Federal regulators opened a preliminary investigation into approximately 179,000 Tesla Model 3 vehicles following reports that concealed door handles trapped occupants during emergencies. The probe by the NHTSA focuses on the 2022 model design after at least 15 fatalities were linked to inaccessible doors following crashes and fires.Elon Musk and his company face heightened scrutiny as the investigation follows a series of lawsuits and a similar inquiry into Model Y locking systems.