A report from Bloomberg reveals that at least 15 fatalities have occurred in Tesla vehicles due to the inoperability of electrically powered doors following crashes. This issue has raised concerns about occupants being trapped inside vehicles that may be at risk of fire. Bloomberg's investigation examined crash data dating back to 2012, highlighting a worrying trend where over half of these deaths happened since November 2024.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) provided data for fatal car accidents involving fires from 2012 to 2023, while Bloomberg is independently analyzing incidents from 2024 and 2025. Their meticulous review included police reports, autopsy documents, and even audio from emergency calls to gain insight into these tragedies.
In response to these concerns, Tesla has introduced a new website outlining a feature that allows its vehicle doors to unlock automatically after a crash, though this may not apply to older models. Despite Tesla being a prominent player in the electric vehicle market, it is not alone in using electric door handles; approximately 70 car models in the U.S. share this technology. Nevertheless, Tesla has received a significant number of consumer complaints related to this issue.