— A Tesla lawsuit alleges the door handles on a 2018 Model 3 were defective and prevented rescuers from saving Wendy M. Dennis, 52, who was killed in a January 7, 2023, crash.
The lawsuit further claims the door handles prevented the removal of her husband Jeff who suffered serious injuries.
However, while the Tesla door handles are a focus of the lawsuit, they aren't the only allegedly defective components and features which caused the Model 3 crash and the death of Wendy Dennis.
Jeffery L. Dennis was driving the 2018 Tesla Model 3 with his wife in the passenger seat as they traveled westbound on South 56th Street toward the intersection with South Washington Street in Tacoma, Washington.
According to the lawsuit, the Model 3 purportedly suddenly accelerated out of control before it crashed into a utility pole at about 1:00 p.m. Video shows the Model 3 accelerating while avoiding other vehicles, and the lawsuit says the automatic emergency braking system never activated.
The Model 3 caught fire and the lawsuit says several bystanders tried to help but the door handles made it impossible for anyone to open the doors from the outside. A baseball bat was used to try to break the windows to help the couple but the fire forced everyone away from the Tesla.
First responders eventually removed the couple from the Model 3, but not before Wendy had died and "Jeff had suffered extreme burning of his legs, in addition to numerous other catastrophic injuries."
"The subject vehicle was not reasonably safe because Tesla failed to provide adequate warnings or instructions after the vehicle was manufactured because Tesla learned or reasonably should have learned about dangers concerning the vehicle after it was manufactured. Tesla had a duty issue warnings or instructions concerning the dangers in the manner that a reasonably prudent manufacturer would have under the circumstances." — Tesla Model 3 lawsuit
According to the Pierce County Medical Examiner’s Office, Mrs. Dennis died from multiple blunt force injuries.
Tesla Lawsuit Claims Door Handles Prevented Rescue
According to the lawsuit, the 2018 Model 3 exterior door handles are flush with the vehicle and the interior door handles open with push buttons. But the plaintiffs complain the door handles function only if the batteries are providing electricity, batteries allegedly designed to shut off in a crash.
The lawsuit says the only way to enter the Model 3 from the outside is to break a window.
In addition, the plaintiffs contend the interior door handles require electricity to power the handles unless a manual release is used. But the lawsuit claims occupants can become trapped if they don't know about the manual door handle release.
Tesla supposedly failed to warn the Model 3 occupants about the "hidden manual release."
See the 2018 Tesla Model 3 interior door handle release.
In addition to the allegedly defective door handles, the lawsuit claims multiple other parts or systems are defective.
Tesla Sudden Unintended Acceleration
"Plaintiffs allege that the Tesla Model 3 had a defect that caused it to suddenly, and without warning or command from the driver, accelerate out of control. Although the driver skillfully avoided other vehicles, the Tesla eventually crashed into a utility pole." — Tesla lawsuit
The plaintiffs assert the Tesla Model 3 suddenly accelerated to full power even though the driver did not command that action through the accelerator pedal.
According to the lawsuit, Tesla owners have filed multiple complaints about sudden unintended acceleration, and several lawsuits have been filed over the claims.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration looked into the allegations and in January 2021 released a report that said after investigating hundreds of complaints, it looked like drivers pushed the accelerator pedals instead of the brake pedals.
Tesla Automatic Emergency Braking
The 2018 Model 3 crash lawsuit further claims Tesla designed its emergency braking system to disengage if it receives "instructions from the accelerator pedal to drive full speed into a fixed object." According to the lawsuit, Tesla is guilty of gross negligence over its automatic emergency braking system.
Tesla Model 3 Battery Fire
The Tesla battery pack was allegedly defectively designed and the batteries were defective because they supposedly allowed the Model 3 to catch fire in the crash. And that fire prevented bystanders from getting near the Model 3.
According to the lawsuit:
"The defective and unreasonably dangerous condition of the subject vehicle was a cause and a substantial factor in the fatal injuries of Wendy Dennis and the injuries to Jeff Dennis."
The 2018 Tesla Model 3 earned a 5-star safety rating in crash testing conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the highest possible. It was also awarded a "Superior" rating in the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety frontal crash test.
The Tesla Model 3 / Wendy Dennis lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington: Jeffery L. Dennis, et al, v. Tesla, Inc.
The plaintiffs are represented by Rivera Law Offices, PLLS, and Peggy Underbrink.