The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has decided to initiate a new regulation following a petition regarding whether emergency door-opening systems in 2022 Tesla Model 3 vehicles comply with federal safety standards. The requested defect investigation was denied; instead, a process to develop a general rule applicable to all automakers has been launched.
NHTSA determined that electronic door handles may fail to operate if the vehicle’s battery system does not provide sufficient voltage. This issue has led to situations where occupants were unable to exit vehicles after crashes. Although Tesla’s door handles include a manual release mechanism, it is located inside the vehicle and not visible.
Other manufacturers are also making changes. Rivian has moved the manual door release lever in its R2 SUV model to a position closer to and more visible than the electronic handles. If NHTSA adopts the new rules, all automakers will be required to comply with these standards.