Overview

• NHTSA opened preliminary evaluation PE25010 focused on whether exterior doors cannot be opened when the electronic handles lose power, the only situation without a manual method.
• Investigators say the failures appear tied to insufficient 12‑volt battery voltage, and owners reported no low‑voltage warnings before handles stopped working.
• The review covers an estimated 174,290 Model Y SUVs from the 2021 model year and could widen as ODI assesses severity and the locks’ power-supply design.
• Teslas have interior mechanical releases, but children may be unable to reach or operate them, and four reports describe parents breaking windows to reach occupants.
• Tesla’s design chief said the company is working to combine electronic and mechanical releases to make egress more intuitive in panic situations, and no recall has been announced.