The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has launched an investigation into approximately 174,000 Tesla Model Y cars from the 2021 model year due to reports of inoperative electronic door handles.

• The NHTSA received nine reports of parents being unable to open doors, with four instances requiring a broken window for re-entry.
• The investigation concerns Tesla Model Y vehicles, with the issue potentially arising from insufficient voltage to electronic door locks.
• The NHTSA preliminary evaluation is the initial step before a potential recall if an unreasonable safety risk is identified.