① The U.S. auto safety regulator said Wednesday it has launched an investigation into Tesla. A defect investigation has been launched for the Model 3 due to potential issues with the mechanical door unlocking mechanism, which may be difficult to operate or recognize in emergency situations; this investigation involves more than 179,000 2022 Tesla Model 3 vehicles; this investigation is the latest example of safety regulators reviewing the doors of Tesla electric vehicles.
On Wednesday local time, the U.S. auto safety regulator said it had launched an investigation into Tesla. A defect investigation has been launched for the Model 3 compact sedan because the vehicle's mechanical door unlocking mechanism may be difficult to operate or recognize in emergency situations .
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) stated that the investigation involves more than 179,000 2022 Tesla Model 3 vehicles .
The investigation was launched on December 23 after regulators received a defect complaint alleging that the mechanical door unlocking mechanism of the vehicle in question was poorly designed, unmarked, and difficult to locate intuitively in an emergency.
Tesla vehicles primarily rely on electronic door locking systems, using buttons rather than traditional mechanical door handles to open the doors.
Although Tesla equips its vehicles with manual door unlocking devices for emergency or power outage scenarios, experts have long argued that these mechanical unlocking devices are inadequate in terms of visibility, clarity of markings, and ease of operation, especially for rear passengers.
Just last month, Tesla was sued over a serious crash involving a Model S sedan in Wisconsin that killed all five passengers. The crash allegedly resulted in a design flaw that prevented passengers from opening the luxury sedan's doors. He was trapped inside the car and died because of the car door.
It should be noted that a regulatory agency's acceptance of a defect complaint does not equate to the issuance of a recall order, but it marks the first step in the regulatory review process. If a safety-related defect is confirmed, further action may be taken.
This investigation is the latest in a series of reviews by safety regulators regarding the doors of Tesla electric vehicles . The NHTSA has reportedly previously investigated a door lock issue in the 2021 Tesla Model Y, which prevented some passengers from exiting the vehicle.
Tesla's chief designer, Franz von Holzhausen, said in September that the automaker was redesigning its door handles. Last week, the company launched a new safety page on its website that mentions the door handles will automatically unlock in the event of a collision.
(Article source: CLS)
