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Tesla Faces US Auto Safety Investigation over Door Handles
- honeycrispy 1y agohttps://archive.ph/r5Q6O https://archive.ph/r5Q6O
- Ajedi32 1y agoThere's really no way to get into the vehicle from the outside if the battery is dead? I find that hard to believe... ...okay, looks like there is a way but it's really convoluted and you need to basically jump-start the low voltage system (using either an ICE car or a battery pack). https://www.tesla.com/ownersmanual/model3/en_us/GUID-3567D5F4-A5F4-4323-8BE0-023D5438FFC6.html https://www.tesla.com/ownersmanual/model3/en_us/GUID-3567D5F... That's really, really dumb.
- ericpauley 1y agoIt's particularly telling that Tesla's design flaws are so inexcusable that people have a hard time even believing they are real. Here's another example: https://www.tesla.com/ownersmanual/model3/en_us/GUID-A7A60DC7-E476-4A86-9C9C-10F4A276AB8B.html https://www.tesla.com/ownersmanual/model3/en_us/GUID-A7A60DC... Yes, opening the rear door in some models requires popping an unlabeled access panel in the cargo pocket. The craziest part to me is that this isn't the evil profit maximizing à la Unsafe at Any Speed. It's simply pure designer insanity.
- Someone1234 1y agoThis is actually their "upgraded" design, the original Model 3 had no rear mechanical release at all. Hidden or otherwise. None. See the older manual here: https://www.tesla.com/ownersmanual/2017_2023_model3/en_us/GUID-EA692A77-9F5B-44C4-B291-444263199337.html https://www.tesla.com/ownersmanual/2017_2023_model3/en_us/GU... > Only the front doors are equipped with a manual door release. How was THAT legal? How was that ADA compliant?
- amaranth 1y agoI believe it's legal because rear doors have child safety locks so often can't be opened from the inside anyway. Although that doesn't cover opening it from the outside...
- ryandrake 1y agoWild. Door handles have been a solved problem for decades. Why do companies always have to go and fuck something up that's already working?
- jerlam 1y agoI guess I'm not surprised that only the vehicles made in China have the tiny concession to put a label on the access panel.
- deleted 1y ago[deleted]
- hanikesn 1y agoThat's the correct entry in the manual: https://www.tesla.com/ownersmanual/model3/en_us/GUID-A7A60DC7-E476-4A86-9C9C-10F4A276AB8B.html https://www.tesla.com/ownersmanual/model3/en_us/GUID-A7A60DC...
- Ajedi32 1y agoThat doesn't explain how to open the doors from the outside. The entry I linked does. (Indirectly.)
- ComputerGuru 1y ago> okay, looks like there is a way but it's really convoluted and you need to basically jump-start the low voltage system So what you're actually saying is, there really isn't a (sane) way after all.
- joeconway 1y agoNow try doing that while the car is on fire with burning children inside https://www.kron4.com/news/bay-area/witness-of-triple-fatal-piedmont-cybertruck-crash-describes-what-happened/ https://www.kron4.com/news/bay-area/witness-of-triple-fatal-...
- blankx32 1y agohttp://archive.today/r5Q6O http://archive.today/r5Q6O
- lupusreal 1y agoRemember to have all your passengers read your car manual before riding with you, so they know how to manually open the door when you wreck and catch fire. Insanity.
- bluGill 1y agoMake sure the rescue (normaly fire) department reads it too.
- SoftTalker 1y agoMaybe the cars can come with a pre-recorded safety briefing that is played before you can set off, and a laminated card in the seat pocket. How to open the doors in an emergency, etc. Like on an airplane.
- honeycrispy 1y agoIt's weird to me how many things I find flagrantly dangerous, "experts" find acceptable and vice-versa. Whether it be design, or policy.
- happytoexplain 1y agoYou would expect to be aligned with experts? Wouldn't that make you an expert, by definition?
- JadeNB 1y ago> You would expect to be aligned with experts? Wouldn't that make you an expert, by definition? No. Ibelieve lots of things experts believe, often because they believe them, in fields where I have no expertise.
