Overview........................................................................................ 2Interior Overview........................................................................ 2Exterior Overview....................................................................... 3
Opening and Closing................................................................. 4Doors............................................................................................... 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.............................................. 17Front and Rear Seats............................................................... 17
Correct Driving Position 17Adjusting the Driver’s Seat 17Seat Heaters 18Folding Rear Seats 18Raising Rear Seats 19Head Supports 19Seat Covers 19
Seat Belts.................................................................................... 20
Wearing Seat Belts 20Wearing Seat Belts When Pregnant 20Seat Belt Pre-tensioners 21Testing Seat Belts 21Seat Belt Warnings 21
Child Safety Seats.................................................................... 23
Guidelines for Seating Children 23Choosing a Child Safety Seat 24Seating Larger Children 25Installing Child Safety Seats 25Installing Seat Belt Retained Child Seats 25Installing LATCHChild Seats 26Attaching Upper Tether Straps 26Testing a Child Safety Seat 27Warnings - Child Safety Seats 27
Tesla Built-In Rear Facing Child Seats............................. 28
Usage Restrictions 28Opening 28Folding 28Seating a Child 30Warnings - Tesla Child Seats 30
Airbags......................................................................................... 32
Location of Airbags 32How the Airbags Work 33Types of Airbags 33Passenger Front Airbag 34Inflation Effects 35Airbag Warning Indicator 35Airbag Warnings 35
Driving.......................................................................................... 36Driver Profiles............................................................................ 36
Creating a Driver Profile 36Restoring a Driver’s Profile 36Saved Driver Settings 36
Steering Wheel.......................................................................... 37
Adjusting Position 37Adjusting Sensitivity 37Using Left Steering Wheel Buttons 37Using Right Steering Wheel Buttons 38Using Voice Commands 38Heated Steering Wheel 39Horn 39
Mirrors.......................................................................................... 40
Adjusting Exterior Side Mirrors 40Rear View Mirror 40
Starting and Powering Off.....................................................41
Starting Model S 41Powering Off 41
Gears............................................................................................. 42
Shifting Gears 42Leaving Model S in Neutral - Tow Mode 42
Instrument Panel...................................................................... 43
Instrument Panel Overview 43Indicator Lights 44
Lights............................................................................................ 47
Controlling Lights 47Headlight High Beams 49Headlights After Exit 50Cornering Lights 50Turn Signals 50Hazard Warning Flashers 50
Wipers and Washers................................................................ 51
Wipers 51Washers 51
Brakes........................................................................................... 52
Braking Systems 52Brake Wear 52Regenerative Braking 53Parking Brake 53
Traction Control........................................................................54
How It Works 54
Speed Assist............................................................................... 55
How Speed Assist Works 55Controlling Speed Assist 56Limitations and Inaccuracies 56
Lane Departure Warning....................................................... 57
How Lane Departure Warning Works 57Controlling Lane Departure Warning 57Limitations and Inaccuracies 57
Forward Collision Warning................................................... 58
How Forward Collision Warning Works 58Visual and Audible Feedback 58Controlling Forward Collision Warning 58Limitations 58
Traffic-Aware Cruise Control.............................................. 60
Operating Traffic Aware Cruise Control 60Instrument Panel Indicator Lights 62Changing the Set Speed 62Overtake Acceleration 63Canceling and Resuming 64Limitations 64
Park Assist.................................................................................. 66
How Park Assist Works 66Visual and Audio Feedback 66Controlling Audible Feedback 67Limitations and False Warnings 67Other Parking Aids 67
Hill Start Assist.......................................................................... 68
Trip Information........................................................................ 69
Displaying Trip Information 69
Getting Maximum Range...................................................... 70
Driving Tips to Maximize Range 70Energy App 70Saving Energy 70
Rear View Camera.....................................................................71
Camera Location 71
Using the Touchscreen........................................................... 72Touchscreen Overview...........................................................72
The Big Picture 72
Controls........................................................................................74
Controlling Model S Features 74
Settings.........................................................................................77
Customizing Model S 77Erasing Personal Data 79
Climate Controls.......................................................................80
Overview of Climate Controls 80Customizing Climate Control 81Ventilation 82Climate Control Operating Tips 82
Smart Air Suspension............................................................. 83
Manual Height Adjustments 83Location-Based Suspension 83Automatic Lowering 84Jack Mode 84
Media and Audio.......................................................................85
Overview 85AM and FM Radio 85XM Radio 85Internet Radio 85Media Settings 86Favorites 86My Music & Devices 86USB Connections 8712V Power Socket 87
