Front and Rear SeatsFront and Rear Seats
3.2MODEL S OWNERS MANUAL
SEATING AND SAFETY RESTRAINTS
Front and Rear SeatsCorrect 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 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.
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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.
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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.
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Child Safety SeatsChild Safety Seats
3.8MODEL S OWNERS MANUAL
Seating Larger Children
If a child is too large to fit into a child safety
seat, but too small to safely fit into the standard
seat belts, use a booster seat appropriate for
the child’s age and size. Carefully follow the
manufacturer’s instructions to secure the
booster seat using the seat belts. Do not use
the ISOFIX system to secure booster seats,
even in situations where the booster seat is
equipped with the ISOFIX system.
Installing Child Safety Seats
There are two general methods used to install
child safety seats:
•Seat belt retained - these seats are secured
using the vehicle’s seat belts (see page 3.8).
•ISOFIX* retained - these seats can attach to
anchor bars built into the vehicle’s rear
seats (see page 3.9).
Check the child safety seat manufacturer’s
instructions and the table on page 3.7 to
determine which installation method to use.
Some child safety seats can be installed using
either method. Always follow the child safety
seat manufacturer’s instructions.
Installing Seat Belt Retained Child
Seats
First, make sure that the child falls into the
correct weight range for the seat.
Avoid dressing the child in bulky clothing and
do not place any objects between the child and
the restraint system.
Adjust harnesses for every child, every trip.
Always follow the detailed instructions
provided by the child safety seat manufacturer.
General guidelines are provided below.
1.Place the child safety seat in Model S, route
the seat belt, and secure the buckle in
accordance with the child safety seat
manufacturer’s instructions.
2.Allow the seat belt to retract, and remove
all slack in the seat belt while firmly pushing
the child safety seat into the Model S seat.
3.If the seat belt retained child safety seat has
an upper tether, attach it to the back of the
seat (see page 3.10).
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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.
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Tesla Built In Rear Facing Child SeatsTesla Built In Rear Facing Child Seats
3.14MODEL S OWNERS MANUAL
Warnings - Tesla Child Seats
WARNING: The Tesla built in rear facing
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, provided the top of the child’s
head cannot contact the interior.
WARNING: Do not use supplemental
child restraint systems, including booster
seats, in the Tesla built in rear facing child seats.
WA R N I N G : A l ways e n s u re t h at t h e to p o f
the child’s head cannot touch the
headliner and that the child is seated
comfortably with the seat belts correctly
fastened.
WARNING: Follow all instructions and
heed all warnings related to the Tesla
built in rear facing child seats. Failure to do so
can compromise occupant safety.
WARNING: Read all safety warnings and
labels attached to the seats.
WARNING: Do not leave children
unattended in Model S, even if the child is
secured in a child safety seat or a Tesla built in
rear facing child seat. In hot weather, the
interior temperature can reach dangerous
levels that can result in dehydration, serious
injury or death.
WARNING: Do not remove o r replace the
fabric on a Tesla built in rear facing child
seat. The covers are an integral part of the
restraint’s performance and should not be
removed or replaced with any other type than
those supplied by Tesla.
WARNING: If the Tesla built in rear facing
child seats have been worn in an
accident, they must be inspected or replaced
by Tesla, even if damage is not obvious.
WARNING: Before allowing a child to ride
in the Tesla built in rear facing child seats,
check that the seat is securely held in the
upright position by trying to pull the seat back
toward you.WARNING: Do not remove the built in
rear facing child seats for any reason,
including cleaning. To ensure safety of
occupants, removal and installation must be
performed by qualified Tesla service
technicians.
WARNING: Do not make modifications or
additions that can interfere with the
operation of the Tesla built in rear facing child
seats.
WARNING: To prevent injury, ensure all
loose items (bags, luggage, etc) are
secured. In an accident, or during hard braking
and sharp turns, loose items could cause injury.
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Airbags
SEATING AND SAFETY RESTRAINTS 3.17
Disabling the Front Passenger
Airbag
When a child is seated in the front passenger
seat (even though the child is seated in a child
safety seat or booster seat), you must ensure
the front passenger airbag is turned off. This
prevents the airbag from injuring the child if a
collision occurs.
