NHTSA Rulemaking Puts Tesla-Style Door Handles Under Review
U.S. regulators have begun a formal process that could lead to new safety requirements for automotive door handles. The goal is to reduce the risk of drivers and passengers becoming trapped when electronically operated doors lose power.
The current rules leave a gap. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 206, which covers door locks, latches, hinges, and related retention components, does not currently set requirements for the labeling, location, or visibility of mechanical emergency door releases. The agency is considering whether a broader standard is needed for occupants who must leave a vehicle during a power failure. Read FMVSS No. 206.
The process began with a Tesla Model 3 petition. Kevin Clouse filed petition DP25-002 on Nov. 7, 2025. The petition concerned the emergency mechanical door-release design in 2022 Tesla Model 3 vehicles and referenced roughly 179,031 subject vehicles. NHTSA’s July 24, 2026 Federal Register notice, docket NHTSA-2026-1553, describes the agency’s decision and the next steps. Read the notice.
NHTSA rejected a defect investigation but opened the door to rulemaking. The agency denied the request to open a safety defect investigation under DP25-002. It also granted a request to begin rulemaking for what the notice describes as a “robust and obvious door egress system in all motor vehicles.” That wording describes a possible future requirement, not a rule that automakers must follow today.
There is no proposed standard yet. NHTSA said that granting a rulemaking petition “is not a decision by NHTSA to issue a new safety standard, but commences the process of gathering input to make an informed decision.” As of the July 24 notice, the agency had not issued an advance notice of proposed rulemaking or a notice of proposed rulemaking. It plans to gather more information and solicit public comments before deciding whether a new safety standard is appropriate under the Vehicle Safety Act.
Earlier Tesla complaints help explain the concern. In September 2025, NHTSA opened a preliminary evaluation involving about 174,000 Tesla Model Y vehicles after reports that electronic door handles could fail following a loss of low-voltage power. The source material also notes nine owner reports involving people who could not get into their vehicles, sometimes with children still inside. Bloomberg separately reported incidents in which occupants became trapped after crashes. Tesla vehicles have manual interior releases, but those releases are located inside the vehicle.
Automakers are already adjusting some designs. Tesla designer Franz von Holzhausen said the company was working on a door-handle redesign. Rivian said it was changing the interior door-handle design on its R2 SUV so the manual release would sit in a more visible location, closer to the electrically powered handle. These company responses are not the same as a federal requirement.
What this means when you shop. If you own or are considering a vehicle with flush or electronic door handles, learn how its mechanical emergency release works before an emergency occurs. Look for a release that is clearly visible and easy to identify, especially for passengers in the rear seats. Until NHTSA decides whether to issue a new standard, that small check can help you choose a vehicle with a more understandable escape path during a crash or electrical failure.
