Concerns over electric car door safety have moved from consumer complaints to the halls of Congress. On January 6, U.S. Representative Robin Kelly introduced the Securing Accessible Functional Emergency Exit Act, better known as the SAFE Exit Act. The proposed legislation follows investigative reporting by Bloomberg, which uncovered a troubling pattern of electrically operated vehicle doors failing to open after crashes, allegedly trapping occupants inside.
At the center of the debate is Tesla, whose minimalist, electronically actuated door systems have been linked to multiple incidents involving power loss after collisions. According to the reporting cited by lawmakers, at least 15 deaths may be associated with doors that could not be opened in emergencies.
What the SAFE Exit Act Proposes
The SAFE Exit Act would direct the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to establish clear performance and labeling standards for electric door systems. This is a regulatory gap that currently exists in federal motor vehicle safety rules.
Under the proposal, automakers would be required to:
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Install intuitive, easy-to-find manual door releases for every door
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Clearly label emergency release mechanisms inside the vehicle
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Provide a reliable way for first responders to access vehicles when electrical power is lost
The bill gives the Department of Transportation two years after passage to finalize new standards. Automakers would then have an additional two years to bring vehicles into compliance.
“This Is a Safety Failure”
Representative Kelly has been blunt in her criticism. In a statement accompanying the bill, she argued that style and cost-cutting should never outweigh human life. She framed the issue not as a technological growing pain, but as a fundamental safety breakdown when occupants cannot escape a vehicle during fires or crashes.
While Tesla was named in the bill’s introductory remarks, the language itself applies broadly to all “motor vehicles,” ensuring the rules would cover both electric and non-electric cars that rely on powered door systems.
Growing Support From Consumers and Advocates
Momentum behind the legislation appears to be building. More than 35,000 consumers have signed a petition urging stronger safeguards for electric doors. Consumer Reports has publicly backed the measure, emphasizing that seconds matter in emergencies and that electronic systems can fail when power is compromised.
Consumer safety advocates point out that the solution is simple: mechanical backups that work regardless of battery status. Similar rules were enacted in China last year, targeting flush-mounted, electrically operated door handles increasingly common on luxury vehicles and EVs.
Tesla’s Design Under Scrutiny
Tesla vehicles do include manual door releases, but critics argue they are often hidden or unintuitive. Some Model 3 and Model Y variants reportedly lack rear manual releases altogether, while others conceal them behind speaker grilles or under floor mats. NHTSA has previously investigated Tesla’s door systems, including a 2025 probe into Model Y failures linked to loss of 12-volt power after crashes.
Tesla has said it is developing a new door handle design combining mechanical and electronic functions. Whether that redesign arrives before Congress acts remains uncertain. What is clear is that electric car door safety is no longer a niche concern. It is now a legislative priority, and the outcome could reshape vehicle design standards across the industry.
