2021 TESLA MODEL S warning

WARNING: Although the instrument panel shows surrounding traffic, some vehicles may not be displayed. Never rely on the instrument panel to determine if a vehicle is present (for example, in your blind spot). Always use your mirrors and perform shoulder checks.
9.
Your Model S.
10.
The energy bar (a thin horizontal line at the bottom center of the instrument panel) displays
real-time energy usage. The bar is colored gray (or white if the display is in Dark mode) and moves to the right to represent energy being used during acceleration. The bar is green and
moves to the left to represent energy being gained through regenerative braking.
11.
When Autosteer is active and detects the driving lane, it is highlighted in blue (see Autosteer on page 93). Depending on the current driving scenario, you may see
neighboring lanes.
NOTE: In situations where Autosteer is unable to detect lane markings, the driving lane is
determined based on the vehicle you are following.
NOTE: If Navigate on Autopilot is active, the driving lane displays as a single blue line in
front of Model S (see Navigate on Autopilot on page 98).
Indicator Lights
Indicator lights display along the top of the
instrument panel to show status and alert you
of
specific vehicle conditions.
IndicatorDescriptionA brake system fault is
detected or the brake fluid
level is low. See Braking and Stopping on page 66. Contact Tesla
immediately.
A brake booster fault has
been detected. See
Braking and Stopping on page 66.
An ABS (Anti-lock Braking
System) fault is detected.
See
Braking and Stopping on page 66. Contact
Tesla immediately.
A parking brake fault is
detected. Contact Tesla.
See
Parking Brake on page 68.
IndicatorDescription
The parking brake is
manually applied. See
Parking Brake on page 68.
Tire pressure warning. The
pressure of a tire is out of
range. If a fault with the
Tire Pressure Monitoring
System (TPMS) is
detected, the indicator
flashes. For a TPMS fault,
contact Tesla. See Tire Care and Maintenance on page 188.
A seat belt for an
occupied seat is not
fastened. See
Seat Belts on page 29.
NOTE: Depending on the
date of manufacture, rear seating positions may not be equipped with a seat
belt reminder.
Instrument Panel
62MODEL S Owner

WARNING: Always maintain a safe distance from the vehicle in front of you and be aware of hazardous driving conditions. While the ABS can improve stopping distance, it cannot overcome the laws of physics. It also does not prevent the danger of hydroplaning (where a layer of water prevents direct contact between the tires and the road).
NOTE: Automatic Emergency Braking (see Automatic Emergency Braking on page 123)
may intervene to automatically brake in
situations where a collision is considered
imminent. Automatic Emergency Braking is
not designed to prevent a collision. At best, it
can minimize the impact of a frontal collision
by attempting to reduce your driving speed.
Depending on Automatic Emergency Braking
to avoid a collision can result in serious injury or death. .
Brake Disc Wiping
To ensure brakes remain responsive in cold
and wet weather, Model S is equipped with
brake disc wiping. When cold and wet
weather is detected, this feature repeatedly
applies an imperceptible amount of brake
force to remove water from the surface of the
brake discs.
Hydraulic Fade Compensation
Model S is also equipped with hydraulic fade
compensation. This feature assists in
monitoring brake system pressure and ABS
activity for instances of reduced brake
performance. If reduced brake performance is detected (for example, as a result of brake
fade, or cold or wet conditions), you may hear
a sound, feel the brake pedal pull away from
your foot, and notice a strong increase in
braking. Brake as you normally would and
continue to press the brake pedal without
releasing or "pumping".
CAUTION: If brakes are not functioning properly, stop the vehicle when safety permits and contact Tesla Service.
WARNING: Always maintain a safe driving distance from the vehicle in front of you and exercise caution when driving conditions are hazardous. Brake disc wiping and hydraulic fade compensation is not a substitute for adequately applying the brakes.
Hydraulic Boost Compensation
Model S is equipped with a brake booster that
activates the brakes when the brake pedal is pressed. Hydraulic boost compensation
provides mechanical assistance if the brake
booster fails. If a brake booster failure is
detected, the brake pedal feels
stiffer to press
and you may hear sound when you press the
brake pedal. To stop
Model S, apply steady
force to the brake pedal without releasing or
pumping. Drive cautiously and maintain a safe
distance from other road users

The amount of energy fed back to the Battery using regenerative braking can depend on the
current state of the Battery. For example,
regenerative braking may be limited if the
Battery is already fully charged or if the
ambient temperature is too cold.
NOTE: If regenerative braking is limited, a
dashed black line displays on the energy bar
(see
Instrument Panel on page 60).
Parking Brake
To engage the parking brake, touch Controls > Safety > Parking Brake. Follow the onscreen
instructions.
NOTE: The parking brake operates on the rear
wheels only, and is independent of the pedal- operated brake system.
WARNING: In snowy or icy conditions the rear wheels may not have sufficient traction to prevent Model S from sliding down a slope, particularly if not using winter tires. Avoid parking on hills in snowy or icy conditions. You are always responsible for parking safely.
WARNING: Your Model S may display an alert if the road is too steep to safely park on, or if the parking brakes are not properly engaged. These alerts are for guidance purposes only and are not a substitute for the driver

How It Works
The traction control system constantly
monitors the speed of the front and rear
wheels. If
Model S experiences a loss of
traction, the system minimizes wheel spin by
controlling brake pressure and motor power.
By default, the traction control system is on.
Under normal conditions, it should remain on
to ensure maximum safety.
This yellow indicator flashes
on the instrument panel whenever the traction
control system is actively
controlling brake pressure
and motor power to
minimize wheel spin. If the
indicator stays on, a fault is
detected with the traction
control system. Contact
Tesla Service.
WARNING: Traction control cannot prevent collisions caused by driving dangerously or turning too sharply at high speeds.
Allowing Wheel Slip
To allow the wheels to spin at a limited speed,
you can enable Slip Start. Slip Start can be enabled only when Model S is moving 30 mph (48 km/h) or slower. Slip Start automatically disables when the speed exceeds 50 mph (80 km/h).
Under normal conditions, Slip Start should
not be enabled. Enable it only in
circumstances where you deliberately want
the wheels to spin, such as:

