NHTSA Probes Tesla Model Y Door Handle Failures Affecting 1.74 Lakh Vehicles

The US highway safety agency NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) has once again raised questions about Tesla. The agency has said that it has launched an investigation into complaints of door handle failure on the Tesla Model Y. Since 2021, the investigation has covered 174,000 Model Y vehicles manufactured.

According to media reports, the NHTSA has received numerous complaints that the Model Y's exterior doors were not opening. In some cases, parents exited the vehicle to adjust or place their child in the rear seat and were unable to open the door. Nine such cases have been reported so far. In four of these cases, parents had to break the window to get back inside.

Tesla has not issued an official statement as of this time. A recall of the vehicles has not yet been requested. This will only occur after the preliminary investigation (PE25010) is completed, and the agency determines whether the issue is truly serious.

The HHTSA believes the vehicle has a manual door release option. However, it is often difficult for children, and not all drivers are aware of it. Preliminary investigations have also revealed that the problem occurs when the electronic door locks do not receive sufficient voltage from the vehicle. Several repair records indicate a low-voltage battery replacement. Interestingly, no owner received a prior warning of a low-voltage battery failure. If the preliminary investigation proves true, nearly every Model Y sold in the US to date may be subject to recall.

This investigation could also impact Model Ys sold in India. However, most units for international markets come from Tesla's Shanghai Gigafactory. Tesla launched the Model Y in India in July 2025. It came in two variants – rear-wheel drive and rear-wheel drive Performance – priced at around ₹60 lakh and ₹68 lakh (ex-showroom), respectively.