Call 1-877-79TESLA (1-877-798-3752)
ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE
INSTRUCTIONS FOR TRANSPORTERS
ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE
Roadside AssistanceTesla Roadside Assistance is available to you, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, throughout the United
States and Canada for the duration of your warran ty period. To contact Roadside Assistance, call
1-877-79TESLA (1-877-798-3752) .
Advise the representative of the vehicle identification number (VIN), license plate number, mileage,
your location, and the nature of the problem. The VIN is on the upper dashboard on the driver’s side
of your vehicle and is visible through the windshield.
Roadside Assistance covers transportation of Model S for up to 50 miles in the event of a flat tire.
However, owners are responsible for transportation expenses if the Battery is over-discharged. For
a complete description of the terms and conditions of the Tesla Roadside Assistance Program, refer
to the policy that was provided to yo u by Tesla when you purchased Model S.
It is your responsibility to provide vehicle transporters with instructions on how to transport Model S.
Use a Flatbed Only
Use a flatbed trailer only, unless otherwise specified by
Tesla. Do not transport Model S with the tires directly on
the ground. To transport Model S, follow the instructions
exactly as described.
Damage caused by transporting Model
S is not covered by the warranty.
Disable Self-Leveling (air suspension vehicles only)
If Model S is equipped with Active Air Suspension, it automatically self-levels, even when power is
off. To prevent damage, use the touchscreen to ac tivate Jack mode, which disables self-leveling:
1. To u c h CONTROLS on the bottom left of the touchscreen.
2. Press the brake pedal, then touch Controls > Driving > Very High to maximize height.
3. To u c h Jack.
When Jack mode is active, Model S displays this indicator light on the instrument
panel, along with a message telling you that active suspension is disabled.
NOTE: Jack mode cancels when Model S is driven over 4.5 mph (7 km/h).
C A U T I O N : Fa i l u re t o a c t i v a t e J a c k m o d e o n a M o d e l S e q u i p p e d w i t h a c t i ve a i r s u s p e n s i o n c a n
result in the vehicle becoming loose during transport, which may cause significant damage.
Activate Tow Mode
Model S may automatically shift into Park when it detects the driver leaving the vehicle, even if it has
previously been shifted into Neutral. To keep Model S in Neutral (which disengages the parking
brake), you must use the touchscreen to activate Tow mode:
1. Shift into Park.
2. Press the brake pedal, then on the touchscreen, touch Controls > E-Brake & Power Off >
To w M o d e .
When Tow mode is active, Model S displays this indicator light on the instrument panel,
along with a message telling you that Model S is free-rolling.
NOTE: Tow mode cancels when Model S is shifted into Park.
CAUTION:
If the electrical system is not working, an d you therefore cannot release the electric
parking brake, attempt to quick start the 12V battery. For instructions, call the number noted
on the previous page. If a situ ation occurs where you cannot disengage the parking brake, use
tire skids or transport Model S for the shortest possible distance using wheeled dollies. Before doing
so, always check the dolly manufacturer’s sp ecifications and recommended load capacity.
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Available 24 hours every day
ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE
INSTRUCTIONS FOR TRANSPORTERS CONTINUED
Connect the Tow Chain
The method used to connect the tow chain depends on whether Model S is equipped with a towing eye.
Attach the tow chains to the large hole on each of
the rearmost lower suspension arms , underneath
the front of the vehicle.
Pl
ace a 2” x 4” piece of wood between the tow
chains and the underbody.
CAUTION: Before pulling, position the wood
between the tow chain and the underbody to
protect the underbody from any damage that
could be caused by the tow chain.
Lower Suspension Arms
Remove the nose cone by inserting a plastic
pry tool into the top right corner, then gently
prying the nose cone toward you. When the
clip releases, pull the nose cone toward you,
without twisting or bending it, to release the
three remaining clips.CAUTION: Do not use a metal object
(such as a screwdriver). Doing so can
damage the nose cone and the
surrounding area.
Towing Eye (if equipped)
Fully insert the towing eye (found in the front
trunk) into the opening on the right side, then
turn it counter-clockwise until securely
fastened. When secure, attach the tow chain
to the towing eye.
CAUTION: Before pulling, make sure
the towing eye is securely tightened.
