Tesla Wrongful Death Lawsuit Claims Driver Trapped in Burning Vehicle When Door Handles Failed

Lawsuit alleges multiple flaws in the Tesla Model Y’s design and safety systems combined to create a deadly situation that could have been avoided.

A wrongful death lawsuit filed by the daughters of a California man claim the electronic door handles in a 2023 Tesla Model Y malfunctioned, trapping their father inside the burning vehicle after it crashed while on Autopilot.

The complaint (PDF) was brought by Chaviante Bledsoe, Rainey Bledsoe, Raven Bledsoe and Reja Bledsoe, individually and as heirs of Rasheed Bledsoe. The case was originally filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court on December 2 and was removed to the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California on January 9. Tesla Inc. and numerous unknown entities are named as the defendants.

The case joins a growing number of federal investigations and lawsuits filed nationwide alleging that multiple defects in Tesla vehicles have contributed to serious injuries and deaths.

In October 2025, the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) launched an investigation into nearly 2.9 million Teslas following reports of accidents and injuries involving the company’s Autopilot features. Prior to that action, a separate NHTSA investigation was initiated into 174,290 Tesla Model Y vehicles, after reports of electronic door handles failing and leaving children trapped inside.

Both investigations followed a Tesla wrongful death lawsuit filed in June 2025, which alleged that design flaws in the Tesla Cybertruck’s doors prevented the driver from unlatching them and escaping during a post-crash battery fire. Previous Tesla Autopilot lawsuits have also been filed, claiming the feature does not work as advertised and has led to multiple fatal accidents.

According to the lawsuit filed by his daughters, Rasheed Bledsoe was driving a 2023 Tesla Model Y on East Sixth Street in Claremont, California, shortly after 2 a.m. on April 28, 2025, when the vehicle suddenly veered off the roadway and crashed into a tree. The plaintiffs allege the car was operating with Tesla’s Autopilot driver-assistance system engaged at the time of the crash.

The complaint claims that upon impact, the vehicle’s lithium-ion battery pack ignited, causing the car to erupt into flames. Bledsoe was allegedly unable to escape due to failures in the vehicle’s electronic door locks and emergency exit systems, leaving him trapped inside the burning car. He reportedly died from thermal injuries and smoke inhalation after enduring conscious pain and suffering.

Tesla Vehicle Design Defect Allegations

The lawsuit claims there are multiple defects in the design and safety systems of the Model Y, each of which plaintiffs say could have been fixed to prevent the fatal outcome. Among the allegations is that Tesla’s Autopilot system failed to detect a stationary object in the roadway and did not brake or take evasive action, despite allegedly having the technical capability to do so.

In addition, plaintiffs claim that the Tesla’s battery containment and thermal management systems were defectively designed, allowing it to enter thermal runaway and produce an intense, difficult-to-extinguish fire. They allege Tesla has long been aware that its lithium-ion batteries pose heightened fire risks in crashes, creating extreme dangers for occupants and first responders.

The lawsuit further contends that the vehicle’s door locking mechanisms became inoperable following the crash, preventing Bledsoe from exiting the vehicle. It cites concerns previously raised by federal regulators about electronic door handles becoming unusable when a vehicle’s low-voltage battery fails, increasing the risk of entrapment during emergencies.

The Bledsoes argue that Tesla knew or should have known about these risks through prior consumer complaints, internal testing, regulatory investigations and past fatal incidents involving Autopilot failures, battery fires and door malfunctions. The lawsuit also alleges Tesla overstated the capabilities of its Autopilot system through marketing and public statements, creating a false sense of safety that encouraged dangerous reliance on the technology.

“There were multiple independent failures and defects in the design of the vehicle that were each sufficient to cause the death of Mr. Bledsoe. If any of these defects had been rectified by Defendant, then Mr. Bledsoe would not have perished, and Tesla knew or should have known of the existence of these defects.”

— Chaviante Bledsoe et al v. Tesla Inc. et al

The daughters’ complaint raises claims of strict product liability for design defect and failure to warn, negligent product liability, breach of express and implied warranties, wrongful death and a survival action on behalf of the estate. They are seeking compensatory and punitive damages, alleging Tesla’s conduct showed reckless disregard for consumer safety.

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