# China's banning Tesla-style door handles **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [February 4, 2026, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chinas-banning-tesla-style-door-handles/1027358 "2026-02-04T05:11:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2026, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chinas-banning-tesla-style-door-handles/1027358/41 "2026-02-05T15:53:41Z")
> [@echoreply](#): > > 1. **Model 3 & Y** , flush mounted door handles that are just levers; one end of the handle is pressed, and the other comes out to be pulled > > … > > I do not see how flush handles like on the 3 and Y would be a problem _if they were connected to a mechanical release._ Exactly. You CAN make an exterior handle flat flush but manually operated — so the next step would be to make it mechanically linked. They can do it. I mean, for a lifetime we’ve had cars with automatic power locks that _failsafe to manual_. That _should_ just be a legal mandate. ---
**Author:** ![TheTyrant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thetyrant/32/19111_2.png) [@TheTyrant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheTyrant)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2026, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chinas-banning-tesla-style-door-handles/1027358/42 "2026-02-05T16:10:27Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > One of my coworkers has one. When he drove to lunch one day, he had to give a safety briefing on how to open the rear doors in an emergency. Whoever designed that should be locked in a tesla and dropped in a lake. I’ve Ubered in a couple of Teslas and was a bit taken aback at how _cheap_ the interior seemed. The sort of stuff that looks okay in a photo but you start looking closely and see all sorts of gaps and seams. I feel like if I’m trapped in one I could just start popping off panels and seats and fittings until I find a way out. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2026, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chinas-banning-tesla-style-door-handles/1027358/43 "2026-02-05T16:16:56Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > The front doors aren’t so bad. The emergency door handle is so intuitive in the front that I used it instead of the proper electric release. I was informed I could have broke his windows doing that! He’s mistaken. As you said, pretty much everyone who doesn’t know about the push button intuitively opens it the “wrong” way. The only difference is that it doesn’t lower the window a smidge before you open the door. It certainly won’t break the window but after many times opening it that way it could hurt the seal. ---
**Author:** ![echoreply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/echoreply/32/3641_2.png) [@echoreply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/echoreply)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2026, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chinas-banning-tesla-style-door-handles/1027358/44 "2026-02-05T16:30:37Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > When he drove to lunch one day, he had to give a safety briefing on how to open the rear doors in an emergency What is people’s problem? It is super intuitive. As the car fills with smoke, pull up on the rubber liner of the door pocket. Once you’ve removed that you should see a little access hole with a cable in it. Get the needle nose pliers out of your pocket (a multitool like a Leatherman will also work) and pull on the cable. That will release the door. Practice this a few times with your eyes closed and holding your breath. Seriously, anyone who complains about interior _front_ door release on Teslas is just engaging in Musk hate (which he of course deserves). You may dislike the standard choice of a push button on the 3 and Y, but that is just a style disagreement. The mechanical release is easy to use. The S and X have regular door handles like any other car. The rear door setup is unconscionable, though. > [@TheTyrant](#): > > I’ve Ubered in a couple of Teslas and was a bit taken aback at how _cheap_ the interior seeme It’s not cheap, it’s minimalist! Most of the switch gear actually comes from Mercedes. I assume having to smack the interior B-pillar trim back into place is a standard monthly maintenance item on all cars. ---
**Author:** ![duality72](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duality72/32/3910_2.png) [@duality72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/duality72)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2026, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chinas-banning-tesla-style-door-handles/1027358/45 "2026-02-05T18:45:19Z")
Poe’s Law strikes again. ---
**Author:** ![echoreply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/echoreply/32/3641_2.png) [@echoreply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/echoreply)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2026, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chinas-banning-tesla-style-door-handles/1027358/46 "2026-02-05T18:51:42Z")
> [@duality72](#): > > Poe’s Law strikes again Hey, in the top part I started a new paragraph before switching tone, and in the last part I at least separated the real statement and sarcasm into different sentences. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2026, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chinas-banning-tesla-style-door-handles/1027358/47 "2026-02-06T18:52:09Z")
