Tesla locked owner out with child inside.

[loneryder]

I don't know how you could anticipate this.

The Scottsdale grandmother tells On Your Side that she loaded her 20-month-old granddaughter into her car seat for a trip to the Phoenix Zoo.



‘And I closed the door, went around the car, [to] get in the front seat, and my car was dead,’ she said. ‘I could not get in. My phone key wouldn’t open it. My card key wouldn’t open it.’

As On Your Side explained in a recent report, when the Tesla battery that operates electronics dies, a hidden latch on the driver’s side armrest will manually unlock the door. Many Tesla owners don’t know about this latch.



But in this case, Sanchez was stuck outside of her Tesla while the toddler was trapped inside, buckled into a car seat.

It was also reported that the Tesla didn't give a worning that the battery was dying.

 

[97prizm]

Again let's make it overly complicated. Apparently Tesla doesn't mention this to owners.

 

[atikovi]

It was also reported that the Tesla didn't give a worning that the battery was dying.

I take that tidbit with a grain of salt. Maybe she just ignored the warning. Heck, people drive for years with the Check Engine light on. With my Model S you can pry off the front nosecone and access a jump post.

 

[Rmay635703]

I always thought manual door handles inside and out were mandatory safety equipment and anything else was illegal

 

[y_p_w]

There's nothing hidden about the manual door release on a Tesla. It's easily visible, right next to the push button door release. There should also be one on the front passenger door. It's purely mechanical, although they generally don't recommend using it because it doesn't lower the window slightly, which is meant to reduce wear on the rubber seal.

https://www.tesla.com/ownersmanual/modely/en_us/GUID-AAD769C7-88A3-4695-987E-0E00025F64E0.html

The Model Y might have a funky release for the rear doors. That one is hidden.

 

[andrew_j]

Kids get locked into cars all the time . This is nothing special with Tesla. Been happening since we lock cars..

 

[Vercingetorix]

There's nothing hidden about the manual door release on a Tesla. It's easily visible, right next to the push button door release. There should also be one on the front passenger door. It's purely mechanical, although they generally don't recommend using it because it doesn't lower the window slightly, which is meant to reduce wear on the rubber seal.

https://www.tesla.com/ownersmanual/modely/en_us/GUID-AAD769C7-88A3-4695-987E-0E00025F64E0.html

The Model Y might have a funky release for the rear doors. That one is hidden.

Been in a Tesla more than once. It’s really not intuitive like every other car ever made.

 

[atikovi]

There's nothing hidden about the manual door release on a Tesla. It's easily visible, right next to the push button door release. There should also be one on the front passenger door. It's purely mechanical, although they generally don't recommend using it because it doesn't lower the window slightly, which is meant to reduce wear on the rubber seal.

https://www.tesla.com/ownersmanual/modely/en_us/GUID-AAD769C7-88A3-4695-987E-0E00025F64E0.html

The Model Y might have a funky release for the rear doors. That one is hidden.

Except this topic is about opening the door from the outside. If there is a manual release for that, I'd like to now.

 

[Hall]

Kids get locked into cars all the time . This is nothing special with Tesla. Been happening since we lock cars..

People have to find every negative story about Tesla to bash them though.

 

[JeffKeryk]

Tesla rep told us about the door handle. It is also in the owners manual.
When the 12v battery was starting to go, the car warned me well in advance of any trouble. I called Tesla and they came out the next day and swapped the battery. $120 as I recall; that was earlier this year.

I know my phone app can unlock the door.
By the way, new riders tend to pull the manual handle instead of press the door button.

 

[Vercingetorix]

Tesla rep told us about the door handle. It is also in the owners manual.
When the 12v battery was starting to go, the car warned me well in advance of any trouble. I called Tesla and they came out the next day and swapped the battery. $120 as I recall; that was earlier this year.