Phone............................................................................................ 88
Bluetooth®Compatibility 88Pairing a Bluetooth Phone 88Importing Contacts 88Unpairing a Bluetooth Phone 88Connecting to a Paired Phone 89Making a Phone Call 89Receiving a Phone Call 89In Call Options 89
Maps and Navigation.............................................................. 90
Overview 90Using Maps 90Starting Navigation 90During Navigation 91Favorite Destinations 92Updated Maps 92
Calendar....................................................................................... 93
Overview 93Calendar and Navigation 94
Security Settings...................................................................... 95
About the Security System 95
HomeLink ®
Universal Transceiver.......................................96
About HomeLink 96Programming HomeLink 96Troubleshooting HomeLink 96
Connecting to Wi-Fi................................................................ 98
Software Updates.................................................................... 99
Loading New Software 99Viewing Release Notes 99
Mobile App............................................................................... 100
Model S Mobile App 100
Charging......................................................................................101Electric Vehicle Components..............................................101
High Voltage Components 101Charging Equipment 102
Battery Information............................................................... 103
About the Battery 103Battery Care 103
Charging Model S................................................................... 104
Opening the Charge Port 104Plugging In 104During Charging 105Stopping Charging 105Charge Port Light 105Changing Charge Settings 106Charging Status 107
Maintenance............................................................................. 108Maintenance Schedule..........................................................108
Service Intervals 108Daily Checks 108Monthly Checks 108Fluid Replacement Intervals 108High Voltage Safety 108
Tire Care and Maintenance................................................. 109
Maintaining Tire Pressures 109Inspecting and Maintaining Tires 110Replacing Tires and Wheels 111Tire Types 111Driving in Low Temperatures 112Using Tire Chains 112Tire Pressure Monitoring 112
Temporary Tire Repair...........................................................114
Tire Repair Kit 114Inflating with Sealant and Air 115Inflating with Air Only 116Replacing the Sealant Canister 117
Cleaning....................................................................................... 118
Cleaning the Exterior 118Cleaning the Interior 119Polishing, Touch Up, and Body Repair 120Using a Car Cover 120Floor Mats 120
Wiper Blades and Washer Jets.......................................... 121
Checking and Replacing Wiper Blades 121Cleaning Washer Jets 121Fluid Reservoirs....................................................................... 123
Removing the Maintenance Panel 123Checking Battery Coolant 123Checking Brake Fluid 124Topping Up Washer Fluid 125
Fuses............................................................................................ 126
Fuse Box Locations 126Replacing a Fuse 126Fuse Box 1 127Fuse Box 2 129Fuse Box 3 131
Jacking and Lifting................................................................. 132
Jacking Procedure 132
Parts and Accessories........................................................... 133
Parts, Accessories, and Modifications 133Body Repairs 133
Specifications........................................................................... 134Identification Labels.............................................................. 134
Vehicle Identification Number 134Emission Control Label 134
Vehicle Loading....................................................................... 135
Load Capacity Labeling 135Calculating Load Limits 136Towing a Trailer 137Roof Racks 137
Dimensions and Weights..................................................... 138
Exterior Dimensions 138Weights 139
Subsystems...............................................................................140
Motor 140Transmission 140Steering 140Brakes 141Suspension 141Battery - 12V 141Battery - High Voltage 142
Wheels and Tires.....................................................................143
Wheel Specifications 143Wheel Alignment Values 143Tire Specifications 144Understanding Tire Markings 145Uniform Tire Quality Grading 147Wheels and Tires Glossary 148
Roadside Assistance............................................................. 149Contacting Roadside Assistance...................................... 149Instructions for Transporters............................................. 150
Use a Flatbed Only 150Disable Self-Leveling (air suspension vehicles only) 150Activate Tow Mode 150Connect the Tow Chain 151Pull Onto the Trailer and Secure the Wheels 152
Consumer Information.......................................................... 153About this Owner Information........................................... 153
Illustrations 153Errors or Inaccuracies 153Location of Components 153Document Applicability 153Copyrights and Trademarks 154
Disclaimers................................................................................ 155
Vehicle Telematics/Data Recorders 155Quality Control 155California Proposition 65 155
Reporting Concerns............................................................... 156
Contacting Tesla 156Reporting Safety Defects - US 156Reporting Safety Defects - Canada 156
Declarations of Conformity................................................. 157
Key and Passive Unlocking System 157Tire Pressure Monitoring System 158Media Control Unit 158HomeLink 159Radio Frequency Information 159
Contents
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
6), 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 7).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.
