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
Radio equipment on a similar frequency canaffect the key. If this happens, move the key
at least one foot (30 cm) away from other
electronic devices (phone, laptop, etc). If the key does not work, you may need to changeits battery. If the key’s battery is discharged,
you can open Model S by following the
unlocking procedure. See Unlocking When the
Key Doesn't Work on page 7.Caution: Remember to bring the key with
you when you drive. Although you can
drive Model S away from its key, you will
be unable to power it back on after it powers off.Caution: Protect the key from impact,
high temperatures, and damage from
liquids. Avoid contact with solvents,
waxes and abrasive cleaners.
Replacing the Key Battery
The key’s battery lasts for approximately a
year. When the battery is low, a message
displays on the instrument panel. Follow these
steps to replace it:
1. Place the key, button side down, on a soft
surface.
2. Release the battery using a small flat
bladed tool.
3. Remove the battery by pushing it toward
the center of the key to release it from the
front retaining clips.
4. Insert the new battery (type CR2032) with
the ‘ +’ side facing up. Avoid touching the
flat surfaces of the battery, and wipe the
battery clean before fitting. Finger marks
can reduce battery life.
5. Align the battery, then press the key and
battery together until they snap into
place.
Getting More Keys
If you lose a key or require an additional one, contact Tesla. Model S can recognize up to
three keys.
When ordering a new key for Model S, take all available keys with you for reprogramming.
Doors
Opening and Closing5
Using Exterior Door HandlesA light press on a door handle extends it,provided Model S detects a valid key nearby.
If Model S is equipped with the optional tech package, you can set the door handles to
extend automatically whenever you approach
the driver’s side carrying the key. On the
touchscreen, touch Controls > Settings >
Vehicle > Auto-Present Handles > On .
Insert your hand into the handle and pull to
open the door.
Door handles retract if you do not use them within one minute after they extend. Just
press a handle to extend it again. Door handles also retract a minute after the last
door closes, when Model S begins moving,
and when you lock Model S.
Note: To preserve battery life, Model S is
designed to temporarily disable the Auto-
Present Handles feature when:
• The key has been out of range for more than 48 hours.
• The key remains within range for five minutes after all doors have been closed.
In these cases, extend the handles by
touching the driver’s door handle or pressing
the unlock button on the key. There is no need
to reset the setting. The next time you
approach Model S, provided the above
conditions do not apply, handles automatically
extend.
Whenever a door is open, the Door
Open indicator displays on the
instrument panel. The image of the
Model S on the touchscreen Controls
window also shows which door or
trunk is open.Using Interior Door Handles
Pull the interior door handle toward you to
open the door.
Note: To prevent children from opening rear
doors using the interior handles, use the touchscreen, Controls > Settings > Vehicle >
Child Protection Lock , to turn on the child-
protection locks (see Child-protection Lock on
page 7).
Interior Locking and Unlocking From inside Model S, you can use the
touchscreen to lock or unlock doors and
trunks, provided a valid key is inside the
vehicle. Touch Controls > Lock/Unlock . The
current lock status displays on the bottom left
of the instrument panel.
Note: If a door or trunk is still open when you
lock Model S, it locks when you close it.
Doors
6Model S Owner's Manual
Opening
To open the rear trunk, do one of the
following:
• Touch Controls > Trunk on the
touchscreen.
• Double-click the Trunk button on the key.
• Press the switch located under the exterior handle (if not equipped with the
optional tech package, you must first
unlock Model S).When the liftgate is open, the
instrument panel displays the Door
Open indicator light. The image of
the Model S on the touchscreen
Controls window also displays the
open trunk.
To stop a powered liftgate while it is moving,
single-click the Trunk button on the key. Then, when you double-click the Trunk button, it
moves again, but in the opposite direction
(provided it was not almost entirely open or
closed when you stopped it). For example, if you single-click to stop the liftgate while it isopening, when you double-click, it closes.
To open the trunk in the unlikely situation inwhich Model S has no electrical power, see
Opening with No Power on page 11.
Closing
To close the trunk, pull down on the liftgate
and push firmly, ensuring it is fully closed.
If Model S is equipped with the optional tech
package, you can close the powered liftgate
by:
• Double-clicking the trunk button on the key.
• Touching Controls > Trunk on the
touchscreen.
• Pressing the switch located on the underside of the liftgate (see Adjusting
the Opening Height on page 10).
If a powered liftgate senses an obstruction when closing, it automatically opens and
sounds two chimes. Remove the obstruction
and try closing it again. If it cannot close the
second time, powered operation is
temporarily disabled. Manually closing it
restores powered operation.
Note: The power closing feature is also
temporarily disabled if you leave the powered liftgate open for more than an hour.
Adjusting the Opening Height If Model S is equipped with a powered liftgate,you can adjust its opening height to make it
easier to reach:
1. Open the liftgate, then lower it to the
desired opening height.
2. Press and hold the button on the
underside of the liftgate for two seconds
until you hear a confirmation beep.
3. Confirm that you have set it to the desired
height by closing the liftgate, then
reopening it.
