Nikola announced that the company is suspending sales and recalling all its battery-electric trucks due to recent fires.
The issue looks like a coolant leak inside the battery pack, leading to a thermal event. The fires were reoccurring, with one of the vehicles affected by the initial fire in June reigniting in July. The recall affects 209 trucks, and Nikola is contacting owners and dealers to go over the next steps and provide a timeframe for repairs.
Nikola announced the voluntary recall on its Twitter account on Friday:
As part of our commitment to thorough and transparent communication, Nikola released the preliminary results of the battery pack investigations received yesterday afternoon. Read more here: https://t.co/4rrEAHkV7U pic.twitter.com/jduhFdhgg2
— Nikola Corporation (@nikolamotor) August 11, 2023
The company also noted that trucks in service can remain in operation, but customers should do the following to their trucks:
- Place the Main Battery Disconnect (MBD) switch into the “ON” position at all times to enable real-time vehicle monitoring and safety systems operation
- Consider parking trucks outside to allow for over-the-air updates and better connectivity with Fleet Command, Nikola’s truck monitoring system
The company also noted that only two of the 3,100 packs experienced a thermal event, and the vehicles are under a voluntary recall, not a total recall. They also confirmed that repair information would come in the next few weeks.
Nikola also reiterated the recall or sales freeze does not affect its hydrogen fuel cell truck which will start deliveries in quarter three.
