Overview............................................ 2Interior Overview........................................................................ 2
Exterior Overview....................................................................... 3
Opening and Closing.....................4 Doors............................................................................................... 4
Keyless Locking and Unlocking 4Using the Key 4Using Exterior Door Handles 6Using Interior Door Handles 6Interior Locking and Unlocking 6Child-protection Lock 7Drive-away Locking 7Walk-away Locking 7Unlocking When the Key Doesn't Work 7Opening Interior Doors with No Power 8
Windows........................................................................................ 9
Opening and Closing 9Locking Rear Windows 9
Rear Trunk................................................................................... 10
Opening 10Closing 10Adjusting the Opening Height 10Interior Release 11Opening with No Power 11
Front Trunk.................................................................................. 12
Opening 12Closing 12Interior Emergency Release 13Opening with No Power 13
Glove Box..................................................................................... 14
Opening and Closing 14
Sunroof.......................................................................................... 15
Opening and Closing 15
Cup Holders................................................................................. 16
Opening and Closing 16
Seating and Safety
Restraints..........................................17 Front and Rear Seats............................................................... 17
Correct Driving Position 17Adjusting the Driver’s Seat 17Folding Rear Seats 18Raising Rear Seats 18Head Supports 18Seat Covers 18
Seat Belts......................................................................................19
Wearing Seat Belts 19Wearing Seat Belts When Pregnant 19Seat Belt Pre-tensioners 20Testing Seat Belts 20Seat Belt Warnings 20
Child Safety Seats.................................................................... 22
Guidelines for Seating Children 22Choosing a Child Safety Seat 23Seating Larger Children 24Installing Child Safety Seats 24Installing Seat Belt Retained Child Seats 24Installing LATCHChild Seats 25Attaching Upper Tether Straps 25Testing a Child Safety Seat 26Warnings - Child Safety Seats 26
Tesla Built-In Rear Facing Child Seats............................. 27
Usage Restrictions 27Opening 27Folding 27Seating a Child 29Warnings - Tesla Child Seats 29
Airbags.......................................................................................... 31
Location of Airbags 31How the Airbags Work 32Types of Airbags 32Passenger Front Airbag 33Inflation Effects 34Airbag Warning Indicator 34Airbag Warnings 34
Driving.............................................. 35Driver Profiles............................................................................ 35
Creating a Driver Profile 35Restoring a Driver’s Profile 35Saved Driver Settings 35
Steering Wheel..........................................................................36
Adjusting Position 36Adjusting Sensitivity 36Using Left Steering Wheel Buttons 36Using Right Steering Wheel Buttons 37Using Voice Commands 37Horn 38
Mirrors...........................................................................................39
Adjusting Exterior Side Mirrors 39Rear View Mirror 39
Starting and Powering Off................................................... 40
Starting Model S 40Powering Off 40
Gears.............................................................................................. 41
Shifting Gears 41Leaving Model S in Neutral - Tow Mode 41
Instrument Panel.......................................................................42
Instrument Panel Overview 42Indicator Lights 43
Lights............................................................................................ 46
Controlling Lights 46Headlight High Beams 48Headlights After Exit 48Cornering Lights 48Turn Signals 49Hazard Warning Flashers 49
Wipers and Washers...............................................................50
Wipers 50Washers 50
Speed Assist................................................................................ 51
How Speed Assist Works 51Controlling Speed Assist 52Limitations and Inaccuracies 52
Lane Departure Warning....................................................... 53
How Lane Departure Warning Works 53Controlling Lane Departure Warning 53Limitations and Inaccuracies 53
Park Assist.................................................................................. 54
How Park Assist Works 54Visual and Audio Feedback 54Controlling Audible Feedback 54Limitations and False Warnings 55Other Parking Aids 55
Trip Information........................................................................ 56
Displaying Trip Information 56
Getting Maximum Range....................................................... 57
Driving Tips to Maximize Range 57Saving Energy 57
Brakes........................................................................................... 58
Braking Systems 58Brake Wear 58Regenerative Braking 59Parking Brake 59
Traction Control....................................................................... 60
How It Works 60
Cruise Control............................................................................. 61
Operating Cruise Control 61Changing the Cruising Speed 61Canceling and Resuming 61
Hill Start Assist.......................................................................... 63
Rear View Camera................................................................... 64
Camera Location 64
Using the Touchscreen.............. 65Touchscreen Overview.......................................................... 65
The Big Picture 65
Controls........................................................................................ 67
Controlling Model S Features 67
Settings........................................................................................ 69
Customizing Model S 69
Climate Controls....................................................................... 72
Overview of Climate Controls 72Customizing Climate Control 73Ventilation 74Climate Control Operating Tips 74
