New Rules Could Force Tesla to Redesign Its Door Handles. That's Harder Than It Sounds

"Car door handles seem innocuous. Tesla's electronic, retractable ones-since imitated by plenty of global automakers-have become a symbol of the automaker's willingness to work from design-first principles, reimagining what the car of the future might look like, electric-style. But in September, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration launched an investigation into the Tesla 2021 Model Y's door handles. More than 140 consumers have complained to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) about the door handles, according to a Bloomberg report published last month."

"Drivers alleged the handles have gotten stuck or malfunctioned, especially when cars' low-voltage batteries failed. Government filings highlight parents' reports that their children were trapped inside their vehicles, unable to find or activate rear-door mechanical releases, after their adults exited the car. At least four alleged the need to "break a window to regain entry into the vehicle," according to the agency. Tesla has since promised to redesign the handles."

"At least four alleged the need to "break a window to regain entry into the vehicle," according to the agency. Tesla has since promised to redesign the handles. On Friday, the family members of two California teenagers who died after the Cybertruck they were riding in caught fire in a crash sued the automaker, alleging that Tesla knew about the difficulties of manually opening its doors before the teenagers were trapped inside."

Flush electronic retractable door handles have become a prominent automotive design feature, led by Tesla and adopted by other automakers. Multiple consumers complained about Tesla Model Y door-handle malfunctions, prompting a September NHTSA investigation and reports that low-voltage failures left handles stuck. Parents reported children trapped inside vehicles and at least four people said they had to break windows to regain entry. Tesla promised to redesign the handles. Family members of two teenagers who died in a Cybertruck fire sued Tesla, alleging prior knowledge of manual-opening difficulties. China proposed rules requiring mechanical interior and exterior release handles.

Read at WIRED