I know my phone app can unlock the door.
By the way, new riders tend to pull the manual handle instead of press the door button.
View attachment 226282

Most car companies are able to do one and the same. First pull is electric, second pull is mechanical. It doesn’t take a genius.

 

[JeffKeryk]

Except this topic is about opening the door from the outside. If there is a manual release for that, I'd like to now.

I don't know about that, but you could open the hood and get access to the 12v battery. i believe there are also 2 wires (post and neg) that can jumped via the access panel in the front bumper. But this requires a jump box or cables.

Again, the screen delivered a constant warning when the 12v battery fell below spec. No way this could be missed or dismissed.
In my experience, a low 12v battery would show itself in many ways. Unless the battery croaked all of a sudden, there would be issues.
The 12v battery provides primary power for low voltage systems used to wake the car, Bluetooth receiver, lights, Sentry Mode, door locks, windows, latches, actuators, and more.

Regardless, I hope everything worked out OK. Trapped in a car, especially in extreme weather, is no joke.

 

[JeffKeryk]

Most car companies are able to do one and the same. First pull is electric, second pull is mechanical. It doesn’t take a genius.

Neither does our Model 3. Again, most new riders use the manual lever; I ask them to close the door and press the electric button.

 

[loneryder]

I don't know about that, but you could open the hood and get access to the 12v battery. i believe there are also 2 wires (post and neg) that can jumped via the access panel in the front bumper. But this requires a jump box or cables.

Again, the screen delivered a constant warning when the 12v battery fell below spec. No way this could be missed or dismissed.
In my experience, a low 12v battery would show itself in many ways. Unless the battery croaked all of a sudden, there would be issues.
The 12v battery provides primary power for low voltage systems used to wake the car, Bluetooth receiver, lights, Sentry Mode, door locks, windows, latches, actuators, and more.

Regardless, I hope everything worked out OK. Trapped in a car, especially in extreme weather, is no joke.

Grannies wouldn't know that. I wonder how the Fire Dept got it open??

 

[Vercingetorix]

Neither does our Model 3. Again, most new riders use the manual lever; I ask them to close the door and press the electric button.

Again, most cars don’t require a button push. It’s pull the handle and with the same motion push the door open. The door release is the door actuator. Pushing the button still requires an additional grabbing of the handle and a push.

 

[JeffKeryk]

Grannies wouldn't know that. I wonder how the Fire Dept got it open??

Like they would any other electric operated lock; they break a window.
It is also possible stuff like this is part of their training. Dunno...

 

[JeffKeryk]

Again, most cars don’t require a button push. It’s pull the handle and with the same motion push the door open. The door release is the door actuator. Pushing the button still requires an additional grabbing of the handle and a push.

Here's a child displaying the passenger door opening. I hope this helps.

 

[Vercingetorix]

Here's a child displaying the passenger door opening. I hope this helps.
View attachment 226285

And here is a man demonstrating that even an ape without opposable thumbs can do it easier.

 

[JeffKeryk]

And here is a man demonstrating that even an ape without opposable thumbs can do it easier.
View attachment 226286

You probably shouldn't ride in a car you are not utterly familiar with; it sounds like it may be too difficult for you.
In addition to Teslas, vehicles including the Audi E-Tron, Chevrolet Corvette, Ford Mustang Mach-E, Genesis G90, Lexus NX, Lucid Air, and the discontinued Lincoln Continental also make use of electronic interior door releases.
If I am unfamiliar with something, I simply ask. It ain't all that hard...

 

[Vercingetorix]

You probably shouldn't ride in a car you are not utterly familiar with; it sounds like it may be too difficult for you.
If I am unfamiliar with something, I simply ask. It ain't all that hard...

I’ve spent many hours unfortunately in Teslas. Ergonomics suck. Getting in requires a thumb push, a grab and a pull. That one extra step. Most cars is grab and pull. I’ve already demonstrated that getting out requires a handle grab and a button push whereas I just prefer the same motion without the button push. It does not require a thumb.