Tesla Owner Locked Out, Grandchild Trapped Inside

Renee Sanchez and her granddaughter were about to embark on a trip to the zoo. But, as Sanchez closed the Tesla's door and walked to the driver's side, she found herself locked out with the 20-month-old child trapped inside. In a scenario reminiscent of a Stephen King novel, the car battery died, rendering her electronic devices useless.

"I called 911…The firefighters came and they were like, 'We don't know what to do,'" - Renee Sanchez

Eventually, the firefighters broke into the Tesla to rescue the child. This incident highlights a potential hazard with Tesla vehicles — when the battery dies, the car cannot be unlocked electronically, and a hidden manual latch is the only way to open the door.

Recalls and Concerns

Tesla has issued several recalls for its vehicles, including:

• Seat belt warning lights and chimes failing to activate.
• Backup camera malfunction when the car is in reverse.
• Cybertruck accelerator pedal issue, which could increase the risk of a collision.
• Faulty windshield wipers and bed trim on the 2024 Cybertruck.

Battery Replacement Costs

According to Recurrent Auto, replacing a Tesla battery can cost between $5,000 and $20,000, a significant expense for owners. While Tesla claims their battery packs are designed to outlast the vehicle, this incident raises questions about the reliability and safety of their cars.

Sources:

• https://www.21alivenews.com/2024/06/24/toddler-trapped-car-after-tesla-battery-dies/
• https://www.tesla.com/ownersmanual/models/en_us/GUID-3567D5F4-A5F4-4323-8BE0-023D5438FFC6.html
• https://tesloid.com/2023/10/12/can-you-jump-start-another-car-from-a-tesla/#more-16438:~:text=to%20find%20out.-,Jump%20Starting,-Here%E2%80%99s%20the%20TLDR
• https://www.recurrentauto.com/research/tesla-battery-replacement-costs
• https://www.tesla.com/ns_videos/2021-tesla-impact-report.pdf