Yahoo Autos Tesla Model 3 Traps TikToker Inside 115-Degree Car During A Software Update
A TikToker got locked inside of her Tesla Model 3 for 40 minutes in the hot sun while it was installing a software update, and as of this writing her video has over 10.7 million plays after a single day of being online. Before you go jumping to conclusions about her ineptitude, Brianna Janel was actually following the rules laid out by Tesla.
According to the Tesla owner’s manual, “Vehicle functions, including some safety systems and opening or closing the doors or windows, may be limited or disabled when installation is in progress and you could damage the vehicle.” Janel chose to heed Tesla’s warning and did not attempt to open her doors or windows during the installation process for fear of damaging her vehicle, but this seems like a very dangerous oversight on Tesla’s part that she was able to be stuck inside at all.
The door mechanisms on the Tesla Model 3 and Model Y are electrically operated, and under normal circumstances are opened from the inside using a simple button to unlatch the door. Should the vehicle have no power, these models do have auxiliary manual cable release levers also found on the door panel, but Tesla warns against using the manual mechanism, citing that it should only be used when the car has no power. Janel said she was aware of this option but didn’t want to risk damaging her car, and she felt confident that she could stick out the heat.