- robotnikman 1y agoI've learned to take anything said by the experts with a grain of salt nowadays, mainly after seeing the large conflicts of interest in the food and drug industry. It's best to do your own research as well if you can. That being said, there are certain institutions and experts that I've found are more trustworthy than others (The Electronic Frontier Foundation for example) so I do usually trust them over the opinions of others. Basically there is a lot of nuance, never blindly trust anything. Regarding the topic of the Tesla door handles, I've always felt uneasy regarding the safety of them.
- deleted 1y ago[deleted]
- dmix 1y agoThat might just be media experts. Newspapers and TV channels keep have a stock list of "experts" they bring on to talk about stuff and they almost always know nothing or are only there for a particular spin. You can always find washed up academics, ex-industry, ex-government, etc people who will reliably show up to say stuff in return for money. Lawyers do it too.
- poopsmithe 1y agoYeap, saw that coming. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQxm6n7SdvE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQxm6n7SdvE Apparently there is a manual release lever, which this driver did not know about. But really, I think it's a bad design to have to think about a second way to open the door. When people panic, they fall back to training, and that training is just opening the door using the handle they always use.
- xeromal 1y agoI was in a total crash of my model 3 in a hit a run. I was pitted from a crazy driver that was driving the wrong way and I ran into a retaining wall. I panicked trying to open the doors as there was smoke everywhere and I think the car was burning but the fog of an accident is pretty intense so I ended up breaking the window out with one of those little tipped seatbelt cutters and crawled out. That stupid override is completely useless when you're in fight or flight. The Model S did it better where the override is just pulling the door handle all the way out.
- proee 1y agoHow did you have the wherewithal to remember you had this tool? Where did you keep the tool? Did the tool come with the car or did you buy it just in case?
- xeromal 1y agoI've always carried one in my cupholder my whole life. It's like a small knife and has a tipped end. Very easy to use. They're 20$ on amazon. I will admit I tried kicking the window first but then remembered I had the knife.
- ncr100 1y agoThis is a great reminder to carry one of those. Thank you for the reminder. I'm glad you're safe.
- toss1 1y agoRetractable flush door handles without an obvious, usable, and effective manual override option are one of the most stupid and user hostile "innovations" ever. Designers effectively said: "Lets save 0.03 on our Coefficient of Drag, add unnecessary weight of extra motors and control complexity, and make sure whenever the 12V supply is cut or a bit of ice is in the mechanism, everyone inside is trapped —— it'll look cool". China is already looking at banning them [0] because of the difficulty they present to emergency crews trying to rescue passengers. And while I used to admire Musk and defend him here, this now seems like just another "innovation" by a sociopath who cares only about how cool it might make him look, and nevermind the people burned to death trapped inside his cars. At least the Ford Pinto exploding gas tank debacle was for profit [1], this is just one man's ego. [0] https://www.roadandtrack.com/news/a66052483/china-possible-ban-fully-retractable-door-handles-for-cars/ https://www.roadandtrack.com/news/a66052483/china-possible-b... [1] https://www.autosafety.org/ford-pinto-fuel-tank/ https://www.autosafety.org/ford-pinto-fuel-tank/
- throwway120385 1y agoIt wasn't even about those things. It was about having cool electronic door handles like a spaceship. If it was about those things that would imply a level of intentionality in the design that goes beyond whatever happened here.
- cbeach 1y ago> this is just one man's ego. Since you're attributing the design of all Tesla features to Musk, would you compliment him on the Tesla Model 3 being reported as the "safest new car on the market," acheiving an overall EuroNCAP score of 359/400? https://www.whatcar.com/news/the-safest-cars-on-sale-today/n19724 https://www.whatcar.com/news/the-safest-cars-on-sale-today/n... ... or would that go against the narrative? FWIW, and for balance - I think the retracting handle design on the Model S is dangerous. I own the car and it's a nagging concern in my mind.
- toss1 1y ago>>would you compliment him on the Tesla Model 3 yes, as I mentioned, I have posted similar strong compliments/defenses of Musk in the past, including on here. I'd also point out that while one person can drive design of the most salient features (such as a noticeably different door-handle), the entire design of a modern automobile and its systems are obviously not from only one person. I also attribute the overall requirement for high crash-test results to Musk, but this sort of anti-safety feature shows his drive is not for safety, but notoriety. If I were in your position, I'd also actively practice with family using the alternate handles from inside so it is ingrained in your mind sufficiently to recall in an emergency; I hope no one ever needs it, but... It's really too bad what he's changed into or shown himself to be; I used to really want to own a Tesla, now I would take or keep a free one.
