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
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
Correct Driving Position
The seat, head support, seat belt and airbags work together to maximize your safety. Using
these correctly ensures greater protection.
Position the seat so you can wear the seat belt
correctly, while being as far away from the
front airbag as possible:
1. Sit upright with both feet on the floor and
the seat back reclined no more than 30
degrees.
2. Make sure you can easily reach the pedals
and that your arms are slightly bent when
holding the steering wheel. Your chest
should be at least 10 inches (25 cm) from the center of the airbag cover.
3. Place the shoulder section of the seat belt
mid-way between your neck and your
shoulder. Fit the lap section of the belt
tightly across your hips, not across your stomach.
Model S seats include integrated head
supports that cannot be adjusted or removed.
Adjusting the Driver’s Seat
1. Adjust lumbar support.
2. Adjust backrest.
3. Move seat forward/backward.
4. Adjust the seat’s height and tilt angle.
Warning:
Do not adjust seats while
driving. Doing so increases the risk of a
collision.Warning: Riding in a moving vehicle with
the seat back reclined can result in serious injuries in a collision, as you could
slide under the lap belt or be propelled
into the seat belt. Ensure your seat back is reclined no more than 30 degrees when
the vehicle is moving.
Front and Rear Seats
Seating and Safety Restraints17
Guidelines for Seating ChildrenYour Model S seat belts in the front and second row seats are designed for adults and largerchildren. You must restrain infants and small children in the second row seats only, and you must use a suitable child safety seat appropriate for the child’s age, weight, and size. Never use child
safety seats in the front row passenger seat. Carefully follow the instructions provided by the manufacturer of the child safety seat.
If your Model S is equipped with the optional Tesla built-in rear facing child seats, these seats arechild safety seats and are designed only for children within a specific height and weight range
(see Tesla Built-In Rear Facing Child Seats on page 28).
Child Safety Seats
Seating and Safety Restraints23
Choosing a Child Safety Seat
All children age 12 and under should ride in the rear (second row) seats. Always use a child safety seat suitable for a young child’s age and weight.InfantsToddlersYoung
childrenAgeBirth to 1 year*Over 1 year*4 years and
older, and
less than 57
in. (145 cm)
tallWeightUp to at least 20 lbs (9 kg)*Over 20 lbs (9 kg) (minimum)
and up to 40 lbs (18 kg)*Over 40 lbs
(18 kg)Type of child
safety seatRear facing (or convertible)Forward facing (or
convertible)*Seat belt
retained
booster
seatSeat positionRear facing only*Forward facing*Forward
facingRecommended
attachment
methodIf combined weight of child
and safety seat is up to 65 lbs
(29 kg), attach using either
LATCH** (lower anchor only)
or the seat belt only.*** If
combined weight of child and
safety seat is over 65 lbs
(29 kg), attach using the seat
belt only.***If combined weight of child
and safety seat is up to 65 lbs
(29 kg), attach using either
LATCH** (both lower anchors
and top tether anchor), or the
seat belt and upper tether
strap.*** If combined weight of
child and safety seat is over
65 lbs (29 kg), attach using the
seat belt and upper tether
strap.***Attach
booster
seats using
the seat
belt only.* Many child safety seats currently available allow children to ride rear-facing using the child
safety seat’s integrated 5-point harness for a longer period of time BASED UPON SPECIFIC HEIGHT AND WEIGHT LIMITS. Keep your child in a rear facing seat for as long as possible.CHECK THE CHILD SAFETY SEAT MANUFACTURER’S INSTRUCTIONS AND CAREFULLYFOLLOW ALL INSTRUCTIONS
** LATCH - Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children. In Canada, this is also called Lower Universal Anchorage System (LUAS), or CANFIX.
*** Subject to instructions provided by the child safety seat manufacturer.Warning: Laws that govern how and where children should be carried when traveling in a
vehicle are subject to change. It is the driver’s responsibility to keep up to date on, and
comply with, all current regulations in the region(s) where Model S is driven.To check the child passenger safety laws for your state, go to: http://www.ghsa.org/html/stateinfo/laws/childsafety_laws.html.
