What Next | Daily News and Analysis TBD | Trapped in a Tesla
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Sep 28, 2025 Dana Hull, a Bloomberg senior reporter focused on Tesla and Elon Musk, shines a light on critical safety issues with Tesla door handles. She shares harrowing stories of passengers trapped in crashes due to the unintuitive design. Multiple incidents reveal how rescuers struggle to open doors during emergencies. Hull discusses the risks associated with Tesla’s flush handles and regulatory gaps in safety testing. She emphasizes the need for better awareness among owners and first responders, while hinting at Tesla's plans for redesigning these problematic features.
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Fatal Crash Where Doors Wouldn't Open
- Krista Sukahara survived a Cybertruck impact but died when the vehicle caught fire and rescuers couldn't open the doors.
- A friend smashed a window to pull a passenger out but could not reach Krista before the fire consumed the cabin.
Virginia Crash With Desperate Rescuers
- In a Virginia Model Y crash both occupants were trapped and bystanders frantically tried to break windows to free them.
- Rescuers ultimately needed the rescue squad to cut the door open and one victim was airlifted to a burn unit.
Flush Handles Rely On Low-Voltage Power
- Tesla door handles lie flush and are electrically powered, so they rely on the vehicle's low-voltage system.
- If the 12V (or low-voltage) battery dies after a crash, occupants and rescuers may not be able to open the doors.