Arizona firefighters rescue toddler trapped in Tesla with a dead battery

A grandmother in Arizona is spreading the word about a dangerous design flaw in a popular electric vehicle.

Renee Sanchez said her Tesla's battery died and she was not able to open the door with her 20-month-old granddaughter locked inside.

"And I closed the door, went around the car, get in the front seat, and my car was dead. I could not get in," said Sanchez. "My phone key wouldn't open it, my card key wouldn't open it..."

She was about to take the toddler to the zoo but joy quickly turned to panic.

She called 911 and Scottsdale firefighters quickly arrived to free the child.

"And when they got here the first thing they said was, ugh, it's a Tesla," said Sanchez. "We can't get in these cars. And I said I don't care if you have to cut my car in half. Just get her out!"

Firefighters were forced to break a window with an axe.

"So, she was OK for the first few minutes. But as soon as the firemen came and all the commotion started and the windows getting broken into, she started crying because she was scared," said Sanchez.

The firefighters were able to pull the toddler to safety through the window and even gave her a little fire hat to calm her down.

After the danger had passed, Sanchez's fear turned to anger.

She learned the 12-volt battery that powers the windows died without warning.

The Telsa is supposed to give 3 warnings before the battery dies but she said there was no warning.

The Tesla service department confirmed there were no warnings at all.

"When that battery goes you're dead in the water," said Sanchez.

She wants Tesla to add a better option to get into a car with a dead battery.

I give Tesla props. When it works, it's great. But when it doesn't, it can be deadly.