Tesla Faces Probe After Parents Claim Faulty Door Handles Trapped Kids

Tesla is being probed by U.S. regulators, after parents complained that door handles malfunctioned, and their kids couldn’t get out of the back seat of their 2021 Model Y, according to a recent report. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has opened a preliminary investigation into more than 1.74 lakh units of this midsize SUV model. This comes on the back of nine complaints that the exterior electronic door handles have stopped working, most likely because of low battery voltage. The malfunction restricts access to the rear seats, forcing parents to break vehicle windows to rescue their kids. Although there are manual interior door releases, however, there are concerns as to whether children can reach or operate them effectively.

Also Read: The Nazi Killer Car That Hitler Was Forced To Ban: The Untold Story

Safety Features And Manual Releases

Tesla cars have manual door releases inside the cabin. Regulators say these may not be accessible to or easily usable by children. The present probe has to do with the inoperability of the external door handle as against the interior release mechanism.

Design Implications

The door handle design on Tesla is electronic and flush, therefore, it heavily relies on electrical power to operate. This makes it more vulnerable to risk when there is a low voltage since the handles may not deploy or activate. Though appealing and providing benefits in terms of aerodynamics, this design could be unsafe in certain conditions.

Regulatory And Recall Risk

A recall may be instituted by NHTSA’s preliminary evaluation, if an unreasonable safety risk is determined. The body will assess power supply reliability and the scope and severity of any failure. Tesla is under several probes but specifically, this one has the potential to shape rules about door mechanisms in electric vehicles (EVs).

Also Read: Maruti Suzuki Victoris Petrol Vs Strong Hybrid: Price Comparison

What This Means For Owners And Buyers

If you plan to buy a Tesla Model Y, this probe stresses how important it is to look at the state of the low-voltage battery, and keep an eye on how well the door handles work. For passenger safety, especially for kids, it's now more vital than ever to know both the outside handle system and the inside manual release.

(With inputs from PTI)

Stay tuned to Times Now Auto for more such industry updates.