Tesla joins 11 other automakers in recalling nearly 3 million vehicles in China as part of a nationwide campaign to warn owners about hidden emergency door locks that could open doors in the event of an accident or fire. Warning stickers will be installed inside the vehicle to help passengers manually open the doors in an emergency. As part of the recall, the firmware will also be updated.
Image source: unsplash.com
In recent years, as many automakers have made electronic door locks a standard way of entering and exiting their vehicles, the issue of manually opening doors has arisen. They make it easier for car owners to open doors using a smartphone or contactless NFC card, but may fail in the event of an accident. Automakers offer mechanical door handles for emergency door opening, but they’re often hidden in unexpected places or behind door panels.
After a two-year investigation, China announced in February 2026 that it would ban the use of hidden electronically controlled exterior door handles starting in 2027. Late last year, the top U.S. auto safety regulator also launched an investigation into Tesla’s door lock system. The agency is considering a new rule that could change security requirements for such systems. A bill under consideration would explicitly require manual opening of the mechanism “Intuitive to use and easy for passengers to use.”
Tesla isn’t the only company using hard-to-reach manual door openers as a backup to electronic door locks. Last year, Rivian customers and employees raised concerns about the manual door release system on R1 vehicles, which required passengers to remove panels and pull out wires. The company later said it would move the opening system to a more convenient location on the new R2 model. Ford is suspending sales of the Mustang Mach-E through 2025 and issuing a recall to reduce the possibility of electronic door locks malfunctioning during a power outage.
Tesla has popularized the use of recessed exterior handles and electronic locks, and the company said it is working to redesign door handles for future models.
If you find an error, select it with your mouse and press CTRL+ENTER.
