Mayukh Saha

Mayukh Saha

August 1, 2024

Some Tesla Owners Have Been Locked Inside After Losing Power. Here’s How to Manually Open a Tesla Door if You Get Stuck

Tesla, a pioneer in electric vehicle technology, offers a range of high-tech, luxury vehicles. However, like any machine, Teslas can experience malfunctions, including sudden power loss. This has led to numerous reports of Tesla owners being trapped inside their vehicles. While Teslas are equipped with manual door releases, these can be difficult to locate without referring to the owner’s manual. This article serves as a guide to help Tesla owners understand the issue and know how to escape their vehicle in case of a power outage.

The Issue: Power Loss and Trapped Drivers

Woman stepping out of a tesla
Image Credits: Unsplash

Numerous Tesla owners have said they’ve been stuck inside their EVs after the cars suddenly lost power,” reports indicate. This issue has led to alarming situations, such as firefighters having to rescue a toddler from a locked Tesla after its battery died. Another Tesla driver, Rick Meggison, shared his experience of being trapped inside his Model Y for 20 minutes on a 100-degree day due to a dead battery. These incidents highlight the importance of knowing how to manually open the doors of a Tesla in case of a power failure.

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Model S: Manual Door Release Instructions

Tesla headlights
Image Credits: Unsplash

The Tesla Model S has a manual door release mechanism for both front and rear doors. “To manually open the front doors when a Model S loses power, you need to pull up the release tab that’s found in front of the window switches on the door panel,” the Tesla owner’s manual explains. For the rear doors, the process is a bit more involved. The owner’s manual instructs to “pull back the carpet below the back seats to expose the emergency door release cable,” and then “pull the cable ‘toward the center’ of the car.”

Model 3: Manual Door Release Instructions

Tesla logo
Image Credits: Unsplash

The Tesla Model 3, unlike the Model S, only has a manual door release for the front doors. The owner’s manual clearly states that “only the front doors are equipped with a manual door release.” To open these doors, simply “pull up the manual release that’s located just in front of the window switch panel on the door.”

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Model X: Manual Door Release Instructions

A tesla
Image Credits: Unsplash

Similar to the Model S, the Model X has manual door releases for both front and rear doors. The front doors can be opened using the release tab in front of the window buttons. However, the rear doors have a different mechanism. The owner’s manual explains that it’s a “mechanical release found behind the speaker grille, which you need to remove from the vehicle’s door.” After removing the grille, “pull the mechanical release cable down and towards the front of the vehicle” and then lift the door to open it.

Tesla Model Y: Manual Door Release Instructions

Tesla logo
Image Credits: Unsplash

The Model Y also has a manual door release for the front seats located in front of the window switch panel. However, the manual notes that “not all Model Y cars come with a manual release for the rear seats.” For those that do, it can be found in the rear doors’ pockets. The manual details the process: “Remove the mat from the pocket and press a red tab to reveal the manual release cable,” then pull the cable forward to open the door.

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