NHTSA to Draft New Federal Door‑Egress Rules After Tesla Door‑Handle Safety Concerns

The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced on July 23, 2026 that it will begin rulemaking to create a federal safety standard for emergency door releases in all new vehicles. The effort follows a series of high‑profile crashes in which occupants of Tesla Model 3 and Model Y cars could not open the doors after power loss, contributing to at least 15 deaths.

A petition filed by a Tesla owner seeking a defect investigation into the hidden mechanical release on about 180,000 model‑year 2022 Model 3 vehicles was denied; NHTSA noted only a single matching consumer complaint and that existing FMVSS 206 does not address labeling or placement of emergency releases. Instead, the agency said the issue is better handled through a broader rulemaking process that would require a “robust and obvious door egress system” for all manufacturers.

Congressional legislation such as the SAFE Exit Act and similar rulemaking efforts in Europe and China have highlighted the growing regulatory focus on electronic door handles. Automakers including Rivian have already announced design changes to make manual releases more visible. NHTSA will gather data and public comments before finalizing the new standard.