Re:Tesla Faces US Auto Safety Investigation over Door Handles
by ericpauley on Tuesday September 16, 2025 @12:10PM
(#45264188)
It's particularly telling that Tesla's design flaws are so inexcusable that people have a hard time even believing they are real.
Here's another example: https://www.tesla.com/ownersmanual/model3/en_us/GUID-A7A60DC...
Yes, opening the rear door in some models requires popping an unlabeled access panel in the cargo pocket.
The craziest part to me is that this isn't the evil profit maximizing à la Unsafe at Any Speed. It's simply pure designer insanity.
Re:Tesla Faces US Auto Safety Investigation over Door Handles
by Someone1234 on Tuesday September 16, 2025 @12:15PM
(#45264257)
This is actually their "upgraded" design, the original Model 3 had no rear mechanical release at all. Hidden or otherwise. None.
See the older manual here:
https://www.tesla.com/ownersmanual/2017_2023_model3/en_us/GU...
> Only the front doors are equipped with a manual door release.
How was THAT legal? How was that ADA compliant?
Re:Tesla Faces US Auto Safety Investigation over Door Handles
by amaranth on Tuesday September 16, 2025 @12:45PM
(#45264651)
I believe it's legal because rear doors have child safety locks so often can't be opened from the inside anyway. Although that doesn't cover opening it from the outside...
Re:Tesla Faces US Auto Safety Investigation over Door Handles
by ryandrake on Tuesday September 16, 2025 @12:28PM
(#45264416)
Wild. Door handles have been a solved problem for decades. Why do companies always have to go and fuck something up that's already working?
Re:Tesla Faces US Auto Safety Investigation over Door Handles
by jerlam on Tuesday September 16, 2025 @12:47PM
(#45264683)
I guess I'm not surprised that only the vehicles made in China have the tiny concession to put a label on the access panel.
Re:Tesla Faces US Auto Safety Investigation over Door Handles
by hanikesn on Tuesday September 16, 2025 @12:15PM
(#45264255)
That's the correct entry in the manual:
https://www.tesla.com/ownersmanual/model3/en_us/GUID-A7A60DC...
Re:Tesla Faces US Auto Safety Investigation over Door Handles
by Ajedi32 on Tuesday September 16, 2025 @12:27PM
(#45264403)
That doesn't explain how to open the doors from the outside. The entry I linked does. (Indirectly.)
Re:Tesla Faces US Auto Safety Investigation over Door Handles
by ComputerGuru on Tuesday September 16, 2025 @12:49PM
(#45264703)
> okay, looks like there is a way but it's really convoluted and you need to basically jump-start the low voltage system
So what you're actually saying is, there really isn't a (sane) way after all.
Re:Tesla Faces US Auto Safety Investigation over Door Handles
by joeconway on Tuesday September 16, 2025 @04:32PM
(#45267589)
Now try doing that while the car is on fire with burning children inside
https://www.kron4.com/news/bay-area/witness-of-triple-fatal-...
...okay, looks like there is a way but it's really convoluted and you need to basically jump-start the low voltage system (using either an ICE car or a battery pack). https://www.tesla.com/ownersmanual/model3/en_us/GUID-3567D5F... That's really, really dumb.