Crashes, Fires, and Locked Doors: Tesla Vehicles Linked to 15 Deaths

• Bloomberg found Tesla doors failed post-crash, contributing to 15 occupant deaths over 13 years.

• Hidden or missing manual releases may hinder rescue efforts in Model 3 and Model Y vehicles.

• Tesla launched safety updates, but not all vehicles support automatic door unlock after crashes.

At least 15 people have died in Tesla vehicles after crashes in which the doors failed to open, according to an investigation examining incidents where electric door mechanisms became inoperable post-collision.

The analysis focused on vehicles that caught fire after a crash and involved doors that occupants or emergency responders could not open. The findings are based on a review of fatal crash records from the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) between 2012 and 2023, with additional data gathered for 2024 and 2025.

The investigation reviewed thousands of documents, including police, fire, and autopsy reports. In some cases, 911 audio and police body-camera footage were also examined to reconstruct events surrounding the fatalities.

While the deaths account for a small portion of overall electric vehicle crashes, alarmingly, the report notes that more than half of the fatalities occurred since November 2024, suggesting an increasing trend.

Tesla’s vehicles use electrically powered door handles, which rely on a 12-volt battery system. In a crash, if this battery is disabled or drained, the doors may become inoperable. The NHTSA opened an investigation into the Tesla Model Y’s door handle functionality on September 15, 2025, following multiple complaints about exterior handles failing to work after collisions.

Although Tesla front doors are generally equipped with manual backup releases, the investigation reported that these are not always clearly marked. Rear seat manual releases are either absent or hidden in some models, located behind speaker grilles, under carpeting, or beneath plastic covers, making them difficult to find during emergencies.

Tesla has launched a new safety information page on its website titled “Safer Aftermath: Emergency Response.” The automaker states that its doors are designed to unlock automatically in a crash to allow emergency access. However, a footnote clarifies that this function may not be present on all models and depends on the vehicle’s build date.

In a September 2025 interview, Tesla’s head of design said the company is developing a new door handle system that integrates mechanical and electric components.

Electric door handles are not unique to Tesla. About 70 vehicle models sold in North America currently use similar technology. They include the Hyundai Ioniq 5, the Cadillac Vistiq, and the VinFast VF 9, among many others.

However, Tesla has received the highest volume of consumer complaints related to door accessibility failures, according to Bloomberg.