Four People Die Trapped in Burning Tesla

[alarmguy]

One of these is on every keychain I own. Spring loaded glass breaker and seatbelt cutter, in the size of a car key, for $10. Whether it’s for me, saving a stranger, or never having to use it, it’s worth it.

https://resqme.com/shop-now/

"Tempered glass window breaker: the solid, heavy-duty, stainless-steel spike easily breaks tempered glass car side windows. Hit preferably one of the corners of the window for better results. The resqme is equipped with a spring-loaded"

Yeah, this is for tempered glass, it might/will be a bear to try to escape in a vehicle that uses laminated glass during an emergency.
Im just unsure how many vehicles use laminated glass, if you do have one that does, the other device pictured here that looks like a pointed axe kept under the seat would be more fitting for the job.

 

[JeffKeryk]

We aren’t understanding each others post. My reply was to Jeff’s statement confirming to another poster you should have training to drive a Tesla, if he feels that way Tesla then fails as a company.

Not sure you understood my posts. 1st, Teslas are different, so they are not for everyone. That's a given.
Every new car I have purchased which include Teslas, Lexi and Hondas, have had someone take me to the car and explain a few things, go over the owners manual and take questions.

The Tesla buying experiences I've had have been better than any other make. Tesla has a team for this; they are not salesmen. They will take as long as you want.

 

[JeffKeryk]

No offense, but I find it hard to believe anyone is pulling you aside to comment on something as common as a Rav4.

There are a ton of Teslas around here, and they get a ton of attention. Our new car does, because the MP3 Highland is a pretty special car. I met some friends at a Mexican restaurant last Friday for a birthday celebration; there were 4 young college kids that could not stop talking about the car. They all took turns in the driver's seat, played with the front and rear screens, marveled at the interior, paint color, etc. They all said they wanted one.

It's all good that many don't care. After 5+ years of ownership, I get a lot of comments and questions.

I still think most of the naysayers posting here could open the door. I have faith in you. I'll tell you a secret; it really ain't that hard.

 

[alarmguy]

Not sure you understood my posts. 1st, Teslas are different, so they are not for everyone. That's a given.
Every new car I have purchased which include Teslas, Lexi and Hondas, have had someone take me to the car and explain a few things, go over the owners manual and take questions.

The Tesla buying experiences I've had have been better than any other make. Tesla has a team for this; they are not salesmen. They will take as long as you want.

Ok, I understand, I must have been under the wrong impression. I thought I have seen in here or in the media that people were literally handed the keys and told where their new vehicle was parked and that was the end of it. They walked to their car and drove off.

With that said, I am certain (if these posts are true) that if it is not intuitive to escape the vehicle in an emergency that at some point the door release will be re-done. I doubt it will be soon as that would be admitting guilt or a defect. After all the vehicles are driven for 10 or more years by people other than who picked the car up.
I just finished airline flights to Asia (a 30 (or close too) hour trek each way), a total of 9 different airplanes (including two really cool turbo props) over a 14 day period. All doors on the planes are configured to be easily opened by common people in an emergency without instruction. Most car doors are much the same and if they arent they should be. I dont own a Tesla and maybe it is intuitive but it seems like even you Tesla owners describe it as something different and the only reason for my comments. You all clearly know I am not against Tesla or any brand of vehicle and for what it is worth I am not sure I agree with the OP choice of word "trapped" as we do not know any clear details if this story.

Of course as you know I like to back up what I say. My life complicated right now but one day will post in the proper aviation thread

 

[SubieRubyRoo]

"Tempered glass window breaker: the solid, heavy-duty, stainless-steel spike easily breaks tempered glass car side windows. Hit preferably one of the corners of the window for better results. The resqme is equipped with a spring-loaded"

Yeah, this is for tempered glass, it might/will be a bear to try to escape in a vehicle that uses laminated glass during an emergency.
Im just unsure how many vehicles use laminated glass, if you do have one that does, the other device pictured here that looks like a pointed axe kept under the seat would be more fitting for the job.

Tesla’s don’t have laminated side glass.

https://www.aaa.com/AAA/common/AAR/files/Laminated-Glass-Vehicle-List.pdf

 

[JeffKeryk]

Ok, I understand, I must have been under the wrong impression. I thought I have seen in here or in the media that people were literally handed the keys and told where their new vehicle was parked and that was the end of it. They walked to their car and drove off.

AG, when you come to Silicon Valley I will throw you the keys and you are on your own.
Except, "Teslas ain't got no stinkin' keys!" I'll hafta work on that one... Ha!

FYI, if you needed to use the car, all I have to do is go on my cell app, unlock the door and press start remotely. I could be miles away; it doesn't matter. No 0-60 3 second blasts! And don't put it on AP and get in the back seat. Cops frown on that...

All good @alarmguy

 

[alarmguy]

Tesla’s don’t have laminated side glass.

https://www.aaa.com/AAA/common/AAR/files/Laminated-Glass-Vehicle-List.pdf

Yes they do,

"As you may already know, the Tesla Model Y now comes with laminated, double-pane glass on its driver- and passenger-side front door windows. The refreshed 2021 Model 3 also has the new glass."
Source =
https://insideevs.com/news/460707/testing-tesla-laminated-glass-vs-regular-glass/

https://www.teslaoracle.com/2021/09...es-it-quieter-tougher-and-safer-from-uv-rays/

 

[SubieRubyRoo]

Yes they do,

"As you may already know, the Tesla Model Y now comes with laminated, double-pane glass on its driver- and passenger-side front door windows. The refreshed 2021 Model 3 also has the new glass."
Source =
https://insideevs.com/news/460707/testing-tesla-laminated-glass-vs-regular-glass/

https://www.teslaoracle.com/2021/09...es-it-quieter-tougher-and-safer-from-uv-rays/

Oh well. AAA providing bad data. Cool.

