Tesla intends to revamp door handles due to an ongoing inquiry by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
In a move aimed at enhancing the reliability of its vehicles, especially in emergency situations, Tesla is redesigning its door handles. This development comes in response to a U.S. federal investigation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and a series of consumer complaints about Model Y vehicles.
The investigation focuses on the reliability of Tesla's approach to powering its locks and latches in emergency situations, with nine consumer complaints detailing instances where doors failed to open, potentially trapping children inside. In some cases, drivers have had to break windows to regain access when electronic handles stopped functioning.
Currently, Tesla vehicles offer two ways to open a door from inside: electronically and mechanically. However, the mechanical release is only recommended in emergency situations as the window does not lower, increasing the potential for damage.
To address these concerns, Tesla is merging the electronic and manual release mechanisms into a single, simplified control. This redesign aims to make exits easier, especially in a panic situation. The emergency releases for the driver and front passenger are easily accessible near the window controls.
For rear passengers, the location of the mechanical release is less intuitive, located under a cover in the door pocket. Despite this, the redesign is part of Tesla's ongoing efforts to improve the reliability of its vehicles, particularly in response to criticism over its electronic door handles.
Franz von Holzhausen, the company's chief designer, revealed this news on Bloomberg's Hot Pursuit podcast. He also mentioned that Tesla is currently studying the details of the redesign of its door handles in China, with a promise that "We'll have a really good solution for that." However, von Holzhausen did not provide a timeline for when the redesigned door handles might make it into production.
The redesign of the rear door emergency release was already introduced in 2022 to make it easier to access. The combination of electronic and manual release mechanisms is aimed at making exits easier, especially in a panic situation.
It's important to note that there is no information in the provided search results about the person coordinating the revision of Tesla vehicle door handle systems. The NHTSA has opened a probe into approximately 174,000 Model Y vehicles from the 2021 model year due to complaints about doors failing to open after the vehicle loses power.
This redesign marks a significant step forward in Tesla's commitment to ensuring the safety and reliability of its vehicles, particularly in emergency situations. As always, the company continues to innovate and improve, aiming to provide the best possible experience for its customers.
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