Tesla is facing another lawsuit over its signature flush door handles, with a new class-action case claiming the design is unsafe and prone to failure.
Filed in Florida, the lawsuit targets electronic door handles on 2014–2016 Model S vehicles, alleging they often stop working after a few years. According to the complaint, the malfunction can leave drivers locked out of their cars and could pose serious risks in emergencies.
The lead plaintiff says three of the four handles on his 2015 Model S failed within seven years, including the driver’s door, forcing him to climb in from the passenger side while waiting for repairs. The suit claims Tesla knew about the issue and later redesigned the handles to make them more reliable in newer models.
This isn’t the first time Tesla’s door design has come under scrutiny. Previous lawsuits have alleged that electronic handles can fail when a car loses power, potentially trapping passengers inside during crashes or fires. Federal safety regulators are also investigating similar complaints involving Model Y vehicles.
Tesla says its cars include manual door releases, but critics argue these can be hard to find in emergencies. The company has since said it’s working on clearer manual controls, while lawmakers have proposed new rules that would require all cars to have easy-to-locate emergency door releases.