The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has launched a comprehensive defect investigation into nearly 180,000 Tesla Model 3 compact sedans. This probe focuses on critical concerns that the vehicles’ emergency door release controls may not be easily accessible or clearly identifiable during urgent situations, potentially trapping occupants.
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI), a division of NHTSA, initiated the inquiry on December 23, following a formal defect petition. The petition specifically alleged that the mechanical door release mechanisms in the 2022 model year vehicles are obscured, unmarked, and fundamentally unintuitive to locate and operate when immediate egress is required.
Tesla vehicles are predominantly designed with electronic door latches, which operate through internal buttons rather than conventional mechanical handles. While the automaker incorporates a manual override for emergencies or power failures, automotive safety experts have consistently voiced concerns that these mechanical releases lack consistent visibility, clear labeling, and intuitive design, particularly for rear-seat passengers who may be unfamiliar with the vehicle’s specific features.
This investigation encompasses an estimated 179,071 Model 3 vehicles from the 2022 production year. The opening of a defect petition signifies the initial stage of a structured regulatory review process. It does not automatically lead to a recall but marks a critical step that could escalate to further enforcement actions if safety-related defects are conclusively identified and confirmed by the agency.
The regulatory scrutiny on Tesla’s door mechanisms is not isolated. Just last month, Tesla faced a lawsuit stemming from a fiery crash in Wisconsin involving a Model S, which tragically claimed the lives of all five occupants. The lawsuit alleged that the victims were unable to escape the luxury sedan due to a design flaw that purportedly prevented them from opening the vehicle’s doors.
Further compounding these concerns, the automaker is also facing legal action from the families of two college students who perished in a Cybertruck crash last November in a San Francisco suburb. In that incident, allegations surfaced that the occupants were trapped inside the burning vehicle, unable to exit due to a design flaw in its unique door handle system, contributing to the tragic outcome.
These incidents and the current Model 3 investigation highlight a recurring theme regarding the accessibility and functionality of Tesla’s door release systems in critical situations. The reliance on electronic controls, while innovative, introduces new safety considerations that regulators are increasingly scrutinizing, especially concerning fail-safe mechanical overrides.
NHTSA has previously opened preliminary evaluations into other Tesla models over similar concerns. In September, the agency commenced a preliminary evaluation into approximately 174,290 Model Y vehicles following multiple reports of electronic door handles becoming inoperative, preventing occupants from exiting the vehicle. This broader pattern suggests a systemic focus on the safety of Tesla’s door designs.
Tesla has not yet provided an immediate public response to requests for comment regarding this latest investigation. The outcome of the NHTSA probe could have significant implications for Tesla’s vehicle design standards, potentially influencing future regulatory requirements for electric vehicles and advanced automotive systems across the industry, reinforcing the paramount importance of occupant safety and ease of egress in emergencies.
