Tesla electric door lock defects draw regulatory scrutiny, risk of entrapment in focus

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The U.S. auto safety regulator is investigating Tesla’s electric door locks due to potential defects that could trap passengers inside.

On Tuesday, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) disclosed that it is assessing issues with the electric doors of the 2021 Tesla Model Y that may fail to open properly.

In a document published on its website, the agency stated that while the current investigation involves a limited number of vehicles (about 174,000), it is assessing the extent and severity of the problem and suggested the probe could expand.

Since 2018, NHTSA has received over 140 consumer complaints related to Tesla doors becoming stuck, failing to open, or other malfunctions in various models. The agency is particularly focused on failures linked to low-voltage battery power shortages.

In several cases, parents told regulators they were unable to reopen the Tesla doors to retrieve children from the back seats. NHTSA stated:

Being trapped in a vehicle during an emergency is particularly concerning, such as when children are locked inside a vehicle in high heat.

Scope and Focus of the Investigation

The U.S. regulators’ investigation will assess the methods Tesla uses to power door locks and the reliability of these power sources.

According to Tesla’s user manual, every model the company sells in the U.S. is equipped with electric doors.

Currently, the agency says the focus of the investigation is on the ability to operate electric door locks from outside the vehicle, as there is no manual way to open Tesla doors from the outside in the event of a power failure.

In some cases, owners have reported to NHTSA that they had to break a window to re-enter the vehicle.

While Tesla vehicles are equipped with manual release mechanisms inside, regulators pointed out:

Even if drivers are aware of their existence, children may not be able to locate or operate these release mechanisms.

Michael Brooks, executive director of the Center for Auto Safety in Washington, called on regulators to set standards requiring manual release devices to be in standardized, easy-to-find locations. He stated:

Simply noting the location of manual releases in the user manual is inadequate for informing passengers, since they won’t have the chance to read the manual during a fire or other emergency.

Industry Trends and Global Regulatory Developments

In addition to the 2021 Model Y, owners of other Tesla models have also complained to U.S. regulators about similar failures to open doors after low-voltage battery malfunctions.

According to media reports, the complaints involve the 2012 Model S, the 2023 Model 3, as well as the 2020, 2022, and 2023 Model Y.

Although Tesla pioneered the use of hidden electric door handles, many automakers have since adopted similar designs. As a result, door issues have attracted increasing concern from auto safety advocates and global regulators.

Critics argue that hidden handles can complicate rescue efforts and shift responsibility onto passengers unfamiliar with manual releases.

Moreover, existing crash tests are designed to measure occupant survivability in collisions, not their ability to quickly escape the vehicle afterward. For people with disabilities, pets, young children, or elderly passengers, escape can be particularly challenging.

This investigation adds to the regulatory pressure Tesla is already facing, as the company is also under other probes by U.S. regulators regarding its Full Self-Driving (FSD) and Autopilot driver-assist systems.

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