2018 Tesla Model S Car User Manual

MODEL S OWNER'S MANUAL

2018.12

arch 22, 2018

Overview.............................................................2

Interior Overview.........................................................................2

Exterior Overview....................................................................... 3

Opening and Closing..................................... 4

Doors............................................................................................... 4

Windows.........................................................................................9

Rear Trunk....................................................................................10

Front Trunk...................................................................................13

Glove Box......................................................................................15

Sunroof..........................................................................................16

Cup Holders................................................................................. 17

Seating and Safety Restraints...................18

Front and Rear Seats............................................................... 18

Seat Belts......................................................................................21

Child Safety Seats....................................................................24

Tesla Built-In Rear Facing Child Seats...............................31

Airbags......................................................................................... 35

Driving...............................................................39

Driver

Proﬁles............................................................................ 39

Steering Wheel...........................................................................41

Mirrors.......................................................................................... 44

Starting and Powering

O....................................................45

Gears.............................................................................................46

Instrument Panel.......................................................................47

Lights.............................................................................................53

Wipers and Washers............................................................... 58

Brakes........................................................................................... 60

Traction Control........................................................................ 63

Park Assist.................................................................................. 64

Vehicle Hold............................................................................... 66

Acceleration Modes................................................................. 67

Trip Information........................................................................ 69

Getting Maximum Range...................................................... 70

Rear View Camera....................................................................72

Driver Assistance.......................................... 73

About Driver Assistance........................................................ 73

Trac-Aware Cruise Control...............................................76

Autosteer..................................................................................... 82

Auto Lane Change................................................................... 85

Autopark......................................................................................87

Lane Assist...................................................................................91

Collision Avoidance Assist.................................................... 93

Speed Assist...............................................................................97

Using the Touchscreen............................... 99

Touchscreen Overview........................................................... 99

Controls......................................................................................104

Settings.......................................................................................107

Climate Controls........................................................................ 111

Smart Air Suspension............................................................. 117

Media and Audio...................................................................... 119

Phone...........................................................................................124

Maps and Navigation.............................................................126

Calendar.......................................................................................131

Security Settings..................................................................... 132

HomeLink

Universal Transceiver...................................... 133

Connecting to Wi-Fi...............................................................135

Software Updates................................................................... 136

Mobile App................................................................................ 137

Charging......................................................... 138

Electric Vehicle Components............................................. 138

Battery Information...............................................................140

Charging Instructions............................................................142

Maintenance.................................................. 147

Maintenance Schedule..........................................................147

Tire Care and Maintenance..................................................148

Cleaning......................................................................................154

Wiper Blades and Washer Jets..........................................157

Fluid Reservoirs.......................................................................159

Jacking and Lifting.................................................................162

Parts and Accessories........................................................... 163

Speciﬁcations............................................... 164

Identiﬁcation Labels.............................................................. 164

Vehicle Loading....................................................................... 165

Dimensions and Weights..................................................... 167

Subsystems............................................................................... 169

Wheels and Tires...................................................................... 171

Roadside Assistance.................................. 177

Contacting Roadside Assistance...................................... 177

Instructions for Transporters.............................................. 179

Consumer Information................................181

Easter Eggs................................................................................ 181

About this Owner Information...........................................182

Disclaimers................................................................................ 183

Reporting Safety Defects.................................................... 184

Declarations of Conformity.................................................185

Contents

1. Interior door handles (Opening Doors from the Interior on page 6)

2. Trac-Aware Cruise Control (Trac-Aware Cruise Control on page 76) and Autosteer

(Autosteer on page 82)

3. High beams (High Beam Headlights on page 56), Turn signals (Turn Signals on page 56),

Wipers and washers (Wipers and Washers on page 58)

4. Steering wheel buttons - left (Using Left Steering Wheel Buttons on page 41)

5. Instrument panel (Instrument Panel on page 47)

6. Steering wheel buttons - right (Using Right Steering Wheel Buttons on page 42)

7. Gear selector (Shifting Gears on page 46)

8. Touchscreen (Touchscreen Overview on page 99)

9. Glovebox button (Glove Box on page 15)

10. Power window switches (Opening and Closing on page 9)

11. Exterior mirror adjustment switches (Mirrors on page 44)

12. Seats (Front and Rear Seats on page 18)

13. Steering column adjuster (hidden from view in the above image) (Steering Wheel on page

41)

14. Horn (Horn on page 43)

15. Brakes (Brakes on page 60)

16. Hazard warning lights (Hazard Warning Flashers on page 57)

17. Cabin climate control (Climate Controls on page 111)

18. Cup holders (Cup Holders on page 17)

Interior Overview

2 Model S Owner's Manual

1. Exterior lights (Lights on page 53)

2. Door handles (Using Exterior Door Handles on page 6)

3. Sunroof (optional) (Sunroof on page 16)

4. Charge port (Charging Instructions on page 142)

5. Driver Assistance cameras (About Driver Assistance on page 73)

6. Exterior mirrors (Mirrors on page 44)

7. Hood/Front trunk (Front Trunk on page 13)

8. Radar sensor (hidden from view in the above image) (About Driver Assistance on page 73)

9. Wheels and tires (Wheels and Tires on page 171)

10. Rear view camera (Rear View Camera on page 72 and About Driver Assistance on page

73)

11. Rear trunk/liftgate (Rear Trunk on page 10)

12. Ultrasonic sensors (Park Assist on page 64 and About Driver Assistance on page 73)

Exterior Overview

Overview 3

Keyless Locking and Unlocking

Locking and unlocking Model S is convenient.

Although you must be carrying a valid key,

there is no need to use it. Model S has sensors

around the driver's door that can recognize

the presence of a key within a range of

approximately one meter. So, you can keep

your key in your pocket or purse and Model S

detects it as you approach.

When you walk up to Model S carrying your

key, the doors automatically unlock if Passive

Entry is on. If a door handle is retracted, press

it and it extends. If the Auto-Present Handles

setting is turned on (see Using Exterior Door

Handles on page 6), you do not need to

touch the door handle. Instead, door handles

extends automatically as you approach

Model S. To open the rear trunk, press the

switch located under the trunk’s exterior

handle.

Note: Model S must detect your key near the

driver's door before the doors or rear trunk

unlock.

Note: If Passive Entry is

o, you must use the

key to unlock Model S. See Using the Key on

page 4.

Note: You can choose whether you want all

doors, or just the driver's door, to unlock when

you approach Model S carrying your key (see

Door Unlock Mode on page 6).

When carrying your key with you, you can also

open the rear trunk without having to use the

key. Simply press the switch located under the

trunk’s exterior handle. Door Unlock Mode

(see Door Unlock Mode on page 6) must

be set to All and the vehicle must detect the

key near the driver's door before opening the

rear trunk.

Model S also locks automatically. If you set

Walk-Away Door Lock to ON, Model S locks

when you walk away carrying your key with

you (see Walk-away Locking on page 7).

While sitting inside Model S, you can also lock

and unlock the vehicle by touching the icon on

the touchscreen's status bar or by using the

door controls located on the bottom left of

the touchscreen's Controls window.

Note: Depending on date of manufacture and

options selected at time of purchase, some

Model S vehicles are not equipped with the

automatic locking and unlocking feature.

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 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 one to two

seconds to open the charge port door.

2. Lock/Unlock All

• Double-click to unlock Model S.

Hazard warning lights

ﬂash twice and

door handles extend.

Note: If Door Unlock Mode setting is

set to Driver, double-clicking unlocks

only the driver's door and you will

need to double-click again to unlock

all doors and trunks. If set to All, the

ﬁrst double-click unlocks all doors and

trunks. Use the touchscreen to change

this setting (touch Controls >

Settings > Doors & Locks > Door

Unlock Mode).

• 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.

Doors

4 Model S Owner's Manual

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 detect it, which is below the

12V power socket (see Key Not Inside on page

45).

Radio equipment on a similar frequency can

aect the key. If this happens, move the key at

least 30 cm away from other electronic

devices (phone, laptop, etc). If the key does

not work, you may need to change its 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 o.

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. With the key placed button side down on

a soft surface, use a small

ﬂat-bladed tool

to release the bottom cover.

Remove the battery by lifting it away from

the front retaining clips.

3. Insert the new battery (type CR2032) with

the ‘+’ side facing up.

Note: Wipe the battery clean before

ﬁtting and avoid touching the battery's

ﬂat surfaces. Finger marks on the ﬂat

surfaces of the battery can reduce battery

life.

4. Holding the cover at an angle, align the

tabs on the widest side of the cover with

the corresponding slots on the key, then

press the cover

ﬁrmly onto the key until it

snaps 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 Closing 5

Using Exterior Door Handles

A light press on a door handle extends it,

provided Model S detects a valid key nearby

and Passive Entry is on.

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 >

Doors & Locks > Auto-Present Handles > On.

Note: Depending on date of manufacture and

options selected at time of purchase, some

Model S vehicles are not equipped with Auto-

Present Handles.

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 door handles by

touching one of them, or by 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.

Opening Doors from the Interior

To open a door, pull the interior door handle

toward you.

Note: To prevent children from opening rear

doors using the interior handles, use the

touchscreen, Controls > Settings > Doors &

Locks > 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 the lock icon on the

touchscreen's status bar.

When you stop Model S and engage the Park

gear, you can choose whether you want doors

to unlock or remain locked. To do so, touch

Controls > Settings > Doors & Locks >

UNLOCK ON PARK. When set to ON, doors

automatically unlock when you engage the

Park gear.

You can also unlock doors and present

handles by pressing the Park button on the

end of the gear selector a second time (i.e.,

after pressing it one time to engage the Park

gear).

Note: If a door or trunk is still open when you

lock Model S, it locks when you close it.

Door Unlock Mode

You can choose whether you want all doors, or

just the driver's door, to unlock when you

approach your vehicle carrying your key. To do

so, touch Controls > Settings > Doors &

Locks > DOOR UNLOCK MODE and choose

DRIVER or ALL.

Doors

6 Model S Owner's Manual

Child-protection Lock

Model S has child-protection locks on the rear

doors and liftgate to prevent them from being

opened using interior handles. Use the

touchscreen to turn child protection locks on

o. Touch Controls > Settings > Doors &

Locks > CHILD-PROTECTION LOCK.

Note: It is recommended that you turn child-

protection locks on whenever children are

seated in the rear seats.

Drive-away Locking

Model S automatically locks all doors

(including the trunks) whenever your driving

speed exceeds 8 km/h.

Walk-away Locking

Doors and trunks can automatically lock

whenever you walk away carrying the key.

To turn this feature on or

o, touch Controls >

Settings > Doors & Locks > WALK-AWAY

DOOR LOCK.

Note: Depending on date of manufacture and

options selected at time of purchase, some

Model S vehicles are not equipped with the

Walk-way Door Lock feature.

Note: If all doors are closed and you use the

key to unlock Model S, walk-away locking is

temporarily suspended for one minute. If you

open a door within this minute, it does not re-

lock until after all the doors are closed and

you have walked away with the key.

Unlocking When the Key Doesn't

Work

If Model S does not unlock when you walk up

to it, or when you press the unlock button on

your key, the key’s battery may be dead. If this

is the case, you can still unlock and drive

Model S.

To unlock Model S (and disable the security

alarm),

ﬁrst position the key near the base of

the passenger side windshield wiper, as

shown. Then press the driver's door handle. If

Model S doesn't unlock, try adjusting the

position of the key. The key must be in the

correct position.

To drive Model S, place the key against the

center console, immediately below the 12V

power outlet, then press and hold the brake

pedal to turn Model S on.

Note: Unlocking Model S using this method

disables walk-away locking. You must

manually re-enable walk-away locking after

replacing the key’s battery.

For instructions on how to replace the key’s

battery, see Replacing the Key Battery on

page 5.

Doors

Opening and Closing 7

Opening Interior Doors with No

Power

If Model S has no electrical power, the front

doors open as usual using the interior door

handles. To open the rear doors, fold back the

edge of the carpet below the rear seats to

expose the mechanical release cable. Pull the

mechanical release cable toward the center of

the vehicle.

Doors

8 Model S Owner's Manual

Opening and Closing

Press down on a switch to lower the

associated window. Window switches operate

at two levels:

• To lower a window fully, press the switch

all the way down and immediately release.

• To lower a window partially, press the

switch gently and release when the

window is where you want it.

Similarly, pull a switch to raise the associated

window:

• To raise a window fully, pull the switch all

the way up and immediately release.

• To raise a window partially, pull the switch

gently and release when the window is

where you want it.

Warning:

Before closing a window, it is

the driver’s responsibility to ensure that

all occupants, especially children, do not

have any body parts extended through

the window’s opening. Failure to do so

can cause serious injury.

Locking Rear Windows

To prevent passengers from using the rear

window switches, press the rear window lock

switch. The switch light turns on. To unlock

rear windows, press the switch again.

Warning: To ensure safety, it is

recommended that you lock the rear

window switches whenever children are

seated in the rear seats.

Warning: Never leave children

unattended in Model S.

Windows

Opening and Closing 9

Opening

To open the rear trunk, do one of the

following:

• Touch Controls > Trunk on the

touchscreen.

• Double-click the rear trunk button on the

key.

