Overview............................................................3
Exterior Overview......................................................3
Interior Overview.......................................................4
Touchscreen Overview.............................................6
Opening and Closing....................................9
Keys.................................................................................9
Doors.............................................................................14
Windows......................................................................16
Rear Trunk...................................................................17
Front Trunk.................................................................19
Interior Storage and Electronics........................22
Seating and Safety Restraints.................26
Front and Rear Seats.............................................26
Seat Belts....................................................................29
Child Safety Seats...................................................32
Airbags........................................................................38
Driving.............................................................44
Driver Profiles...........................................................44
Steering Yoke............................................................47
Mirrors.........................................................................50
Starting and Powering Off....................................51
Gears............................................................................53
Lights...........................................................................56
Instrument Panel.....................................................60
Wipers and Washers..............................................65
Braking and Stopping............................................66
Traction Control.......................................................69
Park Assist.................................................................70
Acceleration Modes................................................72
Trip Information........................................................73
Getting Maximum Range......................................74
Rear View Camera...................................................76
Dashcam.....................................................................77
Pedestrian Warning System................................80
Cold Weather Best Practices...............................81
Autopilot.........................................................84
About Autopilot.......................................................84
Traffic-Aware Cruise Control...............................87
Autosteer....................................................................93
Navigate on Autopilot...........................................98
Traffic Light and Stop Sign Control.................101
Autopark...................................................................109
Summon.......................................................................111
Smart Summon........................................................115
Lane Assist................................................................119
Collision Avoidance Assist..................................122
Speed Assist............................................................126
Using the Touchscreen.............................128
Controls.....................................................................128
Climate Controls.....................................................135
Maps and Navigation............................................142
Media..........................................................................149
Entertainment..........................................................152
Phone and Calendar.............................................154
Air Suspension........................................................158
Using Voice Commands......................................160
Security Settings.....................................................161
HomeLink Universal Transceiver......................166
Connecting to Wi-Fi.............................................169
Software Updates..................................................170
Mobile App...............................................................172
Charging........................................................175
Electric Vehicle Components............................175
Battery Information...............................................177
Charging Instructions...........................................179
Maintenance.................................................186
Maintenance Schedule.........................................186
Tire Care and Maintenance.................................188
Cleaning.....................................................................194
Wiper Blades and Washer Jets........................198
Fluid Reservoirs......................................................199
Jacking and Lifting................................................201
Parts and Accessories.........................................202
Specifications.............................................203
Identification Labels............................................203
Vehicle Loading.....................................................204
Dimensions and Weights...................................206
Subsystems.............................................................208
Wheels and Tires....................................................210
Roadside Assistance.................................217
Contacting Tesla Roadside Assistance..........217
Instructions for Transporters.............................218
Consumer Information............................224
About this Owner Information.........................224
Disclaimers..............................................................226
Reporting Safety Defects..................................228
Contents
Controlling the Passenger Front Airbag
Model S has an occupancy sensor in the front passenger seat that controls the status of the
front airbag.
NOTE: The occupancy classification system (OCS) meets the regulatory requirement of
FMVSS 208 and automatically detects when inflating the passenger front airbag would be
unnecessary or potentially harmful.
WARNING: Seating an infant in a rear facing child safety seat on a seat equipped with an operational airbag can cause serious injury or death.Object ClassificationOCS Passenger
Airbag Status*Indicator statusNotesEmptyOFFPASSENGER AIRBAG
OFF ObjectOFF or ONPASSENGER AIRBAG
OFF or PASSENGER
AIRBAG ONDepends on material/
contents.Rear facing child seat
designed for children
up to a year oldOFFPASSENGER AIRBAG
OFF20 lbs (9 kg) or lessForward facing child
seatOFFPASSENGER AIRBAG
OFF35 lbs (16 kg) or lessChild in a booster seatOFF or ONPASSENGER AIRBAG
OFF or PASSENGER
AIRBAG ON20-100 lbs (9-45 kg)*Large childOFF or ONPASSENGER AIRBAG
OFF or PASSENGER
AIRBAG ON 5th percentile female
or larger (by weight)ONPASSENGER AIRBAG
ONOver approximately 100 lbs (45 kg)*If the passenger airbag status indicator does not match the situation, do not use the seat. The passenger must ride in a different seat. Contact Tesla Service.
