The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has launched an inquiry into reports alleging that the door handles on Tesla Model Y SUVs can fail to operate under specific conditions.
On Tuesday, the agency’s Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) announced the investigation after receiving nine complaints from individuals who were unable to access their vehicles. According to ODI, the most frequently reported situation involves parents who exit the vehicle and then cannot open the rear doors to retrieve their children.
In four of these instances, as detailed in ODI’s documentation, owners had no choice but to break a window to gain access to the car.
This investigation was initiated shortly after Bloomberg released a report examining multiple cases in which Tesla drivers and passengers were trapped in their vehicles after an accident.
ODI’s initial assessment suggests that the handles may stop functioning if the electronic door locks are not supplied with sufficient voltage from the vehicle’s battery. However, the agency’s preliminary findings also note that none of the affected owners reported seeing any low-voltage battery alerts.
Although Tesla vehicles are equipped with manual door releases, these are located inside the cabin. ODI points out that children may have difficulty reaching these releases, and some owners are reportedly unaware of their existence.
Tesla’s user manuals indicate that it is possible to restore operation to the electronic door locks, but doing so involves a complex process that requires connecting an external power supply.
Tesla did not provide a response when asked for comment.
