The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has initiated an investigation into Tesla’s electric door handles, which have reportedly malfunctioned, leading to instances where children became trapped inside the vehicles. This inquiry follows nine complaints concerning the handles in Tesla’s 2021 Model Y, a prominent model for the company.
In four reported incidents, car owners had to break windows to free passengers. Preliminary findings indicate that the issues may arise from inadequate voltage supply to the electric locks. The affected owners, primarily parents attempting to retrieve children from the rear seats, noted that they received no prior warnings of battery-related problems. Although the doors can be opened from the inside, young children may find it difficult to access the manual handles.
NHTSA has highlighted concerns regarding the potential for individuals to become trapped inside a vehicle under these circumstances, especially in emergencies, such as on hot days when children are left inside. The investigation will evaluate the extent of the problem and will focus on approximately 170,000 Model Y vehicles.
This inquiry marks one of several investigations NHTSA has conducted related to Tesla, which also includes scrutiny of its driver assistance systems. Concurrently, Tesla is facing challenges, such as declining electric vehicle sales and increasing competition, leading to a decrease in its market share. Recent consumer dissatisfaction linked to CEO Elon Musk’s political associations and the company’s struggle to introduce more affordable models have compounded these difficulties. According to reports, Tesla’s market share in the U.S. has dropped to its lowest level in nearly eight years.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c203q2ywn88o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss