US EditionUS auto safety agency probes Tesla Model 3 emergency door release
The investigation covers 179,071 Model Year 2022 Tesla Model 3 vehicles after reports of hidden, unlabeled emergency door releases linked to at least 15 deaths, NHTSA said.
- 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.
38 Articles
38 Articles
NHTSA Probes Tesla Model 3 Sedans, Says Door Handles Too Hard to Find in Emergency
Electric vehicle manufacturer Tesla is facing a second investigation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) over issues with door handles on its top-selling compact sedans and SUVs. The NHTSA on Dec. 23 opened a probe to determine whether the door handles on nearly 180,000 Model 3 sedans made in 2022 were unlabeled, hidden, and too difficult to access during an emergency. The NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) r…
Tesla’s Model 3 emergency door release controls are being investigated
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. The Office of Defects Investigation said the probe covers an estimated 179,071 model year 2022 vehicles. The investigation was opened on December 23 after the agency received a defect petition alleging that t…
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.
Tesla Model 3 sedans face federal investigation over possible door release defects
The US auto safety regulator said 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.
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 41% of the sources lean Left
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