• Touch the trunk button on the mobile app.

• With Model S unlocked, press the switch

located under the rear trunk's exterior

handle.

Note: If Passive Entry is

o, you must use the

key to unlock Model S before you are able to

manually open the rear trunk using the switch.

See Using the Key on page 4.

When a door or trunk/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 rear trunk button on the key.

Then, when you double-click the rear 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 is opening, when you double-click, it

closes.

To open the trunk from inside Model S in the

unlikely situation that Model S has no power,

see Interior Emergency Trunk Release on page

11.

Warning:

Before opening or closing the

rear liftgate, it is important to check that

the area around the liftgate is free of

obstacles (people and objects). Although

the powered liftgate can detect obstacles,

it can not detect all objects at all times.

Do not rely on the liftgate to sense an

obstruction when opening or closing. You

must proactively monitor the liftgate to

ensure that it does not come into contact

with a person or object. Failure to do so

may result in damage or serious injury.

Load Limits

Secure all cargo before moving Model S, and

place heavy cargo in the lower trunk

compartment.

Caution: To avoid damage, never load

more than 175 lbs (80 kg) on the rear load

ﬂoor (above the lower trunk

compartment) or more than 130 lbs (60

kg) in the lower trunk compartment.

Doing so can cause damage.

Closing

If Model S is not equipped with a powered

liftgate, close the rear trunk by pulling down

on the liftgate and pushing

ﬁrmly until it is

fully closed.

To close the powered liftgate, do one of the

following:

• Double-click the trunk button on the key.

• Touch Controls > Trunk on the

touchscreen.

• Press 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. Close it manually to restore 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 manually lower or

raise it to the desired opening height.

Rear Trunk

10 Model S Owner's Manual

2. Press and hold the button on the

underside of the liftgate for two seconds

until you hear a conﬁrmation chime.

3. Conﬁrm that you have set it to the desired

height by closing the liftgate, then

reopening it.

Interior Release

To open the rear trunk from inside a Model S

equipped with the Tesla Built-In Rear Facing

Child Seats, press the interior release switch

located inside the rear trunk and push the

liftgate up. If Model S is locked and is

equipped with a power liftgate, the

ﬁrst press

unlocks the rear trunk and the second press

opens it.

Note: If Model S is not equipped with the Tesla

Rear Facing Child Seats, the switch may

appear to exist, but it will be inactive and

pressing it does not release the liftgate.

If Model S is equipped with the power liftgate,

you do not need to push it up. When you

press the release switch, it opens, and when

you pull the switch, it closes.

Note: The interior release switch is disabled if

child-protection locks are turned on (see

Child-protection Lock on page 7), or if

Model S is moving.

Accessing the Cargo Area

To access the cargo area inside the rear trunk,

pull up the strap at the rear of the cargo cover.

You can then fold the cargo cover forward or

remove it from Model S.

Caution: Never load more than 175 lbs

(80 kg) on the rear load ﬂoor (above the

lower trunk compartment) or more than

130 lbs (60 kg) in the lower trunk

compartment. Doing so can cause

damage.

Interior Emergency Trunk Release

An illuminated mechanical release located

inside the rear trunk allows you to open the

rear trunk from the inside if Model S has no

electrical power. This mechanical release also

allows a person locked inside to get out.

1. Remove the cover by pulling its lower

edge very ﬁrmly toward you.

2. Pull the cable to release the latch.

3. Push the rear trunk open.

Note: The button glows for several hours after

a brief exposure to ambient light.

Warning:

Do not allow children to play

inside the trunk or become locked inside.

An unrestrained child could suer serious

injury or death in a crash. A child could

suer heat exhaustion if trapped in the

vehicle, especially without climate control

on. If your Model S is equipped with Tesla

built-in rear facing child seats, see Tesla

Built-In Rear Facing Child Seats on page

Rear Trunk

Opening and Closing 11

31 and ensure all restrictions,

instructions, and warnings are followed.

Rear Trunk

12 Model S Owner's Manual

Opening

To open the front trunk:

1. Ensure that the area around the hood is

free of obstacles.

2. Touch Controls > Front Trunk on the

touchscreen, touch the front trunk button

on the mobile app, or double-click the

front trunk button on the key.

3. Pull the hood up.

When a door or trunk/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 front trunk.

Warning: Before opening or closing the

hood, it is important to check that the

area around the hood is free of obstacles

(people and objects). Failure to do so

may result in damage or serious injury.

Note: The front trunk locks whenever closed

and you lock Model S using either the

touchscreen or externally using the key or

mobile app, you leave Model S carrying your

key (if Walk-away Locking on page 7 is turned

on), or when Valet mode is active (see Valet

Mode on page 40).

Closing

The Model S 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 properly close the hood:

1. Lower the hood until the striker touches

the latches.

2. Place both hands on the front of the hood

in the areas shown (in green), then press

down

ﬁrmly to engage the latches.

3. Carefully try to lift the front edge of the

hood to ensure that it is fully closed.

Caution:

To prevent damage:

• Apply pressure only to the green

areas shown. 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 front

edge of the hood. Doing so can

crease the edge.

• Do not slam or drop the hood.

Warning: Before driving, you must ensure

that the hood is securely latched in the

fully closed position by carefully trying to

lift the front edge of the hood upward

and conﬁrming there is no movement.

Interior Emergency Release

An illuminated interior release button inside

the front trunk allows a person locked inside

to get out.

Press the interior release button to open the

front trunk, then push up on the hood.

Front Trunk

Opening and Closing 13

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 trunk to accidentally open.

Front Trunk

14 Model S Owner's Manual

Opening and Closing

To open the glove box, press the switch

located on the side of the touchscreen. If you

leave the glove box open for ﬁve minutes, its

light automatically turns o.

Note: The glove box locks whenever Model S

is locked externally, using the key or walk-

away locking. It also locks when Model S is in

Valet mode (see Valet Mode on page 40). It

does not lock when Model S is locked using

the touchscreen.

Warning: When driving, keep the glove

box closed to prevent injury to a

passenger if a collision or sudden stop

occurs.

Glove Box

Opening and Closing 15

Opening and Closing

If your Model S is equipped with a sunroof,

touch Controls > Sunroof on the touchscreen

to operate it. Drag, or tap on, the sunroof

slider bar, or touch the image of the sunroof

and drag it. The sunroof moves to the selected

position.

Touch OPEN once to open the sunroof to its

comfort position (75% open to minimize wind

noise). Or, move the sunroof to the comfort

position by dragging the slider bar to the

indent position. If you

ﬁnd wind noise (which

varies depending on driving speed) excessive,

even with the sunroof in the comfort position,

open a window slightly.

Touch OPEN twice to open the sunroof fully.

Touch CLOSE to fully close the sunroof.

If the sunroof’s safety mechanism detects any

obstruction, it does not close. If, after

removing the obstruction, it still does not

close, touch and hold CLOSE to override the

sunroof’s anti-trap mechanism.

Touch VENT to open the sunroof slightly.

To stop the sunroof from moving at any time,

touch the image of the sunroof.

Caution:

Remove snow and ice before

opening the sunroof. Opening a sunroof

covered in snow and ice can cause

damage.

Warning: Do not allow occupants to

extend any part of their body through the

sunroof. Doing so can cause serious injury

from ﬂying debris, tree branches, or other

obstructions.

Warning: Before closing the sunroof,

ensure that occupants, especially

children, do not have any body part

extended through the sunroof opening.

Failure to do so can cause serious injury.

Warning: Do not carry an object that

protrudes through the sunroof. Doing so

can damage the sunroof’s seals and anti-

trap mechanism, and can cause injury to

occupants.

Sunroof

16 Model S Owner's Manual

Opening and Closing

To expose a front cup holder, slide back the

armrest.

To expose rear cup holders (if available on

your vehicle), press and release the cup holder

face plate located at the back of the center

console.

Cup Holders

Opening and Closing 17

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 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.

Adjusting the Driver’s Seat

1. Adjust lumbar support.

Note: If your Model S is equipped with

adjustable head supports, this button is

also used to moved the head support up

or down (see Head Supports/Restraints

on page 19). When you touch this

button, the touchscreen displays a popup

with an image of the seat. If the lumbar

area on the image is not highlighted in

blue, touch the lumbar area on the image

to specify that you want to adjust lumbar

support. The selection you choose is

retained until you manually change it.

2. Adjust backrest.

3. Move seat forward/backward.

4. Adjust the seat’s height and tilt angle.

Warning:

Before adjusting a front seat,

check that the area around the seat is

free of obstacles (people and objects).

Warning: Do not adjust seats while

driving. Doing so increases the risk of a

collision.

Front and Rear Seats

18 Model S Owner's Manual

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.

Folding Rear Seats

Model S has a split rear seat that can fold

forward.

Note: If Model S is equipped with the optional

executive rear seats, these seats do not fold

forward.

Before folding, remove items from the seats

and the rear footwell. To allow the rear seat

backs to fold completely

ﬂat, you may need to

move the front seats forward.

To fold a rear seat, pull the corresponding

lever and fold the seat forward.

Raising Rear Seats

Before raising a rear seat, make sure that the

seat belts are not trapped behind the

backrest.

Pull the seat back upward until it locks into

place.

To conﬁrm that the seat back is locked in the

upright position, try pulling it forward.

Warning: Always ensure the seat backs

are locked in their upright position.

Failure to do so increases the risk of

injury.

Head Supports/Restraints

If your Model S is equipped with adjustable

head supports, use the round button on the

seat to move the headrest up/down. The same

button is used to adjust the seat's lumbar

support (see Adjusting the Driver’s Seat on

page 18). Therefore, when you touch this

button, the touchscreen displays a popup with

an image of the seat. If the head support

shown on the image is not highlighted in blue,

touch this area on the image to specify that

you want to adjust the head support. The

selection you choose is retained until you

manually change it. You can save the head

support setting to your driver

proﬁle (see

Driver Proﬁles on page 39).

Note: On earlier Model S vehicles, the head

restraint does not adjust.

Front and Rear Seats

Seating and Safety Restraints 19

The second row seats have integrated non-

removable head supports that can not be

adjusted.

Seat Heaters

The front seats are equipped with heating

pads that operate at three levels from 3

(highest) to 1 (lowest). To operate the seat

heaters, see Climate Controls on page 111.

If Model S is equipped with the optional cold

weather package, you can also control seat

heaters in all rear seating positions, as well as

heated wipers and washer nozzles by

touching Controls > Cold Weather (see

Controls on page 104).

Warning: To avoid burns resulting from

prolonged use, individuals who have

peripheral neuropathy, or whose capacity

to feel pain is limited because of diabetes,

age, neurological injury, or some other

condition, should exercise caution when

using the climate control system and seat

heaters.

Seat Covers

Warning: Do not use seat covers in

Model S. Doing so could restrict

deployment of the seat-mounted side air

bags if a collision occurs.

Front and Rear Seats

20 Model S Owner's Manual

Wearing Seat Belts

Using seat belts and child safety seats is the

most eective way to protect occupants if a

collision occurs. Therefore, wearing a seat belt

is required by law in most jurisdictions.

Both the driver and passenger seats are

equipped with three-point inertia reel seat

belts. Inertia reel belts are automatically

tensioned to allow occupants to move

comfortably during normal driving conditions.

To securely hold child safety seats, all

passenger seating positions are equipped with

an automatic locking retractor (ALR) that, by

pulling the seat belt beyond the length

needed for a typical adult occupant, locks the

belt into place until the seat belt is unbuckled

(see Installing Seat Belt Retained Child Seats

on page 27).

The seat belt reel automatically locks to

prevent movement of occupants if Model S

experiences a force associated with hard

acceleration, braking, cornering, or an impact

in a collision.

The seat belt reminder on the

instrument panel alerts you if a seat

belt for an occupied seat is not

fastened. If the belt remains

unfastened, the reminder

ﬂashes and

an intermittent chime sounds. If all

occupants are buckled up and the

reminder stays on, re-fasten seat

belts to ensure they are correctly

latched. Also remove any heavy

objects (such as a briefcase) from an

unoccupied seat. If the reminder

light continues to stay on, contact

Tesla.

To Fasten a Belt

1. Ensure correct positioning of the seat (see

Correct Driving Position on page 18).

2. Draw the belt out smoothly, ensuring the

belt lays

ﬂat across the pelvis, chest and

mid-point of your collar bone, between

the neck and shoulder.

Insert the latch plate into the buckle and

press together until you hear a click

indicating it is locked in place.

4. Pull the belt to check that it is securely

fastened.

5. Pull the diagonal part of the belt toward

the reel to remove excess slack.

To Release a Belt

Hold the belt near the buckle to prevent the

belt from retracting too quickly, then press the

button on the buckle. The belt retracts

automatically. Ensure there is no obstruction

that prevents the belt from fully retracting.

The belt should not hang loose. If a seat belt

does not fully retract, contact Tesla.

Wearing Seat Belts When Pregnant

Do not put the lap or shoulder sections of the

seat belt over the abdominal area. Wear the

lap section of the belt as low as possible

across the hips, not the waist. Position the

shoulder portion of the belt between the

breasts and to the side of the abdomen.

Consult your doctor for

speciﬁc guidance.

