Tesla MODEL S User manual

Overview.............................................................2
Interior Overview.........................................................................2
Exterior Overview....................................................................... 3
Opening and Closing..................................... 4
Doors............................................................................................... 4
KeylessLockingandUnlocking4UsingtheKey4UsingExteriorDoorHandles6OpeningDoorsfromtheInterior6InteriorLockingandUnlocking6DoorUnlockMode7Child-protectionLock7Drive-awayLocking7Walk-awayLocking7UnlockingWhentheKeyDoesn'tWork7OpeningInteriorDoorswithNoPower8
Windows.........................................................................................9
OpeningandClosing9LockingRearWindows9
Rear Trunk....................................................................................10
Opening10Closing10AdjustingtheOpeningHeight10InteriorRelease11OpeningwithNoPower11
Front Trunk...................................................................................12
Opening12Closing12InteriorEmergencyRelease13OpeningwithNoPower13
Glove Box..................................................................................... 14
OpeningandClosing14
Sunroof.......................................................................................... 15
OpeningandClosing15
Cup Holders.................................................................................16
OpeningandClosing16
Seating and Safety Restraints...................17
Front and Rear Seats............................................................... 17
CorrectDrivingPosition17AdjustingtheDriver’sSeat17FoldingRearSeats18RaisingRearSeats18HeadSupports18SeatHeaters18SeatCovers18
Seat Belts......................................................................................19
WearingSeatBelts19WearingSeatBeltsWhenPregnant19SeatBeltPre-tensioners20TestingSeatBelts20SeatBeltWarnings20
Child Safety Seats.................................................................... 22
GuidelinesforSeatingChildren22ChoosingaChildSafetySeat23SeatingLargerChildren24InstallingChildSafetySeats24InstallingSeatBeltRetainedChildSeats24InstallingLATCHChildSeats25AttachingUpperTetherStraps25TestingaChildSafetySeat26Warnings-ChildSafetySeats26
Tesla Built-In Rear Facing Child Seats..............................27
UsageRestrictions27Opening27Folding27SeatingaChild29Warnings-TeslaChildSeats30
Airbags.......................................................................................... 31
LocationofAirbags31HowtheAirbagsWork32TypesofAirbags32PassengerFrontAirbag33
InflationEects 33AirbagWarningIndicator34AirbagWarnings34
Driving...............................................................35
Driver Profiles............................................................................ 35
CreatingaDriverProfile 35RestoringaDriver’sProfile 35SavedDriverSettings35ValetMode35
Steering Wheel.......................................................................... 37
AdjustingPosition37AdjustingSensitivity37UsingLeftSteeringWheelButtons37UsingRightSteeringWheelButtons38UsingVoiceCommands39HeatedSteeringWheel39Horn39
Mirrors.......................................................................................... 40
AdjustingExteriorSideMirrors40RearViewMirror40
Starting and Powering O.....................................................41
Starting41PoweringO 41
Gears............................................................................................. 42
ShiftingGears42KeepingYourVehicleinNeutral(TowMode)42
Instrument Panel.......................................................................43
InstrumentPanelOverview43InstrumentPanel-Driving46
Lights............................................................................................ 48
ControllingLights48HighBeamHeadlights51HeadlightsAfterExit51TurnSignals51HazardWarningFlashers52
Wipers and Washers............................................................... 53
Wipers53Washers53
Brakes........................................................................................... 54
BrakingSystems54BrakeWear54RegenerativeBraking55ParkingBrake55
Traction Control........................................................................ 56
HowItWorks56
Park Assist...................................................................................57
HowParkAssistWorks57VisualandAudioFeedback57ControllingAudibleFeedback58LimitationsandFalseWarnings58OtherParkingAids58
Vehicle Hold................................................................................59
Launch Mode............................................................................. 60
PerformanceDualMotorVehiclesOnly60ToActivateLaunchMode60Limitations60
Trip Information......................................................................... 61
DisplayingTripInformation61
Getting Maximum Range.......................................................62
DrivingTipstoMaximizeRange62EnergyApp62SavingEnergy62RangeAssurance62
Rear View Camera................................................................... 64
CameraLocation64
Driver Assistance.......................................... 65
About Driver Assistance........................................................65
DriverAssistanceComponents65DriverAssistanceFeatures67Limitations67CleaningDriverAssistanceComponents67
Trac-Aware Cruise Control...............................................68
OperatingTrac-AwareCruiseControl68Adjustyourfollowingdistance69CruisingattheSpeedLimit70ChangingtheSetSpeed70OvertakeAcceleration71CancelingandResuming72SummaryofCruiseIndicators72Limitations73
Autosteer.....................................................................................74
OperatingAutosteer74HoldSteeringWheel75TakeOverImmediately75CancelingAutosteer75Limitations75
Auto Lane Change................................................................... 77
OperatingAutoLaneChange77CancelingAutoLaneChange78Limitations78
Autopark......................................................................................79
ParkingonPublicRoads79UsingSummon80
Lane Assist..................................................................................83
ControllingLaneAssistWarnings84LimitationsandInaccuracies84
Collision Avoidance Assist.................................................... 85
ForwardCollisionWarning85AutomaticEmergencyBraking86LimitationsandInaccuracies87
Speed Assist...............................................................................88