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SAFETY INFORMATION5
SAFETY INFORMATION
Seat Belts
Wearing Seat Belts ................................................................................................................................................6
Wearing Seat Belts When Pregnant ........ ..................................................................... .................. ................6
Seat Belt Pre-tensioners ....................................................................................................... ............................... 7
Testing Seat Belts ............................................................................................................. ..................................... 7
Seat Belt Warnings ............................................................................................................. ................................... 7
Child Safety Seats
Guidelines for Seating Children ................................................................................................ ........................9
Choosing a Child Safety Seat ................................................................................................... .........................9
Seating Larger Children ........................................................................................................ ............................. 10
Installing Child Safety Seats.................................................................................................. ........................... 10
Installing Seat Belt Retained Child Seats ...................................................................................... .............. 10
Installing LATCH Child Seats ................................................................................................... ......................... 11
Attaching Upper Tether Straps .......................................................................................... ............................ 12
Testing a Child Safety Seat .................................................................................................... .......................... 12
Warnings - Child Safety Seats .................................................................................................. ...................... 12
Tesla Built-In Rear Facing Child SeatsUsage Restrictions ............................................................................................................................................... 14
Opening .......... .............................................................................................................. ........................................... 14
Storing ........................................................................................................................ .............................................. 15
Seating a Child ................................................................................................................ ...................................... 16
Warnings - Tesla Child Seats ................................................................................................... ........................ 17
Tires and WheelsMaintaining Tire Pressures ................................................................................................................................ 18
Inspecting and Maintaining Tires ............................................................................................... .................... 18
Replacing Tires and Wheels.... ......................................................................................... ............................... 20
Using Tire Chains.............................................................................................................. ................................... 20
Tire Pressure Monitoring ....................................................................................................... ............................ 21
Understanding Tire Markings .................................................................................................... ..................... 22
Wheels and Tires Glossary ... ............................................................ ....................................... ........................ 24
Vehicle Loading
Load Capacity Labeling ......................................................................................................... ........................... 25
Calculating Load Limits ..... ................................................................................................... ............................ 26
Towing a Trailer ............................................................................................................... .................................... 26
DisclaimersVehicle Telematics/Data Recorders .............................................................................................. .............. 27
Quality Control ................................................................................................................ ..................................... 27
California Proposition 65..................................... ............................................................................................. 27
Declarations of Conformity................................................................................................................. 28
Reporting Concerns
Contacting Tesla............................................................................................................... ................................... 29
Reporting Safety Defects - US .................................................................................................. ..................... 29
Reporting Safety Defects - Canada .............................................................................................. ............... 29
Model S Quick Guide - NA Rev C.book Page 5 Wednesday, December 18, 2013 12:40 PM
Seat BeltsSeat Belts
6MODEL S
SAFETY INFORMATION
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 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, refasten 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 F a s t e n a B e l t
1. Ensure correct positioning of the seat.
2. Draw the belt out smoothly, ensuring the
belt lays flat across the pelvis, chest and
mid-point of your collar bone, between the
neck and shoulder.
3. Insert the latch plate into the buckle and
press together until you hear a “click”
indicating it is locked in place. 4.
Pull the belt to check that it is securely
fastened.
5. Pull the diagonal part of the belt toward the
reel to remove excess slack.
To Release a Belt
Hold the belt near the buckle to prevent the
belt from retracting too quickly, then press the
button on the buckle. The belt retracts
automatically. Ensure there is no obstruction
that prevents the belt from fully retracting. The
belt should not hang loose. If a seat belt does
not fully retract, contact Tesla.
Wearing Seat Belts When Pregnant
Do not put the lap or shoulder sections of the
seat belt over the abdominal area. Wear the lap
section of the belt as low as possible across the
hips, not the waist. Position the shoulder
portion of the belt between the breasts and to
the side of the abdomen. Consult your doctor
for specific guidance.
WARNING: Never place anything
between you and the seat belt to cushion
the impact in the ev ent of an accident.
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Tesla Built-In Rear Facing Child SeatsTesla Built-In Rear Facing Child Seats
14MODEL S
Tesla Built-In Rear Facing Child SeatsUsage Restrictions
The 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’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: 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 attached to the seat 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 Seats
SAFETY INFORMATION17
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” (94 cm) tall
and weighing between 35 and 77 lbs (16.2 to
35.2 kg).
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 he to p o f
the child’s head cannot touch the
vehicle’s 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 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 or 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 used 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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Vehicle LoadingVehicle Loading
26MODEL S
Canada:
CAUTION: To prevent damage, never
load Model S so that it is heavier than
GVWR or exceeds the individual GAWR
weights.
Calculating Load Limits
1. Locate the statement “The combined
weight of occupants and cargo should
never exceed XXX kg or XXX lbs” on your
vehicle’s “Tire and Loading Information”
label.
2. Determine the combined weight of the
driver and passengers that will be riding in
the vehicle.
3. Subtract the combined weight of the driver
and passengers from XXX kg or XXX lbs
(see Step 1).
4. The resulting figure equals the available
amount of cargo and luggage load
capacity. For example, if the “XXX” amount
equals 1400 lbs (635 kg) and there will be
f i v e 1 5 0 l b ( 6 8 k g ) p a s s e n g e r s i n t h e v e h i c l e ,
the amount of availa ble cargo and luggage
capacity is 650 lbs (1400 - 750
(5 x 150) = 650 lbs) or 294 kg (635 - 340
(5 x 68) = 294 kg.