Seat Belts

Seating and Safety Restraints 21

Warning: Never place anything between

you and the seat belt to cushion the

impact in the event of a collision.

Seat Belt Pre-tensioners

The front seat belts are equipped with

pre‑tensioners that work in conjunction with

the airbags in a severe frontal collision. The

pre‑tensioners automatically retract both the

seat belt anchor and the seat belt webbing,

reducing slack in both the lap and diagonal

portions of the belts, resulting in reduced

forward movement of the occupant.

The rear outboard seats are equipped with

shoulder pre-tensioners to retract the seat

belt webbing to reduce forward movement of

the occupant.

If the pre-tensioners and airbags did not

activate in an impact, this does not mean they

malfunctioned. It usually means that the

strength or type of force needed to activate

them was not present.

Warning:

Once the seat belt pre-

tensioners have been activated, they must

be replaced. After any collision, have the

airbags, seat belt pre-tensioners and any

associated components checked and, if

necessary, replaced.

Testing Seat Belts

To conﬁrm that seat belts are operating

correctly, perform these three simple checks

on each seat belt.

1. With the seat belt fastened, give the

webbing nearest the buckle a quick pull.

The buckle should remain securely locked.

2. With the belt unfastened, unreel the

webbing to its limit. Check that unreeling

is free from snags, and visually check the

webbing for wear. Allow the webbing to

retract, checking that retraction is smooth

and complete.

3. With the webbing half unreeled, hold the

tongue plate and pull forward quickly. The

mechanism should lock automatically and

prevent further unreeling.

If a seat belt fails any of these tests, contact

Tesla immediately.

For information about cleaning seat belts, see

Seat Belts on page 155.

Seat Belt Warnings

Warning:

Seat belts should be worn by all

occupants at all times, even if driving for

a very short distance. Failure to do so

increases the risk of injury or death if a

collision occurs.

Warning: Secure small children in a

suitable child safety seat (see Child

Safety Seats on page 24). Always follow

the child safety seat manufacturer's

instructions when installing.

Warning: Ensure that all seat belts are

worn correctly. An improperly worn seat

belt increases the risk of injury or death if

a collision occurs.

Warning: Do not wear seat belts over

hard, fragile or sharp items in clothing,

such as pens, keys, eyeglasses, etc. The

pressure from the seat belt on such items

can cause injury.

Warning: Seat belts should not be worn

with any part of the strap twisted.

Warning: Each seat belt assembly must

be used by one occupant only. It is

Seat Belts

22 Model S Owner's Manual

dangerous to put a seat belt around a

child being carried on an occupant’s lap.

Warning: Seat belts that have been worn

in a collision must be inspected or

replaced by Tesla, even if damage to the

assembly is not obvious.

Warning: Seat belts that show signs of

wear (such as fraying), or have been cut

or damaged in any way, must be replaced

by Tesla.

Warning: Avoid contaminating a seat

belt’s components with any chemicals,

liquids, grit, dirt or cleaning products. If a

seat belt fails to retract or latch into the

buckle, it must be replaced immediately.

Contact Tesla.

Warning: Do not make modiﬁcations or

additions that can prevent a seat belt

mechanism from taking up slack, or that

can prevent a seat belt from being

adjusted to remove slack. A slack belt

greatly reduces occupant protection.

Warning: Do not make modiﬁcations that

can interfere with the operation of a seat

belt, or that can cause a seat belt to

become inoperable.

Warning: When seat belts are not in use,

they should be fully retracted and not

hanging loose. If a seat belt does not fully

retract, contact Tesla.

Seat Belts

Seating and Safety Restraints 23

Guidelines for Seating Children

You must restrain infants and small children using a child safety seat appropriate for the child’s

age, weight, and size. Never seat a child in a child safety seat or a booster seat on the front

passenger seat when the airbag is activated. To disable the front passenger seat airbag, see

Disabling the Passenger Front Airbags on page 37.

Warning: Never seat a child on a seat with an ACTIVE AIRBAG in front of it. DEATH or

SERIOUS INJURY to the child can occur.

Refer to the following label ﬁtted to the sun visors.

Note: The image shown below is representative only and may not be identical to the label in your

vehicle.

If your Model S is equipped with the optional Tesla built-in rear facing child seats, these seats are

child 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 31).

Child Safety Seats

24 Model S Owner's Manual

Choosing a Child Safety Seat

Refer to the tables below for guidelines on the type of seat belt installed and ISOFIX installed

child restraint you should use based on the weight of the child.

Seat Belt Installed Child Restraints

Mass Group Front Passenger* Rear Outboard Rear Center

Group 0 up to 10 kg X U U

Group 0+ up to 13 kg L** U U

Group I 9 - 18 kg UF*** U, UF U, UF

Group II 15 - 25 kg UF*** U, UF U, UF

Group III 22 - 36 kg UF*** U, UF U, UF

U: Universal rear facing child restraint.

UF: Universal forward facing child restraint.

L: Suitable for these particular child restraints - Maxi-Cosi Cabrio/Cabrioﬁx E4 04443517 or

Takata Mini E4 04443717.

X: Seating position is not suitable for children in this mass group.

* It is the driver’s responsibility to comply with all current regulations in regions where Model S

is driven. Some regions prohibit seating an infant or child in the front passenger seat.

** Seat must be placed in rearmost lowest position.

*** Seat must be placed in rearmost highest position.

Note: Attach booster seats using seat belts only (do not use ISOFIX).

Note: If Model S is equipped with the optional executive rear seats, a rear center seating

position is not available.

Child Safety Seats

Seating and Safety Restraints 25

ISOFIX* Installed Child Restraints

Mass Group Size Class Fixture

Rear Outboard

ISOFIX Position

Group 0 up to 10 kg E R1

Note: Attach

booster seats

using seat belts

only (do not use

ISOFIX).

Group 0+ up to 13 kg

E R1 ILA, C

D R2 ILA, C

C R3 ILA, C

Group I 9 - 18 kg

D R2 ILB

C R3 ILB

B F2 IUF, ILB, D

B1 F2X IUF, ILB, D

A F3 IUF, ILB, D

IL: Suitable for any semi-universal child restraint (any rear or forward facing restraint with

support leg).

IUF: Suitable for any universal child restraint (forward facing with tether).

ARecommendation: Takata Mini E4 04443717.

BRecommendation: Takata Midi E4 04444204.

CRecommendation: Maxi-cosi Cabrioﬁx/Easyﬁx E4 04443517.

DRecommendation: Maxi-cosi Pearl/Familyﬁx E4 043908.

Note: ISOFIX is the international standard for attachment points for child safety seats in

passenger vehicles.

Note: If the combined weight of the child and the child safety seat is over 29 kg, Tesla

recommends attaching the safety seat using the seat belt and upper tether strap. In addition to

safety, this has the added

beneﬁt of ensuring the seat belt reminder does not stay lit. Always

follow the child safety seat manufacturer’s instructions when installing child safety seats.

Child Safety Seats

26 Model S Owner's Manual

Seating Larger Children

If a child is too large to ﬁt into a child safety

seat, but too small to safely ﬁt into the

standard seat belts, use a booster seat

appropriate for the child’s age and size.

Carefully follow the manufacturer’s

instructions to secure the booster seat.

Installing Child Safety Seats

There are two general methods used to install

child safety seats:

• Seat belt retained - these seats are

secured using the vehicle’s seat belts (see

Installing Seat Belt Retained Child Seats

on page 27).

• ISOFIX retained - these seats can attach

to anchor bars built into the vehicle’s rear

seats (see Installing ISOFIX Child Seats on

page 27).

Check the child safety seat manufacturer’s

instructions and the table at Child Safety

Seats on page 24 to determine which

installation method to use. Some child safety

seats can be installed using either method.

Always follow the child safety seat

manufacturer’s instructions.

Installing Seat Belt Retained Child

Seats

First, make sure that the child safety seat is

appropriate for the weight, height, and age of

the child.

Avoid dressing the child in bulky clothing and

do not place any objects between the child

and the restraint system.

Adjust harnesses for every child, every trip.

To securely hold child safety seats, all

passenger seating positions are equipped with

an automatic locking retractor (ALR) that, by

pulling the seat belt beyond the length

needed for a typical adult occupant, locks the

belt into place until the seat belt is unbuckled

and the webbing is fully retracted. The ALR

mechanism operates as a ratchet, winding in

slack and preventing the seat belt from

extending any further until it has been

completely rewound. When installing a child

safety seat, engage the belt's automatic

locking retractor by pulling the seat belt

webbing until it is fully extended. The ALR

system engages only when the seat belt is at

its maximum extension point.

Note:

An automatic locking retractor

disengages only when the seat belt is

unbuckled and fully retracted. The belt can

then be worn as a normal belt, sliding freely in

and out and locking tight only in an

emergency. Once disengaged, the belt must

be fully extended to re-engage the locking

mechanism whenever you install a child safety

seat.

Always follow the detailed instructions

provided by the child safety seat

manufacturer. General guidelines are provided

below.

1. Place the child safety seat in Model S, and

fully extend the seat belt. Route and

buckle the seat belt in accordance with

the child safety seat manufacturer’s

instructions.

2. Allow the seat belt to retract, and remove

all slack in the seat belt while ﬁrmly

pushing the child safety seat into the

Model S seat.

3. If the seat belt retained child safety seat

has an upper tether, attach it to the back

of the seat (see Attaching Upper Tether

Straps on page 28).

Installing ISOFIX Child Seats

Lower ISOFIX anchors are provided in the

second row outboard seats. The anchors are

located between the seat's back rest and rear

cushion. The exact location of each anchor is

identiﬁed by a child safety seat identiﬁcation

button, illustrated below. The button is located

on the seat back, directly above its associated

anchor.

Child Safety Seats

Seating and Safety Restraints 27

Install ISOFIX child safety seats in the

outboard seating positions only. Use only a

seat belt retained seat in the center position.

To install a ISOFIX child safety seat, slide the

safety seat latches onto the anchor bars until

they click into place. Carefully read and follow

the instructions provided by the child safety

seat manufacturer.

Once installed, test the security of the

installation before seating a child. Attempt to

twist the child safety seat from side to side

and try to pull it away from the seat, then

check to ensure the anchors remain securely

in place.

Note: Lower LATCH anchors should not be

used with child seats or booster seats that

have an integrated safety belt in situations

where the combined weight of the child plus

the child restraint is more than 65 lbs (29 kg).

In these situations, use the safety belt instead.

Attaching Upper Tether Straps

If an upper tether strap is provided, attach its

hook to the anchor point located on the back

of the rear seats.

Note: The location of anchor points may not

be readily visible but can be found by

identifying a slice in the seat's material.

Warning: Tighten upper tether straps

according to the instructions provided by

the manufacturer of the child safety seat.

Warning: USE ONLY SEAT BELT

RETAINED CHILD SAFETY SEATS IN THE

CENTER SEATING POSITION.

For dual-strap tethers, position a strap on

each side of the head support.

Child Safety Seats

28 Model S Owner's Manual

Always position single-strap tethers to run

over the top of the head support.

Note: To prevent the single-strap tether from

moving side to side, the top of the head

support deforms.

Testing a Child Safety Seat

Before seating a child, always make sure the

child safety seat is not loose:

1. Hold the child safety seat by the belt path

and try to slide the safety seat from side

to side and front to back.

2. If the seat moves more than 2.5 cm, it is

too loose. Tighten the belt or reconnect

the ISOFIX retained child safety seat.

3. If you are unable to reduce slack, try a

dierent seat location or try another child

safety seat.

Child Safety Seat Warnings

Warning:

Never seat a child in a child

safety seat or a booster seat on the front

passenger seat when the airbag is

activated. Doing so can cause serious

injury or death.

Warning: Never use a rearward facing

child restraint on a seat protected by an

active airbag. Doing so can cause serious

injury or death. Refer to the warning label

located on the sun visor.

Warning: Child restraint systems are

designed to be secured in vehicle seats

by lap belts or the lap belt portion of a

lap-shoulder belt. Children could be

endangered in a crash if their child

restraints are not properly secured in the

vehicle.

Warning: According to collision statistics,

children are safer when properly

restrained in the rear seating positions

than in the front seating positions.

Warning: Do not use a forward facing

child safety seat until your child weighs

over 9 kg and can sit independently. Up

to the age of two, a child's spine and neck

are not suciently developed to avoid

injury in a frontal impact.

Warning: Do not allow a baby or infant to

be held on a lap. All children should be

restrained in an appropriate child safety

seat at all times.

Warning: To ensure children are safely

seated, follow all instructions provided in

this document and by the manufacturer

of the child safety seat.

Warning: Children should ride in a rear

facing child safety seat using the seat’s

integrated 5-point harness for as long as

possible.

Warning: Do not use seat belt extenders

on a seat belt that is being used to install

a child safety seat or booster seat.

Warning: When seating larger children,

make sure the child's head is supported

and the child’s seat belt is properly

adjusted and fastened. The shoulder

portion of the belt must be away from the

face and neck, and the lap portion must

not be over the stomach.

Warning: Never attach two child safety

seats to one anchor point. In a collision,

one anchor point may be incapable of

securing both seats.

