Tighter regulations are coming to vehicles in the United States after multiple Teslas went up in flames during crashes… And couldn’t be opened.
On July 24th, federal regulators at the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced that a new rule on doors may require an emergency release system. This follows the NHTSA’s 2025 investigation into the Tesla Model Y’s door handles and then into the Tesla Model 3 a few months later.
Tesla’s groundbreaking and stylish hidden door handles have also been considered extremely dangerous. While they have inspired an entirely new (and boring) EV design, they have also been accused of losing power after crashes, leaving drivers stuck inside.
Tesla and other EVs could be changing door handle designs
This actually follows an investigation from 2024 in China. Multiple drivers were stuck inside crashed vehicles after their handles wouldn’t operate. The following year, someone in a Xiaomi Corp. SU7 EV was trapped inside his vehicle after a crash. Engulfed in flames, bystanders couldn’t open the doors to save him. This incident “sped up” the country’s decision to require a new national standard on door handles.
We predicted that the United States would follow suit. With many similar incidents in the States, it seemed like China was setting a precedent that the country would follow. Not only do the sleek doors loser power from the inside, but the NHTSA previously claimed that the door design was “hidden, unlabeled, and not intuitive” during emergencies. One of the most common complaints was parents concerned for children placed in the back seat.
The NHTSA received a petition in November 2025 calling for regulators to create new door-handle rules: a door system for emergencies. It stated: “Granting a rulemaking petition is not a decision by NHTSA to issue a new safety standard, but commences the process of gathering input to make an informed decision. NHTSA will gather additional information and data, and solicit public comments, to determine if a rulemaking for a new safety standard is appropriate under the requirements of the Vehicle Safety Act.”
Tesla has not made any statements about this possible door-handle regulation, which would require a total redesign of the doors and could cost a ton of money. In China, manufacturers have to reimagine the door handle design but also remove certain safety features, losing money on that investment. In 2025, Tesla designer Franz von Holzhausen claimed the automaker was considering a door handle redesign. Rivian has already changed the door handle design for its R2, making the manual release more visible from the inside.
Meanwhile, Tesla’s stock has dipped slightly. I’m no tax expert, but you may want to consider investing in some Tesla stock. If I know anything about Elon Musk, he will make some wild claim to bring the stocks right back up. Maybe the Roadster finally getting a release date? A Cybertruck that can fly? It doesn’t really matter what he says. There are people out there who will believe it.
