NHTSA Investigates Tesla Model 3 Door Releases

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has launched an investigation into the emergency door release mechanisms on approximately 179,000 Tesla Model 3 vehicles from the 2022 model year, following complaints that the manual overrides are hidden, unlabeled, and difficult to access during emergencies.

The probe, announced this week, stems from a petition filed in November by Kevin Clouse, a Georgia resident and owner of a 2022 Model 3. Clouse described a harrowing experience in a 2023 head-on collision where his vehicle caught fire and lost power, rendering the electronic door buttons inoperable. "I was unaware of the location of the hidden mechanical emergency door release because it is not visibly labeled, not explained upon delivery, and not intuitive in an emergency," Clouse stated in his complaint to the agency. He said he had to climb into the back seat and kick out a rear passenger window to escape, sustaining injuries that required three surgeries, including a full hip replacement. The NHTSA has not yet decided whether to grant the petition or upgrade the inquiry into a full defect investigation.

This development builds on broader scrutiny of Tesla's electronic...