NOTE: Rear seats are the preferred location for
seating children in child safety seats.
To turn the passenger airbag on or off, touch
Controls > Settings > Safety & Security >
Passenger Airbag.The ON/OFF status of the front passenger
airbag displays in the upper right corner of the
touchscreen.
You can also turn the passenger airbag on or off
by touching the status indicator, shown above.
If the status shows the airbag as on, even if you
have turned it off (or vice versa), contact Tesla
immediately.
NOTE: Model S has a capacitive touchscreen
and may not respond to your touch if you are
wearing standard gloves. If the touchscreen is
not responding, remove gloves or wear gloves
with conductive fingertips for use with
capacitive touchscreens.
WARNING: If the control for the
passenger airbag does not appear to be
functioning, do not seat any passenger in the
front seat. Contact Tesla immediately to have
the vehicle inspected and if necessary, repaired.
WARNING: Never seat a child in a child
safety seat or a booster seat on the front
passenger seat when the airbag is activated.
Doing so can cause serious injury or death.
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.
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Cleaning
MAINTENANCE7.13
Cleaning the Interior
Frequently inspect and clean the interior to
maintain its appearance and to prevent
premature wear. If possible, immediately wipe
up spills and remove marks. For general
cleaning, wipe interior surfaces using a soft
cloth (such as micro fiber) dampened with a
mixture of warm water and mild non-detergent
cleaner (test all cleaners on a concealed area
before use). To avoid streaks, dry immediately
with a soft lint-free cloth.
Interior Glass
Do not scrape, or use any abrasive cleaning
fluid on glass or mirrored surfaces. This can
damage the reflective surface of the mirror and
the heating elements in the rear window.
Airbags
Do not allow any substance to enter an airbag
cover. This could affect correct operation.
Dashboard and Plastic Surfaces
Do not polish the upper surfaces of the
dashboard. Polished surfaces are reflective and
could interfere with your driving view.
Leather Seats
Leather is prone to dye-transfer which can
cause discoloration, particularly on light
colored leather. White and tan leather is coated
with an anti-soiling treatment. Wipe spills as
soon as possible using a soft cloth moistened
with warm water and non-detergent soap.
Wipe gently in a circular motion. Then wipe dry
using a soft, lint-free cloth. Using detergents or
commercially available leather cleaners and
conditioners is not recommended because they
can discolor or dry out the leather.
Cloth Seats
Wipe spills as soon as possible using a soft
cloth moistened with warm water and
non-detergent soap. Wipe gently in a circular
motion. Then wipe dry using a soft, lint-free
cloth. Vacuum the seats as needed to remove
any loose dirt.
Carpets
Avoid over-wetting carpets. For heavily soiled
areas, use a diluted upholstery cleaner.
Seat Belts
Extend the belts to wipe. Do not use any type
of detergent or chemical cleaning agent. Allow
the belts to dry naturally while extended,
preferably away from direct sunlight.
Tesla Built In Rear Facing Child Seats
Vacuum the seats to remove any loose dirt.
Wipe the seats with a soft cloth dampened with
warm water. You can also use an upholstery
cleaner designer for automotive use. Extend
the belts to wipe. Allow the belts to dry
naturally, preferably away from direct sunlight.
Touchscreen and Instrument Panel
Clean the touchscreen and instrument panel
using a soft lint-free cloth specifically designed
to clean monitors and displays. Do not use
cleaners (such as a glass cleaner) and do not
use a wet wipe or a dry statically-charged cloth
(such as a recently washed microfiber).
Chrome and Metal Surfaces
Polish, abrasive cleaners or hard cloths can
damage the finish on chrome and metal
surfaces.
Cautions for Interior Cleaning
WARNING: If you notice any damage on
an airbag or seat belt, contact Tesla
immediately.
WARNING: Do not allow any water,
cleaners, or fabric to enter a seat belt
mechanism.
CAUTION: Using solvents (including
alcohol), bleach, citrus, naphtha, or
silicone based products or additives on
interior components can cause damage.
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