> [@Spiderman](#): > > If the electric doors won’t open due to lack of power why do you think the electric windows would go down w/o power? I have an ancient Ranger, I’ll roll the windows open with the crank. If they are going to have cool stuff like that to make people want to buy the car, I’d design the doors to open in the event of battery current loss. Hold them locked with voltage, so they will open if the power fails. I didn’t know if the window punches worked with only my 110 lbs behind it. I take it they do; I’ll buy a couple. My Wife’s KIA has several things that make me wonder how do deal with a loss of voltage. I do know a failing battery gives a dashboard signal that the “electrical power steering”, (whatever that is) has failed. I can’t help but think that is intentional, so I’ll go to the dealer for repairs instead of to Advanced Auto Parts for a battery. ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2026, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chinas-banning-tesla-style-door-handles/1027358/48 "2026-02-06T18:59:28Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > I didn’t know if the window punches worked with only my 110 lbs behind it. Like I said, get a _spring-loaded_ one. I’ve popped windows with one hand ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2026, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chinas-banning-tesla-style-door-handles/1027358/49 "2026-02-06T19:04:56Z")
> [@Spiderman](#): > > Like I said, get a _spring-loaded_ one. I’ve popped windows with one hand Thanks again. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2026, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chinas-banning-tesla-style-door-handles/1027358/50 "2026-02-06T19:20:40Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > I do know a failing battery gives a dashboard signal that the “electrical power steering”, (whatever that is) has failed. Many modern cars don’t have hydraulic power steering. That’s now seen as old-fashioned failure prone tech. Instead the power steering system is electrical from end to end. Sensors detect the steering wheel effort and electric motors assist in moving the steering rack to steer the front wheels to match the sensed effort. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2026, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chinas-banning-tesla-style-door-handles/1027358/51 "2026-02-06T20:04:28Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > Many modern cars don’t have hydraulic power steering. That’s now seen as old-fashioned failure prone tech. > > Instead the power steering system is electrical from end to end. So they fail not from fluid leakage, but a failing battery. = ) ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2026, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chinas-banning-tesla-style-door-handles/1027358/52 "2026-02-06T20:15:11Z")
Well, not “fail” exactly. When a hydraulic system leaks, you need new hoses, new fluid, and may have destroyed the pump. Lots to repair. When the power fails to any electrical device it ceases to operate. But generally it’s undamaged and will work perfectly well immediately when power is restored. There is nothing to repair. Now why the electrical power went out, and what that means in the case of a car is something else again. Any electrical supply problems in a running car with a failing battery suggest alternator and/or voltage regulator problems too. I’m not necessarily defending the choice of car makers to embrace ever more electronics over mechanicals. But I am trying to explain what it is. ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2026, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chinas-banning-tesla-style-door-handles/1027358/53 "2026-02-06T20:25:41Z")
Bear in mind, most current electric steering systems are electric augmentation of a mechanically linked steering system, not significantly different than hydraulic power steering systems. If the augmentation power fails, you still have a mechanical linkage from steering wheel to steering rack, but with no powered help. Heavy, but controllable. I have no idea what kind of backup pure-play steer-by-wire systems have. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2026, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chinas-banning-tesla-style-door-handles/1027358/54 "2026-02-06T20:29:46Z")
Good point. I should have made that explicit. “Power steering” going back to the 1960s is really “power-assisted mechanical steering”. And still is today with very, very few exceptions. Regardless of whether the assistive effort is delivered electrically or hydraulically. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2026, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chinas-banning-tesla-style-door-handles/1027358/55 "2026-02-06T20:46:52Z")
Decent recent article on fully electric / electronic steering without mechanical backup: > **[What Cars Have Steer-by-Wire Technology?](https://engineerfix.com/what-cars-have-steer-by-wire-technology/)** > > Find out which current and historical vehicles feature true Steer-by-Wire technology, defining how this electronic system works. Short version: It’s coming soon to many fancy cars near you. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chinas-banning-tesla-style-door-handles/1027358.md?page=2)