Smart Air Suspension..............................................................75
Manual Height Adjustments 75Location-Based Suspension 75Automatic Lowering 76Jack Mode 76
Media and Audio....................................................................... 77
Overview 77AM and FM Radio Services 77XM Radio 77Internet Radio 77Media Settings 78Favorites 78My Music & Devices 79USB Connections 7912V Power Socket 80
Maps and Navigation............................................................... 81
Overview 81Using Maps 81Starting Navigation 81During Navigation 82Favorite Destinations 82Updated Maps 82
Phone............................................................................................ 83
Bluetooth®Compatibility 83Pairing a Bluetooth Phone 83Importing Contacts 83Unpairing a Bluetooth Phone 83Connecting to a Paired Phone 84Making a Phone Call 84Receiving a Phone Call 84In Call Options 84
Calendar....................................................................................... 85
Overview 85Calendar and Navigation 85
Security Settings...................................................................... 86
About the Security System 86
HomeLink ®
Universal Transceiver....................................... 87
About HomeLink 87Programming HomeLink 87Troubleshooting HomeLink 87
Connecting to Wi-Fi................................................................ 89
Software Updates.................................................................... 90
Loading New Software 90Viewing Release Notes 90
Mobile App...................................................................................91
Model S Mobile App 91Charging.......................................... 92
Electric Vehicle Components.............................................. 92
High Voltage Components 92Charging Equipment 93
Battery Information................................................................. 94
About the Battery 94Battery Care 94
Charging Model S..................................................................... 95
Opening the Charge Port 95Plugging In 95During Charging 96Stopping Charging 96Charge Port Light 96Changing Charge Settings 97Charging Status 98
Maintenance................................... 99
Maintenance Schedule........................................................... 99
Service Intervals 99Daily Checks 99Monthly Checks 99Fluid Replacement Intervals 99High Voltage Safety 99
Tire Care and Maintenance.................................................100
Maintaining Tire Pressures 100Inspecting and Maintaining Tires 101Replacing Tires and Wheels 102Using Tire Chains 103Tire Pressure Monitoring 103
Temporary Tire Repair......................................................... 105
Tire Repair Kit 105Inflating with Sealant and Air 106Inflating with Air Only 107Replacing the Sealant Canister 108
Cleaning..................................................................................... 109
Cleaning the Exterior 109Cleaning the Interior 110Polishing, Touch Up, and Body Repair 111Using a Car Cover 111Floor Mats 111
Wiper Blades and Washer Jets.......................................... 112
Checking and Replacing Wiper Blades 112Cleaning Washer Jets 112
Fluid Reservoirs........................................................................ 114
Removing the Maintenance Panel 114Checking Battery Coolant 114Checking Brake Fluid 115Topping Up Washer Fluid 116
Fuses............................................................................................. 117
Fuse Box Locations 117Replacing a Fuse 117Fuse Box 1 118Fuse Box 2 120Fuse Box 3 122Fuse Box 4 123
Jacking and Lifting................................................................. 124
Jacking Procedure 124
Parts and Accessories........................................................... 125
Parts, Accessories, and Modifications 125Body Repairs 125
Specifications............................... 126
Identification Labels.............................................................. 126
Vehicle Identification Number 126Emission Control Label 126
Vehicle Loading....................................................................... 127
Load Capacity Labeling 127Calculating Load Limits 128Towing a Trailer 129Roof Racks 129
Dimensions and Weights..................................................... 130
Exterior Dimensions 130Weights 131
Subsystems............................................................................... 132
Motor 132Transmission 132Steering 132Brakes 133Suspension 133Battery - 12V 133Battery - High Voltage 134
Wheels and Tires..................................................................... 135
Wheel Specifications 135Wheel Alignment Values 135Tire Specifications 136Understanding Tire Markings 137Uniform Tire Quality Grading 139Wheels and Tires Glossary 140
Roadside Assistance.................. 141
Contacting Roadside Assistance....................................... 141 Instructions for Transporters............................................. 142
Use a Flatbed Only 142Disable Self-Leveling (air suspension vehicles only) 142Activate Tow Mode 142Connect the Tow Chain 143Pull Onto the Trailer and Secure the Wheels 144
Consumer Information..............145
About this Owner Information.......................................... 145
Illustrations 145Errors or Inaccuracies 145Location of Components 145Document Applicability 145Copyrights and Trademarks 146
Disclaimers................................................................................ 147
Vehicle Telematics/Data Recorders 147Quality Control 147California Proposition 65 147
Reporting Concerns...............................................................148
Contacting Tesla 148Reporting Safety Defects - US 148Reporting Safety Defects - Canada 148
Declarations of Conformity................................................ 149
Key and Passive Unlocking System 149Tire Pressure Monitoring System 150Media Control Unit 150HomeLink 151Radio Frequency Information 151Contents
1.Interior doors ( Using Interior Door
Handles on page 6)
2. Cruise control ( Cruise Control on page
61)
3. High beams ( Headlight High Beams on
page 48), Turn signals ( Turn Signals on
page 49), Wipers and washers ( Wipers
and Washers on page 50).
