Nikola, the electric vehicle manufacturer, has been forced to recall every single Tre BEV truck sold in the United States due to a problem with the park valve module (PVM). The recall comes after the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) discovered that the Bendix Intellipark Tractor Park Valve Module, which is used in the Tre BEV trucks, could become stuck in the unparked position, and may not transition from unparked to parked when the park switch is activated.
According to the recall notice issued by Nikola, if the driver fails to fan down the brakes after noticing the Intellipark PVM malfunction indications, the vehicle could unintentionally move, increasing the risk of a crash. Nikola has stated that the mechanical components in the PVM are at the upper limit of design thresholds, and allow for excessive internal air leakage, which prevents pressure from building up properly when the pilot solenoid is activated.
The Bendix Intellipark Tractor Park Valve Module was supplied by Bendix, and Nikola became aware of the issue on March 16, 2023. The company has now decided to conduct a voluntary recall, which will affect all Tre BEV models manufactured between November 5, 2021 and April 5, 2023, totaling 364 units. The owners and dealerships of these vehicles will be notified of the recall between May 1 and May 31, and the PVM will be replaced with a corrected part free of charge.
This is not the first time that Nikola has had to recall its electric vehicles due to safety issues. Last year, the company had to recall all of its electric garbage trucks due to a fire risk caused by defective battery components. While recalls are never good news for any company, it is reassuring to see Nikola taking swift action to address the PVM issue and ensure the safety of its customers.
