Nikola Inc. Conducts Voluntary Recall of Electric Vehicles

Nikola Inc. has initiated a voluntary recall of over 200 of its electric vehicles following an investigation into their battery packs. The company made the announcement on Friday, stating that the recall is being done as a precautionary measure. Approximately 209 Class 8 Tre battery-electric vehicles (BEV) will be recalled, and new BEV sales will be temporarily paused. However, it's important to note that this move does not impact the production of Nikola's hydrogen fuel-cell electric vehicles (FCEV), which have a different design.

Cause of Recall

According to third-party investigator Exponent, a coolant leak inside a battery pack was determined to be the likely cause of a truck fire that occurred in June 2023. Based on internal investigations conducted by Nikola's safety and engineering teams, a single supplier component within the battery pack is believed to be the source of the coolant leak. Efforts are currently underway to provide a field remedy for this issue in the coming weeks.

Ensure Safety Measures

Customers who own Tre BEV trucks can continue using them; however, Nikola recommends placing the Main Battery Disconnect in the "on" position and parking the trucks outside. This will allow over-the-air updates and better connectivity with Nikola's monitoring system.

No Foul Play Suspected

Although initial suspicions pointed towards foul play as the cause of the fires in June, extensive internal and third-party testing, along with interviews and video footage review, has indicated that foul play or other external factors are unlikely to have caused the incident.

Next Steps

Nikola will provide additional information for customers in the coming weeks regarding the recall. Stay tuned for further updates.

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