The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has opened an investigation into Tesla Model 3 emergency egress controls, according to NHTSA documents.
NHTSA states it received a petition in November requesting a defect investigation into the mechanical door release on model year (MY) 2022 Tesla Model 3. The petition alleges that the mechanical door release is hidden, unlabeled, and not intuitive to locate during an emergency.
An investigation into the petition was opened Dec. 23.
Just days later, China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology released draft rules banning Tesla-style retractable door handles starting in 2027, according to Autoblog.
“Regulators argue that electric-only mechanisms can trap occupants during collisions or power loss, turning something as basic as opening a door into a life-or-death challenge,” the article says.
The rules require that vehicles weighing under 3.5 tons have both interior and exterior handles with a mechanical emergency release. Autoblog notes that Tesla is not the only brand with flush-style electronic door handles, naming other brands such as Rivian, Mercedes-Benz, and BYD.
While not the only OEM that uses flush doors, Tesla has faced the majority of the scrutiny, with the heat rising in recent weeks.
Bloomberg printed an investigation earlier this month that found 15 people have died in crashes where Tesla doors wouldn’t open.
Days before the investigation was released, Tesla launched a new safety website featuring doors that will automatically unlock in a collision.
The website outlines all of Tesla’s safety features, such as forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and dynamic brake lights. It details how the chassis and frame are designed to absorb the energy of the crash, and advanced airbags deploy according to crash type and different-sized occupants.
New information is provided in a section titled “Safer Aftermath.” It notes that when a serious collision is detected, hazard lights will turn on to increase visibility, and doors will automatically unlock for emergency access.
“At the same time, your Tesla will automatically contact emergency services to get help to you as quickly as possible,” the website says.
Bloomberg reports that it is unclear whether Tesla has already deployed the features to existing vehicles with an over-the-air software update or if it will be available on new vehicles. The article says the company didn’t immediately respond to an emailed request for comment.
The article explains that Teslas have two batteries, one for propelling the vehicle (high-voltage) and one that powers windows and doors (low-voltage).
“If the low-voltage pack dies or is disabled, the doors may not unlock from the exterior,” the article says.
Buttons that open the doors stop working if the battery dies, the article says. Manual release handles aren’t always marked.
“For passengers in the back seat, releases are located under rugs, behind speaker grilles, or under pieces of plastic, depending on the model,” the article says. “Certain versions of the Model 3 and Model Y aren’t equipped with manual releases for rear doors.”
A Texas lawsuit filed against Tesla in July claims defective designs in the Cybertruck caused a fire that trapped its owner in the vehicle, ultimately causing his death.
The suit, filed by Michael Sheehan’s family in Harris County, claims that he purchased the 2024 Cybertruck on April 25 of last year. In August, Sheehan’s Cybertruck left the road, struck a culvert, and caught fire, trapping him inside.
CBS also reports that in 2023, a Tacoma, Washington, couple, Wendy and Jeff Dennis, were in a crash after a Model 3 allegedly accelerated out of control. It adds that, allegedly, the door handle also prevented bystanders from helping rescue the couple. Wendy Dennis was killed, and Jeff Dennis was severely injured.
NHTSA also launched an investigation into Tesla’s Model Y electronic door handles being inoperable due to low battery voltage in September.
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Photo courtesy of Hiroko Yoshida/iStock
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