The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has opened an investigation into certain Tesla $TSLA ( ▼ 1.33% ) Model 3 vehicles over concerns that the mechanical door release may be difficult to find in an emergency.
Hidden handle, serious questions
The probe covers 179,071 model year 2022 Tesla Model 3 cars and stems from a defect petition alleging the manual door release is hidden, unlabeled, and not intuitive for drivers or passengers to locate during a crisis. Regulators are assessing whether that design could delay escape in situations where power systems fail.
This investigation is separate from a broader NHTSA probe announced earlier this fall involving electronic door handles on Tesla Model Y vehicles that may stop working from the outside after a crash.
Pressure builds on Tesla’s door design
The action follows months of reporting examining whether Tesla’s door designs have contributed to fatalities in certain crashes. While Tesla has said its vehicles include manual releases and meet regulatory standards, the company has also acknowledged it is working on redesigns to its door systems.
For now, the investigation adds to mounting regulatory scrutiny around how futuristic vehicle design choices perform when things go wrong, not just when everything works as intended.