Tesla Under Investigation for Faulty Door Handles
Federal auto safety regulators have launched an investigation into possible defects in Tesla doors, specifically the 2021 Tesla Model Y, after receiving nine reports of electronic door handles not working due to low battery voltage. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is focusing on the operability of the electronic door locks from outside the vehicle, as there is no manual way to open the door in such cases.
The investigation comes after parents reported being forced to break windows to rescue their children trapped in the back seat. In four cases, the parents had to break the windows to get inside, highlighting the risks associated with the faulty door handles. The NHTSA noted that while Tesla has installed manual door releases inside the vehicles, a child may not be able to reach or know how to operate them.
History of Door-Related Issues
Tesla has faced numerous reported incidents in recent years of problems with opening its doors, including cases where drivers were trapped in burning vehicles after accidents and a loss of power. In April, a college basketball recruit reported being unable to get out of his Tesla Cybertruck after it caught fire, and he had to douse himself with a water bottle to stay alive. Last year, relatives of a Tesla Model 3 driver who was trapped in his car and burned beyond recognition sued the company for negligence and fraud, alleging a design flaw in the doors.
The NHTSA said the current investigation covers about 174,300 of the midsize SUVs and will assess the scope and severity of the condition, including the risks associated with the reported incidents. The agency will also examine the approach used by Tesla to supply power to the door locks and the reliability of the applicable power supplies.
Tesla Under Scrutiny
Tesla is also under investigation by the NHTSA for its “summon” technology, which allows drivers to tell their cars to drive to their location to pick them up. The feature has reportedly led to some fender benders in parking lots. Additionally, the NHTSA launched an inquiry into driver-assistance features in 2.4 million Teslas last year after several crashes in fog and other low-visibility conditions, including one in which a pedestrian was killed.
The company’s CEO, Elon Musk, is under pressure to demonstrate that the latest advances in its driver-assistance features have fixed reported glitches and made them reliable. Musk has promised to put hundreds of thousands of self-driving Tesla cars and Tesla robotaxis on roads by the end of next year. However, the company faces challenges, including a plunge in sales and criticism from its traditional environmentally conscious customer base over Musk’s support for certain politicians and their policies.
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Image Source: www.latimes.com
