Share This: A Texas lawsuit filed against Tesla claims defective designs in the Cybertruck caused a fire that trapped its owner in the vehicle, ultimately causing his death. The suit filed by Michael Sheehan’s family in Harris County claims that he purchased the 2024 Cybertruck on April 25 of last year. In August, Sheehan’s Cybertruck left the road, struck a culvert and caught fire, trapping him inside. According to the suit, the crash forces themselves were survivable and that vehicle deformation contributed to the fire and Sheehan’s inability to escape. The suit lists multiple ways it claims the vehicle was defectively designed including: “Battery cell chemistry used is hyper volatile and susceptible to thermal runaway Alternative battery cell chemistry with slower thermal propagation readily available, which allows longer time to escape post-crash Material selection and structural design defects Susceptible to mechanical damage induced thermal runaway due to electrochemistry used in battery cells, construction of battery cells, modules and packs, lack of insulative materials, lack of intumescent materials in battery cells, modules and packs and location and size of vents in modules and packs. Not crashworthy due to location and design of battery cells, modules and packs, structure, size (aspect ratio), material selection and proximity of drive motors to battery modules and lack of protection of crash, design of energy absorbing structures in proximity to battery modules, no consideration for movement of components during crash sequence. Inability for occupants to open doors once power is lost External door handles don’t open properly Alternate interior door handles are unreasonably difficult to locate in an emergency Insufficient warnings or training to occupants regarding safe exit procedures post-crash” The suit claims that Tesla was negligent in the design, manufacturing, testing, inspection, marketing, instruction and selling of the Cybertruck. Sheehan’s family is seeking monetary damages of more than $1 million. IMAGE