US car safety regulators have opened an investigation into the door handles of Tesla’s flagship Model Y model following complaints that children were trapped inside the car after parents were unable to unlock the doors.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said on Tuesday that its preliminary evaluation would look into more than 174,000 vehicles of the 2021 Model Y to examine “the operability of the electronic door locks” from outside of the car when the EVs fail to receive enough power.
“Entrapment in a vehicle is particularly concerning in emergency situations, such as when children are trapped in a hot vehicle,” the agency said. It added that it would “take further action as needed” as it monitors any additional reports of entrapment.