Tesla plans to overhaul the structure's operational system
The United States traffic safety agency, NHTSA, is currently investigating Tesla's electric vehicles, with a particular focus on the 2021 Model Y. The investigation centres around a malfunction in the door locks of the midsize SUV, which has caused some concern among users.
In several documented cases, parents have reported being unable to open the rear doors of the 2021 Model Y to retrieve their children after exiting the vehicle. In four out of nine documented cases, windows had to be broken to gain access to the rear seats.
Tesla is addressing this issue by redesigning the door mechanisms in its electric vehicles. The goal of the redesign is to make doors easier to open in emergency situations. According to Tesla's chief designer, Franz von Holzhausen, combining electronic and mechanical locking mechanisms in one button "makes a lot of sense."
It's worth noting that the current models from Tesla use retractable door handles on the outside and electric door openers on the inside. The issue with the 2021 Model Y appears to be that the door locks aren't receiving power. This issue does not seem to be related to the variability in the position of emergency openers across Tesla's models, as mentioned in previous facts.
The affected circuit in the 2021 Model Y powers doors, windows, and the touchscreen separately. The external 12-volt power source requirement for door opening is a separate feature from the electronic and mechanical locking mechanisms.
The location of emergency openers in the 2021 Model Y is not mentioned, so it remains unclear if they are hidden or easily accessible. However, in Tesla's current models, some emergency openers are hidden behind trim or under seats.
Emergency services have expressed concerns about these design features being problematic in stressful situations. Tesla is working on making it easier to open doors in "panic situations."
The name of the electric car manufacturer conducting a door modification phase to facilitate emergency door opening is not mentioned in the provided search results. The NHTSA investigation into the 2021 Model Y is ongoing, and further updates are expected in due course.
