Tesla has announced a recall of three million vehicles due to a potentially fatal hazard involving door handles. In emergency situations, the doors of the electric vehicles can automatically lock, preventing passengers from exiting the cabin, reports infohub.kz.
It turns out that Tesla's signature feature—flush door handles—can become a deadly trap for drivers and passengers.
For example, in September 2025, near the German town of Schwerte, a man and two children died in a Tesla fire: after colliding with a tree, the doors were blocked. Experts determined that the automatic emergency unlocking did not activate.
It is worth noting that this is not the first such case in Germany: in 2022, in Dobbrück, two 18-year-olds also burned to death in the back seats of a Tesla Model S. In that case, the automatic door unlocking also failed.
In response to the tragic incidents, Chinese authorities are taking measures, demanding that the automaker prioritize safety over futuristic design. Beijing has required clearer labeling of the mechanical emergency door release inside the vehicles.
Additionally, Tesla plans to add warning labels, update software, and ensure automatic emergency window lowering.
Earlier, it was reported that Tesla intends to launch a robotaxi without a steering wheel or pedals by the end of August.