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 65)
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 39)
12. Seats ( Front and Rear Seats on page
17)
13. Steering column adjuster (hidden from
view in the above image) ( Steering Wheel
on page 36)
14. Horn ( Horn on page 38)
15. Brakes ( Brakes on page 58)
16. Hazard warning lights ( Hazard Warning
Flashers on page 49)
17. Cabin climate control ( Climate Controls
on page 72)
18. Cup holders ( Cup Holders on page 16)
Note: On RHD (Right Hand Drive) vehicles, the
controls illustrated above are arranged
similarly, but are mirrored on the right side of
the vehicle.
Interior Overview
2Model S Owner's Manual
Usage Restrictions
The optional Tesla built-in rear facing child
seats are child restraint systems and must
only be used for children over 37" (94 cm) tall
and weighing between 35 and 77 lbs (16.2 to
35.2 kg).
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’spelvis must be held securely in place by thelap belt. Follow all instructions provided anddo not use supplemental child safety seats inthese seats.
Note: Whenever a child is seated in the Tesla
built-in rear facing child seats, it is
recommended that you set the climate control
system to draw outside air into Model S
instead of recirculating the air. This draws
more air into the rear seating areas.
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.
Folding
Caution: Before folding the seats, fasten
the seat belts to prevent them from
getting trapped in the seat mechanism and being damaged.
1. Pull the handle to release the seat back
and pull the seat back fully forward.
Tesla Built-In Rear Facing Child Seats
Seating and Safety Restraints27
Seating a ChildThe Tesla built-in rear facing child seats arechild restraint systems and must only be used
for children over 37" (94 cm) tall and
weighing between 35 and 77 lbs (16.2 to 35.2
kg).
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’spelvis must be held securely in place by thelap belt. Follow all instructions provided anddo not use supplemental child safety seats inthese seats.
Note: Whenever a child is seated in the Tesla
built-in rear facing child seats, it is
recommended that you set the climate control
system to draw outside air into Model S
instead of recirculating the air. This draws
more air into the rear seating areas.
1. Position the child in the seat with arms
through the loops of the seat belts.
2. Connect the two halves of the seat belt
tongue.
3. Insert the seat belt tongue into the buckle
and ensure it is securely fastened.
4. Adjust the shoulder belts so they run over
the top of the child’s shoulders and away
from the face.
5. Connect the chest clip and adjust it to be
as high as possible without causing the
shoulder belts to touch the child’s neck.
6. Pull the lower straps until the child is
securely held in the seat.
7. Slide the shoulder clips into place to
ensure the upper portion of the belts
remain positioned over the child’s
shoulders.
To release, press the button on the buckle,
release the chest clip, and separate the two
halves of the seat restraint.
Warnings - Tesla Child Seats
Warning: The Tesla built-in rear facing
seats are child restraint systems and must
only be used for children over 37"
Tesla Built-In Rear Facing Child Seats
Seating and Safety Restraints29
Using Right Steering Wheel Buttons
Use the buttons on the right side of the steering wheel to control the phone, tochoose and control a Model S feature bytapping the scroll wheel, to use voice
commands, and to choose what displays on the right side of the instrument panel.
Note: Regardless of how you customize the
right side of the instrument panel, it automatically displays the phone menu to
help you easily handle phone calls on your
Bluetooth connected phone.
1. Phone Menu or Voice Commands
During a phone call, press to display the phone menu, which gives you the option
to mute, hold, or end the call.
