by Tesla Model Y Door Handle Problems
The safety of door handles in the Tesla Model Y has become a pressing issue after US regulators launched an investigation into approximately 174 thousand electric vehicles. Tesla quickly confirmed that it is conducting its own review and stated that the system would be redesigned following a series of alarming incidents. In several cases, parents had to break windows to rescue children who were trapped inside the vehicle due to non-operating flush door handles.
Deeper Issues and the Lawsuit
However, the problems may be deeper. In June, Tesla was sued over the same issue, with accusations that the non-operating handles of the Tesla Model Y contributed to a passenger receiving serious injuries during an accident.
The case, filed in Texas by plaintiff Susmita Maddy, concerns a collision that occurred on December 9, 2023. Maddy’s husband, Venkateswara Pasumarti, was driving their Model Y when he experienced a medical episode and lost control of the vehicle. The vehicle hit a power line support, and the front end caught fire.
Trapped Inside the Vehicle
Allegedly, passersby and witnesses were unable to open the passenger doors because the locking mechanism prevented them from being opened from the outside. The fire is believed to have entered the cabin of the Model Y, leaving the passenger with “serious burns and respiratory tract injuries.”
According to the lawsuit, the Tesla “was defective and unreasonably dangerous because its design, manufacturing, or marketing were not sufficiently thought out to minimize the risk of injury.” It is also claimed that the car was not crashworthy enough, the passenger compartment could not be evacuated or accessed after the incident, and the door handles and locking system “had a defective design.”
Further Consequences and Demands
Tesla is also under close scrutiny over accusations of “inadequate testing of the 2023 Model Y to ensure its safety” in crashes similar to the one that happened to Maddy and Pasumarti.
The plaintiff is seeking damages covering medical expenses for all injuries sustained, loss of income, permanent pain and suffering, mental anguish, disfigurement, and long-term health impairment. The case will be tried by a jury, with representation provided by Payne Mitchell Ramsey Law Group in Dallas, Texas.
This situation highlights the importance of electric vehicle safety, particularly regarding evacuation mechanisms. Many drivers rely on advanced technology, but such incidents remind us of the need for thorough testing and manufacturers’ prompt response to potential flaws. Further investigations could impact not only Tesla but also the safety standards of the entire automotive market.
