August 2, 2026 - The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration declined to launch a federal probe into door handles on 2022 Tesla Model 3 vehicles and the emergency mechanical releases that activate if those handles fail.

Even with the denial of the investigation petition, the outcome points to changes that extend well beyond any single review.

Out of 179,000 model year 2022 Tesla Model 3 vehicles, NHTSA has received one complaint about the mechanical emergency door releases, noting they are hidden and lack labels.

The individual who submitted the door handle complaint also filed the petition requesting the investigation.

The emergency door release complaint states:

"During a head-on collision on [XXX] in Georgia, the electrical system in my 2022 Tesla Model 3 lost power and the electric door releases stopped functioning. The vehicle interior caught fire and I was trapped inside. I was unaware of the location of the hidden mechanical emergency door release because it is not visibly labeled, not explained upon delivery, and not intuitive in an emergency."

The Tesla driver reports having to move to the rear seat and break the back passenger window with his legs while the Model 3 interior burned. He sustained a broken hip, broken arm, and later needed a complete hip replacement.

The petition claims the controls for the emergency mechanical door release "are not accessible and clearly identifiable."

When door handles rely on electrical power and that power is lost in a crash, fire, or other event, occupants face serious risks if they cannot quickly find the emergency releases.

The 2022 Tesla Model 3 includes a mechanical release for the front doors positioned ahead of the window switch on the door interior, as shown above. However, NHTSA notes that the subject vehicles lack mechanical releases for the rear doors.

The owner's manual contains a section explaining how to open doors from inside when the vehicle has no electrical power, yet the illustration lacks a label identifying it as the emergency door release.

Although the government rejected the Tesla Model 3 safety defect petition, a separate petition gained NHTSA approval and will drive major updates for new vehicles beyond just Tesla models.

Safety regulators indicate a safety defect is unlikely with the emergency door handle releases, "and the issue is best addressed through the rulemaking process."

NHTSA's Office of Rulemaking received another petition to establish a new rule requiring "a robust and obvious door egress system in all motor vehicles." NHTSA approved this request and has started the rulemaking process.

The new door handle regulation will apply to all new vehicles sold in the U.S.