Using Exterior Door Handles
Use your thumb to push the wide part of the door
handle. The handle pivots toward you, and you can open
the door by pulling the handle or pulling the edge of the door.
The handle retracts automatically.
When a door or trunk is open, the
touchscreen displays the Door Open
indicator light.
NOTE: See Cold Weather Best Practices on page 80 to
ensure door handles function properly in cold weather.
Opening Doors from the Interior
Model Y doors are electrically powered. To open a door
while sitting inside, press the button located at the top of the interior door handle and push the door open.
NOTE: To prevent children from opening the rear doors,
turn on child-protection locks (see
Child-Protection
Lock on page 12).
To open a front door in the unlikely situation when
Model Y has no power, pull up the manual door release
located in front of the window switches.
NOTE: Only the front doors are equipped with a manual
door release.
CAUTION: Manual door releases are designed to
be used only in situations when Model Y has no
power. When Model Y has power, use the button
located at the top of the interior door handle.Doors
11Opening and Closing
Press the interior release button to open the front trunk, then push up on the hood.
NOTE: The interior release button glows following a brief
exposure to ambient light.
WARNING: People should never climb inside the
front trunk. Never shut the front trunk when a
person is inside.
WARNING: Care should be taken to ensure that
objects inside the front trunk do not bump against
the release button, causing the hood to
accidentally open.
Opening Hood with No Power
In the unlikely event that Model Y has no 12V power, you
will be unable to open the front trunk using the touchscreen, key fob, or mobile app. To open the front
trunk in this situation:
NOTE: The following steps do not open the front trunk if
Model Y is locked and has 12V power.
1.
Locate an external 12V power supply (such as a
portable jump starter).
2.
Release the tow eye cover by pressing firmly on the
top right perimeter of the cover until it pivots inward,
then gently pulling the raised section toward you.
NOTE: Depending on production date, either the
positive or negative terminal may be attached to the tow eye cover.
3.
Pull the two wires out of the tow eye opening to
expose both terminals.
4.
Connect the 12V power supply
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.
Adjusting Second Row Seat Backs
Model Y provides seating for up to three passengers in
the second row. The seat back is split 60/40 so adjusting the left seat back moves the seat backs for both the left and center seating positions, whereas
adjusting the right seat back moves only the rightmost seat back.
For vehicles with 5 seats:
Use the adjustment handles on the outside corner of each second row outboard seat back to adjust the corresponding seat back. While pulling and holding the
handle, move the seat back to the desired position, and then release the handle. Ensure the seat back is securely latched into position by pushing it forward and
rearward.
For vehicles with 7 seats:
Use the adjustment handles on the side shield of each outboard seating position to adjust the corresponding second row seat backs. While pulling and holding the
handle, move the seat back to the desired position, and then release the handle. Ensure the seat back is securely latched into position by pushing it forward and rearward.
Folding Second Row Seat Backs
To maximize cargo space, each second row seat back can be folded fully forward to lay
flat. While pulling and
holding the handle, push the corresponding seat back fully forward.
NOTE: Before folding seats fully forward, remove any
items from the seats and the rear footwell. To allow the
seat backs to fold completely
flat, you may need to
move the front seats forward.
NOTE: Driving with second row seats folded forward
may increase perceivable noise and/or vibration coming from the rear of the vehicle (trunk, suspension, etc.).
To allow you to carry long items (such as skis) in the rear
of
Model Y, the center seat back can also be
independently folded forward. Pull the handle on the
rear of the seat back to unlatch it, then pull it forward.
Front and Rear Seats
24MODEL Y Owner
You can also fold the second row seat backs fully
forward by pressing the corresponding switch located on the left side of the rear trunk. Pressing the switch causes the seat back to swing forward. You can then push it downward so it lays fully
flat.
To return the seat backs to their upright position, pull it upwards until it locks into place. To
confirm that the seat
back is locked in the upright position, try pulling it forward.
NOTE: Before raising a second row seat back, make sure
that the seat belts are not trapped behind the backrest.WARNING: Always ensure the seat backs are
locked in their upright position by pushing it
forward or rearward. Failure to do so increases the
risk of injury.
