
Rear Trunk
OPENING AND CLOSING2.9
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
page 2.5), 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.
book.book Page 9 Friday, July 19, 2013 12:53 PM

Front Trunk
OPENING AND CLOSING2.11
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.
book.book Page 11 Friday, July 19, 2013 12:53 PM

Glove Box
OPENING AND CLOSING2.13
Glove BoxOpening 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.
book.book Page 13 Friday, July 19, 2013 12:53 PM

Front and Rear Seats
SEATING AND SAFETY RESTRAINTS 3.3
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.
book.book Page 3 Friday, July 19, 2013 12:53 PM

Seat BeltsSeat Belts
3.4MODEL S OWNERS MANUAL
Seat BeltsWearing 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 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
object (such as a briefcase) from an
unoccupied seat. If the reminder light continues
to stay on, contact Tesla.
To F a s t e n a B e l t
1.Ensure correct positioning of the seat (for
correct driving position, see page 3.2).
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.
book.book Page 4 Friday, July 19, 2013 12:53 PM

Seat Belts
SEATING AND SAFETY RESTRAINTS 3.5
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.
WA R N I N G : O n c e t h e s e a t b e l t
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.
For information about cleaning seat belts, see
page 7.13.
book.book Page 5 Friday, July 19, 2013 12:53 PM

Tesla Built In Rear Facing Child Seats
SEATING AND SAFETY RESTRAINTS 3.11
Tesla Built In Rear Facing Child SeatsUsage Restrictions
The Tesla built in rear facing child seats are child
restraint systems and are approved to United
Nations ECE Regulation R44.04 standards for
use by children in Mass Groups II and III,
weighing 15 - 36 kg. These seats must only be
used for children who are between 3 and 12
years old, and 98 - 135 cm tall.
Always ensure the top of the child’s head
cannot contact the vehicle and that the child is
seated comfortably with the seat belts
positioned and latched correctly. The child’s
pelvis must be held securely in place by the lap
belt. Follow all instructions provided and do
not use supplemental child safety seats in
these seats.
NOTE: To draw more air into the rear seating
areas, it is recommended that whenever a child
is seated in the Tesla built in rear facing child
seats, you set the climate control system to
draw outside air into Model S, instead of
recirculating the air. See page 5.9.
Opening
1.Remove the cover from the trunk floor and
pull the strap to lift the seat assembly
upward:
2.Push the seat assembly into position:3.Undo the Velcro strap:
4.Pull the handle to release the head supports
from the seat back, then pull the head
supports toward you to unfold them:
5.Raise the seat back to the upright position
and push until it locks into position. Visually
check to ensure that the retaining catches
are engaged:
6.Check that the seat back and seat base are
securely retained in the upright position by
trying to pull the seat back toward you.
book.book Page 11 Friday, July 19, 2013 12:53 PM

AirbagsAirbags
3.18MODEL S OWNERS MANUAL
Inflation Effects
When airbags inflate, a fine powder is released.
This powder can irritate the skin and should be
thoroughly flushed from the eyes and from any
cuts or abrasions.
After inflation, the airbags deflate to provide a
gradual cushioning effect for the occupants
and to ensure the driver’s forward vision is not
obscured.
If airbags have inflated, or if your vehicle has
been in an accident, always have the airbags,
seat belt pre-tensioners and any associated
components checked and, if necessary,
replaced by Tesla.
In a collision, in addition to the airbags inflating:
•Doors unlock and the door handles extend.
•Hazard warning lights turn on.
•Interior lights turn on.
•High voltage is disabled.
To restore Battery power, use the touchscreen
to manually power off Model S (see page 4.6),
then press the brake to power it back on again.
Airbag Warning Indicator
The airbag indicator on the instrument
panel remains lit if the airbag system is
malfunctioning. The only time this
indicator should light up is briefly when
Model S first starts up, in which case it turns off
within a few seconds. If it remains lit, contact
Tesla immediately and do not drive.
Airbag Warnings
All occupants, including the driver,
should always wear their seat belts
whether or not an airbag is also provided at
their seating position to minimize the risk of
severe injury or death in the event of a crash.
Front seat occupants should not place
their arms over the airbag module, as an
inflating bag can cause fractures or other
injuries.
WARNING: 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.
WARNING: Airbags inflate with
considerable speed and force, which can
cause injury. To limit injuries, ensure that
occupants are wearing seat belts and are
correctly seated, with the seat positioned as far
back as possible.
WARNING: Do not use a child safety seat
or seat young children on a seat with an
operational airbag in front of it. Doing so can
cause injury or death if the airbag inflates.
WARNING: To ensure correct inflation of
the side airbags, maintain an
unobstructed gap between an occupant’s torso
and the side of Model S.
WARNING: Passengers should not lean
their heads against the doors. Doing so
can cause injury if a curtain airbag inflates.
WARNING: Do not allow passengers to
obstruct the operation of an airbag by
placing feet, knees or any other part of the
body on or near an airbag.
WARNING: Do not attach or place objects
on or near the front airbags, the side of
the front seats, the headliner at the side of the
vehicle, or any other airbag cover that could
interfere with inflation of an airbag. Objects can
cause serious injury if the vehicle is in a crash
severe enough to cause the airbag to inflate.
WARNING: Following inflation, some
airbag components are hot. Do not touch
until they have cooled.
book.book Page 18 Friday, July 19, 2013 12:53 PM