Tesla’s Electronic Doors Under Fresh Scrutiny as US Regulator Plans New Safety Rules… Here’s Why It Matters

The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has announced plans to develop new federal safety standards aimed at improving vehicle door exit systems, a move driven by growing concerns over electronic door mechanisms used in some modern vehicles, including Tesla models.

The proposed regulation would require all newly manufactured vehicles to feature a “robust and obvious” door egress system, ensuring that occupants can quickly and easily exit their vehicles during emergencies such as crashes, fires, or power failures.

Why Tesla’s Door System Is Under The Spotlight

The decision follows several reported incidents involving Tesla’s electronic door handles, which rely on vehicle power to operate. In situations where electrical power is lost, some occupants have reportedly struggled to open the doors because the manual emergency release mechanisms were either difficult to locate or not clearly identified.

According to the NHTSA, these concerns have raised questions about whether current electronic door designs provide adequate safety in emergency situations.

Model Y Investigation Highlighted Safety Concerns

In 2025, the NHTSA launched an investigation covering approximately 174,000 Tesla Model Y vehicles after receiving complaints that electronic door handles could become inoperative due to low battery voltage.

The agency said it was aware of nine reported incidents involving 2021 Model Y vehicles in which customers were unable to open the doors.

Many of the complaints involved parents who stepped out of the vehicle to place or remove a child from the rear seat but were then unable to reopen the doors because the electronic handles failed to respond.

Tesla has since been working on combined electronic and mechanical door handle systems designed to improve accessibility during emergencies.

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NHTSA Rejects Separate Model 3 Petition

Alongside its announcement, the NHTSA also confirmed that it had rejected a separate petition seeking a formal investigation into the Tesla Model 3’s emergency door release system.

The agency concluded that introducing a broader federal safety standard covering all automakers would be a more effective solution than investigating a single model. It also stated that the available evidence was unlikely to establish a specific safety defect requiring further investigation into the Model 3.

Industry-Wide Impact Expected

If finalised, the proposed federal rule would not apply exclusively to Tesla. Instead, it would establish uniform safety requirements for all automobile manufacturers selling vehicles in the United States.

The move reflects the increasing adoption of electronic systems in modern vehicles and the need to ensure that advanced technology does not compromise passenger safety during emergencies.

Automakers may be required to redesign door release mechanisms to make manual exits more visible, intuitive and reliable, even when a vehicle loses electrical power.

Tesla Shares See Positive Retail Sentiment

Despite the regulatory developments, investor sentiment surrounding Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA) remained positive.

According to retail investor platform Stocktwits, sentiment on Tesla shares improved from “neutral” to “bullish” over the past 24 hours, while discussion volume remained high, indicating sustained interest among retail investors.