Tesla is looking to redesign its door handles following trapped-passenger report

Safety-Critical Design & Engineering Culture

• Multiple commenters compare Tesla’s electronic handles to past safety disasters (e.g., Therac-25, 737 MAX): software-controlled systems without robust hardware fail-safes.
• Several argue this is less a one-off mistake and more a reflection of weak safety culture, with “design theater” prioritized over robust engineering.
• Others note that many automakers copied the trend, suggesting an industry-wide “gimmick” culture, not just one company.

Gimmick vs. Real Benefit

• Retractable/flush electric handles are widely described as a gimmick with negligible aerodynamic benefit; links are shared showing drag impact is minor.
• People share anecdotes of failed handles (e.g., zip-ties in the desert, frozen handles in winter) and say simpler mechanical flush handles have existed for decades.
• Some argue that if manufacturers truly cared about efficiency, they’d focus on wheel/tire choices and major aero surfaces instead of complex door mechanisms.

Usability & Intuitiveness

• Many passengers report confusion entering/exiting Teslas, often mistaking emergency mechanical releases for normal handles or not even knowing they exist.
• Commenters reference intuitive design principles: door operation is a deeply learned behavior that should not require a “tutorial” or 5‑minute safety briefing.
• Public transit is cited as a better model: powered doors plus clearly labeled, obvious manual emergency releases.

Emergency Egress & Incidents

• Bloomberg/CNN reporting of ~140 complaints and injury cases involving stuck Tesla doors sparks debate: some find the number alarming, others question how significant it is without a baseline for comparison.
• Commenters detail how rear manual releases used to require lifting mats and hidden panels; newer models reportedly improve this but still add friction.
• There’s disagreement over specific high-profile drowning cases: whether Tesla’s design played a causal role is viewed as unclear. Several point out that escaping any submerged car is inherently difficult.

Regulation vs. Responsibility

• Some frame this as a regulatory failure: agencies did not anticipate the need to specify that doors must be obviously and mechanically openable.
• Others counter that the core problem is engineering culture, and regulation alone can’t anticipate every “stupid implementation.”
• China’s move toward banning fully retractable handles is cited as evidence regulators can step in after patterns of harm emerge.

Broader Sentiment on Modern Cars

• A recurring wish: “a normal car that’s electric” – conventional handles, stalks, and controls, without touchscreens and electronic poppers for basic functions.
• Some owners tolerate poor UX because of very low maintenance costs; others refuse to buy or even ride in such cars over safety and design concerns.