"Parents Stuck Inside Tesla as Silent Battery Failures Expose Hidden Safety Flaw"

The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has initiated an investigation into approximately 174,300 Tesla Model Y vehicles from the 2021 model year, following reports of electronic door handle failures that left parents unable to access their vehicles to retrieve children from the back seat. The agency reported receiving nine incident reports, including four instances where parents had to break windows to regain entry.

According to NHTSA, the issue appears to stem from the electronic door locks receiving insufficient voltage from the vehicle’s power supply. Repair invoices from affected vehicles indicate that the low-voltage battery was replaced after such incidents occurred. However, none of the affected owners reported receiving low-voltage battery warnings prior to the door handles failing to operate. This has raised concerns over the reliability of the vehicle’s power delivery system for critical functions such as door operation.

The agency emphasized that, while Tesla vehicles include manual door releases inside the cabin, children trapped inside may not be aware of or capable of using these mechanisms, especially in emergency situations. This highlights a critical design flaw in the accessibility and user awareness of emergency features in electric vehicles. NHTSA noted that its preliminary evaluation is assessing the scope and severity of the issue, including the potential risks associated with the electronic door lock system’s failure.

The investigation is part of a broader series of safety inquiries into Tesla’s vehicle systems. In April, a college basketball recruit survived a fire in a Tesla Cybertruck by using a water bottle to douse himself as he struggled to open the door after a collision. Similarly, a lawsuit filed in Los Angeles Superior Court alleges negligence and fraud by Tesla over a design flaw that allegedly led to a driver being trapped in a burning Model 3. These cases underscore the ongoing safety concerns related to Tesla’s vehicle design and functionality.

Tesla remains under NHTSA scrutiny for multiple other features, including its “summon” technology, which has reportedly caused minor collisions in parking lots, and its driver-assistance systems. An investigation into driver-assistance features in 2.4 million Tesla vehicles was launched in 2024 following crashes in low-visibility conditions, including one involving a pedestrian fatality. The company is also facing an inquiry into its delayed reporting of crashes, which violates federal regulations.

Elon Musk, Tesla’s CEO, is under increasing pressure to address these issues, especially as recent declines in Tesla sales show no immediate signs of reversing. The company’s reputation among its core environmentally focused customer base has also been strained by Musk’s political statements supporting President Trump and far-right politicians in Europe. These developments have added pressure on Tesla to address both technical and public relations challenges.

The NHTSA investigation into the door handle issue is a preliminary step, and the agency may proceed with a recall if the defect is determined to pose an unreasonable risk to safety. For now, the agency will continue monitoring all reports of entrapment and assess Tesla’s approach to power supply reliability for the door lock systems.