# Trapped in Tesla after battery died **URL:** \ **Category:** General Discussion\ **Created:** [August 1, 2023, 5:04pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/trapped-in-tesla-after-battery-died/192036 "2023-08-01T17:04:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Robert-Gift](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/robert-gift/32/356_2.png) [@Robert-Gift](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Robert-Gift)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2023, 5:04pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/trapped-in-tesla-after-battery-died/192036/1 "2023-08-01T17:04:46Z")
> **[Driver says he was 'trapped' in hot Tesla after battery died](https://www.denver7.com/driver-says-he-was-trapped-in-hot-tesla-after-battery-died)** > > An Arizona man says he was trapped in his Tesla in the extreme heat after the power died and he didn't know how to escape. ---
**Author:** ![Mustangman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mustangman/32/44130_2.png) [@Mustangman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mustangman)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2023, 5:31pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/trapped-in-tesla-after-battery-died/192036/2 "2023-08-01T17:31:47Z")
Sooo… The moral of the story is… Read the owners manual or your Tesla will _kill_ you! ---
**Author:** ![Robert-Gift](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/robert-gift/32/356_2.png) [@Robert-Gift](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Robert-Gift)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2023, 5:42pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/trapped-in-tesla-after-battery-died/192036/3 "2023-08-01T17:42:44Z")
> [@Mustangman](#): > > _Sooo… The moral of the story is…_ > _Read the owners manual or your Tesla will kill you!_ If I had a Tesla, I read everything just out of curiosity. “When the electric system fails, there is a way to get out of an electric car, which is clearly outlined in Tesla’s manual, but experts believe many drivers, like Meggison, are unaware.” ---
**Author:** ![Mustangman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mustangman/32/44130_2.png) [@Mustangman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mustangman)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2023, 5:59pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/trapped-in-tesla-after-battery-died/192036/4 "2023-08-01T17:59:10Z")
The drivers are unaware because no one reads the manual. That includes you considering we had to tell you there was a 12v jump point in the engine compartment of your car that was spelled out in your owners manual. ---
**Author:** ![jtsanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@jtsanders](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtsanders)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2023, 6:30pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/trapped-in-tesla-after-battery-died/192036/5 "2023-08-01T18:30:48Z")
Did the complainer actually not know about the mechanical release or is he searching for a quick payday? I knew about the mechanical door latch release the day I bought my Model 3. ---
**Author:** ![George\_San\_Jose1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e5b9ba/32.png) [@George\_San\_Jose1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/George_San_Jose1)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2023, 7:53pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/trapped-in-tesla-after-battery-died/192036/6 "2023-08-01T19:53:01Z")
> [@jtsanders](#): > > I knew about the mechanical door latch release the day I bought my Model 3. Since it could be a serious safety issue, perhaps a warning sticker should be required on the Tesla’s dashboard showing the manual-option door opening option. ---
**Author:** ![Mark-B](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mark-b/32/35268_2.png) [@Mark-B](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mark-B)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2023, 8:08pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/trapped-in-tesla-after-battery-died/192036/7 "2023-08-01T20:08:20Z")
I recall hearing a similar story of someone stuck in a C7 Corvette. ---
**Author:** ![George\_San\_Jose1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e5b9ba/32.png) [@George\_San\_Jose1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/George_San_Jose1)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2023, 8:12pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/trapped-in-tesla-after-battery-died/192036/8 "2023-08-01T20:12:01Z")
It seems like in a life/death emergency like that, a person stuck in the hot car could just kick the windshield out. ---
**Author:** ![Nevada\_545](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/nevada_545/32/41232_2.png) [@Nevada\_545](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Nevada_545)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2023, 8:16pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/trapped-in-tesla-after-battery-died/192036/9 "2023-08-01T20:16:58Z")
Lexus has electronic door latches, there is also an SOS button to call for help. The receptionist can explain how to operate the emergency door release. ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/3X/7/7/77b5d193088281fc6c16b208529825a4eb4a86bb.png) ---
**Author:** ![weekend-warrior](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/weekend-warrior/32/26122_2.png) [@weekend-warrior](https://community.cartalk.com/u/weekend-warrior)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2023, 8:20pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/trapped-in-tesla-after-battery-died/192036/10 "2023-08-01T20:20:38Z")
> [@George\_San\_Jose1](#): > > could just kick the windshield out. It is not as easy as you think. [Can You REALLY Kick Out a Car Windshield? - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_GGqdLeAMPw&t=97s) ---
