Tesla to recall almost three million vehicles over hidden door handles
At least it looks cool, right Elon? China demands changes ahead of ban on new models in 2027
Tesla is recalling nearly three million vehicles in China due to hidden door handles that regulators deem a potential safety hazard. These minimalist door handles, a signature feature of Tesla's electric vehicles, have come under fire from Chinese officials for their difficulty in identification and operation, especially in emergency situations.
The concern lies in the fact that these handles, which are similar in color to the interior trim, may not be easily seen or operated when a vehicle is involved in a severe collision, causing its low-voltage system to fail. In such cases, occupants might struggle to quickly open the doors to escape, and rescue teams could face difficulties accessing the vehicle to aid those inside, posing a significant safety risk.
To address this issue, Tesla plans to attach warning labels to the affected vehicles and perform an Over-The-Air (OTA) software update to introduce a post-accident window lowering strategy. This modification aims to enhance safety during emergency situations.
Tesla is not alone in this recall. Almost 400,000 Xiaomi SU7 electric vehicles have also been recalled in China for having similarly problematic emergency mechanical door handles. In a bid to prevent similar safety issues, China recently imposed a ban on hidden door handles and mandated that all new models from 2027 must include mechanical interior and exterior door handles.
The push towards advanced door handle technology has extended beyond Tesla to other manufacturers as well. Modern vehicles now offer key fob or mobile phone-controlled door opening, or manual release mechanisms. However, hiding these mechanisms behind button presses has attracted regulatory scrutiny due to potential delays in vehicle evacuations in emergencies.
In 2025, Tesla faced a lawsuit over allegations that a design flaw in its Model S prevented occupants from escaping following a crash. Additionally, scrutiny has increased following claims that occupants of a Cybertruck were trapped after a collision due to the door handle design.
Written by urgent.news from The Register's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
