Tesla is being investigated by US regulatory agencies for a defect in the Model 3 door unlocking system.

The Defects Investigation Office of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, a subagency of the U.S., launched an investigation into Tesla on Wednesday, stating that the mechanical door latch release mechanism of the 2022 Model 3 is difficult to locate. It is estimated that this issue affects over 179,000 vehicles. Prior to this, the office received a petition at the end of November. The office stated: "The petition pointed out that the mechanical door latch release mechanism is hidden, not labeled, and its location is not intuitive in emergency situations." The office cited a malfunction report, where one incident of malfunction resulted in a collision or fire and non-fatal injuries.