Tesla S 2014 User manual

MODEL S
OWNER’S MANUAL
V5.9
Cover - North America 5.8.2.fm Page 1 Thursday, January 16, 2014 3:10 PM

DOCUMENT APPLICABILITY
Features released in the most recent versions of software may not be described in this document but are
described in Release Notes. Display Release Notes on the touchscreen by touching the Tesla “T” at the top
center of the touchscreen, then touching the Release Notes link. If information provided in this document
conflicts with information in the Release Notes, the Release Notes take precedence.
ILLUSTRATIONS
The illustrations provided in this document are for demonstration purposes only. Depending on vehicle options,
software version and market region, the information displayed on the touchscreen in your Model S may appear
slightly different.
PRODUCT SPECIFICATIONS
All specifications and descriptions contained in this document are verified to be accurate at the time of printing.
However, because continuous improvement is a goal at Tesla, we reserve the right to make product
modifications at any time.
ERRORS OR OMISSIONS
To communicate any inaccuracies or omissions in this document, please send an email to:
[e-mail].
The Model S Owners Manual is available on the touchscreen.
To view it, touch CONTROLS > SETTINGS > MANUAL
(located in the lower left corner).
More information about your Model S is available at
www.teslamotors.com/mytesla.
To contact Tesla, call 1-877-79TESLA (1-877-798-3752).
©2012-2014 TESLA MOTORS, INC. All rights reserved.
All information in this document and all MODEL S® software is subject to copyright and other intellectual property
rights of Tesla Motors, Inc. and its licensors. This material may not be modified, reproduced or copied, in whole or in
part, without the prior written permission of Tesla Motors, Inc. and its licensors. Additional information is available
upon request. The following are trademarks or registered trademarks of Tesla Motors, Inc. in the United States and
other countries:
HOMELINK® and the HOMELINK® house icon are registered trademarks of Johnson Controls, Inc. Bluetooth® is a
registered trademark of Bluetooth SIG, Inc. iPhone® is a registered trademark of Apple, Inc. Android™ and
Google Maps™ are trademarks of Google, Inc. Sirius, XM and all related marks and logos are trademarks of Sirius XM
Radio Inc. Pandora is a registered trademark of Pandora Media, Inc. Spotify is a registered trademark of the Spotify
Group. All other trademarks contained in this document are the property of their respective owners and their use
herein does not imply sponsorship or endorsement of their products or services. The unauthorized use of any
trademark displayed in this document or on the vehicle is strictly prohibited.
TESLA TESLA MOTORS TESLA
ROADSTER
MODEL S
Cover - North America 5.8.2.fm Page 2 Thursday, January 16, 2014 3:10 PM

