Why Tesla's Electronic Door Handles Are Facing New NHTSA Safety Rules

There was a time when car door handles had one job: let you in and let you out. You pulled a lever, opened the door, and thought nothing of it. Today, that simple interaction has become another place where software, sensors, and sleek design compete with practicality. 

Flush, a type of electronic door handle, has become a signature feature of many modern electric vehicles. They help improve aerodynamics, give cars a cleaner look, and reinforce the futuristic image automakers want to project.

But after a growing number of incidents involving people being unable to leave their vehicles during emergencies, U.S. regulators are asking a difficult question: Have car doors become too dependent on electricity? 

Tesla Recalls 173 RWD Cybertrucks Over Wheel Defect, Marking the Vehicle’s 11th Recall

The automaker is also recalling more than 200,000 Tesla Model Y, Tesla Model S, Tesla Model X, and Tesla Model 3 vehicles.

TechloyOgbonda Chivumnovu

The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has started the process that could eventually lead to new safety rules requiring automakers to ensure drivers and passengers can always exit their vehicles safely, even if electrical systems fail, according to a report from Bloomberg. 

The move comes after years of complaints, crash reports, and even fatal incidents involving vehicles with electronically operated door handles, including Tesla models. 

When a door becomes a safety issue