HowSpeedAssistWorks88ControllingSpeedAssist88LimitationsandInaccuracies89
Using the Touchscreen...............................90
Touchscreen Overview...........................................................90
TheBigPicture90
Controls........................................................................................94
ControllingFeatures94
Settings........................................................................................ 99
CustomizingYourVehicle99ErasingPersonalData103
Climate Controls..................................................................... 104
OverviewofClimateControls104CustomizingClimateControl105Ventilation107ClimateControlOperatingTips107
Smart Air Suspension........................................................... 108
ManualHeightAdjustments108Location-BasedSuspension108AutomaticLowering109JackMode109
Media and Audio......................................................................110
Overview110VolumeControl110AMandFMRadio110XMRadio110InternetRadio111MediaSettings112Favorites112MyMusic&Devices112USBHubConnections11312VPowerSocket113
Phone............................................................................................114
Bluetooth®Compatibility114PairingaBluetoothPhone114ImportingContacts114UnpairingaBluetoothPhone114ConnectingtoaPairedPhone115MakingaPhoneCall115ReceivingaPhoneCall115InCallOptions115
Maps and Navigation..............................................................116
Overview116UsingMaps116StartingNavigation116DuringNavigation116FavoriteDestinations118UpdatedMaps118
Calendar...................................................................................... 119
Overview119CalendarandNavigation120
Security Settings...................................................................... 121
AbouttheSecuritySystem121
HomeLink®Universal Transceiver...................................... 122
AboutHomeLink122ProgrammingHomeLink122ResettingtheLocationoftheHomeLinkDevice122TroubleshootingHomeLink122
Connecting to Wi-Fi.............................................................. 124
Software Updates................................................................... 125
LoadingNewSoftware125ViewingReleaseNotes125
Mobile App................................................................................ 126
ModelSMobileApp126
Charging..........................................................127
Electric Vehicle Components............................................. 127
HighVoltageComponents127ChargingEquipment128
Battery Information................................................................129
AbouttheBattery129BatteryCare129
Charging Instructions............................................................130
OpeningtheChargePort130PluggingIn130DuringCharging131StoppingCharging131ChargePortLight131ChangingChargeSettings132ChargingStatus133
Maintenance.................................................. 134
Maintenance Schedule..........................................................134
ServiceIntervals134DailyChecks134MonthlyChecks134FluidReplacementIntervals134HighVoltageSafety134
Tire Care and Maintenance..................................................135
MaintainingTirePressures135InspectingandMaintainingTires136ReplacingTiresandWheels137SeasonalTireTypes137DrivinginLowTemperatures138UsingTireChains138TirePressureMonitoring138
Temporary Tire Repair.......................................................... 140
TireRepairKit140
InflatingwithSealantandAir141InflatingwithAirOnly142ReplacingtheSealantCanister143
Cleaning..................................................................................... 144
CleaningtheExterior144CleaningtheInterior145Polishing,TouchUp,andBodyRepair146UsingaCarCover146FloorMats146
Wiper Blades and Washer Jets..........................................147
CheckingandReplacingWiperBlades147CleaningWasherJets147
Fluid Reservoirs.......................................................................149
RemovingtheMaintenancePanel149CheckingBatteryCoolant149CheckingBrakeFluid150ToppingUpWasherFluid151
Fuses............................................................................................152
FuseBoxLocations152ReplacingaFuse152FuseBox1153FuseBox2155FuseBox3157
Jacking and Lifting.................................................................158
JackingProcedure158
Parts and Accessories........................................................... 159
Parts,Accessories,andModifications 159BodyRepairs159
Specifications............................................... 160
Identification Labels..............................................................160
VehicleIdentificationNumber160EmissionControlLabel160
Vehicle Loading........................................................................ 161
LoadCapacityLabeling161CalculatingLoadLimits162TowingaTrailer162RoofRacks162
Dimensions and Weights..................................................... 163
ExteriorDimensions163InteriorDimensions163CargoVolume164Weights165
Subsystems............................................................................... 166
Motor166Transmission166Steering166Brakes167Suspension167Battery-12V167Battery-HighVoltage168
Wheels and Tires.....................................................................169
Wheel
Specifications 169TireSpecifications 169UnderstandingTireMarkings170UniformTireQualityGrading172WheelsandTiresGlossary173
Roadside Assistance.................................. 174
Contacting Roadside Assistance...................................... 174
Instructions for Transporters.............................................. 175
UseaFlatbedOnly175DisableSelf-Leveling(airsuspensionvehiclesonly)175ActivateTowMode175ConnecttheTowingEye176PullOntotheTrailerandSecuretheWheels177
Consumer Information...............................178
About this Owner Information...........................................178
Illustrations178ErrorsorInaccuracies178LocationofComponents178DocumentApplicability178CopyrightsandTrademarks179
Disclaimers................................................................................180
VehicleTelematics/DataRecorders180QualityControl180CaliforniaProposition65180
Reporting Safety Defects..................................................... 181
ContactingTesla181ReportingSafetyDefects-US181ReportingSafetyDefects-Canada181
Declarations of Conformity.................................................182
KeyandPassiveUnlockingSystem182MediaControlUnit183TirePressureMonitoringSystem183HomeLink184RadioFrequencyInformation184
Contents