NOTE: It takes approximately six seconds after you power on Model S for the occupant classification system (OCS) to report accurate status of the front passenger airbag. As a result,
when you first power on Model S, even in situations when it should be OFF because the seat is
occupied by a weight of 20 lbs (9 kg) or less, a delay of approximately six seconds can occur
before the touchscreen displays the PASS AIRBAG OFF status. If it fails to do so, contact Tesla
Service and do not seat a child in the front passenger seating position.
To make sure the sensing system can correctly detect occupancy status, eliminate the following:
WARNING: If the front passenger airbag is not turning on or off as expected, do not seat a passenger in the front passenger seat. Contact Tesla Service.
WARNING: To ensure accuracy of the occupant detection system, do not make any modifications to the front passenger seat.
WARNING: Do not use seat covers on Model S. Doing so could restrict deployment of the seat-mounted side air bags if a collision occurs. It can also reduce the accuracy of the occupant classification system.
Examples of Correct and
Incorrect Seating Positions
Correct seating position:
Incorrect seating position - the passenger
IndicatorDescriptionAirbag safety. If this red
indicator does not flash on briefly when Model S prepares to drive, or if it
remains on, contact Tesla
immediately. See
Airbags on page 38.
Front fog lights are on, if
equipped. See Lights on page 56.
Parking lights (side
marker lights, tail lights,
and license plate lights)
are on. See
Lights on page 56.
Low beam headlights are
on.
High beam headlights are on. Illuminates when high
beams are on but the
Auto High Beam setting is
turned
off or if the Auto
High Beam setting is
turned on but is
temporarily unavailable.
See
High Beam Headlights on page 57.
High beam headlights are currently turned on, and
Auto High Beam is ready
to turn
off the high beams
if light is detected in front
of
Model S. See High Beam Headlights on page 57.
High beam headlights are temporarily turned off
because Auto High Beam
is on and is detecting light
in front of
Model S. When
light is no longer
detected, the high beams
IndicatorDescriptionautomatically turn back
on. See High Beam Headlights on page 57.
This indicator flashes
amber when the
electronic stability control
systems are actively
minimizing wheel spin by
controlling brake pressure
and motor power. See
Traction Control on page 69. If this indicator
remains on, a fault is
detected and you should
immediately contact Tesla.
If a fault is detected that
reduces the performance
of the air suspension
system, this amber
indicator light displays. If
the problem persists,
contact Tesla. See
Air Suspension on page 158.
If a fault is detected that
disables the air
suspension system, this
red indicator light
displays. Contact Tesla.Vehicle Hold is actively
applying the brakes. See
Vehicle Hold on page 66.
Electronic stability control
systems are no longer
minimizing wheel spin.
See
Traction Control on page 69.
Model S is in Transport
mode and can roll freely. It
does not automatically
shift into Park when you
exit. See
Activate Transport Mode on page 219.
Instrument Panel
63Driving
CAUTION: Do not aim water hoses directly at windows, door, or hood seals or at electronic modules or exposed cabling.
CAUTION: To avoid corrosive damage that may not be covered by the warranty, rinse away any road salt from the underside of the vehicle, wheel wells, and brakes. After cleaning the vehicle, dry the brakes by going on a short drive and applying the brakes multiple times.
CAUTION: Avoid using tight-napped or rough cloths, such as washing mitts. A high-quality microfiber cleaning cloth is recommended.
CAUTION: If washing in an automatic car wash, use touchless car washes only. These car washes have no parts (brushes, etc.) that touch the surfaces of Model S. Some touchless car washes use caustic solutions that, over time, can cause discoloration of decorative exterior trim. Avoid exposure to soaps and chemicals above pH 13. If unsure, check the product label or ask the staff at the car wash. Damage caused by improper washing is not covered by the warranty.
CAUTION: If washing in an automatic car wash, make sure the vehicle is locked. In addition, avoid using controls on the touchscreen that can result in accidentally opening doors or trunks while the vehicle is being washed. Any damage caused is not covered by the warranty.
