Tesla Door Safety Failures Tied to At Least 15 Fatal Crashes
Tesla Door Would Not Open After a Crash? Could you get Answers Now?
Reports and consumer complaints describe a frightening post-crash danger. Tesla doors may fail to open after impact, trapping occupants inside burning or wrecked vehicles. A Bloomberg investigation reported that at least 15 people have died in crashes where Tesla doors reportedly failed to open, preventing escape or delaying rescue.
If you or someone you love was injured, trapped, or killed in a crash involving a Tesla door that would not open, you may have a product liability claim.
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Call 1-800-VICTIM2 (1-800-842-8462)
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Serving New York City: Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, Staten Island
Quick Signs You May Have a Tesla Door Failure Case
You should speak with an attorney if:
- The door or exterior handle would not open after impact
- A fire started, and escape was delayed
- Manual releases were hard to find, hard to use, or not available
- A child, elderly passenger, or injured passenger could not exit
- Rescuers could not open the doors from the outside
- Smoke inhalation or burns occurred after a survivable crash
Even if another driver caused the collision, Tesla may still be liable if a defective door system worsened injuries or prevented escape.
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1-800-VICTIM2 (1-800-842-8462)
Free and confidential. You don’t need to pay until it’s successful.
Why These Crashes Can Become Fatal
Many Tesla models use electrically powered door handles and electronic latching systems. After a severe crash, electrical damage, or low-voltage power loss, doors may not open.
This risk becomes life-threatening in emergencies such as:
- vehicle fires
- smoke-filled cabins
- rollovers
- submerged vehicles
Common concerns include:
- doors that cannot be opened from the outside, delaying rescue
- manual backups that may be hard to locate or hard to operate
- children or injured occupants unable to use emergency releases in time
When seconds matter, a door that will not open can turn a survivable crash into a tragedy.
Federal Investigation: NHTSA Is Looking at Tesla Door Handles
Your source material reports that in September 2025, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) opened an investigation into reports involving approximately 174,000 Model Y vehicles (2021 model year). In those reports, electronic door handles could become inoperative, potentially preventing doors from being opened from the outside.
Reports described parents unable to reach children in rear seats and people breaking windows to regain access.
If you experienced a Tesla door failure in New York City, reporting the issue and speaking with counsel quickly can be essential for preserving evidence and protecting your rights.
New York City Tesla Door Failure Lawsuits: Legal Claims and Liability
Tesla door failure cases are often treated as vehicle defects and product liability lawsuits. These claims can be complex because they involve technology, engineering, and safety systems that may fail under foreseeable crash conditions.
Depending on the facts, your case may involve:
Product Liability (Design Defect)
A design may be defective if it creates an unreasonable danger, such as a system that depends heavily on electrical power and lacks a practical backup in emergencies.
Product Liability (Manufacturing Defect)
A component may fail due to faulty assembly, wiring problems, latch failures, or quality-control defects.
Failure to Warn
Manufacturers may have a duty to provide clear warnings and instructions about emergency door operation, especially for rear-seat passengers.
Negligence
Negligence may apply if a company failed to address known risks promptly or delayed safety improvements that could reduce the risk of entrapment.
Even if another driver caused the crash, Tesla may still share responsibility if a defect made injuries worse or prevented escape.
How Greenstein & Pittari, LLP Helps
Step 1: Free Case Review and Rapid Safety Investigation
We listen first, then move quickly to identify key facts. In Tesla door cases, time matters. We help preserve critical evidence, including the vehicle, crash reports, fire records, witness statements, photos, videos, and recordings.
Step 2: Build the Defect and Liability Case
We investigate whether the door system failed due to:
- a design defect
- a manufacturing defect
- inadequate warnings or instructions
- negligence related to safety fixes or foreseeable risks
We also evaluate other potential responsible parties, including drivers, contractors, road designers, and entities accountable for roadway safety.
Step 3: Pursue Maximum Compensation
We fight for full and fair compensation through negotiation or trial, including:
- medical bills and future care
- lost income and reduced earning capacity
- pain and suffering
- emotional trauma
- disfigurement and disability
- wrongful death damages for surviving family members
Free Consultation. No Fee Unless Successful.
Call 1-800-VICTIM2 (1-800-842-8462)
You can contact us online to get started now.
What You Should Do Right Now
If your Tesla doors failed after a crash:
- Get medical care immediately
- Preserve the vehicle and do not repair, scrap, or allow destruction
- Document everything, including doors, handles, interior releases, and burn or smoke damage
- Collect witnesses and recordings, including dashcam, surveillance, and 911 information
- Speak with an attorney quickly to protect evidence and deadlines
What Compensation May Be Available
Depending on the facts, you may be able to recover compensation for:
- emergency treatment and hospitalization
- burn injury care, surgeries, and rehabilitation
- lost wages and future earning losses
- pain and suffering
- emotional distress
- long-term disability
- wrongful death damages for surviving family members
FAQ: Tesla Door Failures After Crashes in New York City
1) What does it mean when a Tesla door “fails to open” after a crash?
