Five worst back-up automotive mechanical door releases to find and use

Mechanical door releases.

Vehicles with electronic locks and latches lead to the requirement of back-up mechanical door releases, particularly to let occupants out in the event of a power failure or worse.

Electric vehicles (EVs) are often blamed for the use and spread of electronically locks and latches due to the advent of flush door handles in many of these vehicles.

But the truth is that General Motors (GM) started this mess with the Corvette in 2005, a clearly gas powered machine. And while Tesla dominates our list here, the issues are not confined to the EV world at all. A large number of gas powered vehicles use electronic locks and latches. Its an issue we’ve covered since 2015.

The biggest and most concerning oversight belongs to the rear seats. Mechanical activation seems to be an afterthought, making exiting in an emergency potentially life threatening.

Here are the worst of the worst.

Number 5, Tesla

The 5th worst mechanical door release is found in the Tesla Model 3 and Model Y. and involves rear door releases. Note that the first versions of these Models did not have a rear door release at all! As noted, an afterthought. This is corrected in the 2024 Model 3 and the 2025 Model Y.

On these newer models, you will find a slot in front of what is a release cover at the bottom of each rear door pocket, seen at the bottom of the image to the right. Slide a finger into the slot and lift the cover away. A mechanical release cable is then seen which must be pulled forward.

What is pictured is what a relative did in her car for the safety of her children and its brilliant. She attached an Eject pull in bright yellow.

We sent the image over to NHTSA.

Number 4, another Tesla

The number 4 worst mechanical door release is found in the Tesla Model X. If the Model X has no electrical power, the manual says to “carefully” remove the speaker grille from the door. It is at the front bottom of each rear door. I would not be so concerned with being careful.

Once the grille is removed, a release cable is available (blue arrow). Pull it down and towards the front of the vehicle. After the latch is released, the gull wing door(s) will need to be lifted manually.

We haven’t actually seen this one, so can only imagine removing a speaker “carefully” while under duress, which is quite likely the case if there is a need to get out of the car.

Number 3, yes it’s Tesla again

The number 3 worst mechanical door release belongs to the Tesla Model S and is again a rear seat issue. A mechanical release is found in the carpet below each of the two primary sitting positions. The idea is to push aside a flap of carpet and locate a plastic handle attached to a cable and pull to open the door on the same side of the car.

The picture was taken at a Tesla showroom, and the salesperson was completely unaware of its existence.

Number 2, Rivian

The number 2 worst mechanical door release is found in Rivian‘s first two models, the R1T and RIS. They have an identical problem and again involve the rear doors.

The door panel trim must be removed exposing a pull cord. Pull the cord to open the door. The issue here is that there is simply no obvious way to accomplish this and under duress, as would likely be the case, we already recommend on our get out page that rear passengers crawl through to the front.

Worst of the worst, GM Coupes

And so, our number 1 is a floor lever found in four of GM’s Coupe styles that are gasoline powered but were the first vehicles to be equipped with an electronic lock that allows for a flush, aerodynamic exterior door handle. The cars are Chevrolet Corvettes built after 2005, and the Cadillac CTS, XLR and ELR Coupes. By extension, the interior release is also electronic, rather than mechanical.

The Corvette is the car that started us on the mission to at least inform the public of the potential danger if not get electronic latches outright banned. The door releases are on the floor below the door, where you might expect to find a trunk or gas cap release. Nothing about the placement is intuitive and at least one person died in the heat unable to escape his car. No accident, no fire, a simple short circuit.

To the right is a video of the release in action, recorded from the outside for clarity. Seeing it and identifying it while sitting in the tight quarters of a Coupe is difficult at best. Run your hand along the floor just beneath the door and near the front of your seat for the lever and give it a pull.

Its simple if you know it exists. If not, you may succumb to the hot sun before figuring it out.

Its already happened…

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The material on these pages is provided for information sharing purposes only and should not be used in lieu of an OEM service manual or factory authorized service procedure. We are not in the auto repair business, nor do we publish automotive service manuals. Nothing we include on these pages and posts has been reviewed, approved or authorized by any vehicle manufacturer.

Remember — only proper service and repair procedures will ensure the safe and reliable operation of your car. In addition, proper safety procedures and precautions, such as the use of safety goggles, the right tools and the equipment should be followed at all times to eliminate the possibility of personal injury or improper service which could damage the vehicle or compromise its safety.

Technology is always changing and what is current and accurate today may be literally out-of-date and inaccurate tomorrow. And when it comes to the current state of flux in the auto industry, nothing is more true.

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