Tesla NASDAQ:TSLA will not face a formal safety investigation over complaints involving its mechanical interior door release, after U.S. auto safety regulators concluded the issue is better addressed through a broader rulemaking process.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said available information does not justify opening a defect investigation into Tesla vehicles. Instead, the agency plans to pursue new federal standards covering interior door egress systems across the auto industry.
The review followed a petition citing crashes in which occupants reportedly struggled to locate or operate Tesla's manual door release, limiting their ability to exit vehicles during emergencies. NHTSA said existing regulations do not specifically address the placement or labeling of interior manual door releases, leaving potential gaps in current safety requirements.
Rather than targeting Tesla through a recall or enforcement action, the agency said it intends to develop updated rules that would apply to all automakers. Regulators noted that concealed or difficult-to-find emergency door releases may delay occupants from exiting vehicles during events such as crashes or fires, making the issue more appropriate for industry-wide safety standards than a company-specific investigation.