News Summary

The US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has launched an investigation into Tesla due to potential malfunctions of its electronic door handles. The probe primarily concerns the 2021 Tesla Model Y, affecting an estimated 174,290 vehicles. Reports indicate that the door handles can become inoperable when the vehicle’s low-voltage battery fails, potentially trapping occupants inside. This issue has led to several alarming incidents, including fatalities and injuries where individuals were unable to exit the vehicle quickly during emergencies like fires. Despite Tesla providing a mechanical backup system inside the cabin for manual door release, the location and operation of this mechanism can be challenging, especially for children. The NHTSA’s investigation may expand to other Tesla models as all of them feature electrically powered door handles. Over 140 complaints have been received by the NHTSA since 2018, with nine specific failure reports prompting the current probe.