US regulators are set to develop new safety requirements for car door releases after a series of incidents — including fatalities — in which people became trapped inside vehicles fitted with flush, electronically operated handles, such as those found on Tesla models.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced it would begin a rule-making process in response to a petition calling for a defect investigation into the emergency mechanical door release on 2022 Tesla Model 3 vehicles. The petition argued the design did not comply with federal motor vehicle safety standards. NHTSA denied the request for a defect probe but said the issue would be better addressed through broader rule-making.
If adopted, any new regulations would apply to all car manufacturers, not just Tesla. However, NHTSA cautioned that commencing rule-making does not guarantee new rules will ultimately be implemented. The decision follows an earlier NHTSA investigation into Tesla’s door handles after nine reports of owners being unable to enter their cars, sometimes with children inside. Bloomberg’s own investigation previously highlighted multiple incidents where Tesla drivers and passengers were trapped after crashes.
While Tesla vehicles do include manual door releases, they are located only inside the car. NHTSA investigators found that the handles may not function if the electronic door locks receive insufficient voltage from the vehicle’s battery system. Tesla designer Franz von Holzhausen said last year that the company was working on a redesign of its door handles. Rivian also confirmed it was changing the interior door handle design on its R2 SUV to make the manual release more visible.
For UK consumers and businesses, the development carries significant implications. British car buyers are increasingly choosing electric vehicles with flush door handles, a trend that could be affected if US rules set a de facto global standard. The UK’s Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) does not directly regulate vehicle hardware, but safety standards for cars sold in Britain are closely aligned with international norms. The EU’s AI Act, meanwhile, may touch on software-driven safety features in future, though door handles are primarily a mechanical and electrical issue.
Dr. Eleanor Marsh, a transport safety researcher at the University of Birmingham, said: “This is a reminder that as cars become more automated, basic mechanical fail-safes must not be overlooked. The UK should monitor these developments closely, as our own regulations could follow suit if evidence of risk mounts.”