How Park Assist Works
Model S has several sensors designed to
detect the presence of objects. When driving slowly in Drive or Reverse (for example, when
parking), the vehicle alerts you if an object is
detected in close proximity of your
Model S.
Objects are only detected in the direction of
the gear you selected; front objects in Drive,
rear objects in Reverse.
WARNING: You may not be alerted if Model S rolls freely in the opposite direction of the selected gear (for example, Park Assist does not display an alert if Model S rolls backwards down a hill while in Drive).
The sensors are activated when driving slower
than 5 mph (8 km/h).
WARNING: Never depend on Park Assist to inform you if an area you are approaching is free of objects and/or people. Several external factors can reduce the performance of Park Assist, causing either no readings or false readings (see Limitations and False Warnings on page 71). Therefore, depending on Park Assist to determine if Model S is approaching an obstruction can result in damage to the vehicle and/or objects, and can potentially cause serious injury. Always inspect the area with your own eyes. When reversing, perform shoulder checks and use all mirrors. Park assist does not detect children, pedestrians, bicyclists, animals, or objects that are moving, protruding, located too far above or below the sensors, or too close or too far from the sensors. Park Assist is for guidance purposes only and is not intended to replace your own direct visual checks. It is not a substitute for careful driving.
Visual and Audio Feedback
When you shift to Reverse, the Park Assist
view displays on the left side of the instrument panel, showing objects that are in
close proximity to the front and rear of
Model S. This view closes when you shift into
Drive unless an object is detected close to the
front of
Model S, in which case the Park Assist
view closes automatically when your driving
speed exceeds
5 mph (8 km/h). When
reversing, visual feedback also displays on the
touchscreen (see
Rear View Camera on page 76). You can manually close the park assist
view on the touchscreen by touching the X in
the bottom corner.
When driving with the Camera app displayed
on the touchscreen, you can switch to the
Park Assist view when driving at speeds
below
5 mph (8 km/h). Touch the button
located in the upper left corner of the Camera
app window. This is useful if you need
assistance with parallel parking.
If chimes are turned on (see Controlling Audible Feedback on page 71), an audible
beep sounds as you approach an object. You
can temporarily mute the chime by pressing
the scroll button on the left side of the
steering yoke or by touching the mute button
on the bottom left corner of the Park Assist
view.
Park Assist
70MODEL S Owner

NOTE: If a sensor is unable to provide
feedback, the instrument panel displays an
alert message.CAUTION: Keep sensors clean from dirt, debris, snow, and ice. Avoid using a high pressure power washer on the sensors and do not clean a sensor with a sharp or abrasive object that can scratch or damage its surface.
CAUTION: Do not install accessories or stickers on or near the parking sensors.
Controlling Audible Feedback
You can use Park Assist with or without
audible feedback. To turn chimes on or off,
touch Controls > Safety > Park Assist Chimes.
To mute the chimes temporarily, touch the
mute button in the corner of the Park Assist
view. The chimes are muted until you shift
into a
different gear or drive over 5 mph (8 km/h).
Limitations and False Warnings
The parking sensors may not function
correctly in these situations:

Camera Location
Model S is equipped with a rear view camera
located above the rear license plate.
Whenever you shift into Reverse, the
touchscreen displays the view from the
camera. Lines show your driving path based
on the position of the
steering yoke. These
lines adjust as you move the steering yoke.
Model S also displays images from the side
cameras. To view these images, simply swipe
when the view from the rear view camera is displayed.
NOTE: Visual feedback from the parking
sensors also appear on the instrument panel (see Park Assist on page 70).
To display the view from the
rear view cameras at any
time, open the app launcher
and touch the Camera app.
You can also touch the
Camera icon in the Controls
window.WARNING: Never depend on the cameras to inform you if the area behind you is free of objects and/or people. The cameras may not detect objects or barriers that can potentially cause damage or injury. In addition, several external factors can reduce the performance of the cameras, including a dirty or obstructed lens. Therefore, depending on the cameras to determine if Model S is approaching an obstruction can result in damage to the vehicle and/or objects, and can potentially cause serious injury. Always inspect the area with your own eyes. When reversing, perform shoulder checks and use all mirrors. Use the cameras for guidance purposes only. It is not intended to replace your own direct visual checks and is not a substitute for careful driving.
Cleaning a Camera
To ensure a clear picture, the camera lens
must be clean and free of obstructions.
Remove any build-up of dirt or debris by
spraying water onto the camera lens with a
spray bottle or pressure washer.
CAUTION: Do not attempt to remove dirt or debris by wiping an exposed lens with your hands or a cloth. This debris can damage the surface of the lens when rubbed against it during wiping.
CAUTION: Do not use chemical-based or abrasive cleaners. Doing so can damage the surface of the lens.Rear View Camera
76MODEL S Owner

The Pedestrian Warning System (if equipped) causes Model S to emit sound when driving
below 19 mph (32 km/h) or while driving in
reverse. Electric vehicles operate quietly and this sound helps to alert pedestrians of your
oncoming vehicle. The sound, which activates
whenever
Model S is shifted out of Park, gets
louder as speed increases.
WARNING: If sound cannot be heard, pedestrians may not be aware of your oncoming vehicle, which may increase the likelihood of a collision resulting in serious injury or death. If the Pedestrian Warning System is not operating, immediately contact Tesla.
Pedestrian Warning System
80MODEL S Owner