1. Interior door handles (Opening Doors from the Interior on page 6)
2. Trac-Aware Cruise Control (Trac-Aware Cruise Control on page 68) and Autosteer (see
Autosteer on page 74)
3. High beams (High Beam Headlights on page 51), Turn signals (Turn Signals on page 51),
Wipers and washers (Wiper Blades and Washer Jets on page 147)
4. Steering wheel buttons - left (Using Left Steering Wheel Buttons on page 37)
5. Instrument panel (Instrument Panel on page 43)
6. Steering wheel buttons - right (Using Right Steering Wheel Buttons on page 38)
7. Gear selector (Shifting Gears on page 42)
8. Touchscreen (Touchscreen Overview on page 90)
9. Glove box button (Glove Box on page 14)
10. Power window switches (Opening and Closing on page 9)
11. Exterior mirror adjustment switches (Mirrors on page 40)
12. Seats (Front and Rear Seats on page 17)
13. Steering column adjuster (hidden from view in the above image) (Steering Wheel on page
37)
14. Horn (Horn on page 39)
15. Brakes (Brakes on page 54)
16. Hazard warning lights (Hazard Warning Flashers on page 52)
17. Cabin climate control (Climate Controls on page 104)
18. Cup holders (Cup Holders on page 16)
Interior Overview
2 Model S Owner's Manual

1. Exterior lights (Lights on page 48)
2. Door handles (Using Exterior Door Handles on page 6)
3. Sunroof (optional) (Sunroof on page 15)
4. Charge port (Charging Instructions on page 130)
5. Autopilot-equipped vehicles only: Forward looking camera (About Driver Assistance on page
65)
6. Exterior mirrors (Mirrors on page 40)
7. Autopilot-equipped vehicles only: Radar sensor (hidden from view in the above image)(About
Driver Assistance on page 65)
8. Hood/Front trunk (Front Trunk on page 12)
9. Wheels and tires (Wheels and Tires on page 169)
10. Rear view camera (Rear View Camera on page 64)
11. Rear trunk/liftgate (Rear Trunk on page 10)
12. Ultrasonic sensors (Park Assist on page 57 and About Driver Assistance on page 65)
Exterior Overview
Overview 3

Keyless Locking and Unlocking
Locking and unlocking Model S is convenient.
Although you must be carrying a valid key,
there is no need to use it. Model S has sensors
that can recognize the presence of a key
within a range of approximately three feet
(one meter). So you can keep your key in your
pocket or purse and Model S detects it.
When you walk up to Model S carrying your
key, doors automatically unlock. If a door
handle is retracted, press it and it extends. If
the Auto-Present Handles setting is turned on
(see Using Exterior Door Handles on page
6), you do not need to touch the door
handle. Instead, door handles extends
automatically as you approach Model S. To
open the rear trunk, press the switch located
under the trunk’s exterior handle.
Note: You can choose whether you want all
doors, or just the driver's door, to unlock when
you approach Model S carrying your key (see
Door Unlock Mode on page 7).
When carrying your key with you, you can also
open the rear trunk without having to use the
key. Simply press the switch located under the
trunk’s exterior handle. Door Unlock Mode
(see Door Unlock Mode on page 7) must
be set to All.
Model S also locks automatically. If you set
Walk-Away Door Lock to ON, Model S locks
when you walk away carrying your key with
you (see Walk-away Locking on page 7).
While sitting inside Model S, you can also lock
and unlock the vehicle by touching the icon on
the touchscreen's status bar or using the
Controls screen.
Note: Depending on date of manufacture and
options selected at time of purchase, some
Model S vehicles are not equipped with the
automatic locking and unlocking feature.
Using the Key
To quickly familiarize yourself with the key,
think of the key as a miniature version of
Model S, with the Tesla badge representing
the front. The key has three buttons that feel
like softer areas on the surface.
1. Trunk
• Double-click to open the rear trunk.
• If equipped with a powered liftgate,
double-click to close the rear trunk.
You can also single-click to stop the
liftgate when it is moving.
• Hold the button down for one to two
seconds to open the charge port door.
2. Lock/Unlock All
• Double-click to unlock Model S.
Hazard warning lights flash twice and
door handles extend.
Note: If the Door Unlock Mode is set
to Driver, double-clicking unlocks only
the driver's door and you will need to
double-click again to unlock all doors
and trunks. If set to All, the first
double-click unlocks all doors and
trunks. Use the touchscreen to change
this setting (touch Controls >
Settings > Vehicle > Door Unlock
Mode).
• Single-click to lock doors and trunks
(all doors and trunks must be closed).
Hazard warning lights flash once and
door handles retract.
3. Front trunk (also called the "frunk")
• Double-click to open the front trunk.
You do not need to point the key at Model S,
but you must be within operating range
(which varies depending on the strength of
the key’s battery).
Doors
4 Model S Owner's Manual

