U.S. investigates 174,000 Tesla Model Y vehicles for door-handle failures

Federal probe targets Tesla doors

The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has launched a probe into about 174,000 Tesla Model Y vehicles from the 2021 model year. The review comes after reports that electronic door handles can suddenly stop working.

The Office of Defects Investigation said it received nine complaints from owners. In several cases, parents struggled to open doors after securing children inside.

Parents report scary situations

NHTSA documents revealed troubling accounts from parents who could not open their Tesla’s exterior doors while children were still inside. In four of those cases, parents broke windows to regain entry.

The agency said such entrapment is particularly concerning during emergencies. It highlighted the risks of children being trapped in a vehicle during extreme heat, when every second counts to avoid danger.

Manual releases not child-friendly

Tesla cars do have manual interior door releases, according to NHTSA. However, the agency noted that children often cannot reach or operate them effectively.

Even when drivers know about these releases, younger passengers may not have the strength or ability to use them. This creates a gap in safety protections, especially during urgent moments when parents may be locked outside the car.

The scope of the problem

According to CBS News, the federal investigation applies to 174,290 Tesla Model Y SUVs built in 2021. Regulators plan to measure both how widespread the failures are and how serious the safety risk may be.

NHTSA said it will continue to track reports involving people attempting to open doors from inside the vehicle. It noted that further steps could follow if additional safety risks are identified.

Why the doors may fail

NHTSA’s preliminary findings suggest that the problem is linked to voltage issues in the vehicle. According to the agency, electronic locks may become inoperative when they do not receive enough power.

Repair invoices show several owners had their low-voltage batteries replaced after incidents. However, none of the owners said they had seen any warning messages before their door handles failed.

Entrapment fears in hot weather

NHTSA emphasized that a failed door handle can be especially dangerous during hot weather. Its Child Heatstroke Campaign highlights how quickly a vehicle’s interior can heat up and place children at risk.

Being unable to access a child in time could create life-threatening conditions. That risk is one reason regulators say the door handle failures require serious review and attention.

Breaking windows to get inside

USA Today reported that in four separate cases, parents broke their Teslas’ windows after being unable to open the doors. These drastic steps were the only way they could reach their children in time.

NHTSA said such extreme measures show the seriousness of the malfunction. Regulators explained that situations requiring shattered glass for an entry point to clear safety concerns, which could influence whether a recall is necessary.

Tesla silent on investigation

Tesla did not respond to its request for comment after NHTSA announced the probe. At the time, the automaker had not made a public statement about the investigation.

Tesla has faced multiple safety probes before, covering both hardware and software issues. This new case adds to the list of reviews by federal regulators as Tesla expands its fleet.

The first step toward a recall

NHTSA described this stage as a preliminary evaluation, which is the first step in a recall process. If regulators decide the malfunction poses an unreasonable risk, they could order Tesla to act.

Reuters reported that this review will determine how many vehicles are affected and how serious the issue is. The agency said findings from this phase will guide any potential future recall request.

Safety concerns for families

Parents told NHTSA the problem often happened right after placing children in car seats before a trip. In those moments, adults found themselves locked outside while their kids were inside.

The agency said that the added risk of delay could make situations more dangerous. Regulators noted that families face unique challenges when safety equipment malfunctions, making it even more critical to resolve the reported failures quickly.

Owners see no warning signs

According to CBS News, Tesla owners reported that no low-voltage battery warnings appeared before their door handles failed. Drivers said this lack of alerts left them unprepared when the handles suddenly stopped working.

Regulators highlighted this detail as important in assessing risk. NHTSA noted that the absence of warnings could increase the danger, making it a key factor in the ongoing probe.

Interior releases not enough

NHTSA stated that while Tesla vehicles include manual interior door releases, they are not always practical in emergencies.

This means that if parents are locked outside, there is no guarantee that the kids inside can free themselves. Regulators said this limitation adds weight to the overall safety concerns under investigation.

Reports from multiple parents

The nine complaints investigated by NHTSA all came from parents experiencing nearly identical problems. Reuters reported that in every case, the exterior doors failed to reopen after children were placed inside the car.

Regulators said the consistency of these reports raised serious concerns. NHTSA confirmed that this repeating pattern of incidents was the reason investigators decided to formally launch a federal safety probe.

Past probes into Tesla

This case is not the first time Tesla has faced federal investigations. Regulators have previously examined both hardware and software issues connected to the automaker’s vehicles.

The new door-handle probe adds to the list of open cases. NHTSA said its scrutiny will continue as Tesla’s U.S. fleet grows, stressing that further action could be taken if safety risks are confirmed.

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The official case number

NHTSA officially registered the door-handle investigation under the case number PE25010. The agency said the case file is available for public viewing on its website.

The Office of Defects Investigation is tracking any new complaints tied to this issue. Regulators confirmed they will update findings as the process advances, ensuring transparency as the situation develops for affected Tesla owners.

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This slideshow was made with AI assistance and human editing.