Tesla's door handles may lead to new U.S. safety rules

U.S. regulators are initiating a new rule-making process concerning the safety of vehicle doors, following a series of incidents where individuals became trapped inside cars with flush, electronically operated door handles.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced the move in response to concerns about vehicles like Tesla's, where occupants have reportedly been unable to exit following a crash or malfunction. The agency cited both fatal and non-fatal incidents in its decision.

NHTSA decided to pursue rulemaking rather than a specific defect investigation requested for Tesla Model 3 vehicles, indicating a broader approach to address potential systemic issues across the industry. The agency stressed that commencing rulemaking does not guarantee new regulations will be adopted.

This development follows a previous NHTSA investigation opened last year into Tesla's door handles after multiple owner reports of being unable to enter their vehicles. While Tesla vehicles have manual releases inside, concerns were raised about their functionality if the vehicle's electrical system fails.