If Model S is unable to detect the key, the
touchscreen displays a message indicating
that a key is not inside. Place the key where
Model S can best detect it, which is below the
12V power socket (see Key Not Inside on page
41).
Radio equipment on a similar frequency can
aect the key. If this happens, move the key at
least one foot (30 cm) away from other
electronic devices (phone, laptop, etc). If the
key does not work, you may need to change
its battery. If the key’s battery is discharged,
you can open Model S by following the
unlocking procedure (see Unlocking When the
Key Doesn't Work on page 7).
Caution: Remember to bring the key with
you when you drive. Although you can
drive Model S away from its key, you will
be unable to power it back on after it
powers o.
Caution: Protect the key from impact,
high temperatures, and damage from
liquids. Avoid contact with solvents,
waxes and abrasive cleaners.
Replacing the Key Battery
The key’s battery lasts for approximately a
year. When the battery is low, a message
displays on the instrument panel. Follow these
steps to replace it:
1. With the key placed button side down on
a soft surface, use a small flat-bladed tool
to release the bottom cover.
2. Remove the battery by lifting it away from
the front retaining clips.
3. Insert the new battery (type CR2032) with
the ‘+’ side facing up.
Note: Wipe the battery clean before fitting
and avoid touching the battery's flat
surfaces. Finger marks on the flat surfaces
of the battery can reduce battery life.
4. Holding the cover at an angle, align the
tabs on the widest side of the cover with
the corresponding slots on the key, then
press the cover firmly onto the key until it
snaps into place.
Getting More Keys
If you lose a key or require an additional one,
contact Tesla. Model S can recognize up to
five keys.
When ordering a new key for Model S, take all
available keys with you for reprogramming.
Doors
Opening and Closing 5

Using Exterior Door Handles
A light press on a door handle extends it,
provided Model S detects a valid key nearby.
You can set the door handles to extend
automatically whenever you approach the
driver’s side carrying the key. On the
touchscreen, touch Controls > Settings >
Vehicle > Auto-Present Handles > On.
Note: Depending on date of manufacture and
options selected at time of purchase, some
Model S vehicles are not equipped with Auto-
Present Handles.
Insert your hand into the handle and pull to
open the door.
Door handles retract if you do not use them
within one minute after they extend. Just
press a handle to extend it again. Door
handles also retract a minute after the last
door closes, when Model S begins moving,
and when you lock Model S.
Note: To preserve battery life, Model S is
designed to temporarily disable the Auto-
Present Handles feature when:
• The key has been out of range for more
than 48 hours.
• The key remains within range for five
minutes after all doors have been closed.
In these cases, extend the handles by touching
the driver’s door handle or pressing the unlock
button on the key. There is no need to reset
the setting. The next time you approach
Model S, provided the above conditions do
not apply, handles automatically extend.
Whenever a door is open, the Door
Open indicator displays on the
instrument panel. The image of the
Model S on the touchscreen Controls
window also shows which door or
trunk is open.
Opening Doors from the Interior
To open a door, pull the interior door handle
toward you.
Note: If Model S is locked, the first pull unlocks
the associated door, and the second pull
opens it.
Note: To prevent children from opening rear
doors using the interior handles, use the
touchscreen, Controls > Settings > Vehicle >
Child Protection Lock, to turn on the child-
protection locks (see Child-protection Lock on
page 7).
Interior Locking and Unlocking
From inside Model S, you can use the
touchscreen to lock or unlock doors and
trunks, provided a valid key is inside the
vehicle. Touch the lock icon on the
touchscreen's status bar.
When you stop Model Sand engage the Park
gear, you can choose whether you want doors
to unlock or remain locked. To do so, touch
Controls > Settings > Vehicle > Unlock On
Park. When set to ON, doors automatically
unlock when you engage the Park gear.
You can also unlock doors and present
handles by pressing the Park button on the
end of the gear selector a second time (i.e.
after pressing it once to engage the Park
gear).
Note: If a door or trunk is still open when you
lock Model S, it locks when you close it.
Doors
6 Model S Owner's Manual

