Tesla drivers are buying emergency tools to avoid being trapped inside

https://www.the-independent.com/news/world/americas/tesla-escape-tools-doors-b2887273.html

48 Comments

  1. > In one extreme example, the son of Tesla owner Erin Geter became trapped inside her vehicle. The car’s electric doors lost power, preventing Geter from freeing her child

    “Hey guys, let’s purposefully give a critical function a single point of failure, one that didn’t exist before, just to fuck our customers.” – Technoking of Tesla, Elon Musk (real title that he gave himself, btw)

  2. Southampton_Dock on

    Teslas have a mechanical handle at the end of the door arm rest that pulls up to release the door.

  3. theColeHardTruth on

    My favorite part is that people would rather go out of their way to expend their own money and time to purchase and install these bodge fixes rather than demand basic safety features from their multi… *looks up Tesla Valuation* TRILLION dollar company.

    These people are truly huffing some *weapons-grade* copium here.

  4. Ive got a windshield breaker in my normal car too. Looks like a small hammer. Seems prudent to have a way out no matter what.

  5. ColdSecret8656 on

    There’s a mechanical latch on the doors. Why would anyone be trapped? Unless the car is submerged. But there are also sensors that will lower the windows if that happens. Allegedly.

  6. So are any other drivers with any sense.

    Crash that deforms your vehicle body?

    You’re probably getting trapped inside.

    Have a glass hammer and a seatbelt cutter. Automobile associations all recommend this, as do insurers.

    This is your classic ‘shoehorn Tesla into a story for clicks’, and as ever Reddit is lapping it up.

  7. Guac_in_my_rarri on

    u/androiduser37

    Look another article about Tesla drivers being trapped fork power loss.

  8. Mysterious-Lick on

    I have them, a belt cutter and a glass breaker, for all our autos not just our EV ones. It makes sense, not everyone will be able to kick out a window fast enough if a car falls into a lake, for example.

  9. Everyone should have a glass break tool in the pocket of the door or somewhere immediately available in any vehicle.

  10. Emergency tools should be bought as a precautionary “what if” answer

    If you gotta buy them because you bought a car brand, thats horrible optics for the brand…but Tesla doesnt have to play by the rules

  11. CalligrapherPlane731 on

    So much “can-just” in this thread. First, having a mechanical door handle inside that you aren’t supposed to use right next to the button you are supposed to use is bad design. Second, having to remove a door panel in the back to get to the manual release is bad design. Third, pairing all this with laminate glass windows you can’t easily break is bad design. Fourth, having no way of opening the car from the outside if the battery fails is bad design.

    I was impressed with the model y I test drove. I’m super impressed with the self driving. The door situation gives me a lot of pause. Something as basic as entering your car from the outside needs to be a passive mechanism. I’ve had a lot of 12V batteries die on me over the years. I’ve left the dome light on in an airport parking lot for a week. An old Prius just had its battery fail. Fixes all start with being able to access the interior of the car.

  12. So people do not realize there is already a manual release on Tesla doors?

    I guess being in a emergency makes it hard to think but it’s not even 5 inches away from the button.

  13. Saw a video of a dude who drove off the road into some water and drowned because he couldn’t open the door or break the window. Bought a window breaker/belt cutter for me and my girl’s cars the next day.

    We should all have these tools.

  14. Time to buy the ‘Clemenza’ garrotte for that day when you just can’t be the Tesla car victim .

  15. Teslas have mechanical door latches like every other car…

    Plus glassbreakers are something EVERY car owner should have

  16. We_are_being_cheated on

    Everyone should have emergency tools in their vehicle to keep them from being trapped inside.

  17. Strict-Square456 on

    I have a 1st yr VW ID4 and continue to have issues unlocking my rear doors. Sometimes i would take 5 minutes to drop kids off at school trying to get them to open. Just recently they called me in for a door recall upgrade which took 2 yrs ; a week later i had an incident where i couldn’t open the rear doors.

  18. My car doors also have an emergency tool to open them in case the power doesn’t work. It’s called a handle

  19. This isn’t just a Tesla thing, you should always have a way to break out of a car if the worst should happen.

  20. Delicious_Rabbit4425 on

    That’s cool. I don’t drive a Tesla and I have one if these tools too. No power no power windows in any car that has power windows.

  21. I believe you can also remove your head restraint and use the metal posts to break the side window.

  22. I used to unload cars for the railroad and I was unload a railcar full of used GMs. I got in a fancy used Cadillac XLR with fancy electronic door handles like the Tesla. I pushed the button and it let me in. I turned the key and the engine did a little sputter and then the starter made that click click click sound. Shit, the car was dead. No problem happens all the time from sitting in transit. I tried to pop the hood for a jump and tried to open the door. Nope. The battery died enough from the start attempt that the electronic door locks wouldn’t work. I was stuck inside. I spent a good amount of time looking for a manual release. Nada. I eventually found the manual in the glove box and found the answer. Fuck.

    I had to wait about 10 mins for the next crew rotation to come back to help me out. This vehicle hood latch was electronic as well but had a manual release. Luckily the door to this car had no frame for the top of the window so I was able to squeeze the key out of the slim space to give to my coworkers. They had to pop a small plastic square off the bumper they revealed a key hole that opened the trunk. They then had to peel back the fabric to reveal a manual pull cable that popped the hood so they could jump the battery and let me out. What a joke.

    I think about they whenever I get in a Tesla.