Tesla Recalls 3 Million EVs in China to Teach Owners How to Open Doors in a Crash (1 Photo)

Tesla, alongside 11 other automakers, is recalling nearly 3 million vehicles in China as part of a nationwide initiative to inform owners about hidden emergency door releases that can unlock doors during a crash or fire. Warning labels will be affixed inside vehicles to help passengers manually open doors in an emergency, and the recall also includes an over-the-air software update.



The issue with manual door releases has drawn increasing scrutiny in recent years as many automakers have made electronic door locks standard. While electronic latches allow drivers to seamlessly use a smartphone or contactless NFC card to open doors, they can fail during a collision. Automakers include mechanical manual overrides for emergencies, but these handles are often tucked away in unexpected locations or hidden behind door panels.

Following a two-year investigation, China announced in February 2026 that flush, electronically controlled exterior door handles will be banned starting in 2027. Late last year, the top U.S. auto safety regulator also launched an investigation into Tesla's door locking system. The agency is considering a new rule that could overhaul safety standards for such mechanisms, with one proposed requirement stating that manual releases must be "intuitive to operate and readily accessible to occupants."

Tesla is far from the only automaker using hard-to-reach manual releases as a backup for electronic door locks. Last year, Rivian customers and employees voiced concerns over the manual release mechanism on R1 vehicles, which requires passengers to pop off a panel and pull a cable. The company subsequently announced it would move the mechanism to a more accessible location on the new R2 model. In 2025, Ford temporarily halted Mustang Mach-E sales and issued a recall to prevent electronic door locks from failing during a power outage.

Tesla, which popularized flush exterior handles and electronic latches, said it is currently working on redesigning its door handles for future models.