5. Determine the combined weight of cargo
and luggage being loaded on the vehicle.
That weight must not exceed the available
cargo and luggage load capacity calculated
in Step 4.
WARNING: The front and rear trunks are
the preferred places to carry objects. In
an accident, or during hard braking and sharp
turns, loose items in the cabin could injure
occupants.
Example Load Limit Calculations
How much cargo you can carry in Model S
depends on the number and weight of
passengers. The followin g are typical examples
of calculated load limits. These examples
assume passengers weighi ng 150 lbs (68 kg). If
the passengers weigh more or less, the
available cargo and luggage load capacity
decreases or increases respectively.
Example 1: Driver and one passenger
Example 2: Driver and four passengers
The available cargo or luggage weight should
then be distributed betw een the front and rear
trunks.
CAUTION: Do not exceed the maximum
front trunk load weight of 300 lbs
(136 kg).
Towing a Trailer
WARNING: Do not tow a trailer. Model S
does not support a trailer hitch. Installing
one could damage Model S and increase the
risk of an accident.
DescriptionTo t a l
Vehicle capacity weight 954 lbs
(433 kg)
Subtract occupant weight
(2 x 150 lbs/68 kg) 300 lbs
(136 kg)
Ava i l a b l e c a rg o we i g h t 654 lbs
(297 kg)
DescriptionTo t a l
Vehicle capacity weight 954 lbs
(433 kg)
Subtract occupant weight
(5 x 150 lbs/68 kg) 750 lbs
(340 kg)
Ava i l a b l e c a rg o we i g h t 204 lbs
(93 kg)
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Warranty (North America)Warranty (North America)
34MODEL S
If your Battery requires warranty service, Tesla will repair the unit, or replace it with a factory
reconditioned unit that has an energy capacity at least equal to that of the original Battery before
the failure occurred. To provide you with even more assurance, this Battery Limited Warranty will
also cover damage to your vehicle from a Battery fire even if it is the result of driver error. (Coverage
will not extend to damage that had already been sustained before a Battery fire occurred, or to any
damage if the Battery fire occurred after your vehicle had already been totaled.) Your vehicle’s
Battery is covered under this Battery Limited Warranty for a period of 8 years or for the number of
miles/km specified below for your Battery configuration, whichever comes first:
• 60 kWh - 125,000 miles (200,000 km)
• 85 kWh - unlimited miles/km
Despite the breadth of this warranty, damage resulting from intentional actions (including
intentionally abusing or destroying your vehicle, or ignoring active vehicle warnings), a collision or
accident (excluding from Battery fires as specified above), or the servicing or opening of the Battery
by non-Tesla personnel, is not covered under this Battery Limited Warranty.
In addition, damage resulting from the following activities is not covered under this Battery Limited
Wa r ra n t y :
• Exposing the vehicle to ambient temperatures above 140°F (60°C) or below -22°F (-30°C) for
more than 24 hours at a time;
• Physically damaging the Battery, or intentio nally attempting, either by physical means,
programming, or other methods, to extend (other than as specified in your owner
documentation) or reduce the life of the Battery;
• Exposing the Battery to direct flame (excluding from Battery fires as specified above); or,
• Flooding of the Battery.
The Battery, like all lithium-ion batteries, will experience gradual energy or power loss with time and
use. Loss of Battery energy or power over time or due to or resulting from Battery usage, is NOT
covered under this Battery Limited Warranty. See your owner documentation for important
information on how to maximize the life and capacity of the Battery.
Exclusions and Limitations
This New Vehicle Limited Warranty does not cover any vehicle damage or malfunction directly or
indirectly caused by, due to or resulting from normal wear or deterioration, abuse, misuse,
negligence, accident, improper maintenance, operat ion, storage or transport, including, but not
limited to, any of the following:
• Failure to take the vehicle to a Tesla Service Center or Tesla authorized repair facility upon discovery of a defect covered by this New Vehicle Limited Warranty;
• Accidents, collisions, or objects striking the vehicle;
• Any repair, alteration or modification of the vehicl e, or the installation or use of fluids, parts or
accessories, made by a person or facility not authorized or certified to do so;
• Improper repair or maintenance, including use of fluids, parts or accessories other than those
specified in your owner documentation;
• Towing the vehicle;
• Improper winch procedures;
• Theft, vandalism, or riot;
• Fire, explosion, earthquake, windstorm, lightning, hail, flood, or deep water;
• Driving the vehicle off-road, over uneven, rough, damaged or hazardous surfaces, including but not limited to, curbs, potholes, unfinished roads, debris, or other obstacles, or in competition,
racing or autocross or for any other purposes for which the vehicle is not designed;
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