this post was submitted on 21 May 2025
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Tesla owners are modifying their cars to be escapable if the car catches fire, because the doors stop working like normal and you need to rely on well-hidden mechanical overrides.

Which... feels pretty dangerous, like that's the worst possible time for the doors to stop working like normal.

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[–] FuglyDuck@lemmy.world 6 points 2 days ago

Most cars have an electro-mechanical lock; with a physical connection between the interior door pull and the lock that pulls the bolt back if you’re trying to get out.

This is an industry standard safety feature, and has been for decades.

Tesla, in their infinite TechBro Douchiness decided they knew better than the entire car industry and took that out. Their locked are electrically activated.

Also?

Because of the risk of electrocution, and fires caused by snorts, Teslas turn off the power if it detects a crash.

Fortunately, regulations require that cars sold in the US have a mechanical release somewhere accessible from the inside.

Unfortunately for Tesla drivers, Musk doesn’t care about their customers dying in their cars and have opted to make it both non-obvious as to where it is, and frequently actually-hard to activate in an emergency.

This is why a few people have died inside Tesla car fires- being unable to get out.

The response by consumers is for them to add pull-thingies to make it obvious and simple. Like most models, it’s hidden under panels or carpet. Now imagine removing those panels when you’re freaking out because your car is on fire and doing something you’ve almost certainly never practiced.

(This lack of safety conscious design is one of the biggest reasons I will never drive a Tesla.)