Tesla Inc. faces a new lawsuit tied to a fatal 2024 Cybertruck crash in California. The case was filed by the sole survivor, Jordan Miller, in Alameda County Superior Court.
Three college students died after becoming trapped inside the vehicle during the fire that followed the crash.
The incident occurred in Piedmont, a suburb near San Francisco, during the night. Miller escaped after a bystander broke a window using a tree branch. The vehicle’s doors did not open after impact.
Driver Soren Dixon, 19, along with Jack Nelson, 20, and Krysta Tsukahara, 19, died from smoke inhalation.
The complaint focuses on Tesla’s door system design. It alleges the company knew about risks tied to electrically powered doors but failed to address them.
The filing claims Tesla prioritized design choices over functional safety in emergency conditions. The lawsuit also states the company continues selling vehicles with these risks.
Tesla has not issued a response to the complaint. The case adds to existing litigation tied to the same crash. Families of two victims filed separate lawsuits in October, raising similar claims about door failures and prior knowledge.
Investigations into electric door systems have expanded over recent years. Reporting has identified at least 15 deaths across multiple incidents where occupants or rescuers could not open Tesla vehicle doors after crashes. These events often involved fire following impact, where rapid exit becomes critical.
Tesla has acknowledged design concerns publicly. The company’s chief designer said last year that updates to door handles were in development.
The goal centers on improving usability during emergencies. In December, Tesla updated guidance stating doors should automatically unlock after detecting a serious collision.
Federal regulators are also reviewing related issues. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration opened a defect investigation into certain Model Y vehicles.
The agency cited cases where exterior door handles failed, trapping occupants inside. A separate request for investigation followed an incident involving a Model 3 where the driver had to break out after a fire.
The case, filed as Miller v. the Estate of Soren Mangseth Dixon, continues to move through California courts. The outcome may shape how manufacturers approach electronic door systems under crash conditions.
According to Beinsure analysts, product liability exposure tied to safety design increasingly drives litigation risk in the automotive sector.