 

[Fair enough]

There are a ton of Teslas around here, and they get a ton of attention. Our new car does, because the MP3 Highland is a pretty special car. I met some friends at a Mexican restaurant last Friday for a birthday celebration; there were 4 young college kids that could not stop talking about the car. They all took turns in the driver's seat, played with the front and rear screens, marveled at the interior, paint color, etc. They all said they wanted one.

It's all good that many don't care. After 5+ years of ownership, I get a lot of comments and questions.

I still think most of the naysayers posting here could open the door. I have faith in you. I'll tell you a secret; it really ain't that hard.

There are two pictures of handles, one is good, easy to use, well located, intuitive, no thinking needed, no looking for it needed by anyone trained or untrained, the other is totally not.

 

[97prizm]

I'm impressed there are so many "experts" online that know exactly what happened. We're all speculating from different points of how the car actually works not knowing how injured the people were, how badly damaged the vehicle was, or the state of mind of any person in that car.

There was that Paul Walker thing. I don't recall how conventional the Carrera GT door handles are if that's relevant to that accident too.

They proved that it was due to speed and the original tires that were over ten years old being heavily degraded.

 

[97prizm]

There are a ton of Teslas around here, and they get a ton of attention. Our new car does, because the MP3 Highland is a pretty special car. I met some friends at a Mexican restaurant last Friday for a birthday celebration; there were 4 young college kids that could not stop talking about the car. They all took turns in the driver's seat, played with the front and rear screens, marveled at the interior, paint color, etc. They all said they wanted one.

It's all good that many don't care. After 5+ years of ownership, I get a lot of comments and questions.

I still think most of the naysayers posting here could open the door. I have faith in you. I'll tell you a secret; it really ain't that hard.

"On examples equipped with them, emergency release latches for the Model Y’s rear doors are hidden beneath a mat at the bottom of the door pocket. Once that’s removed, a red tab opens an access hatch that reveals an emergency release cable." Apparently not all Teslas have emergency release cables which is illegal I think. "However, these emergency measures have been criticized for being poorly designed and unintuitively placed for certain models, often requiring intimate knowledge of the car — something that most owners, let alone a passenger in a panic, aren’t likely to have."
This was from another model y that burst into flames in Toronto.

 

[redbone3]

I was once trapped on a broken excalator.

 

[JeffKeryk]

I was once trapped on a broken excalator.

I hate it when that happens...

 

[edyvw]

Model Y Performance. I'm a little surprised about the attention to be honest. I don't know if the color adds to it, but it's not like I'm driving a Cybertruck.

Idk man, but those kids need hobby.

 

[edyvw]

Should I track down every 80s and 90s car that had their handle release in the same spot as the emergency release that I accidentally pulled the first time I was in one of these cars?

This is the part that confuses me. Have none of the people who think the design is flawed ever been in a Model 3 or Model Y? Are we just separated enough from this design that we all forgot about it? Did those people complain when the release handle moved back up on the side of the door panel for most cars?

I spent 11 years working in an industry that had me in and out of cars of different makes and models. Some designs are definitely better than others. I've had cars where it took a few minutes with only a manual lever design, not even an electronic popper. I'm not saying this is the greatest one, far from it. I just don't think it's near as bad as this thread has blown it out of proportion.

Get in and out of enough cars and you'll see plenty of less than favorable designs. More and more vehicles use popper designs every year. It also allows remote popping of the door when the handles are frozen shut.

Any design has its positives and negatives.

The reason why this is being discussed is that we discussed same issue about same manufacturer several times.

 

[ecotourist]

A little research might throw some light on the subject. Flawed data, but probably as good as there is right now. As I said earlier "man bites dog" gets reported, even when "dog bites man" is more common.

https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a40163966/cars-catching-fire-new-york-times-real-statistics/

I think all we can say is a burning vehicle is a very rare thing. The only car that burned where I knew the owner was a Volvo estate. And that was due to some problem with the seat heaters. And the only time I remember smoke coming out from under the dash was when I was 4 or 5 years old and riding in a neighbour's ancient (1930s) vehicle - no hybrids or EVs back then.

 

[Pew]

'89 maxima

Nissan GTR

1st gen Viper didn't even have an exterior door latch

How about that door button in the Vette?

Just a few popular cars that don't have traditional handles. Surprising amount that had them hiding in the door handle/coin pocket.

 

[4wheeldog]

The concern for the Model 3 is not being able to open anything or even get at the 12V battery should the 12V battery be completely dead.

There is an external release protocol that requires a 12V battery. I bought a number of tiny 12V batteries and gave one to each of my friends who owns a Tesla. You store that tiny 12V battery inside the "release hole". That tiny 12V battery will release the front trunk lid (the hood) so you can get at the 12V battery (and charge it or replace it). I've tested the release system and it works very well.

Tell me more about this "Tiny battery." I have a Mustang MME and it opens the frunk the same way when the 12vdc battery is dead.

 

[LDB]

I carry this knife 100%. I don't care how expensive a replacement window may be, I won't be stopped by one.

https://www.spyderco.com/catalog/details/C79OR/Assist-trade-FRN-Orange/304

 

[ecotourist]

Tell me more about this "Tiny battery." I have a Mustang MME and it opens the frunk the same way when the 12vdc battery is dead.

Here's video that explains what to do. Watch from 1:30.