Tesla faces another blow: Cybertruck's electronic doors allegedly prevented escape in fatal crash

The company Tesla faces new lawsuits in the United States following an accident in November 2024 in Piedmont, California, where three university students died after being trapped inside a Cybertruck on fireThe families of the victims, including that of Krysta Tsukahara, aged 19, accuse the manufacturer of electronic door design prevented the young men from escaping after the collision. The case, which is in addition to an ongoing federal investigation into failures in the locking systems of other models of the brand, once again calls into question the safety standards of one of the giants of the electrical sector.

The accident and the lawsuits

On November 27, 2024, a Cybertruck crashed into a tree in Piedmont and burst into flames. According to the lawsuit filed by the families, the victims survived the initial impact, but they were unable to get out because the electronic door opening systems failed, while the manual levers were inaccessible.

The design student Krysta Tsukahara He died in the back seat after inhaling smoke and suffering burns, while his friend Jack Nelson He couldn't escape either. A passenger was rescued by another driver, who broke a window with a branch, but access to the rear seats was impossible.

The families' lawyers speak of “the most horrendous death one can imagine"and accuse Tesla of “conscious contempt” towards the safety of its users. The lawsuit, which seeks punitive damages, emphasizes that the company has been receiving warnings about these problems for over a decade, without introducing substantial changes to the design.

Federal investigation and precedents

The case coincides with an investigation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) about 174.000 units of the 2021 Model Y, after receiving reports from parents who were unable to open the rear doors to rescue their children. In four cases, they had to break windows to get them out.

The preliminary report notes that the failures occur when the electronic locks don't receive enough battery voltage. Although Tesla incorporates manual releases, regulators warn that Children and people in a panic may not know how to use them or may not have them within reach..

Own Francis of HolzhausenTesla's chief designer admitted in September that the system needed to be revised. He proposed combining manual and electronic opening into a single button: "The idea of ​​a unified mechanism makes perfect sense."He said.

A history of problems with the Cybertruck

Since delivery began in December 2023, the Cybertruck has accumulated eight official withdrawals due to security breaches. The most recent, in March 2025, affected 46.096 vehicles due to exterior panels that could come off while driving.

The Tsukahara family alleged that the company, valued at more than a billion dollars, acts with a “culture of irresponsibility”"How can you bring a machine to market that's so unsafe in so many ways?" Krysta's father asked.

For experts, this case is especially sensitive because it combines technical deficiencies with a fatal outcome This underscores the vulnerability of a vehicle sold as a symbol of innovation. If the allegations are confirmed, it could open the door to harsher sanctions and a new wave of distrust surrounding Tesla.

Security and reputation at stake

The Cybertruck was born surrounded by controversy for its angular design and promise of extreme durability, but recurring failures are calling into question its viability as a safe product. The California accident highlights a central dilemma: To what extent the commitment to technological innovation can sacrifice basic security principles.

Tesla insists its vehicles meet regulatory requirements, but the combination of lawsuits, federal investigations, and media pressure threatens to damage its reputation at a time of intense competition in the electric sector.

The question now is whether Elon Musk's giant will be able to transform this crisis into a thorough review of its safety systems or whether it will limit itself to partial responses. The answer could determine not only the future of the Cybertruck, but also Tesla's credibility as a pioneer of 21st-century mobility.