Press and hold to use voice commands to
call a contact, navigate, or listen to
Internet music. When you hear the tone,
speak your command. Release the button
when you finish speaking. For details, see Using Voice Commands on page 37.
2. Scroll Wheel
• To choose what displays on the right side of the instrument panel, pressand hold the scroll wheel to displaythe available options. Then roll the
scroll wheel to browse through the options. Tap the scroll wheel when the
option you want is highlighted.
• When the right side of the instrument panel displays a menu, rolling the
wheel highlights the next item in a
menu and tapping the wheel selects
the highlighted item. When a menu is
not displayed, rolling the wheel
adjusts your chosen controllable
feature (see Item 3 below).
3. Customize the Scroll Wheel/Exit a Menu
Press, then use the scroll wheel to select
Phone to browse through and select
contacts and recent calls.
Press, then use the scroll wheel to select
Customize to choose the Model S feature
that you want to control whenever you
roll the wheel when a menu is not
displayed. You can choose from:
• All. Allows you to roll the wheel and
choose from all available functions
(listed next).
• Climate Temps . Roll the wheel to
change the temperature, or press the
wheel to turn the climate control
system on and off.
• Fan Speed . Roll the wheel to adjust
the speed of the fan used to cool or
heat the cabin.
• Display Brightness . Roll the wheel to
change the brightness level of the
displays, or press the wheel to restore default settings.
• Sunroof (if equipped). Roll the wheel
to adjust the position of the sunroof.
• Media Source . Roll the wheel to
control what Media Player is playing,
or press the wheel to add/remove the
currently playing station or audio track as a Favorite.
Press the lower right button at any time to either exit a menu, or go back one level in the
menu structure.
Using Voice Commands
You can use voice commands to call a
contact, navigate, or listen to Internet music.
Press and hold the voice button on the upper
right side of the steering wheel. When you
hear the tone, speak your command while
continuing to hold down the voice button.
Release the button when you finish speaking.
• To call a contact on your Bluetooth- connected phone, say “Call” or “Dial,”
followed by the contact’s first and/or last name(s). For example, “Call Eric” or “Call
Mike Phillips.”
• To search for, or navigate to, a location, say “Where is,” “Drive,” or “Navigate,”followed by an address, business name,business category, or landmark. Forexample, “Drive to Tesla in Menlo Park,”
“Drive to Starbucks on Homestead in
Cupertino,” or “Where is Stanford
University?” If you have defined a navigation address for your home or work
locations, you can use a voice command to "Navigate home" or "Navigate to work."
Steering Wheel
Driving37
Instrument Panel OverviewNote: The following illustration is provided for demonstration purposes only. Depending on
vehicle options, software version, and market region, the information displayed may be slightly different.
1. The center display changes depending on whether Model S is off or ready to drive. If Model S
is off, the center displays shows remaining estimated range and status of doors. Pressing thebrake powers Model S on—the indicator lights flash on for a second and the center display
shows speed, power, charge level, estimated range (see item 9), and active gear. When
Model S is plugged in, the instrument panel displays charging status (see Charging Status on
page 98).
2. Use the left steering wheel buttons to operate the audio system. You can also press and roll
the scroll wheel to change what displays on the left side of the instrument panel (see Steering
Wheel on page 36).
3. Pay attention to important status messages that display here.
4. All indicator lights flash on briefly when you press the brake to prepare to drive. They should
then turn off, unless the light applies to a current situation (see Indicator Lights on page
43).
5. Use the right steering wheel buttons for voice commands, to handle telephone calls, and to
control some features of Model S. You can customize what features the scroll wheel can control (see Using Right Steering Wheel Buttons on page 37).
6. Door lock status
7. Odometer
8. Outside temperature
9. Total estimated driving distance (or energy) available. Instead of driving distance as shown
here, you can display the percentage of battery energy remaining. To do so, touch Controls >
Settings > Units & Format > Charging Units (see Settings on page 69).
Note: When anticipating when you need to charge, use range estimates as a general guideline
only.
Note: In cold weather, some of the stored energy in the Battery may not be available on your
drive because the Battery is too cold. When this happens, a portion of the Battery meter is
blue and the driving distance value has a snowflake image next to it. If Model S is plugged in,
you can heat your Battery using wall power by turning on climate control using the mobile
app. When the Battery warms up, the blue portion on the meter and the snowflake image are
no longer displayed.
