Photo: @grssvktr via Twitter, DaxM via YouTube
Last October, we informed you about a welcome change to the emergency door release system on the Model Y vehicles built at the Fremont factory and Giga Shanghai. New information reveals that the same model built at Giga Berlin now comes with a different system, which is impossible to use without a screwdriver.
In a rush to simplify manufacturing as much as possible, Tesla introduced a new door-opening mechanism to its vehicles. This means the opening handles are no longer physically connected to the door opening mechanism. Instead, electrical switches drive an electromagnet to trigger the door-opening system. This presents the advantage of fewer moving parts, allowing Tesla to save a few bucks. For the car's occupants, it means that opening the door when the 12-volt electrical system is down is impossible.
This could lead to potentially life-threatening situations in crashes that disable the 12-volt system. This is not a far-fetched situation, as we know of at least two situations when people died because they were trapped inside a burning Tesla. That despite Tesla offering a manual door release system, which should have prevented such tragedies. Unfortunately, the emergency system is poorly documented in the owner's manual, and sometimes it's impossible to access without proper tools.
In the case of the Tesla Model Y, Tesla fitted an emergency release system tucked inside the rear door pocket. Initially, the system was hidden behind a plastic tab flush with the pocket, making it impossible to remove with bare hands. Last October, Tesla acknowledged that and replaced that with a "hatch" that is easy to grab and remove with your fingers. The change was implemented for cars produced in Fremont and at Giga Shanghai, and everyone hoped it would also be on Model Ys made in Europe at Giga Berlin.
Well, after a video of the emergency door system in the Model Y was shared on social media, drama unfolded in Europe. The made-in-Germany Tesla Model Y owners could not find the emergency release as shown in the video and the car's manual. They shared pictures showing the door pocket liner without the access hatch to the emergency release system. To be sure, the Tesla Model Y owner's manual warns that "not all Model Y vehicles are equipped with a manual release for the rear doors."
After fiddling around the area, a German Model Y owner discovered that the manual release system for the rear doors still exists, but Tesla integrated the access opening in the pocket's liner. In some cases, this is visible, but in others, it's impossible to notice the access opening. The worst part is that access is impossible without using a flat screwdriver or something similar. In an accident or fire, this can make opening the door from the inside impossible.
Since the Model Y EVs built at Giga Berlin are exported throughout Europe, I can see how this is a widespread problem. Owners discovered that potentially all model years have the same system, from those built in September 2022 to at least March 2023. I don't know whether Tesla changed the system for the most recent builds or, on the contrary, implemented it also on cars built in China and the US.
As some European owners suggested, opening the hatch and attaching a release handle to the wire is highly recommended. It could save your life. Something like the "Release before flight" tags used in aviation would do the trick and provide peace of mind.
This could lead to potentially life-threatening situations in crashes that disable the 12-volt system. This is not a far-fetched situation, as we know of at least two situations when people died because they were trapped inside a burning Tesla. That despite Tesla offering a manual door release system, which should have prevented such tragedies. Unfortunately, the emergency system is poorly documented in the owner's manual, and sometimes it's impossible to access without proper tools.
In the case of the Tesla Model Y, Tesla fitted an emergency release system tucked inside the rear door pocket. Initially, the system was hidden behind a plastic tab flush with the pocket, making it impossible to remove with bare hands. Last October, Tesla acknowledged that and replaced that with a "hatch" that is easy to grab and remove with your fingers. The change was implemented for cars produced in Fremont and at Giga Shanghai, and everyone hoped it would also be on Model Ys made in Europe at Giga Berlin.
Well, after a video of the emergency door system in the Model Y was shared on social media, drama unfolded in Europe. The made-in-Germany Tesla Model Y owners could not find the emergency release as shown in the video and the car's manual. They shared pictures showing the door pocket liner without the access hatch to the emergency release system. To be sure, the Tesla Model Y owner's manual warns that "not all Model Y vehicles are equipped with a manual release for the rear doors."
After fiddling around the area, a German Model Y owner discovered that the manual release system for the rear doors still exists, but Tesla integrated the access opening in the pocket's liner. In some cases, this is visible, but in others, it's impossible to notice the access opening. The worst part is that access is impossible without using a flat screwdriver or something similar. In an accident or fire, this can make opening the door from the inside impossible.
Since the Model Y EVs built at Giga Berlin are exported throughout Europe, I can see how this is a widespread problem. Owners discovered that potentially all model years have the same system, from those built in September 2022 to at least March 2023. I don't know whether Tesla changed the system for the most recent builds or, on the contrary, implemented it also on cars built in China and the US.
As some European owners suggested, opening the hatch and attaching a release handle to the wire is highly recommended. It could save your life. Something like the "Release before flight" tags used in aviation would do the trick and provide peace of mind.
Correction:
— Raffael ?????????? (@raffaeru) August 8, 2023
There is a manual release for the rear doors in the MiG Model Y but forget about getting to it by just using your fingers.
Especially in case of an emergency. https://t.co/b5RUDw93n5 pic.twitter.com/eCKdKrp7pY
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