The US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has rejected a petition requesting a formal defect investigation into the emergency mechanical door release system used in approximately 180,000 Tesla Model 3 vehicles.
The agency concluded that the petition did not provide enough evidence to justify opening a safety defect investigation and said the matter would instead be considered as part of a broader federal rulemaking process.
Petition Focused on Tesla Model 3 Emergency Door Release
The petition covered around 180,000 model-year 2022 Tesla Model 3 vehicles. It argued that the manual emergency door release could be difficult to locate after a crash if the vehicle lost electrical power, potentially trapping occupants inside.
According to the petition, the location and labeling of the emergency release system raised concerns during emergency situations.
NHTSA Says Rulemaking Is More Appropriate
NHTSA stated that current federal vehicle safety standards governing door locks and latches do not specifically regulate the placement or labeling of emergency mechanical door releases.
Instead of launching a defect investigation, the agency said the issue is better addressed through an ongoing regulatory review that could lead to updated national safety standards for electric vehicles.
New Safety Standards Under Consideration
The agency confirmed it has already accepted a separate petition requesting new federal rules requiring emergency door egress systems that function during electrical power failures.
As part of the rulemaking process, NHTSA plans to collect additional data, seek public feedback and determine whether new vehicle safety regulations are necessary.
Federal rulemaking can often take several years before new standards are introduced.
Tesla Door Handles Continue to Face Scrutiny
Tesla’s electronically operated door handles have received increased attention following several crashes in which occupants reportedly struggled to exit vehicles after losing electrical power.
Safety advocates have repeatedly called for clearer emergency door release systems and stronger federal standards covering electric vehicle emergency exits.
Limited Consumer Complaints Cited
NHTSA said it had identified only one consumer complaint involving a 2022 Tesla Model 3, which alleged that the emergency mechanical door release was concealed and unlabeled after a front-impact crash that resulted in a loss of electrical power.
The agency noted that the petition was based on that same incident.
Tesla has not yet publicly responded to the agency’s latest decision.