**Author:** ![George\_San\_Jose1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e5b9ba/32.png) [@George\_San\_Jose1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/George_San_Jose1)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2023, 8:36pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/trapped-in-tesla-after-battery-died/192036/11 "2023-08-01T20:36:55Z")
It indeed looks pretty difficult to kick out the windshield, on that car anyway. I wonder how the difficulty compares to kicking out the side windows or the rear window? Reminds me of the comedy/drama movie “SLC Punk”. A teenager punk-music enthusiast is arrested (for being overly enthusiastic) & placed in the back seat of a parked police car. He escapes by kicking out the back window when nobody is looking. ---
**Author:** ![jtsanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@jtsanders](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtsanders)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2023, 8:53pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/trapped-in-tesla-after-battery-died/192036/12 "2023-08-01T20:53:21Z")
It’s a movie George. Fidelity to real life isn’t required. ---
**Author:** ![George\_San\_Jose1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e5b9ba/32.png) [@George\_San\_Jose1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/George_San_Jose1)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2023, 9:00pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/trapped-in-tesla-after-battery-died/192036/13 "2023-08-01T21:00:03Z")
I found a short u-tube from that part of the movie. The window-kick scene is at 1:15. [![](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/3X/b/1/b11266ba3b1d8aee68ef61a923ceac47a612177d.jpeg "Slc- that was mike") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xC14dv89cp4) ---
**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2023, 9:09pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/trapped-in-tesla-after-battery-died/192036/14 "2023-08-01T21:09:57Z")
For those that are curious: ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/3X/b/d/bddb936579bcd11ec5a2baf121f2af39df28de33.png) It took me 15 seconds to find this, did the person in the car not have a smartphone? ---
**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/30_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2023, 9:24pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/trapped-in-tesla-after-battery-died/192036/15 "2023-08-01T21:24:00Z")
It sounds like not much about that driver was “smart”. ---
**Author:** ![oldnotdeadyet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a6a055/32.png) [@oldnotdeadyet](https://community.cartalk.com/u/oldnotdeadyet)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2023, 9:37pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/trapped-in-tesla-after-battery-died/192036/16 "2023-08-01T21:37:43Z")
Tesla engineers made a decision. Instead of having the door with a manual handle like in every other car, they place it in some weird location. Then when once or twice in 20 years your battery goes completely dead, and you are in a dark garage locked in your car, you find that the engineers also do not have a handle on the dash pocket. I suspect that you also find out that the emergency system to call Tesla also works on 12 volts, and that the interior lights won’t work even if you rip open the dash pocket and try to read the manual. These are the same engineers who think they can build a fool-proof auto-pilot. ---
**Author:** ![wolyrobb](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/wolyrobb/32/45497_2.png) [@wolyrobb](https://community.cartalk.com/u/wolyrobb)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2023, 9:40pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/trapped-in-tesla-after-battery-died/192036/17 "2023-08-01T21:40:24Z")
James May ownsa a model S and put in an easier way to chargethe 12v because it doesnt get charged of the big battery is full, thetes a way to get to the 12v if no power but it isn’t easy. Cant open the doirs from outside either ---
**Author:** ![jtsanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@jtsanders](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtsanders)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2023, 10:44pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/trapped-in-tesla-after-battery-died/192036/18 "2023-08-01T22:44:32Z")
> [@oldnotdeadyet](#): > > they place it in some weird location. It’s right there on the door arm rest about 4 inches below the electronic door button and maybe an inch in front of the window buttons. What’s weird about that? ---
**Author:** ![oldnotdeadyet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a6a055/32.png) [@oldnotdeadyet](https://community.cartalk.com/u/oldnotdeadyet)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2023, 11:28pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/trapped-in-tesla-after-battery-died/192036/19 "2023-08-01T23:28:07Z")
I may have misunderstood earlier descriptions. However, it apparently is weird enough that it requires a description in the manual, and it is not obvious enough for the driver to know about it. A system that is available for “emergency use” should be the most obvious. It also sounds like front and rear passengers do not get the luxury of being able to get out easily if the 12 v battery fails. If the engineers are forgetting these issues during the design process, what other flaws are lurking? When they fail with the simplest systems, what does this mean for the auto-pilot systems? Question: how does the Tesla tech get into the car? ---
**Author:** ![davesmopar](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/davesmopar/32/41750_2.png) [@davesmopar](https://community.cartalk.com/u/davesmopar)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2023, 12:07am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/trapped-in-tesla-after-battery-died/192036/20 "2023-08-02T00:07:12Z")
> [@oldnotdeadyet](#): > > it apparently is weird enough that it requires a description in the manual, and it is not obvious enough for the driver to know about it. The manual also tells you NOT to drink battery acid… nough said… lol [Next page](https://community.cartalk.com/t/trapped-in-tesla-after-battery-died/192036.md?page=2)