Tesla under investigation in the US for a Model Y door defect

One up and one down. While Tesla's shares have risen significantly in recent days after Elon Musk announced his $1 billion stock purchase, now it's the traffic authorities who have thrown it a cold shower. The reason? The faulty door handles on some of its cars.

The preliminary investigation has been opened by the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and would affect 174,290 units of the 2021 Model Y, according to Europa Press and Bloomberg, although it could be extended to other models of the brand. Tesla launched a completely revamped Model Y a few months ago.

Specifically, a problem with the low-voltage batteries causes the hidden handles to become stuck. This solution (handles flush with the bodywork) is common in electric cars to improve aerodynamics, but in this Tesla (and in the Model 3) they don't automatically move outwards, as they do in the Model S and Model X. They have to be pressed manually.

The NHTSA says it has received complaints from nine owners who were unable to reopen their Tesla doors to retrieve a child from the rear seat or to place them in the rear seat. "The investigation is focused on electronic door locks from the outside of the vehicle, as there is no manual way to open the door. Even if there were a hidden locking cylinder, it would not be accessible," the agency notes on its website.

"The agency will continue to monitor any reports of entrapment involving the opening of doors from inside the vehicle" and "will take additional action as necessary," they stressed.