The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has launched an investigation to determine whether there is a design defect in the Tesla Model 3's emergency door opening mechanism. The probe began with a consumer petition claiming it is difficult to locate the manual escape device in an emergency. Depending on the outcome, it could lead to a large-scale recall.
According to Bloomberg and Reuters on the 24th, the NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has opened a probe covering about 179,071 units of the 2022 Model 3. Authorities are reviewing claims that the vehicle's mechanical emergency door release is hidden and lacks clear marking, making it difficult to locate intuitively in urgent situations.
The investigation was prompted by a petition filed by Kevin Kraus, a Tesla owner residing in Georgia. Kraus requested the probe based on his experience of being trapped inside a Model 3 during a fire in 2023. In a complaint submitted to NHTSA, Kraus said, "The emergency door release location was not marked and there was no explanation upon delivery," and added, "It was impossible to find the device while the interior was on fire." He ultimately crawled into the back seat, kicked out a window, and escaped from the Tesla.
Tesla vehicles primarily use electronic door latches operated by buttons. They are equipped with a manual lever in case power is cut, but experts have for years pointed out the device's poor visibility and lack of intuitiveness. Reuters reported, "Experts have long argued that the manual release is difficult to visually identify and particularly hard for rear-seat passengers to find."
This design background is known to reflect the will of Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk. According to Bloomberg, during Model 3 development, concerns were raised about the safety of electronic handles, but Musk insisted on a forward-looking design and demanded that the manual device be placed inconspicuously.
The problem is that this design is leading to fatalities. Bloomberg's analysis shows that over the past 10 years there have been at least 15 cases in which people died because doors would not open during Tesla vehicle fires. In Wisconsin last month, five occupants of a Model S died after failing to open the doors following a fire, prompting a lawsuit.
In September, NHTSA also began a preliminary investigation into more than 170,000 Model Y vehicles after receiving reports that children were trapped in cars when the battery was discharged. The Model 3 probe likewise is expected to inevitably lead to follow-up measures if a defect is confirmed.
Tesla and NHTSA have not issued official comments on the investigation. Tesla shares fell 0.7% on the New York Stock Exchange after news of the probe.