Why Tesla is facing a wrongful death lawsuit in US
04 Nov 2025

Tesla is facing a lawsuit over a deadly crash in Wisconsin, US which claimed the lives of people traveling in a Model S.

The complaint alleges that the victims were trapped inside because of a design flaw barring them from opening the sedan's doors.

Jeffrey and Michelle Bauer were passengers when their Model S crashed into a tree in Verona, Wisconsin on November 1, 2024. They succumbed to their injuries the following day.

Tesla was aware of potential issue, says complaint
Allegations

The complaint, filed by four of the Bauers's children, alleges that the couple's fate was sealed because of a malfunctioning lithium-ion battery pack in their Model S.

The children claim this battery pack caused the electronic door systems to fail after the crash.

They further allege that Tesla was aware of this potential issue due to previous incidents but still chose to ignore known safety practices.

Tesla yet to comment on lawsuit
Legal history

Tesla, led by Elon Musk and headquartered in Austin, Texas, has not yet commented on the matter.

The company is also facing a lawsuit from the families of two college students who died in a Cybertruck crash last November.

They were allegedly trapped in the burning vehicle due to its door handle design.

NHTSA launched investigation into possible defects
Ongoing investigation

In September, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) launched an investigation into possible defects in some Tesla doors after reports of handle failures.

The Bauers's children also highlighted that rear seat passengers like Michelle were especially vulnerable after crashes as they had to lift carpeting to find a metal tab for escape, a cumbersome process.

Lawsuit names estate of car's driver for negligent driving
Eyewitness account

A nearby homeowner reportedly heard screams coming from the Bauers's vehicle and called 911.

The complaint states, "Tesla's design choices created a highly foreseeable risk: that occupants who survived a crash would remain trapped inside a burning vehicle."

Along with Tesla, the lawsuit also names the estate of the car's driver for negligent driving.