Not just in the U.S., Tesla is under scrutiny by regulatory authorities due to its electric door handle design. Shortly after U.S. safety agencies announced an investigation into the Model Y’s door handles following multiple incidents where parents couldn’t open the doors to rescue their children, German police linked the same design to a fatal accident in early September 2025, resulting in the deaths of a driver and two children.
On September 7, 2025, a Tesla vehicle veered off the road and quickly caught fire. Images shared online revealed it was a Tesla Model S equipped with electric retractable door handles. Witness Roman Jedrzejewski rushed to the scene with a fire extinguisher but couldn’t find a way to open the doors.
The scene of the Tesla Model S accident in Germany on September 7, 2025.
“I just grabbed the fire extinguisher and ran, but it was futile,” Jedrzejewski told German media. “I wanted to save them. I tried to open the doors, but they wouldn’t budge. The flames were too intense, even though the right side of the car was relatively intact. I couldn’t save them. The car was half-hanging from a tree at head height, and the front was on fire, but the doors couldn’t be opened. I just wanted to pull the children out.”
A 9-year-old child managed to escape, but the 43-year-old driver and two other 9-year-old children perished in the flames.
According to Ruhr Nachrichten, firefighters struggled to extinguish the blaze as the flames repeatedly reignited, likely due to the battery entering thermal runaway. The fire was only fully extinguished once the vehicle was completely incinerated.
The Tesla Model S completely burned out after the accident.
This isn’t the first time Tesla’s retractable door handles have been linked to fatalities. In 2019, a man died after crashing into a palm tree. Police were unable to open the doors before the car was engulfed in flames.
Facing mounting criticism, Tesla has announced it’s developing a new door handle design. Engineers are working on a single-button system combining mechanical and electrical mechanisms to facilitate easier emergency exits for both drivers and rescuers.
China Tightens Door Handle Regulations
In related news, China has tightened regulations on electric vehicle door handles to address safety concerns. According to Autohome, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) has released a draft technical requirement for public consultation.
China tightens regulations on door handles.
Contrary to earlier reports, the new rules don’t outright ban aerodynamic retractable door handles, which many manufacturers use to improve efficiency. However, the draft sets standards for construction, positioning, opening mechanisms, and functionality even during power outages, aiming to standardize operation and enhance safety.
If implemented, exterior door handles must provide sufficient clearance for hands from all angles, favoring fully exposed designs like those on Land Rover/Range Rover or Mercedes-Benz over partially retracting ones. Interior handles will also be standardized, requiring clear markings and opening instructions.
Most importantly, both interior and exterior handles must include a tool-free mechanical override for emergency situations, ensuring easier escape and rescue after accidents. The draft also specifies the force required to open doors and anti-pinch measures to prevent injuries.
A 2024 study involving over 100 experts from China and abroad surveyed more than 230 vehicle models and conducted static/dynamic tests on over 20 models based on accident data. The goal is to balance door handle innovation with safety requirements.
According to Mingjing Pro, the new regulations could take effect by July 2027. Research also shows that retractable door handles offer only minimal aerodynamic benefits while adding weight and vulnerability to power loss or fire.
Side-impact tests reveal that retractable handles operate post-collision only 67% of the time, compared to 98% for traditional mechanical handles. Additionally, accidents involving door handles have increased by 47%, with 87% linked to retractable designs. Hand entrapment cases have surged by 132%, including incidents of children’s finger fractures.
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