US Lawmaker Unveils Bill Requiring Manual Car-Door Releases

NHTSA has opened an investigation into whether the doors are defective in certain Tesla Model Y SUVs. (Anindito Mukherjee/Bloomberg)

A U.S. lawmaker introduced legislation to require that new motor vehicles be equipped with manual door releases, a move to address safety concerns with the type of electrically powered handles popularized by Tesla Inc.

The measure from Rep. Robin Kelly (D-Ill.), calls for automobiles with electric door systems to include a mechanical latch that is “intuitive to use and readily accessible for the occupant.” It would also require means for first responders to gain access to vehicles when power is lost. The bill was introduced on Jan. 6, a Kelly representative said. 

The proposal is the first indication that safety risks posed by electrically powered vehicle doors have drawn the attention of lawmakers on Capitol Hill. It adds to the growing scrutiny of electric vehicle doors following a series of incidents in which people were severely injured or died when they were unable to escape. Bloomberg News has reported extensively on problems with the modern door systems, which can lose power unexpectedly, particularly after crashes.

“Elon Musk and his Tesla designs are not safe, nor efficient, and it has cost people their lives,” Kelly said in a statement, referring to Tesla’s CEO. “When crashes or power loss leave drivers and passengers trapped inside their own cars, that is not innovation — it’s a safety failure.”

I introduced the SAFE Exit Act tonight to require the first-ever federal standard for electric car doors. It requires manual door releases with labeling and better access for first responders so people can always get out in an emergency.

Read more: https://t.co/B9QsFDpMuH — Robin Kelly (@RepRobinKelly) January 7, 2026

Tesla representatives did not immediately respond to a request for comment. 

Days after Bloomberg’s initial report in September, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration opened an investigation into whether the doors are defective in certain Tesla Model Y SUVs. The auto safety regulator last month opened a probe into the emergency releases in certain Model 3 vehicles in response to claims from a Tesla owner that they are “hidden, unlabeled, and not intuitive to locate during an emergency.”

In China, transport authorities have proposed new safety standards to address risks posed by electrically powered door handles that sit flush against a vehicle’s body. The designs were pioneered by Tesla but have become commonplace in modern cars. The handles have also attracted growing concerns in the country following high-profile fatal crashes involving EVs made by Xiaomi Corp.

Last month, Tesla updated its website to say that after a serious collision is detected, hazard lights will turn on to increase visibility and “doors will automatically unlock for emergency access.”

The so-called Securing Accessible Functional Emergency Exit Act — or SAFE Exit Act — is set to be discussed along with several other measures during a legislative hearing Jan. 13 before a House Energy & Commerce committee panel, which has oversight of auto industry issues.

The proposed legislation would require rule changes within two years if it becomes law.