Probe looks at Tesla Model 3 door release
Complaint: controls hard to access in emergency
By: Mike Snider
USA Today
..... The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has opened a defect investigation into Tesla's Model 3 vehicles over the door release for the compare sedans and concerns that the controls may not be easy to access in an emergency.
.....
The NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation opened the inquire on December 23 [2025] after getting a complaint that called the vehicle's mechanical door release "hidden, unlabeled, and not intuitive to locate during an emergency" according to the filing. The filing references one incident involving a crash or fire, with one injury.
..... The office said the probe covers an estimated 179,071 Tesla model 3 vehicles form model year 2022. An investigation of a defect petition does not mean a recall has been issued, but it could lead to additional action if the review of any safety-related concerns are confirmed.
..... Tesla did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
.....
Tesla was sued in November [2025] by the family of a couple who were among five occupants who died because they allegedly were trapped in a Tesla Model S sedan that crashed November, 1, 2024.
..... According to the family's complaint, the lithium-ion battery pack in the model S caused the electronic door systems to fail.
..... The automaker has also been sued by families of two college students killed in a November 2024 Cybertruck crash in California after the occupants were allegedly locked in the burning vehicle because of the door handle design.
..... Contributing: Reuters