The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has initiated a defect petition to examine the emergency egress controls in the 2022 Tesla Model 3. This action follows reports that the mechanical door releases are difficult to locate and lack clear identification. The agency will evaluate whether these design elements pose a safety risk during emergency situations.
Highlights
- Defect Petition Opened: NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) began the evaluation on December 23, 2025.
- Safety Concern: The petition alleges that mechanical door releases are hidden, unlabeled, and non-intuitive.
- Affected Vehicles: The current scope of the investigation focuses on the 2022 Tesla Model 3.
- Regulatory Goal: The agency will determine if a formal defect investigation is warranted based on accessibility standards.
Investigation Details and Egress Standards
The investigation, identified as NHTSA Action Number DP25002, focuses specifically on the vehicle’s “Structure” components. The petition was filed on November 24, 2025, after concerns were raised regarding the difficulty of exiting the vehicle if electronic systems fail.
Key Technical Allegations
The petitioner argues that the current design fails to meet basic expectations for emergency operation. Specific points of concern include:
- Visibility: The mechanical release mechanisms are not readily visible to occupants.
- Labeling: There is a lack of clear signage or icons indicating the manual override.
- Intuition: The placement of the release does not follow standard automotive egress patterns.
Potential Regulatory Outcomes
The ODI is currently in the “Petition” phase. During this period, the agency reviews technical data and consumer complaints to determine if a safety-related defect exists. If the petition is granted, it will lead to a Preliminary Evaluation (PE), which could eventually result in a safety recall.
Next Steps for NHTSA
The agency will likely request information from Tesla regarding the design logic and testing of the 2022 Model 3 egress systems. Stakeholders can track the progress of this case under ODI number 11698174 on the official NHTSA.gov website.
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