NHTSA Grants Petition for New Door Egress Standards After Tesla Safety Concerns

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration granted a petition Thursday to create a new Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard mandating a robust and obvious door egress system in all motor vehicles. The move follows reports that Tesla's power-dependent flush handles and poorly labeled mechanical overrides can trap occupants when vehicle power fails in crashes or fires. Last year, the NHTSA initiated a probe into about 174,000 Model Y vehicles over concerns that electronic door handles may become inoperative due to low battery voltage, with nine incidents reported where customers were unable to open doors on 2021 Model Y vehicles.

The regulator stated that the most commonly reported scenarios involving door handle issues involved parents exiting the vehicle to either remove or place a child in the back seat. In these cases, the parents were unable to reopen a door to regain access to the vehicle. Tesla has since explored combined electronic-mechanical handles. All future U.S. vehicles would face the new requirements if finalized.

NHTSA Denies Additional Tesla Model 3 Probe Request

NHTSA on Thursday also said that it has denied a separate petition seeking a probe into Tesla Model 3's emergency door releases, determining the concern is better handled through new rules applying to all cars. The agency noted that further investigation is unlikely to establish a safety defect in the vehicle.

TSLA Retail Sentiment Shifts to Bullish on Stocktwits

On Stocktwits, retail sentiment around TSLA stock rose from 'neutral' to 'bullish' in the past 24 hours, while message volume remained at 'high' levels. TSLA stock has fallen 29% year-to-date.

FAQ

What did NHTSA announce Thursday regarding Tesla vehicle doors?

NHTSA granted a petition Thursday to create a new Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard mandating a robust and obvious door egress system in all motor vehicles. The agency also denied a separate petition seeking a probe into Tesla Model 3's emergency door releases, determining the concern is better handled through new rules applying to all cars.

Why did NHTSA initiate a probe into Tesla Model Y vehicles last year?

Last year, NHTSA initiated a probe into about 174,000 Model Y vehicles over concerns that electronic door handles may become inoperative due to low battery voltage in the vehicle. The agency noted it is aware of nine incidents where customers were unable to open doors on 2021 Model Y vehicles.

How has TSLA stock performed year-to-date?

TSLA stock has fallen 29% year-to-date. On Stocktwits, retail sentiment around TSLA stock rose from 'neutral' to 'bullish' in the past 24 hours, while message volume remained at 'high' levels.