaner: A Lemon Law Model 3

The service appointment confirmed no loaner. The advisor made a one-time exception. Worth knowing if you’re booking same-day service: loaner availability has tightened at Upland. There were a lot of Cybertrucks in the service bay that day, and those visits tie up the fleet.

I got in and noticed the door sticker: LEMON LAW BUYBACK. Tesla is running repurchased vehicles as loaners. This one was a 2021 Long Range, red with white interior, 71,000 miles, Hardware 3. Handed over at 36% charge.

Close-up of Tesla door jamb sticker reading LEMON LAW BUYBACK on glossy red Model 3

I miss the Model 3 every time I get in one. It’s a legitimately great car. But driving it back-to-back with the Juniper and the Cybertruck makes the gap obvious: road noise, suspension feel, seat noise on acceleration. It’s not a knock on the Model 3; those cars have just gotten that much better. FSD on Hardware 3 still handled some clean maneuvers during the day, including a lane-split dodge I didn’t see coming.

We made a detour with Abby to 85 Degrees. She had an errand, and there happened to be a Supercharger nearby. Arrived at 30%, charged at 89 kW. Free Supercharging on a [ref:tesla] loaner, no complaints.

Picking Up the Truck

They finished by end of day. I returned the Model 3 and walked over to the Cybertruck.

Close-up low-angle view of Tesla Cybertruck at Upland service center, Supercharger visible behind it

The cant rails were on. But the passenger side immediately looked wrong, bulging out noticeably, sitting proud of the body. The driver’s side was fine. The original rails on this truck had actually been decently aligned for a Cybertruck. These new ones weren’t.

Man standing next to silver Tesla Cybertruck at Upland service center, clear blue sky

Service was closed by the time I noticed, so I messaged through the app that evening. They responded the next morning: bring it back, lead technician will assess.

The QC Problem

It’s not that the alignment was off. People make mistakes, fitment varies, parts aren’t perfect. What’s frustrating is that nobody caught it before calling the vehicle complete. There’s no inspection step between “technician finished” and “customer picks up.” That gap has sent me back for return visits on both Model X buybacks and now on this truck.

Man gesturing next to open Cybertruck door, explaining the alignment issue

The windshield camera situation made it worse. They cleaned it, or attempted to. The next morning, same notification. The housing was visibly fogged. It’s possible the cleaning disturbed the seal. Before the service visit, I barely noticed it. After, it was worse.

Man back in Cybertruck driver's seat after service pickup, reviewing the results

So the cant rail replacement is done. The baffles are new. But the passenger-side alignment needs a second visit, and the camera is fogged again. That return trip is where the story picks up. Check out how the follow-up went.

If you’ve had your cant rails replaced, let me know in the comments whether the alignment came out clean or if you’re seeing the same passenger-side bulge.