Overview............................................2
Interior Overview........................................................................ 2
Exterior Overview.......................................................................3
Opening and Closing.....................4
Doors............................................................................................... 4
KeylessLockingandUnlocking4UsingtheKey4UsingExteriorDoorHandles5UsingInteriorDoorHandles6InteriorLockingandUnlocking6Child-protectionLock6Drive-awayLocking6Walk-awayLocking6UnlockingWhentheKeyDoesn'tWork7OpeningInteriorDoorswithNoPower7 Windows........................................................................................ 8
OpeningandClosing8LockingRearWindows8 Rear Trunk..................................................................................... 9
Opening9Closing9AdjustingtheOpeningHeight9InteriorRelease10OpeningwithNoPower10 Front Trunk...................................................................................11
Opening11Closing11InteriorEmergencyRelease12OpeningwithNoPower12 Glove Box..................................................................................... 13
OpeningandClosing13 Sunroof..........................................................................................14
OpeningandClosing14 Cup Holders.................................................................................15
OpeningandClosing15
Seating and Safety
Restraints......................................... 16
Front and Rear Seats...............................................................16
CorrectDrivingPosition16AdjustingtheDriver’sSeat16FoldingRearSeats17RaisingRearSeats17HeadSupports17SeatCovers17 Seat Belts......................................................................................18
WearingSeatBelts18WearingSeatBeltsWhenPregnant18SeatBeltPre-tensioners19TestingSeatBelts19SeatBeltWarnings20 Child Safety Seats..................................................................... 21
GuidelinesforSeatingChildren21ChoosingaChildSafetySeat21SeatingLargerChildren23InstallingChildSafetySeats23InstallingSeatBeltRetainedChildSeats23InstallingLATCHChildSeats24AttachingUpperTetherStraps25TestingaChildSafetySeat25Warnings-ChildSafetySeats26 Tesla Built In Rear Facing Child Seats..............................27
UsageRestrictions27Opening27Storing28SeatingaChild29Warnings-TeslaChildSeats30 Airbags.......................................................................................... 31
LocationofAirbags31HowtheAirbagsWork32TypesofAirbags32PassengerFrontAirbag33InflationEffects34AirbagWarningIndicator34AirbagWarnings34
Driving.............................................. 35
Driver Profiles............................................................................ 35
CreatingaDriverProfile35RestoringaDriver’sProfile35SavedDriverSettings35 Steering Wheel..........................................................................36
AdjustingPosition36AdjustingSensitivity36UsingLeftSteeringWheelButtons36UsingRightSteeringWheelButtons37UsingVoiceCommands37Horn38 Mirrors...........................................................................................39
AdjustingExteriorSideMirrors39RearViewMirror39 Starting and Powering Off................................................... 40
StartingModelS40PoweringOff40 Gears.............................................................................................. 41
ShiftingGears41LeavingModelSinNeutral-TowMode41 Instrument Panel.......................................................................42
InstrumentPanelOverview42IndicatorLights43 Lights............................................................................................ 47
ControllingLights47HeadlightHighBeams49HeadlightsAfterExit49CorneringLights49TurnSignals50HazardWarningFlashers50 Wipers and Washers................................................................51
Wipers51Washers51 Park Assist...................................................................................52
HowParkAssistWorks52VisualandAudioFeedback52ControllingAudibleFeedback52LimitationsandFalseWarnings52OtherParkingAids53 Trip Information........................................................................54
DisplayingTripInformation54 Getting Maximum Range.......................................................55
DrivingTipstoMaximizeRange55SavingEnergy55 Brakes........................................................................................... 56
BrakingSystems56BrakeWear56RegenerativeBraking57ParkingBrake57 Traction Control........................................................................58
HowItWorks58 Cruise Control............................................................................59
OperatingCruiseControl59ChangingtheCruisingSpeed59CancelingandResuming60 Hill Start Assist........................................................................... 61
Rear View Camera................................................................... 62
CameraLocation62
Using the Touchscreen.............. 63
Touchscreen Overview.......................................................... 63
TheBigPicture63 Controls........................................................................................65
ControllingModelSFeatures65 Settings........................................................................................ 67
