feds changing door handle rules because teslas were trapping peopleThe National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has announced it will start rulemaking proceedings to establish new safety standards for vehicle doors.The decision comes after an increase in incidents where occupants became trapped inside vehicles that use flush, electronically actuated door handles following a sudden loss of battery power.The agency's Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) initially reviewed the issue through a targeted defect petition submitted in November 2025. While the agency officially decided against launching a specific investigation into the 2022 Tesla Model 3, NHTSA has now decided that the risks of entrapment from the industry-wide design trend are best managed through new Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS).feds changing door handle rules because teslas were trapping peopleThe Risk of Electronic Lock FailuresWhile popularized by Tesla, flush-mounted electronic door handles have become popular for their styling and marginal aerodynamic benefits across the industry. However, because these systems rely completely on low-voltage electrical current to trip the door latches rather than traditional bowden cables, a dead or damaged 12-volt battery can render the primary interior buttons inoperable, leaving occupants trapped.AdvertisementAdvertisementAn electrical system failure could prevent occupants or first responders from quickly opening the doors in an emergency scenario, introducing an unnecessary risk of injury or death from fire or immersion.The initial defect petition specifically alleged that the emergency backup mechanisms inside the 2022 Tesla Model 3 failed to comply with active regulations because the controls are not clearly visible. Worse, the 2022 Model 3 does not include any mechanical overrides for the rear passenger doors. It's not just the Model 3; Tesla has already been subject to lawsuits over defective Model Y door releases not functioning after a crash.feds changing door handle rules because teslas were trapping peopleUpdating Decades-Old Door Safety StandardsThe current regulations governing these systems were originally written decades ago. The standard focuses primarily on structural components-such as hinges, latches, and attachment points-to prevent passenger ejection during high-speed rollovers.The current framework doesn't actually contain any requirements regarding the visibility, placement, or labeling of emergency manual overrides.AdvertisementAdvertisementNHTSA's Office of Rulemaking intends to modernize the rules by evaluating how all automakers incorporate manual overrides. The eventual regulations are expected to mandate that mechanical backups are clearly identifiable through standard icons or text labels, highly accessible to all occupants without requiring tools, and most importantly, intuitive to operate under high-stress emergency conditions.While the formal changes will likely take several years to finalize, design teams across the industry will have to start planning immediately.