Warning: Child restraint anchors are

designed to withstand only those loads

imposed by correctly ﬁtted child

restraints. Under no circumstances are

they to be used for adult seat belts,

harnesses, or for attaching other items or

equipment to the vehicle.

Warning: Always check harnesses and

tether straps for damage and wear.

Warning: Never leave a child unattended,

even if the child is secured in a child

safety seat.

Child Safety Seats

Seating and Safety Restraints 29

Warning: Never use a child safety seat

that has been involved in a collision. Have

the seat inspected or replaced as

described in the child safety seat

manufacturer’s instructions.

Child Safety Seats

30 Model S Owner's Manual

Usage Restrictions

The optional Tesla built-in rear facing child

seats are child restraint systems and are

approved to United Nations ECE Regulation

R44.04 standards for use by children in Mass

Groups II and III, weighing 15 to 36 kg. These

seats must only be used for children who are

between 3 and 12 years old, and

98 to 135 cm tall.

Always ensure the top of the child’s head

cannot contact the vehicle and that the child

is seated comfortably with the seat belts

positioned and latched correctly. The child’s

pelvis must be held securely in place by the

lap belt. Follow all instructions provided and

do not use supplemental child safety seats in

these seats.

Note: Whenever a child is seated in the Tesla

built-in rear facing child seats, it is

recommended that you set the climate control

system to draw outside air into Model S

instead of recirculating the air. This draws

more air into the rear seating areas. See

Customizing Climate Control on page 112.

Opening

1. Remove the cover from the trunk

ﬂoor

and pull the strap to lift the seat assembly

upward.

Push the seat assembly into position.

3. Undo the Velcro strap.

4. Pull the handle to release the head

supports from the seat back, then pull the

head supports toward you to unfold them.

Tesla Built-In Rear Facing Child Seats

Seating and Safety Restraints 31

5. Raise the seat back to the upright position

and push until it locks into position.

Visually check to ensure that the retaining

catches are engaged.

6. Check that the seat back and seat base

are securely retained in the upright

position by trying to pull the seat back

toward you.

Folding

Caution: Before folding the seats, fasten

the seat belts to prevent them from

getting trapped in the seat mechanism

and being damaged.

1. Pull the handle to release the seat back

and pull the seat back fully forward.

2. Push the lever to release the head

supports from the seat back, then fold

back onto the seat.

Secure the Velcro strap.

4. Pull the strap at the rear of the seat to fold

the seat assembly into the trunk ﬂoor.

5. Replace the cover on the trunk ﬂoor.

Seating a Child

The Tesla built-in rear facing child seats are

child restraint systems and are approved to

United Nations ECE Regulation R44.04

standards for use by children in Mass Groups II

and III, weighing 15 - 36 kg. These seats must

only be used for children who are between 3

and 12 years old, and 98 - 135 cm tall.

Tesla Built-In Rear Facing Child Seats

32 Model S Owner's Manual

Always ensure the top of the child’s head

cannot contact the vehicle and that the child

is seated comfortably with the seat belts

positioned and latched correctly. The child’s

pelvis must be held securely in place by the

lap belt. Follow all instructions provided and

do not use supplemental child safety seats in

these seats.

Note: Whenever a child is seated in the Tesla

built-in rear facing child seats, it is

recommended that you set the climate control

system to draw outside air into Model S

instead of recirculating the air. This draws

more air into the rear seating areas. See

Customizing Climate Control on page 112.

1. Position the child in the seat with arms

through the loops of the seat belts.

2. Connect the two halves of the seat belt

tongue.

3. Insert the seat belt tongue latch into the

buckle and ensure it is securely fastened.

4. Adjust the shoulder belts so they run over

the top of the shoulders and away from

the face.

5. Adjust the length of the buckle to ensure

the lower straps sit low on the pelvis. The

pelvis must be held

ﬁrmly in place.

6. Pull the lower straps until the child is

securely held in the seat.

Slide the shoulder clips to ensure the

upper portion of the belts remain

positioned over the shoulders.

To release, press the button on the buckle, and

separate the two halves of the seat restraint.

Tesla Built-In Rear Facing Child Seats

Seating and Safety Restraints 33

Warnings - Tesla Child Seats

Warning: The Tesla built-in rear facing

seats are child restraint systems and are

approved to United Nations ECE

Regulation R44.04 standards for use by

children in Mass Groups II and III,

weighing 15 to 36 kg. These seats must

only be used for children who are

between 3 and 12 years old, and

98 to 135 cm tall, provided the top of the

child’s head can not contact the interior.

Warning: Do not use supplemental child

restraint systems, including booster seats,

in the Tesla built-in rear facing child seats.

Warning: Always ensure that the top of

the child’s head cannot touch the vehicle

and that the child is seated comfortably

with the seat belts correctly fastened.

Warning: Follow all instructions and heed

all warnings related to the Tesla built-in

rear facing child seats. Failure to do so

can compromise occupant safety.

Warning: Read all safety warnings and

labels attached to the seats.

Warning: Do not leave children

unattended in Model S, even if the child is

secured in a child safety seat or a Tesla

built-in rear facing child seat. In hot

weather, the interior temperature can

reach dangerous levels that can result in

dehydration, serious injury or death.

Warning: Do not remove or replace the

fabric on a Tesla built-in rear facing child

seat. The covers are an integral part of

the restraint’s performance and should

not be removed or replaced with any

other type than those supplied by Tesla.

Warning: If the Tesla built-in rear facing

child seats have been worn in an accident,

they must be inspected or replaced by

Tesla, even if damage is not obvious.

Warning: Before allowing a child to ride in

the Tesla built-in rear facing child seats,

check that the seat is securely held in the

upright position by trying to pull the seat

back toward you.

Warning: Do not remove the built-in rear

facing child seats for any reason,

including cleaning. To ensure safety of

occupants, removal and installation must

be performed by qualiﬁed Tesla service

technicians.

Warning: Do not make modiﬁcations or

additions that can interfere with the

operation of the Tesla built-in rear facing

child seats.

Warning: To prevent injury, ensure all

loose items (bags, luggage, etc.) are

secured. In an accident, or during hard

braking and sharp turns, loose items

could cause injury.

Tesla Built-In Rear Facing Child Seats

34 Model S Owner's Manual

Location of Airbags

Airbags are located in the approximate areas shown here. Airbag warning information is printed

on the sun visors.

Model S is equipped with an airbag and lap/shoulder belt at both front outboard seating

positions. The airbag is a supplemental restraint at those seating positions. All occupants,

including the driver, should always wear their seat belts whether or not an airbag is also provided

at their seating position to minimize the risk of severe injury or death in the event of a crash.

Note: On RHD (Right Hand Drive) vehicles, the locations of the passenger and driver airbags are

reversed.

1. Passenger front airbag

2. Driver’s front airbag

3. Side airbags

4. Curtain airbags

Airbags

Seating and Safety Restraints 35

How the Airbags Work

Airbags inﬂate when sensors detect an impact

that exceeds deployment thresholds. These

thresholds are designed to predict the severity

of a crash in time for the airbags to help

protect the vehicle's occupants.

Airbags

inﬂate instantly with considerable

force accompanied by a loud noise. The

inﬂated bag, together with the seat belts,

limits movement of occupants to reduce the

risk of injury.

Front airbags are not ordinarily designed to

inﬂate in rear collisions, rollovers, minor front

or side collisions, heavy braking, or driving

over bumps and potholes. Therefore,

signiﬁcant superﬁcial damage can occur to

the vehicle without the airbags inﬂating or,

conversely, a relatively small amount of

structural damage can cause airbags to

inﬂate.

If you are planning to modify your vehicle for a

person with disabilities in a way that may

aect the airbag system, contact Tesla.

Types of Airbags

Model S has the following types of airbags:

• Advanced front airbags: The front airbags

are designed to reduce airbag related

injuries if children or small adults are

riding in the front seats. On the driver’s

side, the front airbag works with a seat

position sensor that adjusts the inﬂation

level based on the seating position of the

occupant. Follow all warnings related to

seating a child on the front passenger

seat. For safety of infants and small

children, the front passenger airbag must

be disabled.

• Side airbags: Side airbags protect the

thorax region of the torso and the pelvis.

They

inﬂate only if a severe side impact

occurs. Side airbags on the non-impacted

side of the vehicle do not

inﬂate.

• Curtain airbags: Curtain airbags help

protect the head and typically inﬂate only

if a severe side impact occurs, or if the

vehicle rolls over. Curtain airbags on both

the impacted and non-impacted side of

the vehicle will

inﬂate.

Airbags

36 Model S Owner's Manual

Disabling the Passenger Front

Airbags

When a child is seated in the front passenger

seat (even when the child is seated in a child

safety seat or booster seat), you must disable

the passenger front airbags to prevent them

from injuring the child if a collision occurs.

Note: Rear seats are the preferred location for

seating children in child safety seats.

To turn

o the front and side airbags on the

passenger side of the vehicle, touch

Controls > Settings > Safety & Security >

Passenger Front Airbag.

The OFF status of the front passenger airbag

displays in the upper right corner of the

touchscreen. When the airbag is ON, no status

is displayed on the touchscreen.

If the airbag is on, even if you have turned it

o (or vice versa), contact Tesla immediately.

Note: Model S has a capacitive touchscreen

and may not respond to your touch if you are

wearing standard gloves. If the touchscreen is

not responding, remove gloves or wear gloves

with conductive

ﬁngertips for use with

capacitive touchscreens.

Warning:

Never seat a child in a child

safety seat or a booster seat on the front

passenger seat when the airbag is

activated. Doing so can cause serious

injury or death.

Warning: If the passenger airbag control

does not appear to be functioning, do not

seat a passenger in the front seat.

Contact Tesla immediately to have the

vehicle inspected and if necessary,

repaired.

Inﬂation Eects

Warning:

When airbags inﬂate, a ﬁne

powder is released. This powder can

irritate the skin and should be thoroughly

ﬂushed from the eyes and from any cuts

or abrasions.

After inﬂation, the airbags deﬂate to provide a

gradual cushioning eect for the occupants

and to ensure the driver’s forward vision is not

obscured.

If airbags have inﬂated, or if your vehicle has

been in a collision, always have the airbags,

seat belt pre-tensioners and any associated

components checked and, if necessary,

replaced by Tesla.

In a collision, in addition to the airbags

inﬂating:

• Doors unlock , and the door handles

extend.

• Hazard warning lights turn on.

• Interior lights turn on.

• High voltage is disabled.

To restore Battery power, use the touchscreen

to manually power

o Model S (see Powering

O on page 45), then press the brake to

power it back on again.

Airbag Warning Indicator

The airbag indicator on the

instrument panel remains lit if the

airbag system is malfunctioning. The

only time this indicator should light

up is

brieﬂy when Model S ﬁrst

powers up, in which case it turns o

within a few seconds. If it remains lit,

contact Tesla immediately and do

not drive.

Airbag Warnings

Warning:

Do not place objects over or

near airbags because any such objects

could cause harm if the vehicle is in a

crash severe enough to cause the airbag

to inﬂate.

Warning: All occupants, including the

driver, should always wear their seat belts,

whether or not an airbag is also provided

at their seating position, to minimize the

risk of severe injury or death in the event

of a collision.

Warning: Front seat occupants should

not place their arms over the airbag

module, as an inﬂating airbag can cause

fractures or other injuries.

Warning: Do not use seat covers on

Model S. Doing so could restrict

deployment of the seat-mounted side air

Airbags

Seating and Safety Restraints 37

bags if a collision occurs. It can also

reduce the accuracy of the occupant

detection system, if equipped.

Warning: Airbags inﬂate with

considerable speed and force, which can

cause injury. To limit injuries, ensure that

occupants are wearing seat belts and are

correctly seated, with the seat positioned

as far back as possible.

Warning: Do not use a child safety seat or

seat young children on a seat with an

operational airbag in front of it. Doing so

can cause injury or death if the airbag

inﬂates.

Warning: To ensure correct inﬂation of

the side airbags, maintain an

unobstructed gap between an occupant’s

torso and the side of Model S.

Warning: Passengers shouldn't lean their

heads against doors. Doing so can cause

injury if a curtain airbag inﬂates.

Warning: Do not allow passengers to

obstruct the operation of an airbag by

placing feet, knees or any other part of

the body on or near an airbag.

Warning: Do not attach or place objects

on or near the front airbags, the side of

the front seats, the headliner at the side

of the vehicle, or any other airbag cover

that could interfere with inﬂation of an

airbag. Objects can cause serious injury if

the vehicle is in a collision severe enough

to cause the airbag to

inﬂate.

Warning: Following inﬂation, some airbag

components are hot. Do not touch until

they have cooled.

Airbags

38 Model S Owner's Manual

Creating a Driver Proﬁle

When you ﬁrst adjust the driver’s seat,

steering wheel, or driver’s side mirror, the

touchscreen prompts you to create a driver

proﬁle to save these adjustments. Your proﬁle

also saves some of the preferences you make

using the touchscreen’s Settings window.

To add a new driver proﬁle, touch

Controls > Settings > Driver Proﬁles

(you can also touch the driver icon

on the touchscreen's status bar).