Door Unlock Mode
You can choose whether you want all doors, or
just the driver's door, to unlock when you
approach your vehicle carrying your key. To do
so, touch Controls > Settings > Vehicle > Door
Unlock Mode and choose Driver or All.
Child-protection Lock
Model S has child-protection locks on the rear
doors and liftgate to prevent them from being
opened using interior handles. Use the
touchscreen to turn child protection locks on
or o. Touch Controls > Settings > Vehicle >
Child Protection Lock.
Note: It is recommended that you turn child-
protection locks on whenever children are
seated in the rear seats.
Drive-away Locking
Model S automatically locks all doors
(including the trunks) whenever your driving
speed exceeds 5 mph (8 km/h).
Walk-away Locking
Doors and trunks can automatically lock
whenever you walk away carrying the key.
To turn this feature on or o, touch Controls >
Settings > Vehicle > Walk-Away Door Lock.
Note: Depending on date of manufacture and
options selected at time of purchase, some
Model S vehicles are not equipped with the
Walk-Away Door Lock feature.
Note: If all doors are closed and you use the
key to unlock Model S, walk-away locking is
temporarily suspended until the next time
Model S powers on (such as when you press
the Brake pedal to engage a driving gear), or
until you use the key again to lock Model S.
This allows you to keep Model S unlocked in
your garage.
Unlocking When the Key Doesn't
Work
If Model S does not unlock when you walk up
to it, or when you press the unlock button on
your key, the key’s battery may be dead. If this
is the case, you can still unlock and drive
Model S.
To unlock Model S (and disable the security
alarm), first position the key near the base of
the passenger side windshield wiper, as
shown. Then press the front passenger door
handle. If Model S doesn't unlock, try adjusting
the position of the key. The key must be in the
correct position.
To drive Model S, place the key against the
center console, immediately below the 12V
power outlet, then press and hold the brake
pedal to turn Model S on.
Note: Unlocking Model S using this method
disables walk-away locking. You must
manually re-enable walk-away locking after
replacing the key’s battery.
For instructions on how to replace the key’s
battery, see Replacing the Key Battery on
page 5.
Doors
Opening and Closing 7

Opening Interior Doors with No
Power
If Model S has no electrical power, front doors
open as usual using the interior door handles.
To open the rear doors, fold back the edge of
the carpet below the rear seats to expose the
mechanical release cable. Pull the mechanical
release cable toward the center.
Doors
8 Model S Owner's Manual

Opening and Closing
Press down on a switch to lower the
associated window all the way down. Window
switches operate at two levels. To lower a
window partially, hold the switch and release
when the window is at the desired position.
Similarly, pull a switch to raise the associated
window. This also operates at two levels—
when raising, hold the switch and release
when the window is at the desired position.
Warning: Before closing a power window,
it is the driver’s responsibility to ensure
that all occupants, especially children, do
not have any body parts extended
through the window’s opening. Failure to
do so can cause serious injury.
Warning: When leaving Model S, always
take your key with you. Leaving the key in
Model S allows all doors, windows, and
controls to be fully operational and can
cause hazardous, unauthorized or
unintentional use of Model S.
Locking Rear Windows
To prevent passengers from using the rear
window switches, press the rear window lock
switch. The switch light turns on. To unlock
rear windows, press the switch again.
Warning: To ensure safety, it is
recommended that you lock the rear
windows whenever children are seated in
the rear seats.
Warning: Never leave children unattended
in Model S.
Windows
Opening and Closing 9

