--- title: "Bad Door Handles Are Trapping People in Cars. The Feds Are Finally Stepping in" date: "2026-07-24" modified: "2026-07-24" authors: - name: "Adam Ismail" job_title: "Senior Editor" link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/adam-ismail" url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/bad-door-handles-are-trapping-people-in-cars-the-feds-are-finally-stepping-in" categories: - "Car Tech" - "News" --- # Bad Door Handles Are Trapping People in Cars. The Feds Are Finally Stepping in ![Someone opening electric car door handle]() *\Getty Stock\* On Friday, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration [denied a petition request]() to investigate the Tesla Model 3's emergency door handles for being hard to locate, and therefore unsafe, in the event of a crash. However, in that determination, it also vowed to begin research to hopefully write new rules around handles that "mandate a robust and obvious door egress system in all motor vehicles." These rules would take some time to develop; one expert that *[Bloomberg]()* spoke to estimated that they might not be codified into a new Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard until 2030 at the earliest. But this is a start, and it isn't coming a moment too soon. In recent years, many passengers have found themselves trapped in crashed or burning vehicles and unable to escape, due to a failure of their cars' electronic door handles combined with an inability to locate the mechanical fail-safes that are often hidden from view. To make matters even worse, those backup handles only tend to exist *inside* vehicles, making first responders' jobs that much harder. [Take Rivian, for example](). For a backseat passenger to access the emergency handles in a newer R1S or R1T, they must first remove a plastic panel, which shrouds a pull cord. Rivian was reportedly aware of the potential for problems caused by this decision after it made it, as it decided not to conceal the secondary handles in a similar manner in the [newer, smaller R2](). But the R1 series still works this way, and there's currently nothing forcing the company to change it. Ideally, that wouldn't be the case following this rulemaking process. The NHTSA denied the petition to investigate a defect as it pertained to Tesla specifically because, frankly, Tesla's system wasn't defective; it operated as designed, which, unfortunately, leaves way too great a potential for danger in the event of an emergency. Instead, it's moving to set a standard going forward. "NHTSA does not believe that the issues presented by the Petitioner indicate the likelihood of a safety related defect that would warrant a defect investigation, and the issue is best addressed through the rulemaking process," the department's [docket](), filed Friday, reads. ***Update Tuesday, July 28 at 9:40 a.m. Eastern:** NHTSA issued the following statement after this news, clarifying that it hasn't committed to new rules around door handles, but rather that it will begin research to determine if and how to proceed:* *NHTSA received a petition for rulemaking to require an emergency door egress system to address the risk of occupant entrapment in vehicles during electrical power failures, and the agency granted that petition.* *Granting a rulemaking petition is not a decision by NHTSA to issue a new safety standard, but commences the process of gathering input to make an informed decision. NHTSA will gather additional information and data, and solicit public comments, to determine if a rulemaking for a new safety standard is appropriate under the requirements of the Vehicle Safety Act.* *Got a tip? Reach out to tips@thedrive.com* ## Author Adam is a Senior Editor at The Drive, concentrating on curating and developing the site's slate of daily journalism, from initial pitch to final copy edit. When he's not at his desk researching leads and working with writers, he's testing vehicles or reviewing racing games, new and old. He joined The Drive in 2023, following seven years of covering consumer technology and cars. A car lover and gamer since his earliest memories, Adam came to know the automotive world through video games. First it was Daytona USA, Sega Rally, and Ridge Racer; then came Need For Speed, which inspired an encyclopedic knowledge of '90s supercars, and, of course, Gran Turismo. If not for them, he'd assuredly be doing something else right now. Adam is based in the suburbs outside Philly, where there are ample roads for his hot hatch to stretch its legs. In his car, he's probably listening to indie rock, drum and bass, or Yankees baseball. ### Author social links [Bluesky]() [Instagram]() [LinkedIn]()