Then touch Add New Driver, type

the driver's name and touch Create

Proﬁle. Follow the onscreen

instructions to save the seating

position to the driver proﬁle. You can

also check the Use Easy Entry

checkbox if you want to save (or use

existing) Easy Entry settings in

which the driver's seat and the

steering wheel are automatically

adjusted to make it easy to enter and

exit Model S.

If you change the position of the steering

wheel, driver’s seat, or driver’s side mirror

after you have saved or chosen a driver

proﬁle, the touchscreen prompts you to save

the new position or restore the previously

saved position (other settings are

automatically saved). To change a setting

without saving or restoring, just ignore the

prompt.

To adjust Model S based on a driver’s

proﬁle,

touch the driver proﬁle icon and choose the

driver name. The saved adjustments are

automatically made.

Note: Valet mode is a built-in driver

proﬁle

used to limit speed and restrict access to

some Model S features (see Valet Mode on

page 40).

Note: Depending on date of manufacture and

options selected at time of purchase, some

Model S vehicles are not equipped with the

driver

proﬁle feature. Also, in cases where the

vehicle is equipped with driver

proﬁles, some

features may not be automatically saved and

adjusted based on the driver

proﬁle (for

example, mirror position).

Easy Entry

You can deﬁne an Easy Entry setting that

moves the steering wheel and driver's seat to

make it easy to enter and exit Model S. Any

driver can use the Easy Entry setting by

associating it with their driver's

proﬁle. When

the Easy Entry setting is associated with a

driver's proﬁle, the steering wheel and driver's

seat automatically adjust when the park gear

is engaged and the driver's seat belt is

unbuckled, allowing an easy exit from the

vehicle. When returning to the vehicle and

stepping on the brake pedal, settings

automatically adjust back to the settings used

by the most recent driver

proﬁle (or based on

the key if it's linked to a driver proﬁle).

To set up Easy Entry, touch Controls >

Settings > Driver Proﬁles (or touch the driver

icon on the touchscreen's status bar). Choose

a driver

proﬁle, check the Easy Entry

checkbox and follow the onscreen instructions

to save how you want the steering wheel and

seat positioned when entering and exiting

Model S. Once created, the Easy Entry

proﬁle

appears on the driver proﬁle list and any

driver can use these settings to enter and exit.

Restoring a Driver’s

Proﬁle

To adjust Model S based on a driver’s

proﬁle, touch the driver proﬁle icon

on the touchscreen's status bar. Then

choose the driver and Model S is

adjusted based on the settings that

have been saved to the chosen

driver

proﬁle.

See What's Saved

To see what settings are associated with a

driver

proﬁle, touch Controls > Settings >

Driver Proﬁles. Then touch See what’s saved.

A popup window lists all the settings that are

saved to driver

proﬁles.

Note: The settings that are associated with

driver

proﬁles may vary depending on the

version of software currently installed on your

Model S.

Driver

Proﬁles

Driving 39

Linking a Driver Proﬁle to a Key

You can link a driver proﬁle to a speciﬁc key to

allow Model S to automatically select the

correct driver proﬁle when the linked key is

detected as you approach the vehicle and

open the driver's door. To link a driver

proﬁle

to a key, enter Model S with the key and touch

Controls > Settings > Driver

Proﬁles on the

vehicle's touchscreen. Select the driver

proﬁle

you would like to link to the key, then touch

Link to Key Fob.

Note: Model S only detects one key at a time.

The driver

proﬁle is linked to the key that is

detected by the vehicle at that time.

Therefore, if you want to link driver

proﬁles to

multiple keys, ensure that only the key that

you would like to link the driver proﬁle to is

within detection range while performing the

linking procedure. Move all other keys outside

of the detection range (at least one meter

away from Model S).

Note: Model S can support up to three linked

keys. However, a driver

proﬁle can only be

linked to one key.

To remove the link between a driver

proﬁle

and key, touch Controls > Settings > Driver

Proﬁles. Select the driver proﬁle, then touch

the X next to Linked to Key Fob.

Valet Mode

When Model S is in Valet mode, the following

restrictions apply:

• Speed is limited to 113 km/h.

• Maximum acceleration and power are

limited.

• Front trunk and glovebox are locked.

• Home and Work locations are not

available in the navigation system.

• Voice commands are disabled.

•

Trac-Aware Cruise Control is disabled

• Most status bar functions are disabled.

• The Mobile Access setting is disabled.

• HomeLink (if applicable in your market

region) is not accessible.

• Driver

Proﬁles are not accessible.

• Summon is disabled.

• Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are disabled. When

Model S is in Valet mode, you cannot pair

new Bluetooth devices or view or delete

existing paired devices.

Note: If a Bluetooth paired device or a

known Wi-Fi network is within operating

range (approximately 9 meters) of

Model S in Valet mode, Model S will

connect to it.

Starting Valet Mode

With Model S in Park, touch the driver

proﬁle

icon (located next to the Tesla "T" on the

touchscreen), then touch Valet Mode.

The

ﬁrst time you enter Valet mode, you will

be prompted to create a 4-digit PIN that you

will use to cancel Valet mode.

When Valet mode is active, the instrument

panel displays the word Valet above the

driving speed and the Valet mode driver

proﬁle displays on the touchscreen.

You can also use the mobile app to start and

cancel Valet mode (provided Model S is in

Park). When using the mobile app, you do not

need to enter a PIN because you are already

required to log into the app using your Tesla

Account credentials.

Note: If you forget your PIN, reset it from

inside Model S by entering your Tesla Account

credentials (which also cancels Valet mode).

You can also reset your PIN using the mobile

app.

Canceling Valet Mode

With Model S in Park, touch the Valet Mode

driver icon on the touchscreen's status bar,

then enter your 4-digit PIN.

When you cancel Valet mode, all settings

associated with the most recently used driver

proﬁle and climate control settings are

restored, and all features are available.

Note: You do not need to enter a PIN to

cancel Valet mode from the mobile app.

Driver

Proﬁles

40 Model 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. Using this

control, you can move the steering wheel

forward and backward and up and down.

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 eort required

to turn the wheel. In town, Model S

feels easier to drive and park.

• Standard - Tesla believes that this

setting

oers the best handling and

response in most conditions.

• Sport - Increases the

eort required

to turn the wheel. When driving at

higher 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 to choose what

displays on the left side of the instrument

panel (whenever the Navigation app is not

displaying instructions).

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.

If you have more than one favorite

deﬁned, press and hold to cycle through

favorites.

2. Scroll Wheel

• To adjust the media volume, roll up or

down.

Note: The scroll wheel adjusts the

volume for media, navigation

instructions and phone calls based on

what is currently in use. As you adjust

volume, the instrument panel displays

the volume level and whether you are

adjusting volume for media,

navigation or phone.

• To mute the media volume, or to

pause/play an audio

ﬁle, tap the scroll

wheel.

Steering Wheel

Driving 41

• To choose what displays on the left

side of the instrument panel, press the

scroll wheel brieﬂy until the available

options are displayed. Roll the scroll

wheel to choose Empty, Car Status,

Clock, Media, Energy or Trips, etc.

When the option you want is

highlighted, tap the scroll wheel.

Note: The option you choose to

display using the left scroll wheel is

retained until you manually change it.

It is also saved in your driver

proﬁle.

Note: Car status displays information

such as status of doors and trunks,

and on newer model vehicles, the tire

pressure measurements.

• To restart the touchscreen, hold both

scroll wheel buttons for approximately

5 seconds. See Restarting the

Touchscreen on page 45.

3. Previous

Same as described above for Next, except

it skips to the previous song or station. If

you have more than one favorite

deﬁned,

press and hold to cycle through favorites.

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 know

if a door or trunk is open when Model S is in a

driving gear.

Using Right Steering Wheel

Buttons

Use the buttons on the right side of the

steering wheel to access call options while on

a phone call, to choose what displays on the

right side of the instrument panel, to adjust

Model S features, and to use voice commands.

Note: Whenever you receive or make a phone

call, the right side of the instrument panel

automatically displays call options to help you

easily handle phone calls on your Bluetooth-

connected phone.

1. Press to use a voice command to call a

contact, navigate, or listen to Internet

music. When you hear the tone, speak

your command. Press again to end the

voice command, or simply stop speaking.

For details, see Using Voice Commands on

page 43.

2. Scroll Wheel

• During a phone call, touch the scroll

wheel to display call options that

allow you to perform an action on the

call.

• Roll the wheel to adjust the most

recently used feature from the feature

list (see Menu button).

• To choose what displays on the right

side of the instrument panel, press the

scroll wheel

brieﬂy until the available

options are displayed. Roll the scroll

wheel to choose Empty, Car Status,

Clock, Media, Energy or Trips, etc.

When the option you want is

highlighted, tap the scroll wheel.

Note: Car status displays information

such as status of doors and trunks,

and on newer model vehicles, the tire

pressure measurements.

Note: The option you choose to

display using the right scroll wheel is

retained until you manually change it.

It is also saved in your driver

proﬁle.

• To restart the touchscreen, hold both

scroll wheel buttons for approximately

5 seconds. See Restarting the

Touchscreen on page 45.

3. Menu button

Press to display a menu that allows you to

control the following Model S features:

• Temperature. Roll the wheel to

change the driver side temperature, or

press the wheel to turn the climate

control system on and

o.

Steering Wheel

42 Model S Owner's Manual

• Fan Speed. Roll the wheel to adjust

the speed of the fan used to cool or

heat the cabin.

• Display Brightness. Roll the wheel to

change the brightness level of the

displays, or press the wheel to restore

default settings.

• Sunroof (if equipped). Roll the wheel

to adjust the position of the sunroof.

• Recent Calls. If your phone is paired

to Model S, roll the wheel to view your

recent calls. Press the wheel to call the

contact that's displayed. To pair your

phone, see Pairing a Bluetooth Phone

on page 124.

• Contacts. If your phone is paired to

Model S, use the scroll wheel to

navigate to contacts in your phone.

Your contacts are listed alphabetically

by their last name. To pair your phone,

see Pairing a Bluetooth Phone on

page 124.

Press the menu button again to close the

feature list.

Using Voice Commands

You can use voice commands to call a contact,

navigate to a location, or listen to Internet

music. Tap the voice button on the upper right

side of the steering wheel to initiate a voice

command. When you hear the tone, speak

your command. As you speak, the instrument

panel displays an interpretation of your

command. (It also displays tips to remind you

of the type of commands you can speak.)

When you

ﬁnish speaking the command, tap

the voice button again or simply wait.

• To call a contact on your Bluetooth-

connected phone, say “Call” or “Dial”,

followed by the contact’s

ﬁrst and/or last

name(s). For example, “Call Joe” or “Call

Joe Smith”.

• To search for, or navigate to, a location,

say “Where is”, “Drive to”, or “Navigate

to”, followed by an address, business

name, business category, or landmark. For

example, “Where is Stanford University?”,

“Drive to Tesla in Palo Alto”, or “Navigate

to Starbucks on Homestead in Cupertino”.

If you have

deﬁned a navigation address

for your home or work locations, you can

use a voice command to navigate there by

saying "Navigate home" or "Navigate to

work".

• To listen to an Internet music service, say

“Listen to” or “Play”, followed by the name

of the song, album, artist, or combination.

To improve voice recognition accuracy,

provide multiple cues in your command,

such as artist plus song (for example,

“Listen to Yellow Brick Road” or “Play

Yellow Brick Road by Elton John”).

Heated Steering Wheel

If Model S is equipped with the optional cold

weather package, you can access a control

that instantly warms up the steering wheel by

touching Controls > Cold Weather > Heated

Wheel. When turned on, a heater in the

steering wheel provides radiant heat that

keeps the steering wheel at a comfortable

temperature.

Note: Depending on date of manufacture,

some Model S vehicles equipped with the

optional cold weather package may not

include a heated steering wheel.

Horn

To sound the horn, press the center pad on the

steering wheel.

Steering Wheel

Driving 43

Adjusting Exterior Side Mirrors

Press the button associated with the mirror

you want to adjust (left or right). The button's

light turns on and you can then press the dial

to move the mirror to the desired position.

Repeat for the other side mirror. If prompted,

touch Save on the touchscreen to save the

mirror adjustment in your driver proﬁle.

To fold and unfold exterior mirrors, press the

center button. You can set the mirrors to fold

automatically whenever Model S is locked by

touching Controls > Settings > Vehicle >

Mirror Auto-Fold > ON. The mirrors unfold

automatically whenever you unlock Model S.

When you use the center button to fold the

mirrors in for parking in a tight space, the

mirrors remain folded in until your driving

speed reaches 50 km/h, or until you use the

center button to unfold the mirrors.

Note: You cannot fold a mirror if driving above

50 km/h.

The driver’s side mirror automatically dims at

night, in proportion to the level of glare from

the headlights of a vehicle behind you (except

when in Reverse gear). Also, both exterior side

mirrors have heaters that turn on and o with

the rear window defroster.

Note: Depending on date of manufacture and

options selected at time of purchase, some

Model S vehicles are not equipped with a side

mirror that automatically dims at night and

may not include heated side mirrors. In

addition, mirror adjustments may not be saved

to your driver

proﬁle.

