Key Takeaways
1. The NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation is examining the Tesla Model Y SUV due to complaints about door handle malfunctions from nine owners.
2. Some incidents involved parents who couldn’t open back doors to access their children, leading to dangerous situations where windows had to be broken.
3. Initial findings suggest that electronic door locks may fail if the battery voltage is low, but owners reported no warnings about low battery.
4. The investigation affects approximately 174,000 2021 Tesla Model Y vehicles in the U.S., following reports of electronic door handle issues.
5. While there is a manual door override feature, it can only be activated from inside the car, and owners must be aware of it to use it.
The NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has started looking into the Tesla Model Y SUV following complaints from nine owners who said they couldn’t get into their cars because of the door handle issues.
Safety Concerns for Parents
ODI reported that some of these incidents involved parents who were unable to open the back doors to get to their children after leaving the vehicle. In some cases, owners had to break a window to get their kids out.
Findings on Door Lock Malfunctions
Initial investigations by ODI show that the electronic door locks in the Model Y might not work properly if the battery doesn’t provide enough voltage. However, the owners who complained didn’t mention getting any warnings about a low-voltage battery.
The Preliminary Evaluation (PE) from ODI aims to “examine the extent and seriousness of this issue, along with the dangers that come from the problems noted in the VOQs.” It will also “evaluate how Tesla supplies power to the door locks and the dependability of the relevant power supplies.”
Impact on Tesla Model Y Owners
This investigation is specifically looking at the 2021 Tesla Model Y and impacts around 174,000 vehicles in the United States. The inquiry follows a report from Bloomberg discussing possible electronic door handle issues.
While it’s technically feasible to provide power to the Tesla door locks again, the method isn’t very simple and needs an outside power source. The company does offer a manual door override feature, but it can only be used from inside the car, and owners must know about it to use it.
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