Tesla Owner Could Not Find the Emergency Door Release — Now Authorities Demand Explanations from the Company

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) launched an investigation after a complaint by a Tesla Model 3 owner who could not use the emergency mechanical door release after an accident.

What is Known

The reason for the inspection was an appeal to the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) registered under number 11698174. In it, the owner of a 2022 Tesla Model 3 describes a frontal collision in Georgia, after which the car lost power. The electric door locks stopped working, and a fire started in the cabin.

According to the applicant, they were trapped inside the car and had to climb into the back seat and break the rear side window to get out. As a result, they sustained serious injuries, including a fractured hip and arm, and later required joint replacement surgery.

Based on this appeal, the NHTSA launched a preliminary investigation affecting 179,071 Tesla Model 3 cars of the 2022 model year. However, the agency emphasizes that the start of an investigation does not automatically mean a recall of cars. At this stage, the regulator is assessing whether the incident is related to a design defect, inadequate labeling or owner information, or a combination of a stressful situation and human factor.

Tesla equips the Model 3 with a mechanical emergency front door release built into the armrest. To use it, simply pull on the top of the armrest, without removing panels or applying significant force. However, the owner claims they were unaware of its existence. According to them, the release is not visibly marked, not explained during vehicle transfer, and is not intuitively understandable in an emergency.

Tesla notes that the emergency exit procedure is described in the user manual. Nevertheless, the incident raised a broader question about the distribution of responsibility: should the automaker make such elements as obvious as possible, or is the owner obligated to know key safety features of their car in advance.

Special attention may be given by NHTSA to the rear doors. According to the online Tesla manual, Model 3 cars produced from 2017 to 2022 do not have mechanical emergency releases for rear passengers. This means that the check may potentially go beyond the declared 179 thousand cars.

It is still unclear whether the regulator will consider such a design sufficient to compel Tesla to make refinements. Most likely, the cars met the applicable U.S. federal safety standards at the time of release. However, such complaints create reputational risks for the company, especially as earlier Tesla Model S cars had rear emergency releases, even if they were hidden under interior elements.

Source: Carscoops