Tesla Sued Over Claim Design Defects Turned Survivable Crash Fatal

By Nicholas G. Miller

Tesla was sued in a Wisconsin state court Friday over claims that faulty design in its Model S led to deaths in a crash late last year.

The lawsuit centers on a crash last November in Verona, Wis., involving five passengers in a 2016 Tesla Model S that hit a tree and caught fire. The plaintiffs alleged that design defects in the vehicle's battery caused an explosion, leading to the fire, and that faulty doors in the car prevented the passengers from escaping.

The lawsuit was filed by the family of two of the passengers, who the plaintiffs claimed survived the initial crash but then died from the fire, from which they could not escape.

"Tesla's design choices created a highly foreseeable risk: that occupants who survived a crash would remain trapped inside a burning vehicle," the plaintiffs said in their complaint.

The plaintiffs also alleged that Tesla has repeatedly received complaints that its vehicles were prone to explosive fires and that its electronic door systems could leave passengers trapped.

Tesla did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

In September, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration opened an investigation into reports of door lock problems on some 2021 Tesla Model Y vehicles that have left occupants trapped inside.

The plaintiffs in the Wisconsin case are suing for damages including medical expenses, funeral and burial expenses and suffering from the loss of a loved one. The suit also seeks punitive damages against Tesla.

Write to Nicholas G. Miller at nicholas.miller@wsj.com.

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

November 03, 2025 13:41 ET (18:41 GMT)