Tesla Re-thinking Door Handles After Federal Probe
Tesla Door Handles is redesigning after a federal investigation was launched. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is looking into nine complaints, four of which involved parents who had to smash windows to free their children. The issue seems to stem from a failure in the electronic handles, which can leave people unable to open the doors.
The Problem with Electronic Handles
While Tesla have a manual interior release, Tesla Door Handles levers can be difficult for many people to find and use, especially for children in a panic situation. The problem is not isolated to a single model; according to NHTSA data, there have been over 140 complaints since 2018 about doors on various Teslas malfunctioning. The redesign aims to combine the electronic and manual releases into one, more intuitive mechanism.
Pressure from Regulators and the Market
Tesla Door Handles redesign comes at a time of increased pressure on Tesla. Regulators in both the US and China are scrutinizing the safety of concealed door handles, and Tesla is already under other NHTSA probes related to its Autopilot system. These safety concerns are adding to the company’s challenges, especially as EV sales have slowed and its market share in the US has fallen to an eight-year low.
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