Opportunity
Federal Register #DP25-002
Denial of Petition for Motor Vehicle Defect Investigation in 2022 Tesla Model 3
Buyer
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
Posted
July 24, 2026
Identifier
DP25-002
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), under the Department of Transportation, has issued a notice denying a petition for a safety defect investigation regarding the 2022 Tesla Model 3. - Government Buyer: - National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Department of Transportation - OEM Mentioned: - Tesla - Petition Details: - Requested investigation into emergency egress controls for the mechanical door release in the 2022 Tesla Model 3 - Alleged controls are not readily accessible or clearly identifiable, potentially violating Federal Motor Vehicle Standard (FMVSS) 206 - NHTSA Review: - Examined consumer complaints, NHTSA databases, and other relevant information - Determined further investigation is unlikely to find a safety defect - Issue considered more appropriate for rulemaking than defect investigation - No products or services are being procured or awarded in this notice - Only OEM referenced is Tesla; no vendors, product line items, or service line items are involved
Description
This notice explains the denial of a petition submitted by Mr. Kevin Clouse requesting a safety defect investigation into the emergency egress controls for the mechanical door release in the 2022 Tesla Model 3. The petitioner alleged that these controls are not readily accessible or clearly identifiable, potentially violating Federal Motor Vehicle Standard (FMVSS) 206. After reviewing consumer complaints, agency databases, and other relevant information, NHTSA concluded that further investigation is unlikely to find a safety defect and that the issue is better addressed through rulemaking. Consequently, the petition was denied and no defect investigation will be opened.