A massive vehicle recall is currently occupying Tesla and eight other car manufacturers. The Chinese government has ordered them to recall a total of around 4.27 million electric cars. Around three million of these are accounted for by Tesla alone. The background is several accidents involving Teslas, in which occupants were burned to death or suffered severe burns due to failing electric door handles in their vehicles. Such cases have also occurred in Germany.
Only vehicles manufactured and registered in China are affected. Tesla’s electrically operated door handles, which are recessed into the vehicle doors, could become a danger in some accidents, the US news agency Bloomberg quotes from a statement from the Chinese Ministry of Transport. Specifically, when the power supply is interrupted and it is no longer possible to climb out of the wreckage. After high-speed accidents that victims could have survived, they repeatedly suffered severe burns in the flames of their wrecked cars. In some cases, according to the authority, it even became a death trap.
If the power supply to the Tesla handles fails, for example in an accident, occupants must find and operate mechanical door openers such as levers or cables. Depending on the model, they can be located behind door panels or under seats, which can cause problems, especially in accidents.