Child Safety Seats
24Model S Owner's Manual
Note: If Model S is equipped with Smart Air
Suspension, you may hear the sound of the compressor when Model S starts, as thesystem’s reservoir fills with air.
Smart Air Suspension has both manual and
automatic modes of operation.
Manual Height AdjustmentsCaution: Before adjusting the suspension
height, ensure Model S is clear of all
obstacles, above and below.
Manually raising the height of Model S is useful when you need extra ground clearance,
such as steep driveways or ramps, deep snow,
speed bumps, etc.
With Model S powered on, or the brake pedal
pressed, use the touchscreen to manually
change the ride height. Touch Controls >
Suspension , then choose from:
• Very High . When set to Very High, the
suspension automatically lowers to High when driving speed reaches 22 mph
(35 km/h).
• High . When set to High, the suspension
automatically lowers to Standard when
driving speed reaches 34 mph (55 km/h).
• Standard . The Standard setting ensures
optimum comfort and handling under all
loading conditions.
• Low . Lowering the height can make it
easier to load or unload cargo and
passengers.
Note: Available settings depend on your
driving speed and other conditions. For
example, the suspension does not lower if a
door is open.
Location-Based Suspension Location-Based suspension saves you from
manually having to raise the suspension every
time you arrive at a frequently-used location
where a higher suspension is needed (steep
driveways or ramps, deep snow, speed
bumps, etc).
Whenever you raise the suspension to High or
Very High , Model S saves the location. A
status message displays to indicate that an
auto-raising location is being saved:
Then, when you return to the saved location,
Model S raises the suspension and the
instrument panel displays this message:
Note:
• To raise the suspension to High, you must be driving slower than 34 mph (55 km/h).
To raise it to Very High, you must be
driving slower than 22 mph (35 km/h). If
you are driving faster than these speeds when returning to a saved location, the
suspension does not raise until Model S
slows down.
• After leaving a saved location, the suspension may not lower based on an
automatic lowering speed that you have
set ( Controls > Suspension > Automatic
Smart Air Suspension
Using the Touchscreen83
Lowering) until you are driving faster than
the auto-raising speed thresholds described above.
• If Model S reaches a saved location and the existing suspension setting is higher
than the level that has been saved for that
location, the suspension is not adjusted.
To remove an auto-raising location
If you do not want the suspension to auto-
raise at a saved location, touch the X in the
touchscreen message that displays at a saved
location. Doing so removes the auto-raise
location and the suspension no longer raises automatically when you arrive at the location.
Note: Manually lowering the suspension to
Standard or Low while at a saved location also
removes the auto-raising location.
Automatic Lowering When Model S is moving above typical
driveway or parking lot speeds, Smart Air
Suspension automatically lowers ride height
to improve aerodynamics and handling. For
most average speed driving, the suspension is
automatically set to Standard. As described
above, when you make manual height
adjustments, the suspension automatically lowers at increased driving speeds.
When carrying loads, Smart Air Suspension also maintains a level height between the
front and rear.
You can adjust the speed at which the Air
Suspension automatically transitions to the LOW ride height by touching Controls >
Suspension > Automatic Lowering on the
touchscreen. This setting is saved to your Driver Profile .
Note: You can temporarily override the ride
height by pressing the brake pedal, touching an air suspension control in Controls >
Suspension , and then manually choosing a
ride height. Your suspension's automatic
lowering setting is restored the next time you
drive.If a fault is detected with the air
suspension system, a yellow
indicator lights up on the instrument
panel. If the problem persists,
contact Tesla.
Jack Mode
Before jacking or lifting, set the suspension to
Jack mode to prevent the self-leveling that
occurs even when Model S is powered off.
Press the brake pedal, then touch Controls >
Suspension > Jack .
When Model S is in Jack mode, a red
air suspension indicator lights up on
the instrument panel.
To deactivate, touch Jack again.
Note: Jack mode automatically cancels when
you drive over 4.5 mph (7 km/h).
Smart Air Suspension
84Model S Owner's Manual
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