CustomizingModelS67 Climate Controls.......................................................................70
OverviewofClimateControls70CustomizingClimateControl71Ventilation72ClimateControlOperatingTips72 Smart Air Suspension............................................................. 73
ManualHeightAdjustments73AutomaticHeightAdjustments73JackMode73 Media and Audio.......................................................................74
Overview74XMRadio74InternetRadio74Favorites75MyMusic&Devices75USBConnections7612VPowerSocket76 Phone............................................................................................ 77
Bluetooth®Compatibility77PairingaBluetoothPhone77ImportingContacts77UnpairingaBluetoothPhone77ConnectingtoaPairedPhone78MakingaPhoneCall78ReceivingaPhoneCall78InCallOptions78 Maps and Navigation.............................................................. 79
Overview79UsingMaps79StartingNavigation79DuringNavigation79FavoriteDestinations80 Security Settings....................................................................... 81
AbouttheSecuritySystem81 HomeLink®Universal Transceiver.......................................82
AboutHomeLink®82ProgrammingHomeLink®82 Connecting to Wi-Fi................................................................83
Software Updates.................................................................... 84
LoadingNewSoftware84ViewingReleaseNotes84 Mobile App..................................................................................85
ModelSMobileApp85
Charging..........................................86
Electric Vehicle Components.............................................. 86
HighVoltageComponents86ChargingEquipment87 Battery Information.................................................................88
AbouttheBattery88BatteryCare88 Charging Model S.....................................................................89
OpeningtheChargePort89PluggingIn89DuringCharging90StoppingCharging90ChargePortLight90ChangingChargeSettings91ChargingStatus92
Maintenance...................................93
Maintenance Schedule........................................................... 93
ServiceIntervals93DailyChecks93MonthlyChecks93FluidReplacementIntervals93HighVoltageSafety93 Tire Care and Maintenance.................................................. 94
MaintainingTirePressures94InspectingandMaintainingTires95ReplacingTiresandWheels96UsingTireChains97TirePressureMonitoring97 Temporary Tire Repair...........................................................99
TireRepairKit99InflatingwithSealantandAir100InflatingwithAirOnly101ReplacingtheSealantCanister102 Cleaning..................................................................................... 103
CleaningtheExterior103CleaningtheInterior104Polishing,TouchUp,andBodyRepair105UsingaCarCover105FloorMats105 Wiper Blades and Washer Jets.........................................106
CheckingandReplacingWiperBlades106CleaningWasherJets107 Fluid Reservoirs.......................................................................108
RemovingtheMaintenancePanel108CheckingBatteryCoolant108CheckingBrakeFluid109ToppingUpWasherFluid110 Fuses..............................................................................................111
FuseBoxLocations111ReplacingaFuse111FuseBox1112FuseBox2114FuseBox3116FuseBox4117 Jacking and Lifting..................................................................118
JackingProcedure118 Parts and Accessories............................................................119
Parts,Accessories,andModifications119BodyRepairs119
Specifications...............................120
Identification Labels.............................................................. 120
VehicleIdentificationNumber120EmissionControlLabel120 Vehicle Loading........................................................................121
LoadCapacityLabeling121CalculatingLoadLimits122TowingaTrailer123 Dimensions and Weights.....................................................124
ExteriorDimensions124Weights124 Subsystems............................................................................... 125
Motor125Transmission125Steering125Brakes126Suspension126Battery-12V126Battery-HighVoltage127 Wheels and Tires.....................................................................128
WheelSpecifications128WheelAlignmentValues128TireSpecifications129UnderstandingTireMarkings130UniformTireQualityGrading132WheelsandTiresGlossary133
Roadside Assistance................. 134
About Roadside Assistance................................................134
ContactingRoadsideAssistance134 Instructions for Transporters..............................................135
UseaFlatbedOnly135DisableSelf-Leveling(airsuspensionvehiclesonly)135ActivateTowMode135ConnecttheTowChain136PullOntotheTrailerandSecuretheWheels137
Consumer Information..............138
Disclaimers................................................................................ 138
VehicleTelematics/DataRecorders138QualityControl138AboutthisOwnerInformation138CaliforniaProposition65139 Reporting Concerns.............................................................. 140
ContactingTesla140ReportingSafetyDefects-US140ReportingSafetyDefects-Canada140 Declarations of Conformity..................................................141
KeyandPassiveUnlockingSystem141TirePressureMonitoringSystem141HomeLink141RadioFrequencyInformation141
Contents

