US agency rejects Tesla Model 3 door safety probe request

The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has denied a petition seeking ​a defect investigation into the emergency mechanical door release on about ‌180,000 Tesla Model 3 vehicles.

NHTSA said the petition did not present evidence of a likely safety-related defect warranting an investigation and that the issue would be more appropriately addressed ​through an ongoing rulemaking process.

The petition covered about 180,000 model-year 2022 ​Tesla Model 3 vehicles and alleged the manual door release was ⁠difficult to locate after a crash if the vehicle lost power, increasing ​the risk of occupants getting trapped.

Current federal safety rules governing vehicle door locks ​and latches do not address the labeling or location of emergency mechanical door releases.

The agency said it had granted a separate petition to consider whether to issue regulations to ​require an emergency door egress system to address the risk of occupant ​entrapment in vehicles during electrical power failures.

"NHTSA will gather additional information and data, and solicit ‌public ⁠comments, to determine if a rulemaking for a new safety standard is appropriate," the agency said.

NHTSA said the regulatory process rather than a defect investigation was the appropriate way to address the issue. NHTSA often takes years to ​propose and issue new ​regulations.
Tesla did not ⁠immediately respond to a request for comment.

Tesla's electronically operated door handles have faced scrutiny after several crashes in which ​occupants were reportedly unable to exit their vehicles after ​losing power, ⁠prompting broader calls for stricter federal safety standards governing emergency door releases.

The agency said it had a single consumer complaint involving a 2022 Model 3 that alleged ⁠the ​mechanical door release was concealed and unlabeled after ​the vehicle lost electrical power in a front-impact crash. The petition cited the same vehicle.

-Reuters