Overview

• NHTSA launched a preliminary evaluation (PE25010) covering an estimated 174,290 Model Y SUVs from the 2021 model year.
• The agency received nine owner reports of inoperable exterior handles, including four cases where windows were broken to reach children in back seats.
• Early findings point to insufficient 12‑volt battery power disabling the exterior locks, with repair records showing battery replacements after incidents.
• Owners reported no low‑voltage warnings before the lockouts, and NHTSA will review Tesla’s approach to supplying power to the door locks.
• The probe focuses on exterior operability, could widen based on scope and severity, and follows broader scrutiny of electronic flush handles and other Tesla safety issues.