1. Interior doors (Using Interior Door
Handles on page 6)
2. High beams (Headlight High Beams on
page 49), Turn signals (Turn Signals on
page 50) , Wipers and washers (Wipers
and Washers on page 51).
3. Cruise control (Cruise Control on page
59)
4. Steering wheel buttons - left (Using Left
Steering Wheel Buttons on page 36)
5. Instrument panel (Instrument Panel
Overview on page 42)
6. Steering wheel buttons - right (Using
Right Steering Wheel Buttons on page
37)
7. Gear selector (Shifting Gears on page
41)
8. Touchscreen (Touchscreen Overview on
page 63)
9. Glove box button (Glove Box on page
13)
10. Power window switches (Opening and
Closing on page 8)
11. Exterior mirror adjustment switches
(Mirrors on page 39)
12. Seats (Front and Rear Seats on page
16)
13. Steering column adjuster (Steering Wheel
on page 36)
14. Horn (Horn on page 38)
15. Brakes (Brakes on page 56)
16. Hazard warning lights (Hazard Warning
Flashers on page 50)
17. Cabin climate control (Climate Controls
on page 70)
18. Cup holders (Cup Holders on page 15)
Overview
2 Model S Owner's Manual

1. Exterior lights (Lights on page 47)
2. Door handles (Using Exterior Door
Handles on page 5)
3. Sunroof (Sunroof on page 14)
4. Charge port (Charging Model S on page
89)
5. Exterior mirrors (Mirrors on page 39)
6. Front trunk (Front Trunk on page 11)
7. Wheels and tires (Wheels and Tires on
page 128)
8. Rear view camera (Rear View Camera on
page 62)
9. Rear trunk/liftgate (Rear Trunk on page
9)
10. Parking sensors (Park Assist on page
52)
Overview
Overview 3

Keyless Locking and Unlocking
Model S has sensors that can recognize the
presence of a key. The sensors have a range
of approximately three feet (one meter).
If Model S is equipped with the optional tech
package, walking up to Model S when you
have your key with you automatically unlocks
the doors. Similarly, open the trunk by just
walking up to Model S with your key, then
pressing the switch located under the trunk’s
exterior handle.
Press a door handle, and it extends. Or, if the
AUTO-PRESENT HANDLES setting is turned
on (see Using Exterior Door Handles on page
5), door handles extend automatically.
If you turn on the walk-away locking setting
using the touchscreen, Model S locks when
you walk away carrying your key with you
(see Walk-away Locking on page 6).
Warning: To avoid any possibility of
interference between a pacemaker and
the keyless system's antennas, people
with implanted pacemakers should
ensure their pacemaker is kept at least
nine inches (22 cm) away from any
keyless drive antenna mounted in
Model S. Antenna locations are shown
below:
1. Center of the rear bumper.
2. Under the rear seats.
3. Center console.
4. Leftmost side of the dashboard.
5. Rightmost side of the dashboard.
6. Right Hand Drive vehicles only - at
the base of the left (passenger side)
windshield wiper.
7. Left Hand Drive vehicles only - at the
base of the right (passenger side)
windshield wiper.
8. Center of the front trunk.
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 Model S is 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.
2. Lock/Unlock All
• Double-click to unlock doors and the
rear trunk. Hazard warning lights flash
twice and door handles extend.
• 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). 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 40).
Radio equipment on a similar frequency can
affect 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.
Opening and Closing
4 Model S Owner's Manual

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 off.
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. Place the key, button side down, on a soft
surface.
2. Release the battery using a small flat
bladed tool.
3. Remove the battery by pushing it toward
the center of the key to release it from the
front retaining clips.
4. Insert the new battery (type CR2032) with
the ‘+’ side facing up. Avoid touching the
flat surfaces of the battery, and wipe the
battery clean before fitting. Finger marks
can reduce battery life.
5. Align the battery, then press the key and
battery together until they snap into
place.
Getting More Keys
If you lose a key or require an additional one,
contact Tesla. Model S can recognize up to
three keys.
When ordering a new key for Model S, take all
available keys with you for reprogramming.
Using Exterior Door Handles
A light press on a door handle extends it,
provided Model S detects a valid key nearby.
If Model S is equipped with the optional tech
package, 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.
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 and Closing
Opening and Closing 5

