Look Elon, No Door Handles!

Testers at Consumer Reports were unable to put Tesla Motors Inc.'s top-end Model S P85D through its paces when they were locked out of the pricey electric vehicle.

The car's door handles sit flush in the door and can't be used until a proximity sensor detects the presence of the car key and automatically extends the driver and passenger handles. But the system failed to work properly for the magazine. Door handle malfunctions rank as the number one issue with the Tesla S among the 1,300 owners in CR's database.

Although the passenger-side door of the P85D opened for the CR testers, the car's software detected a problem with the driver's door and rendered the car "undriveable," according to the magazine. Per its policy for all owners, Tesla sent a technician to CR's facilities and the problem was fixed the next morning.

Tesla notes that CR could have started the test vehicle with the cellphone application it offers to owners. After activating the app, drivers have two minutes to enter the car, depress the brake pedal and shift into "Drive" mode.

Tesla, which can fix many problems via remote software flashes, says it is working on a solution for the door latch issue. The company insists there is no connection between the malfunction and the car's electric powertrain.

Last year the Model S scored a record 99 out of a possible 100 points in CR's road tests. Despite the performance sedan's average reliability ranking by owners, the magazine hailed the Model S as a "technological tour de force" and for the second year in a row named it the best car in the American market.

At $127,000, this year's P85D variant is the most expensive car CR has ever purchased for its tests. The magazine promises to keep readers updated as it proceeds with the car's road and door tests.