NHTSA probing 174,000 Tesla Model Ys over door handle malfunction

The NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has opened a probe into the Tesla Model Y SUV after nine owners complained that the door handle prevented them from accessing their car.

According to ODI, the incidents involved parents being unable to open the rear doors to reach their children after exiting the cabin. In half of the cases, the owners had to break a window to retrieve their kids.

Preliminary findings by ODI reveal that the Model Y’s electronic door locks can malfunction if the battery system does not supply enough voltage. However, ODI noted that the complainers did not report receiving a low-voltage battery warning.

The Preliminary Evaluation (PE) by ODI will “assess the scope and severity of this condition, including the risks that arise from the conditions reported in the VOQs.” It will also “assess the approach used by Tesla to supply power to the door locks and the reliability of the applicable power supplies.”

ODI’s investigation is focused on the 2021 Tesla Model Y, and affects about 174,000 units in the US. The probe comes on the heels of Bloomberg’s report on the potential problems with electronic door handles.

While it is possible to repower Tesla door locks, the process is not straightforward and requires an external power source. The carmaker also includes a manual door override function, but the feature is only accessible from inside the vehicle, provided owners are aware of it.