Tesla faces NHTSA probe over Model 3 emergency door handles

Core Viewpoint - Tesla Inc.'s door handles are under investigation by federal regulators due to safety concerns regarding emergency releases in certain Model 3 vehicles [1][2]. Group 1: Investigation Details - The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is assessing claims that the mechanical door release is "hidden, unlabeled, and not intuitive to locate during an emergency" [2]. - The investigation was prompted by a petition from a Tesla owner who reported being trapped in his vehicle in 2023, leading to a request for a defect investigation [2]. - The probe involves approximately 179,071 Model 3 sedans from the 2022 model year [3]. Group 2: Previous Incidents and Concerns - This investigation builds on prior scrutiny of Tesla's door issues, following a Bloomberg investigation that revealed multiple incidents where individuals were severely injured or died after being trapped in their Teslas [4]. - In September, NHTSA also began investigating potential defects in Model Y SUVs related to doors becoming inoperable when the 12-volt battery fails [4]. - Tesla's electric door handles, which were innovative, can malfunction unexpectedly, especially after a crash, with at least 15 fatalities reported over the past decade due to occupants or rescuers being unable to open the doors of crashed Teslas [5]. Group 3: Executive Insights and User Experiences - Concerns about the safety of electric handles were raised with CEO Elon Musk during the Model 3's development, but he insisted on the design, which included manual releases to address power-loss issues [6]. - A Tesla owner recounted a harrowing experience where he had to escape from a burning Model 3 after being unable to open the doors, highlighting the lack of visible labeling and intuitive design of the emergency release [7]. - Following the news of the investigation, Tesla shares experienced a decline of 0.7% [7].