The world’s richest man Elon Musk’s electric car company, Tesla, has once again come into controversy over security. A Bloomberg report has made a big revelation about Tesla’s electric doors, raising concerns around the world. According to the report, at least 15 people died in Tesla vehicles because their electric doors did not open after the accident. The report also states that Tesla owner Elon Musk was forewarned about this poor design.
An examination of data from 2012 to 2025 shows that the technology used to make Tesla’s doors stylish is becoming a “death trap” for people in times of crisis. Most Tesla cars do not have old-fashioned wires to open the doors, but instead electrically operated buttons. These buttons run on the car’s 12-volt battery. In a severe accident, when this battery is broken or disconnected, the door buttons and outside handles stop working.
Highlights of Bloomberg’s investigation
In many of the 15 cases, people survived the crash but were unable to get out before the car caught fire. Those who came for help said they could not open the doors from outside, while people sitting inside were trying to get out. More than half of these 15 deaths occurred after November 2024.
How to open a door in an emergency
According to the report, Tesla has a manual door opening lever for emergencies, but it is very difficult to find. There is a small lever near the window button for the front seat, but there is no label on it. People do not recognize it in times of fire and panic. The rear lever on the Model 3 and Model Y is very hard to find. They are often hidden under carpets or inside pockets, making them nearly impossible to find in a smoke-filled car.
Legal proceedings and investigations
The US government agency (NHTSA) has started its investigation in September 2025. Several families have also filed lawsuits against Tesla. In one case from California, three students were unable to escape the fire due to the Cybertruck’s reinforced glass and jammed doors.
Did Elon Musk already know?
A report claims that Elon Musk and Tesla’s top executives were made aware of the threat years ago. As early as 2017, engineers warned that these gates, which rely on electricity, could be dangerous. According to the report, Musk ignored these warnings because he wanted the car’s interior to look sleek and “futuristic.” He gave more importance to design than security.
Tesla’s response so far
Tesla has yet to make an official statement on the matter, but the company has added a new safety page to its website. The company says that Tesla cars will now automatically open doors in the event of an accident. However, it is not clear if this feature will be available in older cars or if the system will work if the battery is dead.