Tesla's new trouble: U.S. regulators investigate Model 3 emergency door release mechanism

Tesla is facing a new round of investigations from the U.S. federal vehicle safety regulatory agency. This regulatory action targets the emergency door release mechanism of the Model 3 sedan, questioning whether it is sufficiently noticeable and easy to use in emergencies.

On the 24th of this month, Eastern Time, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced that it has launched a defect investigation into approximately 179,000 2022 Model 3 vehicles. This investigation stems from a petition submitted by owner Kevin Clouse, who claims he was trapped inside a burning Tesla in 2023 and ultimately had to kick out the rear window to escape.

NHTSA stated that it is assessing the allegations that "the mechanical emergency door release handle is hidden, unmarked, and difficult to locate in emergencies." The agency has not yet decided whether to approve this defect investigation petition.

Both Tesla and NHTSA have not responded to media requests for comments. Observers note that the initiation of a defect investigation by regulators does not equate to a recall determination but marks the beginning of a regulatory review process. If safety-related defects are confirmed, it could lead to further regulatory actions.

This investigation expands the federal regulators' scrutiny of Tesla's door issues. In September of this year, NHTSA had already initiated an investigation into door defect issues with the Model Y, involving approximately 174,000 vehicles, focusing on reports of children being trapped inside when the 12-volt battery fails. The Model 3 and Model Y are Tesla's two best-selling models.

On the day NHTSA announced the investigation, Tesla's stock price turned lower in early trading on Wednesday, dropping 1.8% when it hit a daily low, before narrowing most of its losses to close down 0.03%. After approaching the record closing high set last Tuesday, Tesla has seen two consecutive days of declines.

Owner's Petition Triggers Investigation

Kevin Clouse, a Tesla owner from Georgia, detailed his experience in a petition submitted last month. In the complaint document submitted to NHTSA, he stated: "I did not know the location of the hidden mechanical emergency door release mechanism because it is not clearly marked, and it was not explained at delivery; it is not intuitive in an emergency."

Clouse recounted his harrowing experience due to vehicle issues: "At that time, the vehicle was on fire, and I was forced to crawl to the back seat and break the rear passenger window with my leg to escape."

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) at NHTSA noted in its documents that the investigation focuses on whether "the emergency exit control device is easily accessible and clearly identifiable."

Currently, this case is associated with an injury incident. NHTSA emphasized that it is in the "defect petition" stage, and the agency will "evaluate the issue and decide whether to approve or deny the petition."

Electric Door Handle Design Continues to Spark Controversy with Multiple Fatal Incidents

Tesla is a pioneer of electric door handles, but this power-dependent design can suddenly fail during a power outage, especially after a vehicle collision. Although Tesla has equipped vehicles with mechanical emergency release mechanisms to address power failure issues, experts have long argued that the visibility, identification, and intuitiveness of these mechanical devices are insufficient, particularly for rear-seat passengers Previously, it was reported that during the development of the Model 3, someone raised concerns to CEO Elon Musk about potential safety issues with the electric door handles, but Musk insisted on using this futuristic design and added a manual unlock feature to alleviate problems caused by power failures.

According to an analysis released by the media this week, at least 15 people have died in over a dozen accidents in the past decade, where occupants or rescuers were unable to open the doors of Tesla vehicles that had collided and caught fire.

Last month, Tesla was sued over a fatal accident in Wisconsin. In this incident, all five occupants of a Model S died, and the lawsuit claims they were trapped inside the vehicle due to a design defect and unable to open the luxury sedan's doors.

In November of last year, two college students died in a Cybertruck accident in the suburbs of San Francisco. Their families also filed a lawsuit against Tesla, claiming the two were trapped in the burning vehicle due to the design of the door handles