Tesla will redesign exterior door handles after safety regulators complained they could become inoperative, flush-electronic handles. This is a development reported by Reuters and cited through Bloomberg in specific reference to issues with the 2021 Model Y. Owners had difficulty opening doors from the outside when the 12-volt battery was low. Numerous complaints — which include terrifying incidents wherein children got trapped inside — prompted the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to plan a redesign amid increasing regulatory scrutiny following documented cases of malfunctions.
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What Triggered The Investigation
A defect probe has been initiated by the NHTSA on over 1.74 lakh units
of the 2021 Tesla Model Y, following nine complaints filed by consumers regarding their experiences with malfunctions of exterior door handles. Most complainants said that the vehicle experienced low voltage within its electrical system but did not provide any further details. Several narrations indicated that after placing children in the back seat or opening the front door, re-entry into the car could not be attained because external handles were unresponsive. Some have narrated that they had to break windows to get back into their vehicles.
What’s The Redesign Going To Do
Franz von Holzhausen, the Chief Designer at Tesla indicated that they are currently considering options on how to redesign an electronic door handle in such a way that would also include a visible manual release, making it easier for occupants and rescuers to understand how to operate the doors, especially in case of a power failure. This may include redesigning flush door handles so that they fail safe or even more intuitive manual overrides.
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Challenges And What Owners Should Know
The interior manual door releases are standard in Tesla cars, however, reports have it that children or less informed occupants might not easily locate or operate them in cases of emergency. Also, there is no dashboard warning emanating from the door handle issue even as battery voltage drops. The probe has just gotten underway; therefore, neither recall has officially taken place yet nor has Tesla revealed just how involved the redesign will be, apart from the 2021 Model Y units.
To stay updated on this Tesla probe, keep following Times Now Auto.
