A defective Tesla car door could lead to stricter rules for everyone

Tesla’s electronic door handles, which have been linked to several deaths, could lead to stricter safety rules for the entire auto industry.

In a memo published todayThe National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said complaints about Tesla’s mechanical door opener do not warrant an investigation into the defect. Instead, the issue would be better addressed by creating broader rules that would “enforce a robust and clear door exit system for all cars,” the safety regulator said. If finalized, all new vehicles will be subject to the new requirements.

Tesla’s door handles, which are electronically operated and sit level with the car, have been used to improve aerodynamics Associated with several incidents Where people were trapped inside their cars. In several incidentsTesla passengers who survived the initial crash later suffered serious injuries or died after becoming trapped inside a burning car.

The Chinese government banned electronic door handles for safety reasons earlier this year. NHTSA has investigated cases in which Tesla handles became inoperable as a result of low-voltage battery problems.

The notice was published after Kevin Close, a Silicon Valley engineer, filed a petition requesting an investigation into the defect to address allegations that “the emergency exit controls for the mechanical door opener are not easily accessible and clearly identifiable.” Close filed the petition after experiencing a door malfunction during an accident:

The petitioner stated that after the head-on collision, the 2022 Tesla Model 3 suffered a complete loss of electrical power and caught fire. Due to the power outage, the electric door handles became inoperative. Petitioner stated that he was unable to locate the mechanical door handle, which forced him to climb into the back seat and exit the vehicle through the rear passenger window.

NHTSA denied the petition, but said broader rules were warranted.

However, don’t expect any immediate changes to the rules for electronic door handles. The rulemaking process can take an average of two to five years, meaning any new requirements are unlikely to appear until 2030 or later. The auto industry is also known to strongly oppose new rules that impose additional costs, as it has A new proposal would require more powerful automatic emergency braking. Congress has also weighed in, introducing legislation that would require manual door unlocking in new cars and means for first responders to access vehicles when power goes out.

Last year, Tesla said it would redesign its electronic door handles, although it did not specify a timeline. in Interview with BloombergTesla design chief Franz von Holzhausen said the company is looking to make the handles more accessible for passengers in a “panic situation.”

This is cold consolation to the families of the victims who have already lost their lives. Andrew McDevitt, who represents families in two fatal cases involving Tesla vehicles, called on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to move quickly during the rulemaking process to develop and implement new federal safety standards to protect future vehicle occupants.

“Since the launch of the Model S, Tesla has received repeated reports from consumers that its doors trap occupants in every situation from supermarket parking lots to serious accidents,” McDevitt said in a statement. “It is difficult to understand how Tesla continues to justify launching such dangerously designed vehicles. These families deserve justice, and we will continue to pursue their cases in court.”