A Massachusetts wrongful death lawsuit has brought renewed scrutiny to Tesla’s vehicle design, alleging a fatal flaw in the electronic door handles that trapped a 20-year-old man inside his burning car after a crash last October. The suit details a harrowing 911 call made by Samuel Tremblett, who pleaded for help as his Tesla Model Y became engulfed in flames.
According to the lawsuit, filed in federal court, Tremblett crashed his 2021 Model Y into a tree in Easton, Massachusetts, around 1:00 a.m. On . Unable to open the doors, he was trapped and succumbed to thermal injuries and smoke inhalation before first responders could reach him. The lawsuit claims that Tesla’s electronic door handles, reliant on electrical power, malfunction during crashes, rendering them inoperable.
A transcript of Tremblett’s desperate 911 call, included in the lawsuit, paints a chilling picture of his final moments. “I’m stuck in a car crash… I can’t get out, please help me… I can’t breathe…. It’s on fire, it’s on fire. Help please… I am going to die… I’m dying. Help,” he reportedly told the dispatcher. The call underscores the urgency and terror of his situation.
First responders arriving at the scene faced intense flames and multiple explosions. According to the lawsuit, four separate explosions occurred within the first ten minutes of their arrival, hindering rescue efforts. Police reports indicate that Tremblett’s remains were found in the backseat of the vehicle.
The lawsuit argues that while Teslas are equipped with manual door releases, their location is “inconspicuous” and “not readily discernible,” particularly in a panic situation following a crash. The suit includes images from the Model Y owner’s manual illustrating the location of the mechanical releases near the window switches.
This case is not isolated. The lawsuit highlights a growing concern regarding the safety of Tesla’s electric door systems. A similar lawsuit filed in Washington state alleges that design flaws caused a Tesla Model 3 to accelerate uncontrollably, resulting in a fatal crash in . In that incident, bystanders were reportedly unable to open the doors to rescue the occupants.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) initiated an investigation in September into reports of faulty electronic door handles on 2021 Tesla Model Y SUVs, citing instances where owners were unable to enter or exit their vehicles. The investigation was prompted by reports of parents being unable to access children inside the cars.
Tesla executive leadership acknowledged the issue in September , stating the company was working on a redesign of its door handles. In December , Tesla updated its website to indicate that hazard lights would automatically activate and doors would unlock upon detection of a serious collision, aiming to improve emergency access.
However, the lawsuit contends that these measures are insufficient. The core issue, according to the plaintiffs, remains the reliance on electrical power for door operation and the difficulty in locating and activating the manual releases during a crisis. The suit seeks punitive damages, alleging that Tesla was aware of the potential safety risks associated with its door design.
The legal action follows a Bloomberg investigation into the hazards of electric door systems, which uncovered at least 15 deaths in a dozen incidents over the past decade where occupants or rescuers were unable to open Tesla doors after a crash and subsequent fire. The investigation highlighted the potential for these systems to fail and trap individuals inside burning vehicles.
The case raises broader questions about the safety of increasingly complex automotive technology and the balance between innovation and passenger security. As electric vehicles become more prevalent, the design of emergency egress systems will likely face increased scrutiny from regulators and safety advocates. The outcome of this lawsuit could have significant implications for the automotive industry and the future of vehicle safety standards.
Neither Tesla nor the plaintiff’s attorneys immediately responded to requests for comment regarding the ongoing litigation. The case is being closely watched by legal experts and safety advocates, who see it as a critical test of Tesla’s commitment to passenger safety and its responsibility for potential design flaws.