Mirror Auto-tilt When Reversing

Both exterior mirrors can automatically tilt

downward when backing up. To adjust the

auto-tilt position, shift into Reverse, then

adjust the mirrors (press the button

associated with the mirror you want to adjust,

then press the dial to move the mirror to the

desired position). Touch Save on the

touchscreen to save the mirror adjustment in

your driver

proﬁle.

When you shift back into Drive, the mirrors tilt

back to their normal (upward) position. But

now that you have adjusted them for backing

up, they automatically tilt to the selected

downward position whenever you shift into

Reverse.

You can turn the auto-tilt feature on or

o

using the touchscreen, Touch Controls >

Settings > Vehicle > Mirror Auto-Tilt.

Note: Depending on date of manufacture and

options selected at time of purchase, some

Model S vehicles are not equipped with Mirror

Auto-Tilt.

Rear View Mirror

The rear view mirror is adjusted manually.

Except when in Reverse, the rear view mirror

automatically dims in proportion to the level

of glare from the headlights of a vehicle

behind you.

Mirrors

44 Model S Owner's Manual

Starting

When you open a door, Model S powers on

the instrument panel and touchscreen and you

can operate all controls.

To drive Model S:

1. PRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL - Model S

powers on and is ready to drive.

2. SELECT A GEAR - Move the gear lever all

the way down for Drive and all the way up

for Reverse. See Shifting Gears on page

46.

Note: If Passive Entry is

o and you do not

press the brake pedal to start Model S within

approximately

ﬁve minutes, a message

displays on the instrument panel and you must

use the key to lock then unlock Model S again

before starting the vehicle.

Everything you need to know when driving

Model S displays on the instrument panel.

Key Not Inside

If Model S does not detect a key when you

press the brake, the instrument panel displays

a message telling you that a key is not inside.

If you receive this message, place the key in

the center console cup holder where Model S

can best detect it.

If Model S still does not detect the key, try

holding it against the center console,

immediately below the 12V power socket (see

12V Power Socket on page 122). Or try using

another key. If another key does not work,

contact Tesla.

A number of factors can

aect whether

Model S can detect the key. These include a

low battery in the key, interference from other

devices using radio signals, and objects

between the key and receiver.

Always keep the key with you. After driving,

the key is needed to restart Model S after it

powers o. And when you leave Model S, you

must bring the key with you to lock Model S,

either manually or automatically.

Powering

O

When you ﬁnish driving, shift into Park by

pressing the button on the end of the gear

selector. The parking brake automatically

engages and all systems keep operating.

When you leave Model S with the key , it

powers

o automatically, turning o the

instrument panel and touchscreen.

Model S also powers

o automatically after

being in Park for 15 minutes, even if you are

sitting in the driver’s seat.

Although usually not needed, you can power

o Model S while sitting in the driver’s seat,

provided the vehicle is not moving. Touch

Controls > E-Brake & Power

O > Power O.

Model S automatically powers back on again if

you press the brake pedal or touch the

touchscreen.

Note: Model S automatically shifts into Park

whenever it is determined that you are exiting

the vehicle, even when you shift into Neutral

before exiting. To keep Model S in Neutral, see

Keeping Your Vehicle in Neutral (Tow Mode)

on page 46.

Restarting the Touchscreen

If your touchscreen is unresponsive or

demonstrates unusual behavior, restart it by

shifting into Park then pressing and holding

both scroll wheels on the steering wheel until

the touchscreen turns black, releasing when

the Tesla logo appears. Within approximately

30 seconds, the touchscreen restarts. If the

touchscreen is still unresponsive or

demonstrating unusual behavior, contact

Tesla.

Note: Restarting the touchscreen does not

power Model S

o and on.

Warning:

Paying attention to road and

trac conditions must always be the

driver's highest priority. To ensure the

safety of vehicle occupants as well as

other road users, restarting the

touchscreen should be done only when

the vehicle is in Park.

Starting and Powering O

Driving 45

Shifting Gears

When Model S is in Park, you must press the

brake to shift to another gear.

Move the lever up or down to change gears.

If you try to shift into a gear that the current

driving speed prohibits, a chime sounds and

the gear does not change.

Reverse

Push the lever all the way up and release. You

can only shift into Reverse when Model S is

stopped or moving less than 8 km/h. If moving

less than 1.6 km/h, you must press the brake.

Neutral

Push the lever up or down to the

ﬁrst position

and release to shift into Neutral. Neutral allows

Model S to roll freely when you are not

pressing the brake pedal.

If Model S is in Park and you use the

touchscreen to release the parking brake

(Controls > E-Brake & Power

O), Model S

shifts into Neutral (see Parking Brake on page

61).

Model S automatically shifts into Park when

you exit. To leave Model S in Neutral, use the

touchscreen to engage Tow mode (see

Keeping Your Vehicle in Neutral (Tow Mode)

on page 46).

Drive

Push the lever all the way down and release.

You can shift into Drive when Model S is

stopped or moving less than 8 km/h in

Reverse. If Model S is moving less than

1.6 km/h, you must press the brake to shift

into Drive.

Park

Press the end of the gear selector while

Model S is stopped. Whenever Model S is in

Park, the parking brake is applied.

Model S automatically shifts into Park

whenever:

• Model S determines that you are exiting

the vehicle.

• You connect a charge cable.

To make it convenient to pick up passengers,

you can also unlock all doors and/or extend

the door handles at any time by shifting into

Park then pressing the Park button a second

time.

Keeping Your Vehicle in Neutral

(Tow Mode)

Model S automatically shifts into Park

whenever you

ﬁnish driving and leave Model S.

To keep Model S in Neutral when you exit,

allowing it to roll freely (for example, pulling

onto a transporter, etc.), activate Tow mode:

1. Shift into Park.

2. Press the brake pedal.

3. Touch Controls > Settings > Service &

Reset > Tow Mode.

Model S beeps, and shifts into Neutral (which

releases the parking brake).

When Tow mode is active, Model S

displays this indicator light on the

instrument panel, along with a

message telling you that Model S will

roll freely.

Note: In Tow mode, Model S does not shift

into a driving gear. To cancel Tow mode, shift

into Park or touch Tow mode again. Tow mode

also cancels if you use the touchscreen to

apply the parking brake (Controls > E-Brake &

Power

O > Parking Brake).

Gears

46 Model S Owner's Manual

Instrument Panel Overview

The instrument panel changes depending on whether Model S is:

•

O (shown below).

• Driving (see Instrument Panel - Driving on page 51).

• Charging (see Charging Status on page 145).

When Model S is o, the instrument panel shows remaining estimated range, status of doors, and

outside temperature. When you press the brake, indicator lights ﬂash on brieﬂy along the top.

Unless an indicator light applies to a current situation, it should turn o. If an indicator light fails to

turn on or

o, contact Tesla.

Note: The following illustration is provided for demonstration purposes only. Depending on vehicle

options, software version, and market region, the information displayed may be slightly dierent.

The following indicators illuminate on the instrument panel to advise you or alert you of a speciﬁc

condition.

Indicator

Description

Low beam headlights are on.

High beam headlights are on. Illuminates when high beams are on but the Auto

High Beam setting is turned o or if the Auto High Beam setting is turned on but is

termporarily unavaible. See High Beam Headlights on page 56.

High beam headlights are currently turned on, and Auto High Beam is ready to

turn o the high beams if light is detected in front of Model S. See High Beam

Headlights on page 56.

High beam headlights are temporarily turned o because Auto High Beam is on

and is detecting light in front of Model S. When light is no longer detected, the

high beams will automatically turn back on. See High Beam Headlights on page

56.

Instrument Panel

Driving 47

Indicator Description

Parking lights (side marker lights, tail lights, and license plate lights) are on. See

Lights on page 53.

Front fog lights (optional). See Lights on page 53.

Rear fog lights. See Lights on page 53.

Adaptive Front Lighting (if equipped). See Adaptive Front Lighting System (AFS)

on page 56.

Electronic stability control systems are actively minimizing wheel spin by

controlling brake pressure and motor power (indicator ﬂashes). See Traction

Control on page 63. If this indicator stays illuminated, a fault is detected (contact

Tesla immediately).

A Smart Air Suspension fault is detected. Contact Tesla. See Smart Air Suspension

on page 117.

A brake system fault is detected or the brake ﬂuid level is low. See Brakes on page

60. Contact Tesla immediately.

Airbag safety. If this indicator does not ﬂash on brieﬂy when Model S prepares to

drive, or if it remains on, contact Tesla immediately. See Airbag Warning Indicator

on page 37.

An ABS (Anti-lock Braking System) fault is detected. See Brakes on page 60.

Contact Tesla immediately.

Instrument Panel

48 Model S Owner's Manual

Indicator Description

The parking brake is manually applied. See Parking Brake on page 61.

A parking brake fault is detected. Contact Tesla. See Parking Brake on page 61.

Vehicle Hold is actively applying the brakes. See Vehicle Hold on page 66.

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 148.

A door or trunk is open. See Doors on page 4, Rear Trunk on page 10, or Front

Trunk on page 13.

A seat belt for an occupied seat is not fastened. See Seat Belts on page 21.

Note: Depending on the date of manufacture, rear seating positions may not be

equipped with a seat belt reminder.

The front passenger’s air bag is turned o. See Airbags on page 35.

Electronic stability control systems are no longer minimizing wheel spin (i.e. on a

single motor vehicle, the traction control system has been turned o, or on a dual-

motor vehicle, Slip Start has been enabled). See Traction Control on page 63.

Model S is in Tow mode and can roll freely. It does not automatically shift into Park

when you exit. See Instructions for Transporters on page 179.

Instrument Panel

Driving 49

Indicator Description

Flashes green when the left turn signal is operating. Both turn signal indicators

ﬂash green when the hazard warning ﬂashers are operating.

Flashes green when the right turn signal is operating. Both turn signal indicators

ﬂash green when the hazard warning ﬂashers are operating.

Instrument Panel

50 Model S Owner's Manual

Instrument Panel - Driving

When Model S is driving (or ready to drive), the instrument panel shows your current driving

status and a real-time visualization of the road as detected by Model S's Driver Assistance

components (see About Driver Assistance on page 73).

Note: The following illustration is provided for demonstration purposes only. Depending on vehicle

options, software version, and market region, the information displayed may be slightly

dierent.

1. Indicator lights display along the top to provide status (see Instrument Panel Overview on

page 47).

2. When you are actively navigating to a destination, navigation instructions display here. Use

the left steering wheel buttons to change what displays on the left side of the instrument

panel whenever navigation instructions are not displayed (see Using Left Steering Wheel

Buttons on page 41).

Trac-Aware Cruise Control is cruising at a set speed. When Trac-Aware Cruise Control is

available but you haven't set a cruising speed, the icon is gray and the speed is not shown

(see

Trac-Aware Cruise Control on page 76).

4. Driving speed.

5. Autosteer is actively steering Model S. When Autosteer is available but you haven't activated

it, the icon is gray (see Autosteer on page 82).

6. On the Energy graph, dashed lines appear on the power meter if Model S is limiting power.

The dashed lines appear on the top portion (energy being used) when power available for

acceleration is being limited, and on the bottom portion (energy being gained) when power

that can be gained by regenerative braking is limited. Model S limits power for many reasons.

Here are just a few examples:

• Acceleration may be limited when the Battery is reaching a low state of charge or if the

powertrain is hot.

• Both acceleration and regenerative braking may be limited when the ambient temperature

is either very high or very low.

• Regenerative braking may be limited when the Battery is fully charged.

Note: Use the right steering wheel buttons to control what displays on the right side of the

instrument panel (see Using Right Steering Wheel Buttons on page 42).

Instrument Panel

Driving 51

7. Pay attention to important alert messages that display here. If any alerts are in eect, you can

view information about them by touching the alert icon (exclamation mark) on the

touchscreen’s status bar (the topmost area of the touchscreen).

8. Use the right steering wheel buttons to change what displays on the right side of the

instrument panel whenever a phone call is not active (see Using Right Steering Wheel Buttons

on page 42).

9. Total estimated driving distance (or energy) available. Instead of driving distance, you can

display the percentage of battery energy remaining. To do so, touch Controls > Settings >

Language & Units > Energy & Charging (see Settings on page 107).

Note: When anticipating when you need to charge, use range estimates as a general guideline

only.

Note: In cold weather, some of the stored energy in the Battery may not be available on your

drive because the Battery is too cold. When this happens, a portion of the Battery meter is

blue and the driving distance value has a

snowﬂake image next to it. If Model S is plugged in,

you can heat your Battery using wall power by turning on climate control using the mobile

app. When the Battery warms up, the blue portion on the meter and the

snowﬂake image are

no longer displayed.

10. The speed limit (if available) that is currently being detected by Speed Assist (see Speed

Assist on page 97).

11. The car in front of you (if applicable).

12. Pay attention to important driving-related messages that appear at the bottom center of the

instrument panel.

13. Your Model S.

14. When Autosteer is active and detects the driving lane, it is highlighted in blue (see Autosteer

on page 82).

15. Currently selected gear: Park, Reverse, Neutral, or Drive.

Instrument Panel

52 Model S Owner's Manual

Controlling Lights

Touch Controls on the bottom corner of the touchscreen to control most of the lights.

