The Tesla Cybertruck arrived as a radical, stainless-steel vision of the future. But for some, that futuristic appeal has been tragically overshadowed by a fundamental question of safety. High-profile lawsuits now claim the truck’s cutting-edge design turned into a death trap during a fiery crash, with electronic doors that allegedly failed to open for occupants trying to escape.

As cars become more like computers on wheels, are we sacrificing fundamental safety for sleek design and high-tech features? This piece breaks down the growing trend of electronic egress systems, the technology behind them, and what every driver of a modern vehicle needs to know to stay safe.

A Radical Design Under Scrutiny: The Cybertruck Door Controversy

The center of the storm is a devastating crash in Piedmont, California, in 2023, which led to multiple lawsuits from the families of the victims. The core allegation is severe: after the impactcaused a power loss to the vehicle’s low-voltage system, the electronic doors would not open from the inside or outside, trapping the occupants inside the burning vehicle. The lawsuits accuse Tesla of creating a death trap by prioritizing a minimalist aesthetic over failsafe functionality.

A critical point in the lawsuits is the claim that the manual door release mechanisms were difficult to locate and operate in the smoke and chaos of a post-crash fire. According to one complaint, the only way to manually open the rear doors is via a concealed mechanical release that is highly unlikely to be located or operated in an emergency. This concern is not isolated to the Cybertruck; the NHTSA has an ongoing investigation into other Tesla models after receiving over 140 consumer complaints regarding door malfunctions since 2018.

This incident has become a flashpoint for a much larger conversation about the push-and-pull between innovation, aesthetics, and occupant safety in the EV era. While handle-less doors contribute to a vehicle’s futuristic look, these lawsuits force the industry to confront whether such designs have adequate, intuitive backups for worst-case scenarios.

From Mechanical to Electronic: Why Car Doors Are Changing

For decades, car doors were simple mechanical devices. You pull a handle, which draws a rod or cable, which releases a latch. The system is robust and completely independent of the vehicle’s electrical power. In contrast, electronic egress systems replace that physical connection with wires, sensors, and actuators. An interior button or exterior handle sends an electronic signal that tells a motor to unlatch the door, all powered by the car’s low-voltage (12V) battery.

Automakers are rapidly adopting this technology for several compelling reasons. Flush, pop-out handles, like those on many Teslas, the Lucid Air, and Rivians, reduce aerodynamic drag, which can slightly increase an EV’s range. They also allow for the clean, minimalist designs that have become a hallmark of modern vehicles. Furthermore, electronic systems enable advanced features like soft-close doors, remote opening via a smartphone app, and automatic presentation of handles as the driver approaches.

Pop–Out Handles: Handles that sit flush with the bodywork and extend electronically upon approach or
Push–Button Releases: Interior buttons that replace traditional mechanical levers or handles to unlatch the
Handle–less Designs: Systems that rely entirely on a button or gesture to unlatch the door,

as seen on the Tesla Cybertruck.

Hybrid Systems: Mechanical-feeling handles that are electronically assisted but often have integrated direct cable

When Failsafes Fail: The Risks and Regulations

The primary risk of electronic door systems is a complete loss of power to the vehicle’s low-voltage system, which can occur in a severe crash, submersion in water, or a major battery malfunction. This scenario is at the heart of the Tesla Cybertruck door controversy. When the 12V system fails, the primary electronic buttons and handles become inoperable, making the manual override the only way out.

Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 206 governs door locks and latches’ strength and retention capabilities, ensuring they don’t burst open in a crash. However, the standard has not fully kept pace with the industry’s rapid shift to purely electronic systems. Critically, no specific federal mandate dictates the type, visibility, or standardized location of manual overrides. This creates a regulatory gray area where manufacturers are left to design emergency solutions, which can vary dramatically in their intuitiveness and accessibility.

The Legal Fallout of Design Flaws

The tragic outcomes alleged in the Cybertruck lawsuits highlight a critical area of law where innovation and consumer safety collide. Manufacturers can be liable for negligence when an automotive design flaw leads to injury or death. These cases often hinge on whether the company knew, or should have known, about a potential safety risk but failed to address it adequately.

Navigating these complex product liability claims requires deep expertise in auto accident litigation. Legal teams like McPartland Law Offices specialize in representing victims of car crashes, including those where manufacturer defects are a contributing factor. They work to hold automakers accountable for prioritizing aesthetics over fundamental safety, ensuring that victims and their families receive justice when preventable design choices lead to catastrophic harm.

An experienced attorney can investigate whether a manufacturer ignored known issues, failed to provide clear instructions for emergency overrides, or violated industry safety standards. This legal pressure is crucial for securing compensation for victims and pushing the entire industry toward creating safer vehicles.

Feature/Scenario
Traditional Mechanical Latch
Electronic Latch with Manual Override

Normal Operation
Pull handle, door opens.
Push button/pull handle, door unlatches.

Power Loss Event
Fully functional. Operates independently of car’s power.
Primary electronic function fails. Door will not open via button.

Emergency Egress
Simple and intuitive. Interior/exterior handles work.
Requires locating and using manual release. Can be a hidden lever, cable, or strap.

Rescuer Access

Straightforward. First responders can open doors externally.
Potentially delayed. Rescuers may not know where the hidden external release is, if one exists.

What’s In Your Door? A Driver’s Guide to Emergency Exits

The most important takeaway for any modern vehicle driver is this: find out how your emergency door releases work before you need them. The single best resource is your owner’s manual.

Locate the Emergency or Safety section today and read the instructions for manual egress. The location and operation of these releases vary drastically between manufacturers and even between different models from the same brand.

Common locations for manual releases include small levers or tabs hidden near the window switches or integrated into the interior door handle assembly. In some vehicles, you might find a hidden pull-cable at the bottom of the door storage pocket or tucked under a small rubber mat. For rear doors, the release is sometimes a mechanical lever situated under a small plastic cover on the door itself, often near the child-safety lock.

Once you’ve located the release in your manual, find it in your car. We strongly advise practicing using it in a calm, non-emergency situation to familiarize yourself with its feel and operation.

Building that muscle memory is as crucial as knowing how to use a fire extinguisher; it can be the difference between a close call and a tragedy.

The Road Ahead: Balancing Innovation with Intuitive Safety

The automotive industry’s push toward an electric, high-tech future is thrilling for enthusiasts. However, the Tesla Cybertruck door controversy is a powerful and sobering reminder that fundamental safety systems must remain foolproof, intuitive, and accessible under duress.

Technology that works perfectly 99.9% of the time is not good enough if it fails catastrophically at 0.1% when lives are on the line.

Moving forward, regulators and automakers must collaborate to standardize emergency egress systems for this new era of vehicle design. Until then, the ultimate responsibility falls on any car’s most important safety feature: an informed and prepared driver. Knowing your vehicle inside and out—especially its hidden safety features—has never been more critical.