Moving Second Row Seats (7-seater
only)
Lift the bar located beneath each outboard seating position to unlock and move the second row seats
forward or rearward. The bench seats have a 60/40 split. Therefore, the bar on the left side moves the seat for the left and center seats, whereas the bar on the
right side moves only the rightmost seat. Pull up and
hold the bar while moving the seat forward or rearward. Release the lever when the seat is at the desired location. Push the seat rearward and forward to ensure the seat(s) are locked into position.
Accessing Third Row Seats (7-
seater only)
A third row ingress button is located on the backrest of each second row outside seat. This button makes it easy for passengers to access the third row seating positions.
To access a third row seat:
1.
Press the button on the associated second row backrest.
NOTE: If you press the button and do not move the
seats, the seats relock.
2.
Push the second row backrest forward. The seat then releases and pitches upward.
3.
Push the seat fully forward.
Front and Rear Seats
25Seating and Safety Restraints
NOTE: The charge port automatically closes within
approximately 10 seconds of removing the connector from the charge port.CAUTION: Tesla strongly recommends leaving
Model Y plugged in when not in use. This
maintains the Battery at the optimum level of
charge.
CAUTION: Model Y does not shift out of Park if the
charge port is unable to determine whether a
charging cable is plugged in. Ensure any charging
cables are unplugged and follow the instructions
on the touchscreen to proceed (see Park on page
52).
Manually Releasing Charge Cable
If the usual methods for releasing a charge cable from the charge port (using the charge handle release button,
touchscreen, or mobile app) do not work, carefully
follow these steps:
1.
Ensure that Model Y is not actively charging by
displaying the charging screen on the touchscreen. If necessary, touch
Stop Charging.
2.
Open the rear trunk.
3.
Pull the charge port
Removing the Maintenance Panel
To check fluid levels, remove the maintenance panel:
1.
Open the hood.
2.
Pull the maintenance panel upward to release the clips that hold it in place.
3.
If checking the Battery coolant, remove the cabin intake trim panel by pulling it upwards to release the clips that hold it in place.
CAUTION: The maintenance panel protects the
front trunk from water. When re-attaching, make
sure it is fully seated.
Checking Battery Coolant
Your Battery coolant should not need to be replaced for
the life of your vehicle under most circumstances. However, if the quantity of
fluid in the cooling system
drops below the recommended level, the
touchscreen
displays a warning message. Stop driving Model Y as
soon as safety permits and contact Tesla.
Fluid Level Check
DO NOT REMOVE THE FILLER CAP AND DO NOT ADD
FLUID. Doing so can result in damage not covered by
the warranty.
Do Not Top Up Battery Coolant
WARNING: Battery coolant can be hazardous and
can irritate eyes and skin. Under no circumstances
should you remove the filler cap and/or add
coolant. If the touchscreen warns you that the fluid
level is low, contact Tesla immediately.
To maximize the performance and life of the Battery, the
cooling system uses a
specific mixture of G-48 ethylene-
glycol coolant (HOAT). Contact Tesla for more
specific
information about the coolant.
Checking Brake FluidWARNING: Contact Tesla immediately if you notice
increased movement of the brake pedal or a
significant loss of brake fluid. Driving under these
conditions can result in extended stopping
distances or complete brake failure.
A red brake indicator on the touchscreen
alerts you if the quantity of fluid in the
brake reservoir drops below the
recommended level. If it displays while driving, stop as soon as safety permits by
gently applying the brakes. Do not
continue driving. Contact Tesla
immediately.
Topping Up the Brake Fluid
Do not top up your brake fluid. The following
instructions are provided for information purposes and future reference only:
1.
Clean the filler cap before removing it to prevent dirt
from entering the reservoir.
2.
Unscrew the cap and remove it.
3.
Top up the reservoir to the MAX mark using the
appropriate brake
fluid.
4.
Replace the filler cap, ensuring it is fully secured.
WARNING: Only use new fluid from a sealed air-
tight container. Never use previously used fluid or
fluid from a previously opened container