In addition to the lights that you can control from the touchscreen, Model S has convenience lights

that turn on and

o automatically based on what you are doing. For example, you will notice

interior lights, marker lights, tail lights, door handle lights, and puddle lights that turn on when you

unlock Model S, when you open a door, and when you shift into Park. They turn o automatically

after a minute or two or when you shift into a driving gear or lock Model S.

Note: Depending on options chosen at time of purchase, some vehicles are not equipped with fog

lights.

Lights

Driving 53

1. If you turn on DOME lights, all interior dome (map) lights turn on when you unlock Model S,

open a door upon exiting, or shift into P (Park). They turn o after 60 seconds, when you lock

Model S, or when you shift into a driving gear. If set to AUTO, dome lights turn on only when

little or no light is detected.

You can also manually turn an individual dome light on or o by pressing its lens. If you

manually turn a dome light on, it turns o when Model S powers o. If Model S was already

powered

o when you manually turned the light on, it turns o after 60 minutes.

2. If you turn on AMBIENT lights, the lights on the door armrests turn on whenever the

headlights are on.

3. If you turn on AUTO HIGH BEAM, high beam headlights turn on and

o automatically based

on whether or not light is detected in front of Model S (see High Beam Headlights on page

56).

4. Touch to turn fog lights (if equipped) on or

o. Fog lights operate only when low beam

headlights are on. Fog lights do not operate when headlights are turned o or when high

beam headlights are on.

The Front Fog indicator displays on the instrument panel whenever front fog

lights are on.

The Rear Fog indicator displays on the instrument panel whenever rear fog

lights are on.

Note: Depending on the market region and vehicle options, your vehicle may not be equipped

with front and/or rear fog lights.

Note: In some regions, there is no control for the front fog lights. They operate in conjunction

with the headlights and turn on only in situations where low beam headlights are on.

5. If Model S is equipped with a coil suspension system, you can adjust the angle of the

headlights to accommodate the load you are carrying. You may need to lower the angle of the

headlights to avoid blinding oncoming drivers in situations when you are carrying a

signiﬁcant

amount of weight in the rear trunk. After touching LEVEL, drag the slider to the desired

position:

Headlights are not lowered. No change is needed when all front and rear seats are

occupied and only the front trunk is laden.

Headlights are lowered one level. Suitable when the front and rear seats are

occupied and the rear trunk is laden.

2 Headlights are lowered two levels. Suitable when carrying heavy loads.

Note: Headlight adjustments are not available if Model S is equipped with Smart Air

Suspension because Model S levels automatically.

Lights

54 Model S Owner's Manual

6. Exterior lights (headlights, tail lights, side marker lights, parking lights, and license plate

lights) are set to AUTO each time you start Model S.

AUTO

Exterior lights automatically turn on when driving in low lighting

conditions. If you change to a dierent setting, lights always revert to this

AUTO setting on your next drive.

Touch one of these options to temporarily change the exterior light setting:

OFF

Exterior lights turn o until you manually turn them back on or until the

next time you drive Model S. If daytime running lights are required in your

region, the exterior lights used for this purpose do not turn o.

Only the side marker lights, parking lights, tail lights and license plate

lights turn on.

Exterior lights turn on.

Note: Model S has a series of lights along the lower rim of the headlights, also referred to as

"signature" lights. These lights automatically turn on whenever Model S is powered on and a

driving gear is engaged.

Warning: Always ensure that your headlamps are switched to AUTO or ON, as

appropriate, during all low visibility conditions. Failure to do so may result in a collision.

Lights

Driving 55

High Beam Headlights

Push the left-hand steering column lever away

from you. To cancel, pull the lever toward you.

The high beam headlights can automatically

switch to low beam when there is light

detected in front of Model S (for example,

from an oncoming vehicle). To turn this

feature on, touch Controls > Auto High Beam.

Note: Your chosen setting is retained until you

manually change it. It can also be saved in

your driver

proﬁle.

In situations where high beams are turned o

because AUTO HIGH BEAM is turned on and

light is detected in front of Model S, you can

temporarily turn on high beams by pulling the

lever all the way toward you.

The following indicator lights are visible on the

instrument panel when high beams are turned

on:

High beam headlights are on.

Illuminates when high beams are on

but the Auto High Beam setting is

turned o or if the Auto High Beam

setting is turned on but is

termporarily unavaible.

High beams are currently turned on,

and Auto High Beam is ready to turn

o the high beams if light is

detected in front of Model S.

High beams are temporarily turned

o because Auto High Beam is on

and is detecting light in front of

Model S. When light is no longer

detected, the high beams will

automatically turn back on.

To ﬂash the headlight high beams, pull the

lever fully toward you and release.

Warning:

Auto High Beam is an aid only

and is subject to limitations. It is the

driver's responsibility to make sure that

the headlights are always adjusted as

appropriate for the weather conditions

and driving circumstances.

Headlights After Exit

When you stop driving and park Model S in

low lighting conditions, the exterior lights

automatically turn on. They automatically turn

o after one minute or when you lock

Model S.

You can turn this feature on and o using the

touchscreen. Touch Controls > Settings >

Vehicle > Headlights After Exit. When

Headlights After Exit is set to

O, the

headlights turn o when you engage the Park

gear.

Adaptive Front Lighting System

(AFS)

If equipped, the Adaptive Front Lighting

System (AFS) automatically adjusts the beam

of the headlights to improve your driving view.

Electric sensors measure driving speed,

steering angle and yaw (the rotation of the car

around the vertical axis) to determine the

optimum position of the headlights based on

current driving conditions. For example, to

improve visibility while driving on winding

roads at night, the AFS casts the beam in the

direction of the curve. When low beam

headlights are turned on and when driving at

lower speeds, AFS improves lateral

illumination to increase the visibility of

pedestrians and curbs, and to improve

visibility when turning at a dark intersection,

into a driveway, or when making a u-turn.

The Adaptive Front Lighting System (AFS)

operates whenever headlights are on. If

Model S isn't moving, or is moving in reverse,

the adaptive headlights do not activate. This

prevents the lights from inadvertently blinding

other drivers. To turn the AFS

o, touch

Controls > Settings > Vehicle > Adaptive

Headlights > OFF.

If the AFS fails, the instrument panel

displays an alert. Contact Tesla

Service.

Turn Signals

Move the left-hand steering column lever up

(before turning right) or down (before turning

left).

Lights

56 Model S Owner's Manual

The turn signals stop operating when canceled

by the steering wheel, or when you return the

lever to the central position.

The corresponding turn signal

indicator lights up on the instrument

panel when a turn signal is

operating. You also hear a clicking

sound.

Warning: If you have purchased the

optional Enhanced Autopilot or Full Self-

Driving Capability packages and Trac-

Aware Cruise Control is active, engaging

a turn signal can cause Model S to

accelerate when using Trac-Aware

Cruise Control in speciﬁc situations (see

Overtake Acceleration on page 79).

Warning: If you have purchased the

optional Enhanced Autopilot or Full Self-

Driving Capability packages and

Autosteer is active, engaging a turn signal

may cause Model S to change lanes (see

Auto Lane Change on page 85).

Lane Change Flash

To indicate a lane change, quickly press the

lever up or down against the spring pressure,

then release. The corresponding turn signal

ﬂashes three times.

Hazard Warning Flashers

To turn on the hazard warning ﬂashers, press

the button located on the side of the

touchscreen closest to the steering wheel. All

turn signals

ﬂash. Press again to turn o.

Note: Hazard warning ﬂashers operate even

without a Model S key nearby.

Lights

Driving 57

Wipers

To wipe the windshield, rotate the end of the

left-hand steering column lever away from

you. The steering column lever has ﬁve

positions:

• 1st:

O.

• 2nd: Auto with low rain sensitivity.*

• 3rd: Auto with high rain sensitivity.*

• 4th: Continuous, slow.

• 5th: Continuous, fast.

For a single wipe, press and release the end of

the lever.

If the wipers are set to Auto and Model S

detects no liquid on the windshield, the wipers

do not wipe.

When you operate the wipers, headlights

automatically turn on (if they are not on

already).

*To enable the Auto settings, touch Controls >

Settings > Vehicle > Autowipers (Beta) > ON.

When wipers are set to an Auto setting,

Model S detects whether or not it is raining.

The frequency at which they wipe depends on

how much rain is detected on the windshield.

When wipers are set to high rain sensitivity,

the wipers turn on when Model S detects a

light mist.

Note: The Auto setting is currently in BETA. If

uncertain about using the Auto setting while

in the BETA phase, Tesla recommends

operating the wipers manually, as necessary.

Caution:

Ensure the wipers are in the O

position before washing Model S to avoid

the risk of damaging the wipers.

To extend the life of wiper blades, remove ice

from the windshield before turning wipers on.

Ice has sharp edges that can damage the

rubber on the blades.

Periodically check and clean the edge of the

wiper blade. If damaged, replace the blade

immediately. For details on checking and

replacing wiper blades, see Wiper Blades and

Washer Jets on page 157.

Caution:

In harsh climates, ensure that

the wiper blades are not frozen or

adhered to the windshield.

De-icing Wipers

To make wiper blades easy to access so you

can remove any ice and snow, shift Model S

into Park, turn the wipers

o, then use the

touchscreen to move them to the service

position. Touch Controls > Settings > Service

& Reset > Service Mode > ON. When parking

in cold outdoor climates, it is helpful to leave

Model S with the wipers in the service

position. In this position, they are closer to the

defrost vent, allowing you to thaw them by

directing air from the climate control system

towards the windshield.

Note: Wipers automatically return to their

normal position when you shift Model S out of

Park.

If Model S is equipped with the optional cold

weather package, you can de-ice wipers by

touching Controls > Cold Weather > Heated

Wipers. Wiper heaters automatically turns

o

after 15 minutes.

Washers

Press the button on the end of the left

steering column lever to spray washer ﬂuid

onto the windshield. You can press this button

at two levels. Press partially for a single wipe,

without any washer

ﬂuid. Press fully for both

wipe and wash. When washing the windshield,

the wipers will perform two wipes after you

release the button, then a third wipe a few

seconds later.

Periodically top up washer ﬂuid (see Topping

Up Washer Fluid on page 161).

Wipers and Washers

58 Model S Owner's Manual

De-icing Washer Nozzles

If Model S is equipped with the optional cold

weather package, washer nozzles have de-

icers that turn on whenever the ambient

temperature nears freezing, or when you turn

on the heated wipers (Controls > Cold

Weather > Heated Wipers). The washer de-

icers turn

o when the heated wipers turn o

(after 15 minutes), provided the temperature is

warm enough to prevent freezing.

Wipers and Washers

Driving 59

Braking Systems

Warning: Properly functioning braking

systems are critical to ensure safety. If

you experience a problem with the brake

pedal, brake caliper, or any component of

a Model S braking system, contact Tesla

immediately.

Model S has an anti-lock braking system

(ABS) that prevents the wheels from locking

when you apply maximum brake pressure. This

improves steering control during heavy

braking in most road conditions.

During emergency braking conditions, the

ABS constantly monitors the speed of each

wheel and varies the brake pressure according

to the grip available.

The alteration of brake pressure can be felt as

a pulsing sensation through the brake pedal.

This demonstrates that the ABS is operating

and is not a cause for concern. Keep

ﬁrm and

steady pressure on the brake pedal while

experiencing the pulsing.

The ABS indicator ﬂashes brieﬂy on

the instrument panel when you ﬁrst

start Model S. If this indicator lights

up at any other time, an ABS fault

has occurred and the ABS is not

operating. Contact Tesla. The braking

system remains fully operational and

is not aected by an ABS failure.

However, braking distances may

increase.

If the instrument panel displays this

indicator at any time other than

displaying brieﬂy when you ﬁrst start

Model S, a brake system fault is

detected or the brake

ﬂuid level is

low. Contact Tesla immediately.

Emergency Braking

In an emergency, fully press the brake pedal

and maintain ﬁrm pressure, even on low

traction surfaces. The ABS varies the braking

pressure to each wheel according to the

amount of traction available. This prevents

wheels from locking and ensures that you stop

as safely as possible.

Warning:

Do not pump the brake pedal.

Doing so interrupts operation of the ABS

and can increase braking distance.

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).

Automatic Emergency Braking automatically

applies full braking in situations where a

collision is considered imminent (see

Automatic Emergency Braking on page 94).

Warning: 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 Wear

Model S brake pads are equipped with wear

indicators. A wear indicator is a thin metal

strip attached to the brake pad that squeals as

it rubs against the rotor when the pad wears

down. This squealing sound indicates that the

brake pads have reached the end of their

service life and require replacement. To

replace the brake pads, contact Tesla Service.

Brakes must be periodically inspected visually

by removing the tire and wheel. For detailed

speciﬁcations and service limits for rotors and

brake pads, see Brakes on page 170.

Warning:

Neglecting to replace worn

brake pads damages the braking system

and can result in a braking hazard.

Regenerative Braking

Whenever Model S is moving and your foot is

o the accelerator, regenerative braking slows

down Model S and feeds any surplus energy

back to the Battery.

By anticipating your stops and reducing or

removing pressure from the accelerator pedal

to slow down, you can take advantage of

regenerative braking to increase driving range.

