Tesla Under Investigation After Reports of Faulty Door Handles

Federal auto safety regulators have initiated an investigation into Tesla following reports of potential defects in the door handles of its vehicles, specifically the 2021 Model Y. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced the preliminary probe on March 5, 2024, after receiving nine complaints from parents indicating that their children became trapped in the rear seats due to malfunctioning electronic door handles. In some cases, parents resorted to breaking windows to free their children.

The investigation is primarily focused on the electronic door locks, which reportedly fail to operate when the vehicle experiences low battery voltage. While Tesla has included manual door releases within the cars, the NHTSA highlighted that young children may not be able to reach or operate these releases effectively. In four incidents, parents had to break windows to gain access to their trapped children.

This scrutiny follows a series of troubling incidents involving Tesla vehicles. In one notable case, Alijah Arenas, a college basketball recruit from the University of Southern California, faced a life-threatening situation in his Tesla Cybertruck after it caught fire following a collision with a tree. Arenas reported that he struggled to escape the burning vehicle as smoke filled the cabin, relying on a water bottle to stay alive until he was rescued.

The NHTSA’s investigation encompasses approximately 174,300 of the midsize SUVs. The agency aims to determine the scope and severity of the reported issues, focusing on the reliability of the power sources supplying electricity to the door locks. Available repair invoices suggest that batteries were replaced following prior incidents, yet none of the drivers reported receiving a low voltage warning before the door handles became inoperative.

In addition to this investigation, Tesla is currently under scrutiny for its “summon” technology, which allows drivers to remotely command their vehicles to navigate to their location. This feature has been linked to several minor accidents in parking lots. Furthermore, a broader probe concerning driver-assistance features in 2.4 million Teslas began last year following several crashes in low-visibility conditions, including one fatal incident involving a pedestrian.

The pressure is mounting on Elon Musk to demonstrate that Tesla’s advancements in driver-assistance technology have effectively resolved these reported issues. Musk recently promised to deploy hundreds of thousands of self-driving Teslas and robotaxis on the roads by the end of next year.

This ongoing investigation coincides with a decline in Tesla’s sales that began earlier this year. Musk’s political engagements, including support for U.S. President Donald Trump and right-wing politicians in Europe, have reportedly alienated some environmentally conscious customers.

On March 5, 2024, Tesla’s stock saw a rise of more than 2 percent, reaching USD 419.25 in afternoon trading, following news that Musk had purchased USD 1 billion worth of shares.

The NHTSA will continue to monitor incidents of entrapment and take further action as necessary, emphasizing the importance of vehicle safety and the need for reliable door mechanisms in all automobiles. The investigation into Tesla’s door handle issues is another chapter in the ongoing scrutiny of the company and its products.