NHTSA Is Weighing New Door Handle RegulationsHyundaiAfter several high-profile crashes involving doors getting stuck closed, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is starting the process to see if new safety standards are warranted, as reported by Bloomberg.This action comes after a petition to look into whether the doors on the 2022 Tesla Model 3 adhered to already existing standards.Both Tesla and Rivian have recently announced their intent to redesign aspects of how their door handles function.Up until the age of the mass-production electric vehicle, door handles were essentially a solved problem. If you bought a Honda Accord, you got an easy-to-use pull-style handle. If you could afford a Mercedes G-Class, you got something that made a satisfyingly chunky click. If you bought a first-generation Dodge Viper, well, you didn't get any exterior door handles at all.However, somewhere along the line, automotive designers decided that the tiny increment of additional aerodynamic advantage provided by a flush door handle was worth the complexity. Tesla led the way, and others followed, which is why you now have to roll down the window when you're picking someone up from the airport and explain how your passenger can get in.Many modern EVs, such as the Tesla Model 3, feature flush door handles.Marc Urbano - Car and DriverPerhaps a slight nuisance, but you soon learn your new car's secret handshake, and it becomes second nature. The bigger problem is that designing these flush door handles often requires eliminating old-fashioned mechanical connections for electrically-operated systems.AdvertisementAdvertisementThis, too, would be something that people would eventually not even notice, were it not for several public failures with serious consequences. According to reporting from Bloomberg late last year, as many as fifteen people have died in crashes in Teslas where doors wouldn't open.This sounds terrifying, and a petition was submitted to the NHTSA to look into the defect. Specifically, it asked the NHTSA to examine the emergency operation on the 2022 Tesla Model 3, arguing that it didn't comply with existing federal standards.The NHTSA has now denied that petition, but is moving forward with developing new rules and requirements around occupant safety in vehicles. These won't be specific to Tesla, but will apply to all automakers certifying cars for sale in the US.Andi Hedrick - Car and DriverThe NHTSA has its own investigation into Tesla, although that one is related to complaints about not being able to get into the car. In some cases, these included situations where a child or elderly family member was trapped inside. Last year, Tesla's lead designer Franz von Holzhausen indicated that the company was reworking its door handle designs.AdvertisementAdvertisementHaving rules in place seems all kinds of sensible for consumer safety, but questions remain. How long will it take for these rules to go into place, and how effectively will they be enforced? The automotive industry is in a chaotic and uncertain place at present, and the NHTSA's move towards information gathering with a view to rule-making is a lengthy process.➡️ Skip the lot. Let Car and Driver help you find your next car.Shop New Cars Shop Used CarsYou Might Also LikeGift Guide: Best Ride-On Electric Cars for KidsFuture Cars Worth Waiting For: 2025–2029