U.S. safety regulators have initiated an investigation into specific Tesla Model 3 vehicles concerning their emergency door handles. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) highlighted this concern in a December 23 online filing, responding to a complaint from a Tesla owner. The owner described difficulties in operating the mechanical door release, noting it was “hidden, unlabeled, and not intuitive to locate during an emergency.” This claim was backed by a harrowing experience in which the driver was forced to escape through a rear window after their 2022 Model 3 caught fire.
The investigation encompasses approximately 179,000 Model 3 cars from the 2022 model year. As of now, Tesla has not issued a comment regarding the situation.
This scrutiny is not the first for the Model 3, with incidents indicating ongoing concerns about its design and safety features. Earlier in 2023, a couple lost control of their Model 3 in Tacoma, Washington, due to a design flaw that caused the vehicle to accelerate uncontrollably. Compounding the tragedy, a malfunction with the door handle hindered bystanders from providing timely assistance, resulting in the death of Wendy Dennis and leaving her husband, Jeff Dennis, with severe injuries.
There have also been numerous reports of similar emergencies where individuals became trapped in a Tesla following a crash. In some instances, the vehicle’s incapacitated electric doors prevented occupants from accessing the manual release. A report from Bloomberg indicated that there have been “at least” 15 fatalities over the past decade linked to incidents where individuals could not open Tesla doors after crashes that resulted in fires.
