The U.S. automotive safety regulatory agency announced on Wednesday (December 24) that it has initiated an investigation into a potential defect in the emergency door handles of Tesla’s Model 3 sedan.
According to a document released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) on Wednesday, they are evaluating the mechanical door handles of Tesla Model 3 sedan, which may be difficult to operate or locate in emergency situations.
This investigation involves approximately 179,071 units of the 2022 Model 3 model.
NHTSA received a defect lawsuit on December 23 from a car owner in Georgia, Kevin Clouse, who claimed that the mechanical door release mechanism of this car is hidden, not marked, and difficult to find in emergency situations.
Clouse mentioned that he was trapped inside his car in 2023 when his Model 3 caught fire and the door would not open, forcing him to kick open the door to escape.
In his complaint letter to NHTSA, he stated, “I did not know the location of the concealed mechanical emergency door release mechanism as it was not clearly marked, not explained during delivery, and not easily accessible in an emergency. The car was on fire inside at the time and I had to climb to the back seat and escape through the passenger-side window.”
Tesla has not yet commented on this matter.
The Model 3 primarily utilizes electronic door locks that are opened by buttons rather than traditional mechanical handles.
Although manual door locks are also provided in the car for emergency situations or power outages, experts have long believed that the visibility, marking, and intuitive operation of these mechanical door locks pose problems, especially for rear passengers.
Submitting a defect report does not necessarily mean that the regulatory agency will issue a recall, but it marks the first step in the regulatory review process. If safety-related defects are confirmed, further actions may be taken.
In September, NHTSA stated that they had initiated a preliminary evaluation of approximately 174,290 units of the Model Y car, following reports that the electronic door handles of Tesla Model Y cars were not functioning properly.