Using Interior Door Handles
Pull the interior door handle toward you to
open the door.
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 6).
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 Controls > Lock/Unlock. The
current lock status displays on the bottom left
of the instrument panel.
Note: If a door or trunk is still open when you
lock Model S, it locks when you close it.
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 off. 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 can automatically lock all doors
(including the trunks) whenever your driving
speed exceeds 5 mph (8 km/h). To turn this
feature on or off, touch Controls > Settings >
Vehicle > Drive-Away Door Lock.
Walk-away Locking
If Model S is equipped with the optional tech
package, Model S doors and trunks can
automatically lock whenever you walk away
carrying the key.
To turn this feature on or off, touch Controls >
Settings > Vehicle > Walk-Away Door Lock.
Note: If all doors are closed and you double-
click the key to unlock Model S, walk-away
locking is temporarily suspended until the
next time you use the key to lock Model S.
This allows you to keep Model S unlocked in
your garage.
Opening and Closing
6 Model S Owner's Manual

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 passenger door handle.
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.
For instructions on how to replace the key’s
battery, see Replacing the Key Battery on
page 5.
Note: It is important to position the key in the
correct position. If Model S doesn't unlock, try
adjusting the position of the key.
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.
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.
Opening and Closing
Opening and Closing 7

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.
Opening and Closing
8 Model S Owner's Manual

Opening
To open the rear trunk, do one of the
following:
• Touch Controls > Trunk on the
touchscreen.
• Double-click the Trunk button on the key.
• Press the switch located under the
exterior handle (if not equipped with the
optional tech package, you must 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 in the unlikely situation in
which Model S has no electrical power, see
Opening with No Power on page 10.
Closing
To close the trunk, pull down on the liftgate
and push firmly, ensuring it is fully closed.
If Model S is equipped with the optional tech
package, you can close the powered liftgate
by:
• Double-clicking the trunk button on the
key.
• Touch Controls > Trunk on the
touchscreen.
• Pressing the switch located on the
underside of the liftgate (see Adjusting
the Opening Height on page 9).
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. Manually closing it
restores 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 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.
Opening and Closing
Opening and Closing 9

Interior Release
To open the trunk from inside Model S, press
the interior release switch and push the
liftgate up.
If Model S is equipped with the optional tech
package, 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
the child-protection locks are turned on (see
Child-protection Lock on page 6), 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.
Opening and Closing
10 Model S Owner's Manual

Opening
To open the front trunk:
• Touch Controls > Front 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.
To open the front trunk in the unlikely
situation in which Model S has no electrical
power, see Opening with No Power on page
12.
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
latch.
• Placing both hands on the front of the
hood in the areas shown, 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
- this 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 - 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.
Opening and Closing
Opening and Closing 11

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.
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.
Opening and Closing
12 Model S Owner's Manual

Opening and Closing
To open the glove box, press the switch
located to the right of the touchscreen. If you
leave the glove box open for five minutes, its
light automatically turns off.
Note: The glove box locks whenever Model S
is locked externally, using the key or walk-
away locking. 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.
Opening and Closing
Opening and Closing 13

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 (80% 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.
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.
Caution: Remove snow and ice before
opening the sunroof. Opening a sunroof
covered in snow and ice can cause
damage.
Caution: Do not carry objects in Model S
that protrude through the sunroof. Doing
so can damage the sunroof’s seals and
anti-trap mechanism.
Opening and Closing
14 Model S Owner's Manual

Opening and Closing
To expose a cup holder, slide back the
armrest.
Opening and Closing
Opening and Closing 15

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” inch (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.
Seating and Safety Restraints
16 Model S Owner's Manual

Folding Rear Seats
Model S has a split rear seat that can 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 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.
Seating and Safety Restraints
Seating and Safety Restraints 17

Wearing Seat Belts
Using seat belts and child safety seats is the
most effective 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.
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 front 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 (see
Correct Driving Position on page 16).
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.
Seating and Safety Restraints
18 Model S Owner's Manual