The Story
New rules could force automakers to make emergency door releases obvious and easy to find.
New rules could force automakers to make emergency door releases obvious and easy to find. Back in February, China announced it would crack down on hidden exterior door handles like those found on many new electric vehicles, and we noted that federal legislation was being crafted to establish door-handle and emergency-egress requirements in the United States. Now, the National…
The move followed a petition from Tesla Model 3 owner Kevin Clouse, who argued that his 2022 Model 3 failed to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 206 after he struggled to escape the car following a head-on collision.
NHTSA ultimately denied Clouse’s request for a defect investigation, finding that the petition did not present evidence of a likely safety-related defect warranting one. However, the agency agreed that the broader issue deserved attention and referred it to the Office of Rulemaking.
Clouse detailed his traumatic experience after his Model 3 was involved in the collision that resulted in power loss. Teslas, like many of the latest vehicles, have electronic door-opening mechanisms that can become inoperable if a vehicle loses power. There are almost always backup mechanical releases, but in many cars these are poorly labeled (or not at all), difficult to…
To that point, although Clouse eventually escaped the all-electric sedan, he also couldn’t locate the mechanical emergency release for the front door. Ultimately, Clouse climbed over the front seats and escaped through the rear passenger door window. The 2022 Model 3, the year and model Clouse was driving, does not have readily accessible mechanical emergency releases for…
Why It Matters
New rules could force automakers to make emergency door releases obvious and easy to find.
CarMotion Daily’s Take
New rules could force automakers to make emergency door releases obvious and easy to find. Watch this space over the coming weeks.
📝 Source & Copyright Notice
This story was first reported by MotorTrend. For the full article with original photography and complete coverage, visit the source: Read the full story at MotorTrend →