Opening
To open the rear trunk, do one of the
following:
• Touch Controls > Trunk on the
touchscreen.
• Double-click the rear trunk button on the
key.
• Press the switch located under the
exterior handle (depending on date of
manufacture and options selected at time
of purchase, some Model S vehicles
require you to first unlock Model S).
When the liftgate is open, the
instrument panel displays the Door
Open indicator light. The image of
the Model S on the touchscreen
Controls window also displays the
open trunk.
To stop a powered liftgate while it is moving,
single-click the Trunk button on the key. Then,
when you double-click the Trunk button, it
moves again, but in the opposite direction
(provided it was not almost entirely open or
closed when you stopped it). For example, if
you single-click to stop the liftgate while it is
opening, when you double-click, it closes.
To open the trunk from inside in the unlikely
situation in which Model S has no electrical
power, see Opening with No Power on page
11.
Closing
If Model S is not equipped with a powered
liftgate, close the trunk by pulling down on the
liftgate and pushing firmly until it is fully
closed.
To close the powered liftgate, do one of the
following:
• Double-click the trunk button on the key.
• Touch Controls > Trunk on the
touchscreen.
• Press the switch located on the underside
of the liftgate (see Adjusting the Opening
Height on page 10).
If a powered liftgate senses an obstruction
when closing, it automatically opens and
sounds two chimes. Remove the obstruction
and try closing it again. If it cannot close the
second time, powered operation is temporarily
disabled. Close it manually to restore powered
operation.
Note: The power closing feature is also
temporarily disabled if you leave the powered
liftgate open for more than an hour.
Adjusting the Opening Height
If Model S is equipped with a powered liftgate,
you can adjust its opening height to make it
easier to reach:
1. Open the liftgate, then manually lower it
to the desired opening height.
2. Press and hold the button on the
underside of the liftgate for two seconds
until you hear a confirmation beep.
3. Confirm that you have set it to the desired
height by closing the liftgate, then
reopening it.
Rear Trunk
10 Model S Owner's Manual

Interior Release
To open the trunk from inside a Model S
equipped with the Tesla Built-In Rear Facing
Child Seats, press the interior release switch
located inside the rear trunk and push the
liftgate up. If Model S is locked and is
equipped with a power liftgate, the first press
unlocks the rear trunk and the second press
opens it.
Note: If Model S is not equipped with the the
Tesla Rear Facing Child Seats, the switch may
appear to exist, but it will be inactive and
pressing it does not release the liftgate.
If Model S is equipped with the power liftgate,
you do not need to push it up. When you
press the release switch, it opens, and when
you pull the switch, it closes.
Note: The interior release switch is disabled if
child-protection locks are turned on (see
Child-protection Lock on page 7), or if
Model S is moving.
Opening with No Power
If Model S has no electrical power, you can
open the rear trunk from inside. Use the
mechanical release cable located on the
underside of the liftgate, next to the interior
light.
1. Remove the cover by pulling its lower
edge very firmly toward you.
2. Pull the cable to release the latch.
3. Push the liftgate open.
Rear Trunk
Opening and Closing 11

Opening
To open the front trunk:
Touch ControlsFront Trunk on the
touchscreen, or double-click the front
trunk button on the key.
Pull the hood up.
The door open indicator displays on
the instrument panel when the front
trunk is open. The image of the
Model S on the touchscreen Controls
window also displays the open trunk.
The front trunk locks whenever Model S is
locked using the touchscreen, externally using
the key or walk-away locking, or when Valet
mode is active (see Valet Mode).
To open the front trunk in the unlikely
situation in which Model S has no electrical
power, see Opening with No Power.
Closing
The Model S body is made of lightweight
aluminum. Therefore, the hood is not heavy
enough to latch under its own weight and
applying pressure on the front edge or center
of the hood can cause damage. To close the
hood:
• Lower the hood fully until it touches the
latches.
• Place both hands on the front of the hood
in the areas shown below (in green), then
press down firmly to engage the latches.
• Lift the front edge of the hood to ensure it
is fully closed.
Caution: To prevent damage:
• Apply pressure only to the green
areas illustrated above. Applying
pressure to the red areas can cause
damage.
• Do not close the hood with one hand.
Doing so applies concentrated force
in one area and can result in a dent or
crease.
• Do not apply pressure to the leading
edge of the hood because this can
crease the edge.
• Do not slam or drop the hood.
Warning: Do not drive with the hood
secured by the secondary catch alone.
Front Trunk
12 Model S Owner's Manual

Interior Emergency Release
An interior release button inside the front
trunk allows a person locked inside to get out.
This release button is active whenever Model S
is stationary.
Press the interior release button to open the
front trunk, then push up on the hood.
Note: The button glows for several hours after
a brief exposure to ambient light.
Opening with No Power
If Model S has no electrical power, or if you are
unable to open the front trunk using the
touchscreen or key, pull the mechanical
release lever located below the glove box. This
releases the primary catch.
Note: The mechanical release lever is not
available on all versions of Model S. For dual
motor vehicles and some newer models,
contact Tesla for assistance.
Then push down on the secondary catch lever
and lift the hood. You may need to push the
hood down slightly to release the pressure
against the secondary catch.
Front Trunk
Opening and Closing 13

Opening and Closing
To open the glove box, press the switch
located on the side of the touchscreen. If you
leave the glove box open for five minutes, its
light automatically turns o.
Note: The glove box locks whenever Model S
is locked externally, using the key or walk-
away locking. It also locks when Model S is in
Valet mode (see Valet Mode on page 35). It
does not lock when Model S is locked using
the touchscreen.
Warning: When driving, keep the glove
box closed to prevent injury to a
passenger if a collision or sudden stop
occurs.
Glove Box
14 Model S Owner's Manual