• Hold the button down for 1-2 seconds to open the charge port door.
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 detectit, which is below the 12V power socket (see Key Not Inside on page 41).
Doors
4Model S Owner's Manual
1.Close
Touch the circled X in the top left corner
of a window to close it (or you can touch anywhere outside the window).
2. Sunroof
If Model S is equipped with a sunroof,
touch to adjust its position (see Sunroof
on page 15).
3. Suspension
If Model S is equipped with Smart Air
Suspension, touch to manually raise or lower Model S, or to remove a previously
saved auto-raising location (see Smart Air
Suspension on page 83). Model S must
be powered on and you must press the
brake pedal before you can change
suspension settings. Smart Air Suspension
causes Model S to self-level, even when
powered off. Therefore, when towing or
lifting, you must disable self-leveling (see
Instructions for Transporters on page 150
and Jacking and Lifting on page 132).
4. Driving
• Steering mode Adjust the amount of effort requiredto turn the steering wheel. Sport feels
more responsive whereas Comfort
feels easier to drive and park (see
Steering Wheel on page 37).
• Acceleration (Dual Motor vehicles only)
Choose an acceleration level. Sport is the standard level of acceleration and allows you to maximize driving range(see the Range Mode setting below).
Choose Insane if you want to increase
peak torque by approximately 50 per cent. If you choose Insane, the Range
mode setting, if on, automatically turns off.
• Creep
When on, Model S slowly movesforward when in Drive and backward
in Reverse when you release the brake
(similar to a conventional vehicle with an automatic transmission). You can
adjust this setting only when Model S
is in Park.
• Traction ControlTo allow the wheels to spin on a
standard single motor Model S, you can turn off traction control. On a dualmotor Model S, you can enable Slip
Start. If you turn off Traction Control
(or enable Slip Start), a warning
message displays on the instrument
panel. Traction control turns off for
the current drive only. On dual motor
vehicles, traction control is
automatically turned on again when the speed exceeds 40 mph
(64 km/h). See Traction Control on
page 54.
• Regenerative braking
When you release the accelerator
when driving, regenerative braking
slows Model S and feeds any surplus
energy back to the Battery. If set to
Low, Model S does not slow down as
quickly, but you may experience less range (see Regenerative Braking on
page 53).
Note: Regardless of the setting, the
energy gained by regenerative
braking is reduced if the Battery is
full, or if it is extremely cold or hot
(the surplus energy is used to heat or
cool the Battery).
• Range Mode
If on, Model S conserves energy by
limiting the power of the climate
control system. Cabin heating and
cooling may be less effective, but seat
heaters turn on to compensate. In
Dual Motor vehicles, Range Mode can
be turned on only when acceleration
is set to Sport (see above).
5. Cold Weather
If Model S is equipped with the cold
weather option, you can control all seat heaters as well as the heated wipers andsteering wheel. Heaters that are turned on
are displayed in red. To turn off all seat
heaters, touch All Off. Note that you can
also control the front driver and
passenger seats using the main climate
control panel located on the bottom of
the touchscreen (see Climate Controls on
page 80).
6. Trips
View and reset the trip meters that
summarize how far you have driven (see
Trip Information on page 69).
7. Displays
Controls
Using the Touchscreen75
During Navigation
During navigation, the touchscreen displays the navigation route on the map. Dependingon the map’s zoom level, you might not be
able to see the entire route. But as you drive,
the map shows your location on the map.
