A 20-month-old toddler was trapped inside a Tesla Model Y after the vehicle's 12-volt battery died, rendering the car's electronic systems and door locks inoperative.
This incident, spotlighting the EV's critical design flaw, occurred in Scottsdale, Arizona, where temperatures soared above 100 degrees Fahrenheit.
People try a Tesla Model Y car at a Tesla showroom at a shopping mall in Beijing on April 29, 2022. by JADE GAO/AFP via Getty Images)
Toddler Gets Trapped Inside a Tesla
Arizona Family reports that Renee Sanchez, a Scottsdale grandmother, was on her way to the Phoenix Zoo with her granddaughter when the unexpected event unfolded.
After securely buckling her 20-month-old granddaughter into the car seat, Sanchez closed the door to the Tesla Model Y and attempted to get into the front seat.
To her horror, she found that the car had no power. "My phone key wouldn't open it. My car key wouldn't open it," Sanchez recounted to Arizona's Family.
With the toddler locked inside and temperatures rising rapidly, Sanchez had no choice but to call 911. Scottsdale firefighters were dispatched to the scene. Upon arrival, they were initially taken aback by the challenge presented by the Tesla.
"Uggh, it's a Tesla. We can't get in these cars," one firefighter reportedly said. Despite the difficulty, they acted swiftly, using an ax to smash a window and rescue the child.
The incident raises major safety concerns about Tesla's design, particularly the reliance on electronic systems that can fail without warning.
The 12-volt battery that powers the car's electronics, including door locks and windows, had died unexpectedly. Tesla vehicles are supposed to issue three warnings before the battery dies, but Sanchez confirmed that she received none.
Tesla's Model Y does have manual release mechanisms for such situations, but they are not widely known or easily accessible.
The owner's manual tells us that the front doors can be opened using a manual release located in front of the window switches, and some rear doors can be manually opened by removing a mat, pressing a red tab, and pulling a mechanical release cable.
However, these manual releases are meant to be used from inside the car, making them useless in situations where the occupant is outside and unable to gain entry.
Previous Incidents
This is not the first time such an incident has occurred. Earlier in the same week, another woman found herself trapped inside her Model Y but managed to escape after learning about the manual latch. Additionally, an Arizona driver reported being trapped in his Model Y on a hot day last year.
The incident has prompted calls for Tesla to improve its design and ensure that emergency responders are better educated on how to handle such situations.
"They need to educate the first responders because they had no idea," Sanchez emphasized. She also suggested that Tesla should add a more straightforward option for accessing the car when the battery dies.
