Tesla Door Handle Redesign After Safety Probe | Bloomberg Investigation

Tesla Addresses Door Handle Concerns

Tesla is currently developing a redesign of its door handle mechanism. This adjustment aims to mitigate the risk of occupants becoming trapped within the vehicle, as stated by chief designer Franz von Holzhausen in a recent interview with Bloomberg News.

NHTSA Investigation and Safety Reports

This development follows closely on the heels of a probe initiated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) into Tesla’s door handles. The investigation was launched just one day after a Bloomberg News report brought attention to numerous cases of owners and passengers being unable to exit their cars after an accident.

According to Bloomberg, the timing of Tesla’s decision to re-evaluate its door handle design remains unspecified.

Regulatory Pressure and Design Challenges

China has already begun urging automotive manufacturers to reconsider the implementation of fully concealed door handles due to safety considerations. However, the nation’s primary regulatory body has yet to finalize any official actions.

Two primary issues have been identified with Tesla’s current door handle system. Firstly, the use of electronic locks can render them inoperable if the car’s battery system loses power. Secondly, the manual door releases, while present, are often obscured and challenging to locate in emergency situations.

Proposed Solution

“Integrating the electronic and manual release mechanisms into a single, unified button appears to be a logical step,” von Holzhausen explained to Bloomberg. “This is an area we are actively pursuing.”

Investigation Details and Owner Complaints

The NHTSA initiated its investigation on Tuesday after receiving nine reports from Tesla owners detailing failures with their door handles. In four instances, owners were forced to break a window to regain access to their vehicles.

Emergency Procedures and Battery Warnings

Tesla’s owner’s manuals provide guidance on utilizing an external power source to reactivate electronic door locks in the event of a power failure, as highlighted by both NHTSA and Bloomberg. However, the NHTSA’s initial report indicates that none of the complainants received low-voltage battery warnings prior to the issue, suggesting they were unaware of the underlying cause.

This lack of warning potentially hindered their ability to address the problem before becoming stranded.