NHTSA investigates Tesla after parents report being locked out of Model Y with children inside.
Probe focuses on electronic door handle failures possibly linked to low-voltage battery issues.
Tesla has not responded; over 140 door-related complaints logged with NHTSA since 2018.
The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has opened a preliminary investigation into approximately 174,000 Tesla Model Y vehicles from the 2021 model year following reports that electronic door handles may fail to operate.
The agency said it received nine consumer complaints describing situations in which exterior doors could not be opened, particularly after parents exited the vehicle to place or retrieve children from the rear seats. In four of the nine reported cases, the parents broke windows to re-enter the vehicle.
Tesla vehicles include manual interior door releases, but NHTSA noted that children may not be able to access or operate them even if the driver is aware of their location.
An initial assessment by NHTSA suggests that the door handle failures may occur when the vehicle’s electronic locking system receives insufficient voltage. In several incidents, repair invoices indicated replacement of the low-voltage battery. None of the affected vehicle owners reported seeing battery-related warning messages prior to the failures.
The current investigation is a preliminary evaluation, which represents the first step before a potential recall can be initiated if a safety defect is found.
The probe follows a Bloomberg investigation that highlighted several incidents where Tesla doors became inoperative following a power loss, especially in post-crash scenarios. Since 2018, more than 140 consumer complaints regarding stuck or malfunctioning Tesla doors have been filed with NHTSA.
Tesla has not commented on the investigation. During a recent interview, Tesla Chair Robyn Denholm declined to address the findings directly, stating only that the company’s board “takes seriously” any safety concerns.
International regulators have also begun scrutinizing electronic and concealed door handle systems. In China, a regulatory agency is reportedly considering a ban on fully hidden handles, while Europe has adopted new guidelines focused on improving post-crash vehicle egress and extrication procedures.
Source: Automotive News
