All articles tagged with #door handles
China’s MIIT announced that all EVs sold in the country must have mechanical door releases, banning flush-mounted/hidden handles (a Tesla-era design) starting January 2027. The rule targets safety concerns about people getting trapped by electronic door systems and follows data suggesting hidden handles were common in China’s NEV market in 2025; it comes as US investigations into Tesla’s door mechanisms continue.
China will prohibit hidden exterior door handles on all cars sold domestically, making it the first country to do so. The new rules require a mechanical release for both exterior and interior door handles, with exterior handles operable from any angle and interior handles clearly visible, and they apply to all automakers (including Tesla and other Chinese brands like Xiaomi and Aion). The policy, citing safety and post-accident accessibility concerns, takes effect on January 1, 2027.
Volvo’s EX60 uses shark-fin exterior door handles with an integrated electronic release and a mechanical backup in the same motion, paired with two DC-DC converters so the 12-volt system stays powered for emergency operations even after a crash. The design ensures doors can be opened electrically or mechanically as needed, addressing ongoing safety concerns about power-door handles and highlighting Volvo’s emphasis on redundancy for safe exits.
The NHTSA has launched an investigation into approximately 179,000 Tesla Model 3 vehicles from 2022 over concerns that the emergency door handles are hidden and not intuitive, potentially hindering escape during emergencies, especially after a reported fire incident. This follows previous safety concerns and incidents involving Tesla vehicles, including crashes and trapped occupants in fires.
The NHTSA has launched an investigation into Tesla's Model 3 doors after a consumer petition claimed the manual release is not intuitive in emergencies, raising safety concerns especially after incidents where doors failed to open during crashes. The probe focuses on 179,071 vehicles and follows previous safety issues with Tesla's door handles and emergency features. Tesla is exploring improvements to its door mechanisms amid ongoing safety scrutiny.
Tesla faces a lawsuit over its 2016 Model S door handle design, which allegedly trapped occupants after a crash, amid broader scrutiny and investigations into Tesla's safety features and door handle design, especially following recent accidents and regulatory reviews.
Proposed regulations in China could require Tesla to redesign its iconic flush door handles, posing a significant challenge due to the short timeline for implementation and the technical complexity involved.
Two families are suing Tesla after a crash involving a Cybertruck that resulted in the deaths of three teens, blaming the vehicle's door handle design for trapping passengers inside and contributing to their deaths from smoke inhalation and burns. The lawsuit highlights issues with Tesla's electronic and manual door releases, especially in emergency situations, and raises concerns about vehicle safety and design choices. Tesla is investigating and redesigning its door handles amid regulatory scrutiny.
The family of a woman who died in a Tesla Cybertruck fire is suing Tesla, alleging that defective electronic door handles trapped her inside after a crash, contributing to her death from smoke inhalation and burns. The lawsuit claims Tesla knew of the risks but continued to sell the vehicles, and highlights concerns about the vehicle's design and safety features. An investigation by NHTSA is ongoing, and Tesla is working on a redesign of the door handles.
The family of a California teenager who died in a Cybertruck crash is suing Tesla, alleging that the vehicle's door handle design prevented her from escaping the fire, contributing to her death from smoke inhalation and burns. The lawsuit criticizes Tesla's reliance on electronic door handles without manual overrides, raising safety concerns amid ongoing investigations and previous safety issues with Tesla vehicles.
Tesla is redesigning its frameless door handles with an integrated electronic and manual release button to improve safety after reports of people, including children, getting trapped due to electronic failure, prompting an NHTSA investigation.
Tesla is redesigning its electronic door handles to make them more intuitive and safer, especially in panic situations, in response to safety investigations and potential regulatory changes in China. The new design will combine electronic and manual release mechanisms into a single button, addressing safety concerns raised by recent incidents.
Tesla is redesigning its door handles to combine electronic and manual release mechanisms for improved safety and ease of use, following scrutiny over incidents where handles failed during power loss, with investigations by US regulators into potential defects.
Tesla is redesigning its door handles to prevent trapping people inside after safety concerns and an NHTSA investigation into handle failures, which have led to owners being locked out or needing to break windows. The new design aims to combine electronic and manual unlocking into a single, more accessible button.
Tesla is under investigation by the NHTSA for potentially faulty electronic door handles that can trap occupants, especially children, inside vehicles due to low-voltage battery issues, with the focus on Model Y SUVs and concerns over safety and manual override accessibility.