Rear Trunk
10Model S Owner's Manual
Opening
To open the front trunk:
• Touch Controls > Front Trunk on the
touchscreen, or double-click the front
trunk button on the key.
• Pull the hood up.The door open indicator displays on
the instrument panel when the front
trunk is open. The image of the
Model S on the touchscreen Controls
window also displays the open trunk.
To open the front trunk in the unlikely
situation in which Model S has no electrical
power, see Opening with No Power on page
13.
Closing
The Model S body is made of lightweightaluminum. Therefore, the hood is not heavy
enough to latch under its own weight and
applying pressure on the front edge or center
of the hood can cause damage. To close the hood:
• Lower the hood fully until it touches the latch.
• Place both hands on the front of the hood in the areas shown, then press down
firmly to engage the latches.
• Lift the front edge of the hood to ensure it is fully closed.Caution: To prevent damage:
• Apply pressure only to the green areas illustrated above. Applying
pressure to the red areas can cause
damage.
• Do not close the hood with one hand. Doing so applies concentrated force
in one area and can result in a dent or crease.
• Do not apply pressure to the leading edge of the hood because this can
crease the edge.
• Do not slam or drop the hood.Warning: Do not drive with the hood
secured by the secondary catch alone.
Front Trunk
12Model S Owner's Manual
Passenger Front Airbag
Model S has an occupancy sensor in the front passenger seat that controls the status of theairbags based on the weight of the occupant.Passenger airbag status displays in the top
right corner of the touchscreen to indicate
whether the airbag will inflate (on) or not
inflate (off) if a collision occurs.
Note: The occupancy sensor system meets the
regulatory requirement of FMVSS 208 and automatically detects when inflating the
passenger front airbags would be unnecessary or potentially harmful.
Front passenger seat
occupancy*Passenger airbag
statusEmptyOFFInfant in child safety
seat (up to 20 lbs/
9kg)OFFChild or small
occupant
(20-100 lbs/9-45 kg)ON or OFFHeavy object/
occupantON*Values are approximate. Occupants whose
weight is close to the low weight threshold
can cause the status to occasionally turn on and off depending on seating position and
physique.
If the status shows the airbag as permanently
on, even when the seat is empty and the seat
belt is unbuckled, contact Tesla immediately.
To make sure the sensing system can
correctly detect occupancy status, eliminate
the following:
• Objects lodged under the seat.
• Heavy objects sitting on the seat (briefcase, large purse).
• Objects wedged between the seat back and seat cushion.
• Cargo interfering with the seat.
• After market items attached to, or sitting on, the seat (covers, mats, blankets, etc.).
These conditions can interfere with the
occupancy sensor. If you have eliminated the above possibilities, and the airbag status is
still incorrect, ask passengers to ride in the rear seats and contact Tesla to have the
airbag system checked.
Note: The front passenger seat’s sensing
system affects the operation of the passenger front and side airbags only. Other passengercurtain airbag is not affected.Warning: Never seat a child in a child
safety seat or a booster seat on the front
passenger seat when the airbags are
activated.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.
Airbags
34Model S Owner's Manual
Adjusting Position
Adjust the steering wheel to the desired driving position by moving the control on the
left side of the steering column.Warning: Do not make adjustments while
driving.
Adjusting Sensitivity
You can adjust the feel and sensitivity of the
steering system to suit your personal preference:
1. On the touchscreen, touch Controls.
2. Choose a steering option:
• Comfort - reduces the effort required to turn the wheel. In town, Model S
feels easier to drive and park.
• Standard - Tesla believes that this setting offers the best handling andresponse in all conditions.
• Sport - Increases the effort required to turn the wheel. When driving athigher speeds, Model S feels more
responsive.
The only way to really know which option you
like best is to try them.
Using Left Steering Wheel Buttons
Use the buttons on the left side of the steering
wheel to change radio stations, control the
media player’s volume, and control what
displays on the left side of the instrument panel (whenever the Navigation app is not
displaying instructions).
Note: The volume control on the steering
wheel does not adjust spoken navigation instructions. To control the volume of
navigation instructions, use the navigation
window on the touchscreen (see Using Maps
on page 90).
1. Next
If you are listening to local or satellite
radio and you have defined more than one
radio preset, press to play the next preset in the radio band that is currently playing.
If you have not defined more than one
preset, press to go to the next available
frequency.
If you are listening to Internet radio, or to
an audio file on a connected Bluetooth or USB device, press to skip to the next song
or station.
2. Scroll Wheel
• To adjust the media volume, roll up or down.
• To mute the media volume, or to pause/play an audio file, tap the
wheel.
• To choose what displays on the left side of the instrument panel, press
and hold the scroll wheel to display
the available options. Then roll the
scroll wheel to browse through the
options. Tap the scroll wheel when the option you want is highlighted.
3. Previous
Same as described above for Next, except
it skips to the previous song or station.
Note: Regardless of how you customize the
left side of the instrument panel, it
automatically changes to display navigation instructions (if applicable), or to let you knowif a door or trunk is open when Model S is in a
driving gear.
Steering Wheel
Driving37