Whenever a navigation route is active, you
can display an overview of the route by touching the route overview icon:The route overview icon is
available on the right side of the
search bar whenever a navigation
route is active. You can toggle
between North Up, Heading Up
and Route Overview (see Using
Maps on page 90). As you travel
on your navigation route, the zoom
level adjusts to display an overview
of the route between your current
location and your destination.
The touchscreen also displays a turn-by-turn
direction list that includes estimated driving time, arrival time, and an estimate of howmuch energy will remain when you arrive atyour destination (see Predicting Energy Usage
on page 91).
During navigation, the instrument panel also
displays the turn-by-turn directions and you
will hear spoken instructions.
Model S detects real-time traffic conditions
and automatically adjusts the estimated
driving and arrival times based on traffic conditions. In situations where traffic
conditions will delay your estimated time of
arrival and an alternate route is available,
Model S reroutes you to your destination. You
can turn this feature off by touching
Controls > Settings > Apps > Maps &
Navigation > Traffic-Based Routing > Off .
Note: Traffic-based navigation is a BETA
feature in Release 6.0.
When you display the traffic layer on the map,
green traffic lines display under the route line,
whereas yellow and red traffic lines display on
top of the route line to ensure that heavy
traffic areas are easy to identify.
Model S can also monitor traffic to your work
location (on weekday mornings) and to your
home location (on weekday evenings) and
advise you if there is a better route in
situations where traffic conditions will cause a delay. You can set the time savings required
before the advice is given by touching
Controls > Settings > Apps > Maps &
Navigation > Min Improvement for Commute
Advice .
Note: Commute advice is available only if you
have saved a Home and Work Location (see Favorite Destinations on page 92).
Predicting Energy Usage
When navigating to a destination, Model S helps you anticipate your charging needs bycalculating the amount of energy that willremain when you reach your destination. Thecalculation is an estimate based on drivingand environmental factors such as predicted
speed and elevation changes. The
touchscreen displays this calculation in the
lower right corner of the turn-by-turn
direction list.
Throughout your route, Model S monitors
energy usage and updates the calculation as
needed. A popup warning displays above the
calculated amount advising you when:
• A yellow warning displays when you should drive slowly to converse energy.
Model S predicts that you will have very little energy remaining when you reach
your destination. For tips on conserving energy, see Getting Maximum Range on
page 70.
• A red warning displays when you must charge Model S to reach your destination.
Model S also lets you know if you have
enough energy for a round trip. Tap the
battery icon at the bottom of the turn-by-turn
navigation list to determine if Model S has
enough energy to get to your destination and
then return back to your starting point.
When navigating, the energy app displays
real-time energy usage for the current trip.
See Getting Maximum Range on page 70.
Maps and Navigation
Using the Touchscreen91
Changing Charge SettingsThe charge settings screen displays on the
touchscreen whenever the charge port door is
open.
To display charge settings at any time, touch
the Battery icon on the top of the
touchscreen, or touch Controls > Charging
(located in the upper right portion of the
Controls screen).
Note: The following illustration is provided for
demonstration purposes only and may vary
slightly depending on the software version
and market region of your Model S.
1. Charge status messages (such as
Charging Scheduled, Charging In
Progress) display here.
2. To adjust the charge limit, touch Set
Charge Limit , then drag the slider bar. You
can charge to any level from 50% to 100%
based on your driving needs. The setting
you choose applies to both immediate
and scheduled charging sessions.
3. Location-specific schedule. With Model S
in Park, set a specific time when you want
Model S to begin charging at the current
location. If, at the scheduled time, Model S
is not plugged in at the location, it will
start charging as soon as you plug it in as
long as you are plugging it in within six hours of the scheduled time. If you plug in
after six hours, Model S does not start
charging until the scheduled time on the next day. To override this setting, touch
Start Charging or Stop Charging (see
item 4). When you set a scheduled
charging time, Model S displays the set time on the instrument panel and the
touchscreen.
4. Touch to open the charge port door or to
start (or stop) charging.
5. The current automatically sets to the
maximum current available from the
attached charge cable, unless it was
previously reduced to a lower level.
If needed, touch the up/down arrows to change the current (for example, you may
want to reduce the current if you are
concerned about overloading a domestic
wiring circuit shared by other equipment).