Opening and Closing
If your Model S is equipped with a sunroof,
touch Controls > Sunroof on the touchscreen
to operate it. Drag, or tap on, the sunroof
slider bar, or touch the image of the sunroof
and drag it. The sunroof moves to the selected
position.
Touch OPEN once to open the sunroof to its
comfort position (75% open to minimize wind
noise). Or, move the sunroof to the comfort
position by dragging the slider bar to the
indent position. If you find wind noise (which
varies depending on driving speed) excessive,
even with the sunroof in the comfort position,
open a window slightly.
Touch OPEN twice to open the sunroof fully.
Touch CLOSE to fully close the sunroof.
If the sunroof’s safety mechanism detects any
obstruction, it does not close. If, after
removing the obstruction, it still does not
close, touch and hold CLOSE to override the
sunroof’s anti-trap mechanism.
Touch VENT to open the sunroof slightly.
To stop the sunroof from moving at any time,
touch the image of the sunroof.
Caution: Remove snow and ice before
opening the sunroof. Opening a sunroof
covered in snow and ice can cause
damage.
Warning: Do not allow occupants to
extend any part of their body through the
sunroof. Doing so can cause serious injury
from flying debris, tree branches, or other
obstructions.
Warning: Before closing the sunroof,
ensure that occupants, especially
children, do not have any body part
extended through the sunroof opening.
Failure to do so can cause serious injury.
Warning: Do not carry an object that
protrudes through the sunroof. Doing so
can damage the sunroof’s seals and anti-
trap mechanism, and can cause injury to
occupants.
Sunroof
Opening and Closing 15

Opening and Closing
To expose a cup holder, slide back the armrest.
Cup Holders
16 Model S Owner's Manual

Correct Driving Position
The seat, head support, seat belt and airbags
work together to maximize your safety. Using
these correctly ensures greater protection.
Position the seat so you can wear the seat belt
correctly, while being as far away from the
front airbag as possible:
1. Sit upright with both feet on the floor and
the seat back reclined no more than 30
degrees.
2. Make sure you can easily reach the pedals
and that your arms are slightly bent when
holding the steering wheel. Your chest
should be at least 10 inches (25 cm) from
the center of the airbag cover.
3. Place the shoulder section of the seat belt
mid-way between your neck and your
shoulder. Fit the lap section of the belt
tightly across your hips, not across your
stomach.
Model S seats include integrated head
supports that cannot be adjusted or removed.
Adjusting the Driver’s Seat
1. Adjust lumbar support.
2. Adjust backrest.
3. Move seat forward/backward.
4. Adjust the seat’s height and tilt angle.
Warning: Do not adjust seats while
driving. Doing so increases the risk of a
collision.
Warning: Riding in a moving vehicle with
the seat back reclined can result in
serious injuries in a collision, as you could
slide under the lap belt or be propelled
into the seat belt. Ensure your seat back
is reclined no more than 30 degrees when
the vehicle is moving.
Front and Rear Seats
Seating and Safety Restraints 17

Folding Rear Seats
Model S has a split rear seat that can fold
forward.
Note: If Model S is equipped with the optional
executive rear seats, these seats do not fold
forward.
Before folding, remove items from the seats
and the rear foot well. To allow the rear seat
backs to fold completely flat, you may need to
move the front seats forward.
To fold a rear seat, press the corresponding
lever and fold the seat forward.
Raising Rear Seats
Before raising a rear seat, make sure that the
seat belts are not trapped behind the
backrest.
Pull the seat back upward until it locks into
place.
To confirm that the seat back is locked in the
upright position, try pulling it forward.
Warning: Always ensure the seat backs
are locked in their upright position.
Failure to do so increases the risk of
injury.
Head Supports
Seats include integrated head supports that
cannot be adjusted or removed.
Seat Heaters
The front seats are equipped with heating
pads that operate at three levels from 3
(highest) to 1 (lowest). To operate the seat
heaters, see Climate Controls on page 104.
If Model S is equipped with the optional cold
weather package, you can also control seat
heaters in all rear seating positions, as well as
heated wipers and washer nozzles by by
touching Controls > Cold Weather (see
Controls on page 94).
Seat Covers
Do not use seat covers on Model S. Doing so
could restrict deployment of the side air bags
if an accident occurs. It can also reduce the
accuracy of the occupant detection system.
Front and Rear Seats
18 Model S Owner's Manual

