In Schwerte, North Rhine-Westphalia, a 43-year-old father and two children died in a burning Tesla in September 2025 after the car left the road and crashed into a tree following an alleged illegal overtaking maneuver by a 57-year-old Passat driver. The expert report now available identifies the malfunctioning doors and windows as a key risk factor, as the occupants were apparently unable to escape the vehicle in time after the impact. Another child survived only because a door was ripped off during the crash, allowing them to escape. The public prosecutor’s office is continuing its investigation, and the Federal Motor Transport Authority has also been notified. (welt: 12.04.26)
Expert report focuses on door opening
The investigation is no longer solely focused on the overtaking maneuver before the collision. At the same time, the vehicle’s technology is increasingly coming into focus. According to media reports, an expert concluded that the automatic door and window opening system failed after the crash. The reason for the system’s malfunction remains unclear.
According to the current state of the public prosecutor’s office, this does not establish any direct fault on the part of the manufacturer. However, the expert report increases the pressure on the authorities because the safety issue extends beyond this individual case. Therefore, the Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA) has been contacted, even though, according to reports, the Dutch vehicle registration authority is considered the responsible body for Tesla vehicles within the EU.
Only the child survived, with an open escape route
The fact that only one child escaped from the car is particularly serious. The child survived because a door was blown off upon impact. For the father and the two other children, however, there was apparently no way out as the fire spread throughout the vehicle.
In parallel, proceedings are now underway against the 57-year-old driver of the VW Passat. These proceedings aim to determine who is criminally responsible for the deaths of the three victims. The expert report plays a central role in this context because it describes the technical sequence of events after the crash in more detail and thus re-evaluates the question of cause and effect.
Previous incidents intensify the debate surrounding Tesla doors
The incident in Schwerte is not an isolated case. Back in 2022, two 18-year-olds died in Brandenburg after a Tesla crash in which, according to reports, the doors also failed to open. Such incidents fuel doubts about electrically controlled door systems when every second counts after a serious impact.
Added to this is the fundamental criticism of the recessed and electrically controlled door handles on many Tesla models. While they appear modern in everyday use, they can become problematic in emergencies. While China is banning such systems from 2027, the Netherlands recently became the first EU country to permit the use of “FSD Supervised” for Teslas under constant driver supervision. For precisely this reason, the Schwerte fire is likely to further intensify the debate about safety, approval, and rescue from electric vehicles.