U.S. Regulators Probe Tesla Model 3 Over Emergency Door Release Concerns

U.S. safety regulators are investigating 179,071 Tesla Model 3 sedans from the 2022 model year following a petition by Georgia owner Kevin Clouse, who reported being trapped inside his burning vehicle. "I was forced to climb to the back seat and break the rear passenger window with my legs to escape while the interior was burning," Clouse told investigators.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's review expands ongoing scrutiny of Tesla's door mechanisms. Last September, the agency opened a separate case into Model Y SUVs after reports of children becoming trapped when the 12-volt battery failed, disabling electronic door handles.

Bloomberg's investigation reveals at least 15 fatalities over the past decade linked to malfunctioning Tesla doors post-crash. Some cases allegedly involved emergency responders struggling to open doors as vehicles caught fire. Internal documents show Model 3 engineers raised concerns about electronic handle reliability during development, with warnings reaching CEO Elon Musk.