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Tesla Inc. is once again facing legal action following a tragic fiery crash in Washington state that resulted in one fatality and severe injuries to another occupant. The lawsuit alleges that the vehicle’s unique door handle design became inoperable after the collision, significantly impeding rescue efforts and contributing to the fatal outcome.
The incident, which occurred in January 2023, involved Jeffery and Wendy Dennis in their Model 3 sedan. According to the complaint filed in federal court, the electric vehicle “suddenly and rapidly accelerated out of control,” striking a utility pole and immediately erupting into flames. The lawsuit claims that Tesla’s “unique and defective door handle design” rendered the doors useless, trapping the couple inside. Despite the heroic efforts of several bystanders who attempted to open the doors and even use a baseball bat to break windows, Wendy Dennis tragically died at the scene, while Jeffery Dennis sustained serious injuries, including severe burns.
Allegations of Negligence and Known Defects
The lawsuit levies serious accusations against Tesla, alleging negligence and a deliberate misleading of customers. It contends that the company, led by Elon Musk, was fully aware that its door handles could become inoperable post-crash and that its lithium-ion battery packs posed a significant fire hazard. Crucially, the plaintiffs argue that Tesla failed to adequately address these known issues. Furthermore, the complaint suggests a defect in the Model 3 itself, leading to the sudden, uncontrollable acceleration and a failure of the automatic emergency braking system.
This legal challenge adds to a growing wave of scrutiny concerning Tesla’s vehicle safety features, particularly its door mechanisms. A previous investigation by Bloomberg News highlighted multiple incidents where occupants were trapped or died after being unable to open doors following power loss or crashes.
A Pattern of Trapped Occupants
The Washington state lawsuit is not an isolated case. In recent weeks:
- A lawsuit was filed in Wisconsin concerning a Model S crash that killed five occupants, allegedly trapped by inoperable doors within a fast-moving inferno.
- Another lawsuit in October claimed defects in a crashed Cybertruck in California turned it into a “death trap,” preventing three college students from escaping smoke inhalation fatalities.
- In July, a lawsuit emerged from a Murrieta, California, crash where three teenagers died, with the sole survivor’s legal action also citing door issues.
Tesla vehicles operate with two battery systems: a high-voltage pack for propulsion and a low-voltage battery for interior functions like windows, doors, and the touchscreen. A severe crash can disable the low-voltage battery, preventing electric door unlocks. While mechanical releases exist inside, many owners and passengers are reportedly unaware of their location or how to operate them, particularly in a panic situation.
NHTSA Investigation and Design Redesign Efforts
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) disclosed in September that it is actively investigating whether some Tesla doors are indeed defective, citing incidents where exterior handles ceased to function, trapping occupants. Tesla’s design chief, Franz von Holzhausen, confirmed to Bloomberg that the company is working on a redesign of its door handles to enhance intuitiveness for occupants in emergency scenarios.
The current case, titled Dennis v. Tesla, 3:25-cv-06052, is being heard in the US District Court, Western District of Washington (Tacoma). Tesla has not yet publicly responded to requests for comment regarding this latest lawsuit.