Design flaws caused a Tesla Model 3 to suddenly accelerate out of control before it crashed into a utility pole and burst into flames, killing a woman and severely injuring her husband, a lawsuit filed in federal court alleges.
Another defect, with the door handle design, thwarted bystanders who were trying to rescue the driver, Jeff Dennis, and his wife, Wendy, from the car, according to the lawsuit filed Friday in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington.
Wendy Dennis died in the Jan. 7, 2023, crash in Tacoma, Washington. Jeff Dennis suffered severe leg burns and other injuries, according to the lawsuit.
People built this into the Smart Fortwo with a couple chips and wires. I can’t find a reference because it was about 15 years ago they did it, but it wasn’t complicated and the door latch remained entirely mechanical. I think that it was, in turn, a replication of another car’s feature which did this back in the 80s.
I think it’s 99% cost savings.
Tony stark did it in a cave. With a box of scraps.
it’s also safety, mechanical releases can open under strong crash Gs.