On October 3, 2025, Bloomberg broke the news that Tesla is embroiled in a lawsuit stemming from a fatal Cybertruck accident. According to the plaintiff, in the dead of night in November 2024, a harrowing car crash unfolded in the Piedmont suburb of San Francisco. A Cybertruck veered off the road, collided with an obstacle, and subsequently burst into flames. Tragically, three college students were trapped inside and unable to escape promptly due to faulty car doors. They ultimately succumbed after inhaling thick, noxious smoke.

The plaintiff highlighted several critical design flaws in the Cybertruck's doors. Notably, the vehicle lacks external door handles. Moreover, the electronic buttons designed to open the doors became inoperative once the power failed. Additionally, the manual unlocking device, which could have been a lifesaver, was concealed within the car, making it extremely difficult for passengers to locate and use it in a high - stress, emergency situation. This combination of factors severely impeded the passengers' ability to exit the vehicle in a timely manner.

Since 2018, the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has been inundated with over 140 complaints regarding door malfunctions in various Tesla models. The plaintiff firmly believes that Tesla was well - aware of these door defects but chose to turn a blind eye and failed to implement necessary improvements. This negligence, the plaintiff argues, directly led to the tragic loss of lives in the aforementioned accident.