NHTSA launches Tesla, Inc. (TSLA.US) Model 3 door safety investigation involving nearly 180,000 vehicles.

The US car safety regulatory agency announced on Wednesday that it has launched a defect investigation into Tesla, Inc.'s Model 3, citing concerns that the vehicle's emergency door opening mechanism is not easily accessible in emergencies and has unclear markings. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Defects Investigation Office stated that this investigation involves approximately 179,071 of the 2022 model year vehicles. The investigation was officially launched on December 23rd after the regulatory agency received a defect complaint, which pointed out that the mechanical door opening device in question was not only hidden in design and lacked clear labeling, but also difficult to operate quickly in emergency situations. As of now, Tesla, Inc. has not responded to the matter. It is reported that Tesla, Inc.'s vehicles mainly use an electronic door locking system, where doors are opened by a button press rather than a traditional mechanical door handle. Despite the vehicles being equipped with manual door opening devices for emergencies or power outages, experts have long pointed out the lack of visibility, clear labeling, and convenience of operation of these mechanical devices, particularly affecting rear passengers. Last month, Tesla, Inc. faced a lawsuit due to a serious accident. In a Tesla, Inc. Model S fire accident in Wisconsin, all five occupants in the vehicle perished, with the accident allegedly caused by design defects preventing the doors from opening, trapping the occupants inside. Additionally, in November last year, a Cybertruck collision and fire accident in the outskirts of San Francisco resulted in the deaths of two college students, leading their families to also file lawsuits against Tesla, Inc., claiming that a design defect in the Cybertruck's door handles trapped the two students inside the burning vehicle. It is important to note that the acceptance of defect complaints does not necessarily mean that the regulatory agency will issue a recall order, but it signifies the official start of the regulatory review process. Once safety-related defects are verified, further regulatory actions may be triggered. It is worth mentioning that NHTSA announced in September this year that, due to multiple reports of electronic door handle malfunctions, a preliminary evaluation was initiated for approximately 174,290 Model Y vehicles.