When Elon Musk’s newly created Department of Government Efficiency began cutting into the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) earlier this year, many assumed the move would weaken the regulator’s hand against Tesla. But despite Musk’s sometimes-cozy ties to the Trump administration, NHTSA has signaled it still has teeth. The agency announced this week that it has launched a formal safety investigation into the door handles of the Tesla Model Y after multiple complaints of children and pets becoming trapped inside the vehicles.
The Door Handle Problem
At the heart of the issue is Tesla’s reliance on its 12-volt battery system to power the flush, retractable door handles. When that system fails, the doors cannot be opened from the outside. For first responders, this has proven fatal in past incidents where occupants were trapped inside burning vehicles.
While front seat passengers in most Tesla models have easy access to emergency releases inside the car, rear-seat passengers face a different reality. Some older Model 3 and Y vehicles lack a straightforward manual release mechanism for the back doors. In newer versions, the release is hidden beneath a panel under the rear seat, hardly intuitive in an emergency.
Bloomberg Report Raises Alarm
The timing of NHTSA’s probe comes just a week after a detailed Bloomberg investigation by reporter Dana Hull reignited public scrutiny over Tesla’s design choices. Hull highlighted not only the risks of battery-dependent door handles but also Tesla’s limited safeguards when the system fails. Her reporting underscored how quickly a power outage could turn into a life-threatening situation, especially for children strapped into car seats or pets left inside on hot days.
Complaints From Owners
According to NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation, nine complaints have been filed by owners of the 2021 Model Y. These describe situations where the 12-volt system failed while a child or dog was inside the car. In four of those cases, the only way to free the trapped passenger was to smash a window.
The agency stressed a troubling detail: none of the owners reported receiving a low-voltage warning light before the failure occurred. Without a warning, drivers had little chance to act before the doors became inoperable.
Emergency Access Challenges
NHTSA also criticized Tesla’s workaround for restarting a car with an external 12-volt power source. The process requires applying voltage to two separate points on the vehicle’s exterior—something far from practical for most owners and unlikely to be common knowledge in an emergency.
Even when manual releases are available, the agency noted, young children may not be able to locate or operate them without adult assistance. This leaves parents in potentially dangerous situations where every second counts.
What Comes Next
The investigation is still in its early stages, and no recall has been ordered yet. NHTSA will review whether Tesla’s design poses an unreasonable risk to safety and could compel the automaker to modify its vehicles or issue a recall.
For Tesla, the probe comes at a delicate moment. The company is under pressure to maintain production momentum while defending its reputation for innovation. For regulators, the case is a test of whether safety can still stand firm against political headwinds and corporate influence.
