Overview
- The NHTSA ordered Tesla to turn over records covering Model Y (2021) and peer vehicles including 2017–2022 Model 3 and Model Y, plus components such as door latches, 12-volt systems and related software.
- The agency cited ongoing complaints, including 16 reports of inoperative exterior handles in certain 2021 Model Y vehicles and more than 140 door-related complaints logged since 2018.
- A new wrongful-death suit, Bauer et al v Tesla et al, was filed in Dane County, Wisconsin, alleging a 2016 Model S lost power after a 2024 crash, disabling electronic door releases and leaving rear passengers to locate a hidden mechanical tab under carpeting.
- The complaint says a 911 caller reported hearing screams from the vehicle, while the sheriff’s office found road conditions, excess speed and impaired driving contributed to the crash.
- Tesla’s design chief has said the company is redesigning door-release mechanisms to be more intuitive in emergencies, as U.S. and international scrutiny of flush and retractable door handles intensifies, including separate cases involving other Tesla models.