Man shows how to open a Tesla when the door handles are frozen, without smashing a window
Published on Dec 13, 2025 at 12:09 AM (UTC+4)
by Claire Reid
Last updated on Dec 10, 2025 at 5:50 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Kate Bain
The flush door handles of a Tesla can completely freeze over in winter, making it almost impossible to get in, and while this might be a pain, it also poses another, potentially costly, problem.
Between frozen windshields and ice-cold interiors, winter isn’t many drivers’ favorite time of year.
But it can be especially frustrating for Tesla owners who find their EV’s door handles frozen shut.
Not only does it prevent you from getting in the car, but it can also lead to an accidentally smashed window if you’re not careful.
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Freezing temperatures can be a major pain for Tesla owners
Picture the scene: it’s mid-winter, and you head outside to leave for work, but find your Tesla retractable car door handles have frozen solid – so you’re stuck.
And that’s not the only issue that sub-zero temperatures can cause.
Because Tesla doors are frameless, the window glass sits right behind the rubber seal when the door is closed.
Usually, the window will drop slightly when the door is opened, but if the glass is frozen, it might not be able to drop.
So, if you yank the door open or slam it shut too hard, the glass can hit the trim, and the window will shatter.
According to the Go Green Autos YouTube channel, this has already happened to several Tesla owners, leaving them with a hefty bill to have the window replaced.
Fortunately, the Tesla comes with its own very simple solution to the problem via the climate option on the app.
The climate function will bring the car up to a comfortable temperature, and it works fast.
In a clip shared by Go Green Autos, the Tesla went from an interior temperature of 28°F to 68°F in just four minutes.
But to fully defrost the door handles and windows, Go Green Autos recommended waiting a little longer, around 20 minutes or so, and then using the in-app unlatch feature to open the car’s doors.
The expert warned against using the ‘defrost’ option
Tesla owners may know that the app actually has a ‘defrost’ option in the app, but the expert from Go Green Autos advised people not to use it.
“It can be a bit too vigorous,” he explained.
“It can get the car up to temperature a bit too quickly, and the issue is… there’s a lot of glass in a Tesla, and some people have cracked the glass by using the defrost option.
“When you have it on defrost, it puts the heating to maximum, and it can be too much of a thermal shock to the glass. It’s akin to pouring boiling water on your car. So it’s best to just use the climate.”
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Claire Reid is a journalist who hails from the UK but is now living in New Zealand. She began her career after graduating with a degree in Journalism from Liverpool John Moore’s University and has more than a decade of experience, writing for both local newspapers and national news sites. Claire covers a wide variety of topics, with a special focus on cars, technology, planes, cryptocurrency, and luxury.
