Parents of young children are raising alarms about dangerous situations involving the 2021 Tesla Model Y, with four incidents reported to the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

These reports are among nine filed concerning "inop door handles." The most common issues involve parents unable to re-enter the vehicle after placing their children in the backseat or unable to retrieve their children after the trip. Some Tesla owners reported having to break windows to regain access.

A 2021 Tesla Model Y parked in front of a house in the US. Photo: Cars & Bids

A 2021 Tesla Model Y parked in front of a house in the US. Photo: Cars & Bids

"Children trapped inside vehicles is especially concerning in emergency situations, such as extreme heat," the agency stated. According to the NHTSA, Teslas have a manual interior door release, but young children are unable to operate it.

The agency's preliminary evaluation suggests that the door handles on some Model Ys appear to become inoperable "when the electronic door latch receives insufficient voltage." However, according to the NHTSA, there's no prior warning before the exterior door handles fail, such as a low battery alert.

The investigation involves 174,290 Tesla Model Y vehicles from the 2021 model year and focuses on the exterior electronic door latch functionality. The NHTSA said it "will continue to monitor any reports of vehicle entrapment related to the interior door release and the investigation will take further action as warranted."

My Anh (CBS News)