US EditionUS auto safety agency probes Tesla Model 3 emergency door release
The NHTSA is investigating whether emergency door releases in 179,071 Model Year 2022 Tesla Model 3 vehicles are too hidden and unintuitive during crashes, linked to at least 15 deaths.
- Recently, the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration opened a defect investigation into whether door issues kept people from exiting Model Ys and asked Tesla for consumer complaints and crash reports.
- Bloomberg's review found at least 15 deaths in a dozen incidents where occupants or rescuers could not open Tesla doors after crashes and fires, with more than half occurring since November of 2024, including crashes from 2024 and 2025.
- The vehicles' 12‑volt battery powers the electric handles, and in crashes it can fail, while some Tesla Model 3 and Model Y lack or hide rear-seat manual backup releases.
- Tesla's website says doors will auto‑unlock after collisions, but a footnote notes this may not apply to all builds or regions, while owners buy glass breakers and third‑party accessories.
- Tesla's design team says Franz von Holzhausen is redesigning door handles to combine electric and manual releases, authorities in China and Europe consider rule changes, and NHTSA warns exit failures could prompt recalls.
23 Articles
23 Articles
Electric Door Handles - What Did Elon Know, And When Did He Know It? - CleanTechnica
Tesla has put its customers at risk by relying on electrically activated door locks and downplaying mechanical locks. The post Electric Door Handles — What Did Elon Know, And When Did He Know It? appeared first on CleanTechnica.
Elon Musk faces Tesla crisis after defect investigation launched with 179,000 cars impacted
Elon Musk could face a massive headache after an investigation was launched into his Tesla brand, while sales of the electric carmaker continue to decline across Europe.The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has opened a defect investigation into the Tesla Model 3 and its mechanical door release.It states that Model 3 cars from production year 2022 could result in the mechanical door release being "hidden, unlabeled, and not intuitive to loca…
US auto safety agency probes Tesla Model 3 emergency door release
The U.S. auto safety regulator said on Wednesday it has opened a defect investigation into Tesla Model 3 compact sedans over concerns that emergency door release controls may not be easily accessible or clearly identifiable in an emergency.
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