U.S. auto safety regulators are probing nearly 200,000 Tesla electric vehicles due to reports that door handles on certain models are not opening, posing a potential safety risk to children and animals.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced the investigation on Sept. 15 after drivers reported that electronic door handles on some Tesla Model Y vehicles once worked but later became inoperative.

The federal regulator stated that it received nine reports of parents unable to open doors on one of the models.

According to the NHTSA, parents were unable to reopen a door to regain access to the vehicle.

Although Teslas have manual door releases inside the vehicles, children may not be able to access or operate the releases even if the car's driver is aware of them.

During four of the nine incidents, parents reported they had to break a window to enter the vehicle, according to the NHTSA.

"Entrapment in a vehicle is particularly concerning in emergency situations, such as when children are entrapped in a hot vehicle," the NHTSA said.

Based on the preliminary review by the Office of Defects Investigation, this "condition appears to occur when the electronic door locks receive insufficient voltage from the vehicle."

Which Tesla model is affected?

The NHTSA investigation affects 174,290 2021 Tesla Model Y vehicles.

The agency said it will continue to monitor reports of entrapment involving opening doors from the inside of the Tesla vehicles, and the ODI "will take further action as needed."

"ODI is opening this Preliminary Evaluation (PE) to assess the scope and severity of this condition,including the risks that arise from the conditions reported," the notice reads.

For more information about the probe, call the NHTSA at 888-327-4236 or visit nhtsa.gov.

Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at nalund@usatoday.com and follow her on X @nataliealund

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Over 174,000 Tesla vehicles being investigated over door handles not opening

Reporting by Natalie Neysa Alund, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

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