It is not possible to set the charging
current to a level that exceeds the maximum available from the attached
charge cable.
When you change the current, Model S
remembers the location. So if you
subsequently charge at the same location, you do not need to change it again.
Note: If Model S automatically reduced a
charging location's current because of
fluctuations in input power (see the note
in Charging Status on page 107), Tesla
recommends charging at the lower
current until the underlying problem is
resolved and the charging location can provide consistent power.
Charging Model S
106Model S Owner's Manual
Charging StatusThe following illustration is provided for demonstration purposes only and may vary slightlydepending on the software version and market region of your Model S.1. Charging rate per hour.
2. 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 > Energy &
Charging .
Note: A portion of the battery image may
appear blue. This indicates that a small
portion of the energy stored in the battery
is not available on your drive because the battery is cold. This is normal and no
reason for concern. When the battery warms up, the blue portion is no longer
displayed.
3. Current being supplied/Total current
available from the connected power
supply (see Changing Charge Settings on
page 106).
4. Estimated increase in driving distance (or
energy) achieved so far in this charging session. Instead of driving distance as
illustrated above, you can change settings
to display the amount of energy achieved.
To do so, touch Controls > Settings >
Units & Format > Energy & Charging .
5. Charging status information displays here.
For example, if Model S is charging, it displays the time remaining until fully
charged at the currently selected charge
level. When scheduled charging is set fora location, it displays when charging will
start.
6. Voltage being supplied by the charge
cable.
Note: If Model S is charging and detects
unexpected fluctuations in the input power, it automatically reduces the charging current by25%. For example, a 40 amp current isreduced to 30 amps. This automatic currentreduction increases robustness and safety in
situations when a problem exists outside of
Model S or its charging electronics. For
example, a home wiring system, receptacle,
adapter or cord is unable to meet its rated
current capacity. When Model S automatically
reduces a location's charging current, it
retains the reduced current for that location
as a precaution. Although you can manually
increase it, Tesla recommends charging at the
lower current until the underlying problem is
resolved and the charging location can
provide consistent power.
Charging Model S
Charging107
Jacking Procedure
Follow the steps below to lift Model S. Ensure that any non-Tesla repair facility is aware of
these lifting points.
1. Position Model S centrally between the lift
posts.
2. If your Model S is equipped with Smart Air
Suspension, it automatically self-levels,even when power is off. Use thetouchscreen to set the suspension as
follows:
• Touch Controls > Suspension .
• Press the brake pedal, then touch Very High to maximize the height of
the suspension.
• Touch Jack to disable self-leveling.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.
3. Position the lift arm pads under the body
rails at the locations illustrated. DO NOT
position the lift arm pads under the
Battery.
4. Adjust the height and position of the lift
arm pads to ensure they are correctly
located.
5. With assistance, raise the lift, ensuring the
lift arm pads remain in their correct
positions.Note: Jack mode cancels when Model S is
driven over 4.5 mph (7 km/h).
Warning: If your Model S is equipped with
Smart Air Suspension, it automatically
self-levels, even when power is off. You
MUST disable this system by engaging
Jack mode before lifting or jacking. If you do not disable Smart Air Suspension,
Model S can attempt to self-level, causing serious damage, bodily injury, or death.Warning: Never raise Model S when the
charge cable is connected, even if
charging is not in progress.Warning: Do not work on an incorrectly
supported vehicle. Doing so can cause
serious damage, bodily injury, or death.Caution: DO NOT lift from under the
Battery. Place the lift arm pads under the body rails only. The locations illustratedare the only approved lifting points forModel S. Lifting at any other points can
cause damage. Damage caused by lifting Model S is not covered by the warranty.
Jacking and Lifting
132Model S Owner's Manual
Tesla Roadside Assistance is available to you, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, for the duration of
your warranty 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 thedriver’s side of your vehicle and is visible through the windshield.
Roadside Assistance covers transportation of Model S for up to 50 miles (80 kms) 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 RoadsideAssistance Program, refer to the policy that was provided to you by Tesla when you purchasedModel S.
It is your responsibility to provide vehicle transporters with instructions on how to transport
Model S (see Instructions for Transporters on page 150).
Contacting Roadside Assistance
Roadside Assistance149