It means the doors or exterior handles do not operate after impact, often due to electrical damage or low-voltage power loss, which can prevent escape or delay rescue.
2) Why would a Tesla door fail after a collision?
Tesla doors rely on electrically powered systems. In a severe crash, power loss, or electrical disruption, the door may not operate normally.
3) Can Tesla doors be opened from the outside after a crash?
In some reported incidents, exterior handles were inoperative after impact, preventing bystanders and first responders from opening the doors from the outside.
4) Do Teslas have manual emergency door releases?
Many do, but reports describe them as inconsistent across models and sometimes hard to locate or operate, especially for rear-seat passengers.
5) Why are manual releases a problem in emergencies?
Smoke, darkness, panic, injury, and disorientation can make hidden or unfamiliar releases difficult or impossible to use when seconds matter.
6) Are rear-seat passengers at higher risk?
They can be. Some reports describe situations in which manual releases are less accessible to rear-seat occupants or unavailable in specific versions, making escape more difficult.
7) What injuries are common when doors fail to open after a crash?
Common injuries include severe burns, smoke inhalation, asphyxiation, catastrophic injury from delayed rescue, and wrongful death.
8) If the crash was survivable, can the door failure still be a legal case?
Yes. A key legal issue is whether a defect or dangerous design prevented escape and turned a survivable crash into a fatal or catastrophic event.
9) Did NHTSA open an investigation into Tesla door handles?
Yes. Reports state that NHTSA opened an investigation in September 2025 into 2021 Model Y vehicles involving door handle inoperability.
10) What Tesla models are involved in reported door failures?
Reports reference multiple models and note that the federal investigation focused on 2021 Model Y vehicles.
11) Can I sue Tesla if another driver caused the crash?
Possibly. Product liability claims can exist alongside claims against the at-fault driver if a defect worsened injuries or prevented escape.
12) What legal theories apply in Tesla door failure cases?
Common legal claims include product liability for design defect, product liability for manufacturing defect, failure to warn, and negligence related to foreseeable safety risks.
13) What evidence is most important in a Tesla door failure claim?
Preserving the vehicle is often critical. Other key evidence includes photos, videos, crash reports, fire reports, medical records, witness statements, and recordings such as dashcam footage and 911 calls.
14) Should I repair or scrap the vehicle after a crash?
No. If you suspect a door failure contributed to injuries or death, do not repair, modify, or destroy the vehicle. It may be crucial evidence in a defect case.
15) What should I do if my child or passenger was trapped because the doors would not open?
Please seek emergency medical care if needed, document the incident, preserve the vehicle, and contact an attorney right away. Rapid investigation is often necessary.
16) How much is a Tesla door failure case worth?
Case value depends on medical costs, lost income, long-term disability, pain and suffering, and wrongful death damages when applicable. Burn and smoke inhalation cases can be life-changing and may involve significant compensation.
17) How long do I have to file a Tesla door failure lawsuit in New York?
Deadlines vary by claim type, including personal injury, wrongful death, and product liability. Please get in touch with an attorney promptly so you do not miss critical time limits.
18) How much does it cost to hire Greenstein & Pittari, LLP?
We offer a free consultation and handle cases on a contingency basis. That means you pay no fee unless we are successful. That is our Fee Guarantee.
19) What if I am not sure the door failure caused the injury?
You can still speak with us if you like. These cases require expert investigation. We can evaluate whether door failure contributed to the delay in escape, the severity of injuries, or death.
20) What if the Tesla caught fire and the doors would not open in New York City?
If the crash occurred in NYC or affected a New Yorker, please contact us right away. We serve all five boroughs and have multiple offices throughout New York.
Why Choose Greenstein & Pittari, LLP?
Choosing the right law firm matters in high-stakes injury and wrongful death cases. Tesla defect claims can require extensive investigation, expert analysis, and the willingness to take a case to trial if necessary. Greenstein & Pittari, LLP is built for that fight.
Clients choose us because we offer:
- A local Harlem office for convenience and trust
- Our Fee Guarantee: no fee unless we win your case
- Bilingual services available
- Hundreds of positive client reviews and testimonials
- We handle the insurance companies so you can focus on healing
- Top-rated, award-winning lawyers, including recognition from Best Lawyers and Super Lawyers
We have seven convenient locations throughout New York, with offices in:
- Harlem
- Bronx
- Brooklyn
- Queens
- Staten Island
- Yonkers
- Nassau County
Our motto is simple: Don’t Be a Victim Twice.
Please don’t let a corporation reduce your claim.
If you or someone you love was trapped in a Tesla after a crash, call us now. The call is free. The consultation is free. You do not pay us unless we are successful.
Call 1-800-VICTIM2 (1-800-842-8462) to schedule a confidential consultation.
Or you can contact us online to take the first step toward the compensation and justice you deserve.