Wearing Seat Belts
Using seat belts and child safety seats is the
most eective way to protect occupants if a
collision occurs. Therefore, wearing a seat belt
is required by law in most jurisdictions.
Both the driver and passenger seats are
equipped with three-point inertia reel seat
belts. Inertia reel belts are automatically
tensioned to allow occupants to move
comfortably during normal driving conditions.
To securely hold child safety seats, all
passenger seating positions are equipped with
an automatic locking retractor (ALR) that, by
pulling the seat belt beyond the length
needed for a typical adult occupant, locks the
belt into place until the seat belt is unbuckled
(see Installing Seat Belt Retained Child Seats
on page 24).
The seat belt reel automatically locks to
prevent movement of occupants if Model S
experiences a force associated with hard
acceleration, braking, cornering, or an impact
in a collision.
The seat belt reminder on the
instrument panel alerts you if a seat
belt for an occupied seat is not
fastened. If the belt remains
unfastened, the reminder flashes and
an intermittent chime sounds. If all
occupants are buckled up and the
reminder stays on, re-fasten seat
belts to ensure they are correctly
latched. Also remove any heavy
objects (such as a briefcase) from an
unoccupied seat. If the reminder
light continues to stay on, contact
Tesla.
To Fasten a Belt
1. Ensure correct positioning of the seat.
2. Draw the belt out smoothly, ensuring the
belt lays flat across the pelvis, chest and
mid-point of your collar bone, between
the neck and shoulder.
3. Insert the latch plate into the buckle and
press together until you hear a click
indicating it is locked in place.
4. Pull the belt to check that it is securely
fastened.
5. Pull the diagonal part of the belt toward
the reel to remove excess slack.
To Release a Belt
Hold the belt near the buckle to prevent the
belt from retracting too quickly, then press the
button on the buckle. The belt retracts
automatically. Ensure there is no obstruction
that prevents the belt from fully retracting.
The belt should not hang loose. If a seat belt
does not fully retract, contact Tesla.
Wearing Seat Belts When Pregnant
Do not put the lap or shoulder sections of the
seat belt over the abdominal area. Wear the
lap section of the belt as low as possible
across the hips, not the waist. Position the
shoulder portion of the belt between the
breasts and to the side of the abdomen.
Consult your doctor for specific guidance.
Warning: Never place anything between
you and the seat belt to cushion the
impact in the event of an accident.
Seat Belts
Seating and Safety Restraints 19

Seat Belt Pre-tensioners
The front seat belts are equipped with
pre‑tensioners that work in conjunction with
the airbags in a severe frontal collision. The
pre‑tensioners automatically retract both the
seat belt anchor and the seat belt webbing,
reducing slack in both the lap and diagonal
portions of the belts, resulting in reduced
forward movement of the occupant.
If the pre-tensioners and airbags did not
activate in an impact, this does not mean they
malfunctioned. It usually means that the
strength or type of force needed to activate
them was not present.
Warning: Once the seat belt pre-
tensioners have been activated, they must
be replaced. After any accident, have the
airbags, seat belt pre-tensioners and any
associated components checked and, if
necessary, replaced.
Testing Seat Belts
To confirm that seat belts are operating
correctly, perform these three simple checks
on each seat belt.
1. With the seat belt fastened, give the
webbing nearest the buckle a quick pull.
The buckle should remain securely locked.
2. With the belt unfastened, unreel the
webbing to its limit. Check that unreeling
is free from snags, and visually check the
webbing for wear. Allow the webbing to
retract, checking that retraction is smooth
and complete.
3. With the webbing half unreeled, hold the
tongue plate and pull forward quickly. The
mechanism should lock automatically and
prevent further unreeling.
If a seat belt fails any of these tests, contact
Tesla immediately.
Seat Belt Warnings
Warning: Seat belts should be worn by all
occupants at all times, even if driving for
a very short distance. Failure to do so
increases the risk of injury or death if an
accident occurs.
Warning: Secure small children in a
suitable child safety seat. Always follow
the child safety seat manufacturer's
instructions when installing.
Warning: Ensure that all seat belts are
worn correctly. An improperly worn seat
belt increases the risk of injury or death if
an accident occurs.
Warning: Do not wear seat belts over
hard, fragile or sharp items in clothing,
such as pens, keys, eyeglasses, etc. The
pressure from the seat belt on such items
can cause injury.
Warning: Seat belts should not be worn
with any part of the strap twisted.
Warning: Each seat belt assembly must
be used by one occupant only. It is
dangerous to put a seat belt around a
child being carried on an occupant’s lap.
Warning: Seat belts that have been worn
in an accident must be inspected or
replaced by Tesla, even if damage to the
assembly is not obvious.
Warning: Seat belts that show signs of
wear (such as fraying), or have been cut
or damaged in any way, must be replaced
by Tesla.
Seat Belts
20 Model S Owner's Manual