Instrument Panel
42Model S Owner's Manual
WipersTo wipe the windshield, rotate the end of the
left-hand steering column lever away from
you. You can choose from four levels:
• 1st: Auto with low rain sensitivity.*
• 2nd: Auto with high rain sensitivity.*
• 3rd: Continuous, slow.
• 4th: Continuous, fast.
For a single wipe, press and release the end of the lever.
If the wipers are set to Auto and the sensor
detects no water, the wipers do not wipe.
When you operate the wipers, headlights automatically turn on (if they are not onalready).
*Model S has a rain sensor located on the
inside of the windshield at the base of the interior mirror. When wipers are set to Auto,
the frequency at which they wipe depends on
how much water the sensor detects. When
wipers are set to the 2nd level, the sensor is
more sensitive.
To extend the life of wiper blades, remove ice from the windshield before turning wipers on.
Ice has sharp edges that can damage the
rubber on the blades.
Periodically check and clean the edge of the
wiper blade. If damaged, replace the blade
immediately. For details on checking replacing
wiper blades, see Wiper Blades and Washer
Jets on page 112.
Caution:
In harsh climates, ensure that the
wiper blades are not frozen or adhered to
the windshield.De-icing Wipers
To make wiper blades easy to access so you
can remove any ice and snow, shift Model S
into Park, then use the touchscreen to move
them to the service position. Touch Controls >
Settings > Vehicle > Service Mode > ON .
When parking in cold outdoor climates, it is helpful to leave Model S with the wipers in the
service position. In this position, they are
closer to the defrost vent, allowing you to thaw them by directing air from the climatecontrol system towards the windshield.
If Model S is equipped with the cold weather
option, you can de-ice wipers by touching
Controls > Cold Weather > Heated Wipers .
This control heats the wipers for 15 minutes
and then automatically turns off.
Note: Wipers automatically return to their
normal position when you shift Model S out of
Park.
Washers Press the button on the end of the left
steering column lever to spray washer fluid
onto the windshield. You can press this button at two levels. Press partially for a single wipe,without any washer fluid. Press fully for bothwipe and wash. When washing the windshield,
the wipers will perform two wipes after you
release the button, then a third wipe a few seconds later.
Periodically top up washer fluid (see Topping
Up Washer Fluid on page 116).
De-icing Washer Nozzles
If Model S is equipped with the cold weather
option, washer nozzles have de-icers that turn on whenever the ambient temperature nearsfreezing, or when you turn on the heatedwipers ( Controls > Cold Weather > Heated
Wipers ). The washer de-icers turn off when
the heated wipers turn off (after 15 minutes),
provided the temperature is warm enough to
prevent freezing.
Wipers and Washers
50Model S Owner's Manual
Driving Tips to Maximize RangeYou can maximize your driving range usingthe same driving habits that you use to
conserve fuel in a gasoline-powered vehicle. In
addition to driving habits, energy
consumption depends on environmental conditions (such as cold weather and hillyroads). To get the maximum mileage from a
charge:
• Avoid frequent and rapid acceleration. • Instead of using the brake to slow down, move your foot off the accelerator.
Whenever Model S is moving and your
foot is off the accelerator, regenerative
braking slows down Model S and feeds
surplus energy back to the Battery (see
Regenerative Braking on page 59).
• Keep tires at the recommended inflation pressures (see Tire Care and Maintenance
on page 100).
• Lighten your load by removing any unnecessary cargo.
• Limit the use of resources such as heating and air conditioning. Using seat heaters to
keep warm is more efficient than heating the cabin. You can turn on Range mode toautomatically limit the power of theclimate control system (see Settings on
page 69).
The power meter on the instrument panel and
the Energy app provide feedback on energy
usage. With this feedback, you will soon become familiar with how driving habits andenvironmental conditions impact how muchenergy Model S is using.
Saving Energy
Model S has an energy-saving feature that
reduces the amount of energy being consumed when Model S is not in use. TouchControls > Displays > Energy Saving and
choose from the following options:
• OFF . All display systems remain powered
when Model S is not in use, providing the
most responsive experience. More energy
is consumed.
• NIGHTLY . Model S shifts to the energy-
saving mode at night (10 pm to 5 am).
• ON. Significantly less energy is consumed
whenever Model S is not in use. The start-
up time of the instrument panel and
Bluetooth could be slower.
• Always Connected . Preserves cell
connectivity when energy saving is active.
This allows the mobile app to connect toModel S more quickly, and provides
immediate 3G internet access when entering the car. Slightly more energy isconsumed.
Getting Maximum Range
Driving57