Overview
- The mother of Samuel Tremblett filed Tremblett v. Tesla (1:26-cv-10567) in U.S. District Court in Massachusetts, seeking $25 million over her son’s October 2025 crash in Easton.
- The complaint includes a 911 transcript in which Tremblett tells dispatchers he cannot get out as fire and smoke spread, repeatedly saying he is going to die.
- The suit alleges the Model Y’s electronic exterior and interior releases were inoperable after impact and that manual overrides were inconspicuous, with Tremblett later found in the rear seat and the cause of death listed as thermal injuries and smoke inhalation.
- Federal safety regulators at NHTSA are investigating door-handle failures on certain Tesla models, including 2021 Model Y SUVs, after reports of occupants—particularly children—being unable to exit.
- Tesla has said it is redesigning its door systems and updated guidance that after a serious collision hazards activate and doors unlock for emergency access, as China finalizes a 2027 ban on concealed flush handles requiring mechanical releases.