This week's roundup covers a federal rulemaking on emergency door releases and new recalls affecting Ford vehicles.
NHTSA opens rulemaking on emergency door releases
NHTSA will begin work toward a new federal safety standard requiring what it calls a robust and obvious door egress system in all vehicles, according to a notice published July 24 in the Federal Register. The agency granted a rulemaking petition filed in November 2025.
FMVSS 206 sets requirements for door locks, latches, hinges, and attachment components to prevent ejection in crashes. NHTSA states the standard says nothing about the labeling or location of a mechanical door release.
The same notice denied a petition seeking a defect investigation into the emergency door release on 179,031 model year 2022 Tesla Model 3 vehicles. The petitioner said he could not find the mechanical release after a head-on collision left his vehicle without power and on fire, and escaped through a rear window.
Recall: Ford Bronco engine compartment wiring
Ford is recalling 565,691 Bronco and Bronco Raptor vehicles from the 2021–2026 model years because the engine compartment wiring harness may lack sufficient abrasion protection, according to the recall filing with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Exposed circuits can short and arc, igniting nearby flammable material.
The campaign, NHTSA 26V468 and Ford 26S55, follows 15 fire incidents reported between October 2024 and June 2026.
