US safety agency targets Tesla handles over power-fail traps
Minimalist design is cool until a dead battery turns a luxury electric sedan into a steel trap. Federal regulators are now targeting Tesla handles that refuse to unlatch without power.
The NHTSA granted a petition to gather data for potential federal safety standards on emergency door releases. The regulatory action follows reports of passengers trapped inside vehicles during complete electrical failures, specifically examining the flush door handle mechanism on the 2022 Tesla Model 3.
While Tesla installs manual emergency latches inside its cabins, finding them often requires a treasure map and physical dexterity. Initial government reviews revealed that manual override mechanisms might fail if electronic door locks lack sufficient voltage from the auxiliary battery.
This regulatory push builds on a previous investigation sparked by nine separate complaints from owners locked outside their vehicles, sometimes with young children inside. Tesla previously attempted a software workaround for frozen handles on the Model 3 and Model Y by unlatching doors via a phone app, a feature inspired by the Model X.
Trading simple mechanical levers for electronic gizmos shows what happens when fashion overrides survival basics. When escaping a vehicle requires an operational computer and an instruction manual, federal red tape suddenly feels like a welcome safety net.
Source: TechCrunch
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