- stetrain 1y agoI've had a Tesla for several years and am generally pretty happy with it. I don't think the fancy electronic door handles are an improvement, and am unhappy to see that other brands are following suit. If there are electronic processes that you want to trigger as the door opens, I think the better solution would be a two-stage handle that initially sends an electrical signal and then engages the mechanical latch if you continue pulling. From just a convenience perspective having to explain both the interior and exterior doorhandles to anyone riding in your car is a pain, but in the case of an accident, being submerged in water, driver incapacitation, or any other reason you need to exit the car, there should be zero ambiguity of how to do so even if the car has lost power. Obvious, intuitive, failsafe handles on the inside and outside of car doors should be industry standard.
- tasty_freeze 1y agoI was in a tesla for the first time ever about a month ago, for an uber ride. When I tried to exit that is the first thing that went through my mind -- how the hell could I figure out how to open the door in an emergency situation.
- jsbisviewtiful 1y agoThere are some dead people who wondered the same thing during the emergency that killed them.
- nwah1 1y agoIncluding Mitch McConnell's sister-in-law
- toast0 1y agoI've got a fancy new car with fancy door handles. Overall, eh. But at least mine are intuitive on the inside ish; you can push yje handle to open (when the car thinks it's safe), or you can pull twice. You have to be told you can push to open, but pull twice happens pretty easily. I don't yet know how the fail safe open works on the outside, grab and pull (pressing the button with the grab) seems to work intuitively enough for people though.
- jacobgorm 1y agoAt least they didn't the door openers on the touch screen.
- cbeach 1y agoTesla fanboy and Model S owner here. I agree, those door handles are unsafe. https://www.tesla.com/ownersmanual/2012_2020_models/en_ie/GUID-AAD769C7-88A3-4695-987E-0E00025F64E0.html https://www.tesla.com/ownersmanual/2012_2020_models/en_ie/GU... > To open a rear door in the unlikely situation when Model S has no power, fold back the edge of the carpet below the rear seats to expose the mechanical release cable. Pull the mechanical release cable toward the center of the vehicle. I have mentioned this to my family but I don't think there's any way my kids could operate these manual releases on their own, and certainly not in the heat of the moment. It gives me chills to imagine the consequences of this for my family in an accident.
- bondarchuk 1y ago>It gives me chills to imagine the consequences of this for my family in an accident. So.. get another car. Safety first.
- lawn 1y agoYou acknowledge the life-threatening danger of the cars and you still proclaim yourself as a fanboy and you're keeping the car... "Cognitive dissonance" and "cult behavior" is what comes to my mind when I read this.
- cbeach 1y agoThe car has many other safety features that make it overall one of the safest cars on the road. Teslas in general rank very well for safety: https://www.whatcar.com/news/the-safest-cars-on-sale-today/n19724 https://www.whatcar.com/news/the-safest-cars-on-sale-today/n... > Out of the 20 models tested so far in 2025, just two scored high enough marks to be included in our top 10. Most impressively, the Tesla Model 3 is now the safest new car on the market thanks to its overall score of 359 out of 400. --- > you're keeping the car... Actually I'm planning to upgrade my Model S to a Model Y. Thanks for asking!
- Symbiote 1y agoI was in a car accident age 12. Both doors on the driver's side were blocked by another vehicle, which was on fire, so my dad had to climb awkwardly through the passenger side. My door in the back was blocked, but my brother wasn't able to open his, as it was damaged. I had to kick it while pulling the handle. Good luck doing that in a Tesla.
- yobiebenjamin 1y ago[dead]
- terminalshort 1y agoI'm usually skeptical of negative headlines about Tesla as there have been so many false positives, but this one is absolutely nuts. That design seems appropriate for a piece of industrial equipment that requires training to operate, not a passenger vehicle that people just jump into without any familiarity. I'm pretty sure I would die before figuring out how to open that back door in an emergency.
