Tesla Faces Second Cybertruck Crash Lawsuit

Tesla is facing a second wrongful death lawsuit filed this week in connection with a fiery 2024 Cybertruck crash in California that left three young people dead. The parents of Jack Nelson, 20, filed a complaint in Alameda County Superior Court alleging that "catastrophic design defects" in the futuristic vehicle turned what should have been a survivable accident into a deadly inferno. This action follows a similar suit filed just days earlier by the parents of another victim, 19-year-old Krysta Tsukahara, who also perished in the incident. Both lawsuits contend that the Cybertruck's electronic door mechanisms failed after the vehicle lost power in the crash, trapping the passengers inside as the vehicle burned. The complaint filed by the Nelson family states, “This case arises from catastrophic design defects in the Tesla Cybertruck that turned a survivable crash into a fatal fire.”

The tragic event occurred on November 27, 2024, in the town of Piedmont, California, when a Cybertruck carrying four friends crashed into a tree at high speed and caught fire. According to the lawsuits and public reports, the crash killed the driver, Soren Dixon, and caused survivable injuries to the passengers. However, as fire engulfed the vehicle, the power to the electronic doors was cut, the complaints allege. The plaintiffs argue that the passengers were then trapped inside because the Cybertruck's design lacks traditional exterior handles and features a concealed and impractical manual release mechanism for the rear doors, which was impossible to locate and use in the chaos. One passenger was pulled to safety by a rescuer who managed to break a window, but Nelson and Tsukahara, who were in the back seat, could not escape and died from smoke inhalation and burns. The lawsuits accuse Tesla of knowing about the risks associated with its door design for years but failing to implement a fix.

• Background on the Tragic Incident: The crash involved four young people traveling in a Cybertruck in Piedmont, California, on November 27, 2024. The vehicle, reportedly traveling at high speed, struck a tree and caught fire. The driver, Soren Dixon, 19, and front-seat passenger Jack Nelson, 20, were killed in the crash and subsequent fire. Back-seat passenger Krysta Tsukahara, 19, survived the initial impact but was unable to exit the burning vehicle and died from smoke inhalation. A fourth passenger was rescued by a bystander who broke a window.
• The Alleged "Death Trap" Design Flaw: The core of the lawsuits is the allegation that the Cybertruck’s electronic door system is a critical design flaw. The doors, which open via electronic buttons, allegedly become inoperable when the vehicle loses power, as it did in the post-crash fire. The lawsuits claim the manual backup release is "hidden, unlabeled, and impractical to locate or use" in an emergency, especially for rear passengers. This concern is not isolated; the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has been investigating Tesla's door systems after receiving over 140 complaints since 2018 about doors failing to open.
• Contrasting Official Safety Ratings: Despite these allegations, the Tesla Cybertruck was awarded a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA in early 2025. The vehicle performed well in crash tests, earning five stars in side-impact tests and for driver protection in a frontal crash. However, it received a slightly lower four-star rating for front passenger safety in a head-on collision and a four-star rating for rollover risk, with a calculated 12.4% chance of rollover in a single-vehicle accident.
• Historical Context of Design Concerns: Long before the Cybertruck's launch, some safety professionals expressed concern over its unique design. The use of a rigid, stainless-steel exoskeleton and sharp, angular body panels led experts to question its effects on pedestrians and occupants of other vehicles in a collision. Adrian Lund, former president of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), noted that if the vehicle's skin is made "very stiff," it could cause more harm when people hit their heads on it.
• Tesla’s Broader Legal and Safety Scrutiny: Tesla has faced numerous lawsuits and investigations related to the safety of its vehicles. Many high-profile cases have centered on its Autopilot driver-assistance technology, with plaintiffs alleging the company misleads consumers about its capabilities. While Tesla has successfully defended its technology in some trials, it has also settled cases, including a wrongful death lawsuit in April 2024 before it went to trial. In another case, a Florida jury ordered Tesla to pay hundreds of millions in damages over a fatal Autopilot-related crash.
• Regulatory Oversight and Recalls: The Cybertruck has been subject to several recalls and investigations since its launch. The NHTSA has initiated probes into the vehicle's safety, and there have been at least seven active recalls for issues including a stuck accelerator pedal pad, a faulty front windshield wiper motor, and software issues that delayed the rearview camera display. The ongoing NHTSA investigation into the vehicle's electronic door handles across the Tesla lineup adds significant weight to the claims in the Piedmont crash lawsuits.
• Implications of Product Liability Claims: These wrongful death lawsuits fall under product liability law, which holds manufacturers responsible for injuries or deaths caused by defective products. To win, the plaintiffs must prove that the Cybertruck's design was unreasonably dangerous and that this defect directly led to the victims' deaths. If the court finds Tesla liable, the company could face substantial financial damages and further harm to its brand reputation, potentially triggering wider recalls affecting its entire vehicle lineup which uses similar door technology.
• European Regulators' Stance: The Cybertruck's design has also faced pushback abroad. In Germany, regulators denied a request from the U.S. Army to grant an exemption for military personnel to import the truck. European Union regulations have effectively blocked the Cybertruck's approval due to its rigid body and sharp edges, which are deemed a risk to pedestrians and cyclists. EU rules mandate features like impact-absorbing panels and rounded surfaces to mitigate harm, features that are absent from the Cybertruck's design.