Tesla Faces New Wrongful Death Suit Over Door Handles
▼ Summary
– A mother is suing Tesla over the electronic door handles of a Model Y, alleging they trapped her son inside during a fatal 2025 crash.
– The lawsuit is part of a pattern, citing at least 15 deaths since 2016 where people were trapped in Tesla vehicles by these handles.
– Federal safety regulators are investigating numerous complaints about the handles, including incidents where children were locked inside.
– China has banned electronic door handles for safety reasons, requiring mechanical releases instead.
– Tesla is redesigning the handles to combine electronic and manual release mechanisms, following over 140 US reports of doors getting stuck since 2018.
The mother of a young man who perished in a fiery Tesla Model Y crash has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the automaker, focusing on its controversial electronic door handles. This legal action represents the latest in a series of cases and customer complaints regarding the handles, which are now under formal investigation by federal safety regulators. The incident adds to growing scrutiny over whether the sleek, flush-mounted design prioritizes aesthetics over practical safety in emergency situations.
According to the lawsuit, 20-year-old Samuel Tremblett was unable to escape his Model Y after it crashed into a tree in Easton, Massachusetts, on October 29, 2025. Audio from his 9-1-1 call reveals his desperate pleas for help, stating he could not breathe as the vehicle caught fire. The legal filing alleges the electronic handles failed, trapping him inside. The case details at least 15 fatalities since 2016 where individuals were reportedly trapped in Tesla vehicles due to the electric door handle system.
The complaint, filed in U.S. District Court in Massachusetts, accuses Tesla of carelessly and negligently designing, manufacturing, and marketing dangerously defective vehicles. It specifically references a 2018 statement by CEO Elon Musk, where he asserted the company was “absolutely hardcore about safety” and aimed to build the world’s safest car. The lawsuit positions this claim against the alleged design flaw of the handles, which retract flush with the car’s body for aerodynamic efficiency but may not function during power loss or severe impacts.
This issue has attracted international regulatory attention. China recently banned electronic door handles outright, mandating that manufacturers install mechanical releases instead for safety reasons. Meanwhile, the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has an open investigation into numerous owner complaints. A particular concern involves children who may become locked inside vehicles without a clear way to exit. While Tesla vehicles do include manual door releases, the NHTSA has noted that locating and operating them can be difficult, especially for younger passengers.
In response to the mounting criticism, Tesla has indicated it is working on a redesign. The new mechanism would reportedly combine the electronic and manual door-release functions into a single button to simplify operation. An independent investigation by Bloomberg last September uncovered more than 140 reports in the U.S. since 2018 related to Tesla doors becoming stuck or failing to open. This new lawsuit underscores the persistent safety debate surrounding one of the company’s most distinctive design features.
(Source: The Verge)