CAUTION: Ensure the wipers are off
before washing Model S to avoid the risk of damaging the wipers.
CAUTION: Do not use chemical based wheel cleaners or pre-wash products. These can damage the finish on the wheels.
WARNING: Never spray liquid at a high velocity (for example, if using a pressure washer) towards the charge port while Model S is charging. Failure to follow these instructions can result in serious injury or damage to the vehicle, charging equipment, or property.
Cleaning the Interior
Frequently inspect and clean the interior to
maintain its appearance and to prevent
premature wear. If possible, immediately wipe up spills and remove marks. For general cleaning, wipe interior surfaces using a soft cloth (such as
microfiber) dampened with a
mixture of warm water and mild non-
detergent cleaner (test all cleaners on a
concealed area before use). To avoid streaks,
dry immediately with a soft lint-free cloth.
Interior Glass
Do not scrape, or use any abrasive cleaning fluid on glass or mirrored surfaces. This can
damage the reflective surface of the mirror
and the heating elements in the rear window.
Airbags
Do not allow any substance to enter an airbag
cover. This could affect correct operation.
Dashboard and Plastic Surfaces
Do not polish the upper surfaces of the dashboard. Polished surfaces are reflective and could interfere with your driving view.
Seats
Wipe spills as soon as possible using a soft
cloth moistened with warm water and non- detergent soap. Wipe gently in a circular
motion. Then wipe dry using a soft, lint-free
cloth.
If equipped with leather seats, note that
leather is prone to dye-transfer which can
cause discoloration, particularly on light
colored leather. White and tan leather is
coated with an anti-soiling treatment. Using
detergents or commercially available leather
cleaners and conditioners is not
recommended because they can discolor or dry out the leather.
If equipped with polyurethane seats, be
careful with dyes, such as from clothing or
denim, that come into contact with the seats.
Over time, dyes can
diffuse into the seat
material and cause staining.
Vacuum cloth seats as needed to remove any
loose dirt.
Cleaning
195Maintenance
passenger detection: 40
passenger front airbag: 40
pedestrian warning: 80
phone: 9, 154
authenticating as a key: 9
using: 154
phone app: 155
phone key: 9, 12
adding as a key: 12
removing as a key: 12
PIN: 45
PIN to Drive: 161
power cycling: 51
power socket: 24
power windows: 16
powering on and off: 51
Preconditioning: 184
Proposition 65: 227
public charging stations: 176
R
radio: 149, 152
Radio Frequency information: 229
range: 60, 67, 74
displayed on instrument panel: 60
driving tips to maximize: 74
regenerative braking: 67
range assurance: 75
Re-route: 147
reading light: 24
rear seats, folding and raising: 26
rear view camera: 76
rear window switches, disabling: 16
recent (Media Player): 150
Recents (navigation): 142
recording videos: 78, 163
regenerative braking: 67
relative speed limit: 126
release notes: 171
restarting the touchscreen: 51
Reverse gear: 55
RFID transponders: 202
roadside assistance: 218
rotating tires: 189
Round Trip Energy (navigating): 146
S
safety defects, reporting: 229
safety information: 31, 37, 43
airbags: 43
child seats: 37
seat belts: 31
Schedule: 184
schedule service: 172
scheduled charging: 184
scheduled departure: 184
using: 184
seat belts: 29, 30, 196
cleaning: 196
in a collision: 30
overview of: 29
pre-tensioners: 30
wearing when pregnant: 30
seat covers: 28
seat heaters: 135
seating capacity: 204
seating position: 42
seats: 26, 135
adjusting: 26
heaters: 135
security settings: 161
sensors: 84
Sentry Mode: 162
service data recording: 226
service intervals: 186
shifting gears: 53
Show Calendar Upon Entry: 154, 157
Side Clearance (Summon): 111
side collision warning: 119
slip start: 69
Smart Summon: 115
smartphone: 9
authenticating as a key: 9
Software Reinstall: 170
software update preferences: 170
software updates: 170
specifications: 206, 208, 210
12V battery: 210
Index