I don’t know much about this, but in my understanding, it’s not that the handle hides in the door, but the fact that the latch inside is electronic. Using a mechanical latch that will work even without any electrical power would solve the problem.
this post was submitted on 03 Feb 2026
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It's both. The electric latch can trap occupants inside the vehicle, and the external handles make it difficult for rescuers to quickly access anyone trapped inside.
How do rescuers get into the car via the handle when it's locked? Or are cars supposed to unlock upon failure/crashes?
One is definitely way worse than the other though.
The flush handles on a model 3 are annoying in ice but the situations in which you desperately need into a car seem less likely than the situations where you need out but can't find the stupid pull tab that's hidden under plastic.
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We've all become desensitized automotive death. They're like children dying in schools. *scroll* *scroll* next story. next dopamine hit.
The Pinto became so renowned not because it easily blew up, but because people found out Ford had calculated the cost of payments to victims' families and worked out it was cheaper than recalling all the vehicles and fixing the problem. Capitalism has been alive and well for at least the last 50 years.
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"AH IT'S SO HOT, I'M BURNING ALIVE! OH GOD MAKE IT STOP!!! Still love my Tesla though."
Honestly do not understand how cars are not more heavily monitored for these kinds of safety features even for today.
They asked if the car had passed the safety test. I said I'd paid for the car to pass the safety test. They said welcome aboard.
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Most modern cars lock the doors when going faster than the walking speed so in case of crash the doors are more unlikely to fly open. Similary most modern cars unlock the doors after crash so passengers can get out from the car. Tesla included. In case the door fails to unlock there usually are way to manualy open the locks, but Tesla has made it to a treasure hunt with multiple stages, hidden paths and there is a wizard at the end asking quizzes before you can open the door. So in the end Musk can say there is a way to mechanically open the doors, because there is. Its just not convinient or safe.
Gee, why did DOGE fire most of the NHTSA? Auto safety has been corrupted since Detroit got addicted to selling people cheaply made trucks on a safety loophole. Ironically, people will tell you they bought their flippy tanks for safety.
Like when they suddenly decided every single function of the car including those you're expected to operate while driving should be under 4 sub-menus on a touch screen you need to look at.
Tesla leads all manufacturers for crashes two years in a row.
Coincidentally, DOGE fired most NTHSA staff the first week, while Teslurrr was under 17 investigations.
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How can it has been approved first? in case of crash and battery disconnect for whatever reason, you are trapped in the car, cannot get in cannot get out‽‽‽
Also I'd like to know after let's say 10 years, how many kWh did you save thanks to that?
So, the flush handles actually save a lot.
The thing is, there’s purely mechanical ways of solving the problem. Including a hinge set somewhere towards the middle- so you push one side in, and the other angled out so you can open it.
Not the most convenient, but it’s less inconvenient than an over engineered piece of shit that breaks every winter.
Last time I got on a coworker's Tesler, thats how they worked. Push the large part in with your thumb and the handle pops out. Curl your fingers around it and pull.
The thing I thought of later was "that made sene to me, who grew up in the 70's/80's/90's with handles that had a button you push in with your thumb. No kid knows that anymore."
That’s not what is being banned- though the newer style could still be electric and problematic, the style they’re really going after seems motorized pop out handles that look like this:
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Iirc there’s a panel you can remove to pull the latch cable manually, which is how they try to explain this being ok
Yeah, all you need is a small toolkit, five minutes, and a cool head - perfect for an emergency
And whennyou actually need rescuing, e.g. with a compund fracture or are pinned behind some twisted metal. Sounds like an elon idea, indeed.
If you incinerate all of the victims, they can't leave bad reviews!
Also you need to know about this and find it first. Try doing that in the middle of the night, on a car that has been deformed by a crash, and is on fire.
A small toolkit that didn't get yeeted around the car when you had your accident.
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So when Tesla goes bankrupt and all these people own cars locked down by software, unable to service them, I guess they just turn into giant paper weights?
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I got uber once, and tesla arrived. I was unable to enter this piece of death machine.
So now imagine that you want to help people locked in burning tesla, but you have no idea how to open freaking door. Tesla is protecting the world from some kind of people.
Safety policies are written in blood. Or in this case, ashes.
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This is why Tesla has been a mixed bag. They have made some smart choices and they have made some not so smart choices. Unfortunately, because they essentially are the EV market in America, all other companies looking to bring EVs to the market have copied Tesla in many ways, both the good and the bad. I think that's at least part of the reason why the EV market is suffering right now.
People shouldn't buy Tesla because a) their cars are garbage and dangerous, and b) the owner of the company is a Nazi. Have a good day, y'all!
A.2, overpriced!
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I love the Audi e-tron. Feels sturdy like an audi, no stupid gimmicks like disappearing handles.
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Heh-heh, now China is just fucking with Tesla.
Tesla will be bankrupt in 2 years.
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So now Tesla can't sell any cars in China. Take note investors.
Also, Chinese car makers like Jaecoo, who have also been using hidden car door latches, launched practical copies of models with normal car door latches in 2025.
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Good
Good!
I just got myself a Chinese Lynk & Co 08. It has hidden door handles. After reading news like this I get kinda nervous.
Great car overall, shares the same platform and tech as the newly announced volvo XC70 (the new one).
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