- beardyw 1y ago> I'm usually skeptical of negative headlines about Tesla as there have been so many false positives I'm a bit lost in that ...
- ortusdux 1y agoReminds me of the problematic switch to electronic gear selectors. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anton_Yelchin#Lawsuit_and_recalls https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anton_Yelchin#Lawsuit_and_reca...
- ModernMech 1y agoRetractable door handles are the same disease that caused touch screens in infotainment consoles infecting the rest of the car.
- PhotonHunter 1y agoBack in the glory days of Mercedes, they proudly advertised how their pull-style door handles were a safety feature intended to make it easier for rescuers to open doors from the outside: http://oudemercedesbrochures.nl/Images/W126/USA_1990/016.jpg http://oudemercedesbrochures.nl/Images/W126/USA_1990/016.jpg Alas, “build the best car you can” wasn’t compatible with long-term viability. Something engineering-driven companies seem to keep encountering. The whole brochure is an neat time capsule to browse through: http://oudemercedesbrochures.nl/W126_USA1990.html http://oudemercedesbrochures.nl/W126_USA1990.html
- ncr100 1y agoWhen I was in human computer interaction class in the 90s, one self-stated German student was fixated on how German car handles have a ring shape to help with opening car doors in emergencies. It was kind of shocking because he was just going full zealot, in a class in Oregon United States. The attitude was really toxic to the class. The student was trying to drum up philosophical support for all or nothing thinking, as I look back. A way to kind of circumvent a more nuanced judgment, which I think the teacher intended to convey as the whole point of the class. And the teacher did not like it at all, and she kicked him out. It was an educational moment for me, to see clashing philosophies and power all mixed in the same adult circumstance.
- margalabargala 1y ago> Alas, “build the best car you can” wasn’t compatible with long-term viability. Something engineering-driven companies seem to keep encountering. Is it actually incompatible with long term viability? Or does it just create an unstable state where the temptation to gut the reputation for immediate profit grows as the size of that profit grows?
- PhotonHunter 1y agoIt's an interesting question for sure! Yes, I'd argue it is incompatible, at least for companies dealing with atoms. At some point, the technology lead erodes, "not bad" becomes good enough, and mature businesses are unable to adapt while maintaining engineering at the center. Technology development at the frontier is too irregular to rely on for the long-term.
- neuroelectron 1y agoI can't think of a reason to build these stupid door handles unless the intention is to actually trap people inside your vehicle
- stronglikedan 1y agoThat is not something that I would personally admit to, but you do you.
- neuroelectron 1y agoEnjoy your death trap
- BurningFrog 1y agoAs a new Tesla model Y owner I'm very happy with the car. But I agree that this is madness! I'm not too concerned with opening from the outside, but opening from the inside has to be a simple thing that works in all situations, even for first time passengers!
- Twistyfiasco 1y agoA good reason to care about accessing the car from the outside with and without power is if say you left your dog or child in it with 'dog mode' running and it stops for whatever reason. It'd be nice if you or any passerby could easily open the door without any thought don't you think?
- BurningFrog 1y agoIn that specific situation, yes. But it would also make car breakins trivially easy, and I don't think people would accept that tradeoff.
- lefrenchy 1y agoI actually got stuck in my parent's Tesla with them in the car on a really hot day. The car battery died and so we were stuck in the car because it was bricked. I understand there are mechanical latches to open the doors in that case, but I didn't know that at the time. In the heat of the moment and the panic, it was really hard to figure that out. We ended up contacting Tesla service, but I can imagine it would have been even more terrifying and risky if we were outside cell service. It's just poor design.
- JeremyHerrman 1y agobloomberg had an article last week which has a nice overview of how to manually open doors from inside teslas without power: https://www.bloomberg.com/features/2025-tesla-dangerous-doors/ https://www.bloomberg.com/features/2025-tesla-dangerous-door... Unpaywalled: https://archive.ph/QCuQJ https://archive.ph/QCuQJ Screenshots of instructions: https://imgur.com/a/96ckdjv https://imgur.com/a/96ckdjv
- beej71 1y agoFor me the safety factor easily outweighs anything else. Give me mechanical door handles, please. I was bummed to hear the new leaf was going this way.