Elon Musk: Tesla Under Fire: Electric Door Malfunctions Allegedly Lead to 15 Deaths

Elon Musk's electric car company, Tesla, is once again facing intense scrutiny over its safety standards. A comprehensive report by Bloomberg has unveiled a critical flaw in the design of Tesla's electric doors, sparking widespread concern globally, while according to the report, a tragic total of at least 15 people have lost their lives in Tesla vehicles because their electric doors failed to open after accidents, trapping them inside. This alarming revelation is compounded by claims that Tesla CEO Elon Musk was allegedly warned about this design flaw years ago but chose to disregard these warnings. This development highlights a severe conflict between Tesla's "futuristic" design philosophy and the paramount importance of passenger safety.

Bloomberg Investigation Reveals Disturbing Details

An in-depth examination of data spanning from 2012 to 2025 reveals that the advanced technology employed to make Tesla's doors stylish and modern is ironically transforming them into "death traps" during emergencies. Unlike conventional vehicles, most Tesla cars don't feature traditional mechanical cables to open their doors. Instead, they rely on electrically operated buttons, which draw power from the car's 12-volt battery, while the critical issue arises during severe accidents. In such collisions, this 12-volt battery frequently gets damaged or disconnects from the main system. Once the battery fails, both the interior door buttons and the exterior. Handles cease to function, effectively trapping occupants inside and preventing external assistance.

This design oversight, which appears to prioritize aesthetics over safety, is now leading to dire human consequences. Bloomberg's investigation meticulously analyzed 15 specific cases where fatalities occurred due to Tesla's door malfunctions. In many of these instances, individuals survived the initial impact of the accident but were tragically unable to exit the vehicle before succumbing to fire or other hazards. The report includes accounts from multiple eyewitnesses who described being unable to open the doors from the outside, even as occupants inside were visibly struggling to escape. This situation was particularly harrowing for those trapped in burning vehicles, desperately calling for help. More than half of these 15 reported deaths occurred after November 2024, indicating that this problem is persistent and potentially escalating. This statistic raises serious questions about the efficacy and reliability of Tesla's safety systems.

Challenges with Emergency Exits

According to the report, Tesla vehicles are equipped with a mechanical lever for manual door opening in emergencies, serving as an override. However, locating and operating this lever proves exceedingly difficult, especially in high-stress, smoke-filled environments. For the front seats, this lever is often a small, unlabeled component positioned near the window buttons. In the panic and chaos following an accident or fire, occupants frequently fail to identify or locate it, while in models like the Model 3 and Model Y, finding the rear manual levers is even more challenging. These levers are often concealed beneath the carpet or tucked inside seat pockets, rendering them virtually impossible to find in a smoke-filled and disoriented cabin. This design effectively deprives occupants of a clear and accessible means to save themselves during an emergency.

Mounting Legal Action and Regulatory Scrutiny

Following these grave allegations against Tesla, the U. S. government agency, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), initiated a formal investigation into the matter in September 2025. This inquiry will focus on the safety of Tesla's electric doors and the effectiveness of their emergency exit mechanisms. On top of that, several victim families have filed lawsuits against Tesla, alleging negligence and faulty design. In a particularly tragic case in California, three students were unable to escape a burning Cybertruck after an accident, with the vehicle's solid glass and jammed doors cited as contributing factors. These legal and regulatory actions are intensifying pressure on Tesla to thoroughly review and potentially overhaul its design and safety protocols.

Was Elon Musk Aware of the Risks?

The Bloomberg report makes another startling claim: Elon Musk and top Tesla executives were allegedly informed about the dangers associated with these doors years ago, while according to the report, as early as 2017, Tesla engineers warned that these fully electrically dependent doors could pose significant risks in the event of an accident. However, the report suggests that Musk reportedly disregarded these safety warnings. His primary focus was to ensure the car's interior appeared aesthetically pleasing, minimalist, and "futuristic," prioritizing design over safety. If this claim proves true, it would represent a severe instance of Tesla's leadership knowingly overlooking critical safety concerns.

Tesla's Response and Future Commitments

Despite these serious allegations and ongoing investigations, Tesla has yet to issue an official statement on the matter. However, the company has added a new safety page to its website, outlining some changes. Tesla states that its cars will now automatically unlock their doors in the event of an accident, while while this could be a significant safety improvement, it remains unclear whether this new feature will be made available to older models. On top of that, the most crucial question is whether this auto-unlock system will function if the car's 12-volt battery is damaged or disconnected during an accident, which is the root cause of the original problem, while until these critical questions are clearly addressed, concerns regarding Tesla's safety will persist.