U.S. Automotive Safety Authorities Examine Tesla's Door Latch Design
In a move that highlights growing concerns over vehicle safety, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has announced an investigation into potential defects in the electrically powered door handles of some Tesla Inc. Model Y SUVs.
The investigation was prompted by nine vehicle owners reporting an inability to open doors on 2021 Model Y sport utility vehicles. No new information about the number of affected Model Y SUVs or the specific issues with the electrically powered door handles was provided.
This latest NHTSA action adds to other active inquiries targeting Tesla, including a probe of whether its Full Self-Driving system is defective. Another active inquiry assesses the effectiveness of a Tesla software update that aimed to make its driver-assistance system Autopilot safer.
The investigation is focused on issues with low-voltage batteries affecting the operability of the electronic door locks from outside the vehicle. This comes days after a Bloomberg News investigation uncovered a series of incidents in which people were injured or died after they were unable to open doors when Teslas lost power, particularly after crashes.
Crash tests are designed to measure impact survivability, not whether occupants can quickly get out of the vehicle after a crash. However, issues involving egress can particularly impact people with disabilities, pets, young children, or elderly passengers who may not be able to access a manual release.
Tesla's vehicles have manual releases inside, but a child may not be able to access or operate the releases even if the vehicle's driver is aware of them. In the most common scenarios reported, parents were unable to reopen the doors of their Tesla to retrieve a child from the back seat or to place them in the back seat.
When asked about the Bloomberg investigation into the door handles, Tesla chair Robyn Denholm declined to comment beyond saying that the board "takes seriously" any safety incidents. The Chinese top regulator is also considering a ban on fully concealed door handles on electric vehicles, following similar considerations for cars.
NHTSA has received over 140 consumer complaints related to doors on various Tesla models getting stuck, not opening, or malfunctioning since 2018. Chinese authorities are also considering strict measures or possible bans on fully hidden door handles in cars, although no new information about the number of vehicle owners reporting issues or the nature of the incidents was provided.
As the investigation unfolds, it is hoped that any issues with the electrically powered door handles will be addressed to ensure the safety and well-being of all Tesla drivers and passengers.
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