Component
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HANDLE:EXTERIOR
57 NHTSA complaints about structure:body:door:handle:exterior issues across 18 makes and 32 models.
The structure:body:door:handle:exterior is one of the standardized component categories NHTSA uses to classify consumer safety complaints. Across the public complaint database, it accounts for 57 filings from 18 manufacturers and 32 distinct vehicle models, a footprint large enough that defect engineers can isolate part-family patterns across different platforms that share the same supplier or the same federal motor vehicle safety standard.
Among filings citing this component, owners have reported 0 crashes, 0 fires, 2 injuries, and 0 fatalities. The most complained-about vehicle in this category is the TESLA MODEL Y with 11 filings, followed by FORD EXPLORER and TESLA MODEL S. These severity counters are what separates a nuisance complaint trend from a pattern NHTSA is likely to escalate into a Preliminary Evaluation.
Component-level analysis is how the Office of Defects Investigation spots cross-manufacturer supplier issues — the same airbag inflator, the same takata-style ignition switch, the same brake hose material — before they become industry-wide recalls. When you see a single component accumulating large complaint volume across several unrelated nameplates, that is usually a signature of a shared supplier or a shared federal standard being stressed by real-world conditions. Use the affected-vehicles table below to see whether the pattern is concentrated on a handful of models or distributed evenly, and cross-reference each model's full recall and investigation history before drawing conclusions about any one nameplate.
Most Affected Vehicles
| # | Vehicle | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | TESLA MODEL Y | 11 |
| 2 | FORD EXPLORER | 4 |
| 3 | TESLA MODEL S | 3 |
| 4 | TESLA MODEL 3 | 3 |
| 5 | KIA SORENTO | 3 |
| 6 | HYUNDAI SONATA | 3 |
| 7 | TOYOTA PRIUS | 2 |
| 8 | TOYOTA CAMRY | 2 |
| 9 | HYUNDAI ELANTRA | 2 |
| 10 | FORD F-150 | 2 |
| 11 | VOLVO XC90 | 1 |
| 12 | VOLVO XC40 | 1 |
| 13 | VOLKSWAGEN ID.4 | 1 |
| 14 | TOYOTA HIGHLANDER | 1 |
| 15 | RIVIAN R1T | 1 |
| 16 | POLESTAR POLESTAR 2 | 1 |
| 17 | NISSAN ROGUE | 1 |
| 18 | MERCEDES-BENZ C250 | 1 |
| 19 | MAZDA MAZDA5 | 1 |
| 20 | MAZDA CX-90 | 1 |
| 21 | LINCOLN CONTINENTAL | 1 |
| 22 | KIA NIRO | 1 |
| 23 | JEEP RENEGADE | 1 |
| 24 | HYUNDAI EQUUS | 1 |
| 25 | HYUNDAI ACCENT | 1 |
| 26 | HONDA HR-V | 1 |
| 27 | FIAT 500X | 1 |
| 28 | FIAT 500 | 1 |
| 29 | CHRYSLER 300C | 1 |
| 30 | BMW X3 | 1 |
Recent Complaints
If a passenger or child in the second row attempts to open a door before/while the doors are unlocked, the interior AND exterior handles no longer function. This can be temporarily fixed by doing a co
My door latches keep freezing when the temperature is below freezing. Its 27F here in Ohio and my rear doors are frozen again. The door itself isn't frozen - the latching mechanism is. Sometimes t
The exterior rear door handles get stuck in the open position. This is a danger and the door has opened while driving since the door handle did not close all the way. I have tried lubricating the both
The contact owns a 2006 BMW 750I. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V328000 (Latches/Locks/Linkages). The contact stated that the passenger's side rear door had failed to f
the electronic door handles are malfunctioning and not opening or staying open. when they stay in and dont present, the door remains locked and cannot be opened from the outside. This is a safety ha
This incident appears to relate to NHTSA ongoing investigation at Tesla's low voltage battery system failure causing door handle malfunction. (September 26, 2025) 2021 Model Y front and rear doors (
All of the door handles and locks have loosened and fallen off. Sliding door will not latch now. Hatch on rear has lost suspension.
On July 22, 2025, at about 6:30 PM in a western suburb of Illinois, on a hot, humid, sunny evening after my car had sat in direct sun all day, my 2022 Tesla Model Y Long Range (Dual Motor AWD) suffere
On August 20th, 2025 at 2:50pm, my eight-month-old infant was trapped inside my Tesla Model Y for approximately 30 minutes due to a critical systems failure. The vehicle experienced an error with the
On July 5, 2025, I entered my vehicle parked in my home garage and the door latched shut. Upon putting my foot on the brake. Center screen was blank (did not power on). I attempted to press the unl
- Open rear passenger door and secured child in car seat. - Try to open driver side rear passenger door - which would not open. - Tried to open rear passenger door where child was in, and the door w
The passenger door handle is inoperable . The door handle is stucked open.
On [XXX], the car was parked at my regular parking garage. The valet entered to the car to bring it down for pick up. After he entered, the power on the vehicle went out and the door would not open.
I saw that the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is investigating the Tesla Model Y (2021 and over) due to the electronic door handles becoming inoperative. I am happy and relieved to
[XXX] , my [XXX] son, was strapped in his car seat, wide-eyed and confused, as we sat trapped in our Tesla for thirty agonizing minutes. The battery had died without warning, leaving us locked inside
In December 2023 I strapped my [XXX] son into his carseat in our Model Y and walked around to the front to get into the car as well. In those few seconds the 12v car battery died (I did not get any n
on July 19, 2025 my 10-year old daughter entered the back seat and shut the door. When I (her mother) went to get into the drivers door the electricity in the car completely shut down locking my daug
Vehicle shut down and individual was locked in the car. Unable to release the doors. Incident occurred on June 23rd with a temp of 95 degrees and higher heat index. Individual was Stuck in the car in
My driver side rear door handle comes off when I open the door. I am having the dealership look into this on 8/28/2025.
The contact owns a 2020 Hyundai Accent. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the exterior passenger's front and rear door handles detached while attempting to open the doors. The cont
Related Vehicle Components
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Frequently Asked Questions
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Data Sources
Vehicle complaint data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints database. Includes consumer-reported safety issues filed with NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Severity counts cross-reference NHTSA FARS (Fatality Analysis Reporting System) for fatal incidents where a corresponding FARS record exists.
Component categories are standardized by NHTSA. Crash-test ratings where shown are drawn from the NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (NCAP). Complaint counts, crash reports, fire reports, and fatality data reflect consumer-submitted reports and may not represent all incidents.
Disclaimer: This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for vehicle purchase decisions. NHTSA complaint data is self-reported by consumers and has not been verified or investigated. A high complaint count does not necessarily indicate a defect. Always consult a qualified mechanic and check official NHTSA recall notices before making safety-related decisions.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.