Of course, this is no substitute for regular

braking when needed for safety.

Note: If regenerative braking is aggressively

slowing Model S (such as when your foot is

completely

o the accelerator pedal at

highway speeds), the brake lights turn on to

alert others that you are slowing down.

Brakes

60 Model S Owner's Manual

Warning: In snowy or icy conditions

Model S may experience traction loss

during regenerative braking, particularly

when in the Standard setting and/or not

using winter tires. Tesla recommends

using the Low setting (see To Set the

Regenerative Braking Level on page 61)

in snowy or icy conditions to help

maintain vehicle stability.

The Energy app displays real-time feedback

on the amount of energy being gained by

regenerative braking. You can also display the

power meter on either side of the instrument

panel by choosing Energy using the scroll

button on the steering wheel (see Steering

Wheel on page 41).

The amount of energy fed back to the Battery

using regenerative braking can depend on the

current state of the Battery and the charge

level setting that you are using. 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 yellow line displays on the power

meter.

To Set the Regenerative Braking Level

You can use the touchscreen to change the

level of regenerative braking:

1. Touch Controls > Driving > Regenerative

Braking.

2. Choose from two levels:

•

Standard: Provides the standard

amount of regenerative braking. When

you release the accelerator, Model S

slows down, reducing the need to use

the brakes.

• Low: Limits regenerative braking.

When you release the accelerator,

Model S takes longer to slow down

and coasts further than if set to

Standard.

Parking Brake

The parking brake automatically engages

when you shift Model S into Park, and releases

when you shift into any other gear.

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 sucient

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. However, if

parking in such conditions is absolutely

necessary, have a second person place

wheel chocks under the front wheels

before releasing the brake pedal.

Use the touchscreen to manually release the

parking brake (which also shifts Model S into

Neutral):

1. Touch Controls > E-Brake & Power O .

2. Press the brake pedal, then touch Parking

Brake. If Model S was previously in Park, it

shifts into Neutral.

The parking brake indicator lights up

on the instrument panel whenever

you use the touchscreen to manually

apply the parking brake.

If an electrical issue occurs with the

parking brake, an amber parking

brake fault message displays at the

top of the instrument panel.

Caution: In the unlikely event that

Model S loses electrical power, you

Brakes

Driving 61

cannot access the touchscreen and are

therefore unable to release the parking

brake. Contact Tesla.

Brakes

62 Model S Owner's Manual

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 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: If the above indicator remains

illuminated in situations in which you have

not enabled Slip Start (described next),

the traction control system may not be

operating correctly. Contact Tesla Service

immediately.

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

48 km/h or slower. Slip Start automatically

disables when the speed exceeds 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:

• Starting on a loose surface, such as gravel

or snow.

• Driving in deep snow, sand or mud.

• Rocking out of a hole or deep rut.

To allow the wheels to spin, touch Controls >

Driving > Traction Control > Slip Start.

The instrument panel displays an

alert message when Slip Start is

enabled.

Although Slip Start is automatically disabled

the next time you start Model S, it is strongly

recommended that you disable it immediately

after the circumstances that required you to

enable it have passed.

Note: Slip Start cannot be enabled when you

are actively using

Trac-Aware Cruise

Control.

Traction Control

Driving 63

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 sensors alert 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 gear you selected (for

example, you will not receive an alert if

Model S rolls backwards down a hill while

in Drive).

Note: Depending on date of manufacture and

options selected at time of purchase, some

Model S vehicles are not equipped with the

parking sensors.

Warning: The Park Assist images

provided below are representative only.

The exact number and location of sensors

may vary depending on the date your

Model S was manufactured.

The sensors are activated when driving slower

than 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

65). 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 8 km/h. When reversing, visual

feedback also displays on the touchscreen,

immediately below the camera view (see Rear

View Camera on page 72). You can manually

close the park assist view on the touchscreen

by touching the X in the upper left corner.

When driving with the Camera app displayed

on the touchscreen, you can switch to the

Park Assist view when driving at speeds below

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.

Park Assist

64 Model S Owner's Manual

If chimes are turned on (see Controlling

Audible Feedback on page 65), an audible

beep sounds as you approach an object. You

can temporarily mute the chime by pressing

the scroll wheel on the left side of the steering

wheel or by touching the mute button located

on the bottom left corner of the Park Assist

view.

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 o,

touch Controls > Settings > Safety &

Security > Park Assist Chimes.

To mute the chimes temporarily, press the

scroll wheel on the left side of the steering

wheel or touch the mute button in the bottom

left corner of the Park Assist view. The chimes

are muted until you shift into a

dierent gear

or drive over 8 km/h.

Limitations and False Warnings

The parking sensors may not function

correctly in these situations:

• One or more of the parking sensors is

damaged, dirty, or covered (such as mud,

ice, or snow).

• The object is located below approximately

20 cm (such as a curb or low barrier).

Caution:

Shorter objects that are

detected (such as curbs or low

barriers) can move into the blind spot

of the sensors. Model S cannot alert

you about an object while it is in the

blind spot of the sensors.

• Weather conditions (heavy rain, snow, or

fog) are interfering with sensor operation.

• The object is thin (such as a sign post).

• A sensor’s operating range has been

exceeded.

• The object is sound-absorbing or soft

(such as powder snow).

• The object is sloped (such as a sloped

embankment).

• Model S has been parked in, or being

driven in, extremely hot or cold

temperatures.

• The sensors are aected by other

electrical equipment or devices that

generate ultrasonic waves.

• The object is located too close to the

bumper.

• A bumper is misaligned or damaged.

• An object that is mounted to Model S is

interfering with and/or obstructing the

sensor (such as a bike rack or bumper

sticker).

• Model S rolls freely in the opposite

direction of the gear you selected (for

example, you will not receive an alert if

Model S rolls backwards down a hill while

in Drive).

Other Parking Aids

In addition to Park Assist, when shifted into

Reverse, the backup camera displays a view of

the area behind Model S (see Rear View

Camera on page 72).

Park Assist

Driving 65

When Model S is stopped, Vehicle Hold can

continue to apply the brakes even after you

remove your foot from the brake pedal. When

driving on a hill or on a ﬂat surface, brake as

you normally would. After coming to a

complete stop, simply press the brake pedal

again (until the instrument panel displays the

Vehicle Hold indicator light) to enable Vehicle

Hold. You can then release the brake pedal

and remain stopped, even on a hill.

This indicator displays on the

instrument panel whenever Vehicle

Hold is actively braking Model S.

To disengage Vehicle Hold, press the

accelerator pedal or press and release the

brake pedal.

Note: Shifting into Neutral also disengages

Vehicle Hold.

Note: After actively braking Model S for

approximately ten minutes, Model S shifts into

Park and Vehicle Hold cancels. Model S also

shifts into Park if it detects that the driver has

left the vehicle.

Vehicle Hold

66 Model S Owner's Manual

The acceleration settings available on your

Model S vary depending on date of

manufacture and options chosen at time of

purchase:

• Chill: limits acceleration for a smooth and

gentle ride (available on all vehicles

equipped with driver assistance

hardware).

• Standard: provides the normal level of

acceleration (available on non-

performance dual motor vehicles and

single-motor Model S vehicles equipped

with driver assistance hardware).

• Sport: provides the normal level of

acceleration (available on performance

dual motor vehicles).

• Insane: increases peak torque by

approximately 30 percent (available on

performance dual motor vehicles not

equipped with the Ludicrous upgrade).

• Ludicrous: increases peak torque by

approximately 60 percent (available on

performance dual motor vehicles

equipped with the Ludicrous upgrade).

Note: Although Chill does not directly improve

driving range, using the increased torque and

power available in Insane or Ludicrous mode

can reduce range and

eciency.

Note: When Chill is selected, Chill displays on

the instrument panel above the driving speed.

In addition, a performance dual motor Model S

also features Launch Mode to provide

optimum acceleration on surfaces with good

traction. For the

speciﬁc driving instructions

required to use Launch Mode, see Launch

Mode on page 67.

To choose an acceleration mode, touch

Controls > Driving > Acceleration.

Max Battery Power

If you choose Insane or Ludicrous, additional

power is available immediately. However, to

achieve the absolute maximum power

(designed for short term use), you can enable

Max Battery Power, which heats the Battery to

its ideal operating temperature to ensure

access to 100% of available power. Heating the

Battery can take over an hour, depending on

environmental conditions and whether or not

Model S is being driven.

To enable, touch

Max Battery Power, which

displays as blue text immediately below the

acceleration setting. While the battery is being

heated, the touchscreen displays a message

providing you with an approximate wait time,

and when the additional power is available,

the message indicates that Max Battery Power

is READY!

Note: Max Battery Power is designed to

achieve maximum performance for short term

acceleration and is not intended for daily

driving. The

tradeo for the additional power

boost is extra energy consumption and earlier

power fade on long drives. The Insane or

Ludicrous acceleration settings provide a

signiﬁcant increase in performance even

without Max Battery Power. In fact, in normal

driving situations, the additional power that

can be achieved using Max Battery Power may

not be noticeable.

Note: To support Max Battery Power, the

charge level must be 20% or higher. You

cannot initiate Max Battery Power if the

charge level is less than 20%. In addition, Max

Battery Power immediately cancels if at any

time during its use, the charge level drops

below 20%.

When using Max Battery Power, Model S

consumes more energy as it keeps the Battery

within an optimal temperature range.

To cancel Max Battery Power at any time,

change the acceleration level to Chill or Sport

(or touch the button in the Max Battery Mode

popup). To prevent excess and potentially

unnecessary energy consumption (for

example, you leave the vehicle and forget to

cancel Max Battery Power), Max Battery

Power cancels automatically in three hours,

regardless of whether you are still driving or

have left the vehicle.

Note: Max Battery Power strives to keep the

pack within an optimal temperature range. In

addition to heating the Battery, Max Battery

Power also cools the battery when necessary

(for example, while driving at high speeds,

during rapid acceleration, driving for long

periods, etc.).

Launch Mode

Launch Mode, available on performance dual

motor vehicles only, provides optimum

acceleration on surfaces with good traction.

Note: Hard acceleration including, but not

limited to, using launch mode, increases stress

on the vehicle’s powertrain, and can cause

Acceleration Modes

Driving 67

premature wear and aging of various

components. Model S constantly monitors

powertrain fatigue and damage, and notiﬁes

you if vehicle components need to be

serviced.

Warning: Use Launch Mode only in

appropriate locations where there is no

cross trac or pedestrians present.

Launch Mode is designed for use on

closed circuit driving courses. It is the

driver’s responsibility to ensure that

driving style and acceleration do not

endanger or inconvenience other road

users.

To Activate Launch Mode

Before activating Launch Mode, it is

recommended that the brakes are slightly

warm by driving for a few minutes and using

the brakes a few times.

1. Set the acceleration level to Insane or

Ludicrous and enable Max Battery Power

(described above).

Note: You can use Launch Mode

immediately after enabling Max Battery

Power. There is no need to wait until Max

Battery Power is in its READY state.

2. With Model S shifted into Drive and at a

complete stop with the steering wheel

straight, fully press the brake pedal with

your left foot.

3. While still pressing the brake with your left

foot, fully press the accelerator pedal with

your right foot, then release the

accelerator pedal. The instrument panel

displays a message indicating that Launch

Mode is enabled.

4. Within eight seconds, fully press the

accelerator pedal a second time to pre-

load motor torque, then within four

seconds, release the brake.

When you release the brake, Model S launches

forward.

Note: Launch Mode is not available if Slip Start

has been enabled (i.e. wheels can spin). See

Traction Control on page 63.

Note: Launch Mode is available only if the

ambient temperature is 3° C or warmer.

Acceleration Modes

68 Model S Owner's Manual

Displaying Trip Information

Trip information displays on the touchscreen

when you touch Controls > Trips. For the

current trip, you can display distance, duration

and average energy usage. You can also show

distance and total and average energy used

since your last charge and for additional trips.

To name or rename a trip, touch the trip's

name, enter a new name for the trip, then

press Save. To reset a particular trip meter,

touch its associated Reset button.

You can display information for up to three

trips on the instrument panel. Use the

checkboxes to specify the trip(s) you want to

display. Then use the scroll bar on the steering

wheel to display the chosen trip(s) (see Using

Left Steering Wheel Buttons on page 41 or

Using Right Steering Wheel Buttons on page

42).

Odometer

To display the odometer, touch the Tesla “T” at

the top center of the touchscreen.

Trip Information

Driving 69

Driving Tips to Maximize Range

You can maximize your driving range using

the same driving habits that you use to

conserve fuel in a gasoline-powered vehicle. In

addition to driving habits, energy

consumption depends on environmental

conditions (such as exceptionally cold or hot

weather and driving on roads with steep hills).

To get the maximum mileage from a charge:

• Slow down your driving and avoid

frequent and rapid acceleration.

• If safe to do so, modulate the accelerator

pedal instead of using the brake pedal

when gradually slowing down. Whenever

Model S is moving and you are not

pressing the accelerator pedal,

regenerative braking slows down Model S

and feeds surplus energy back to the

Battery (see Regenerative Braking on

page 60).

• Keep tires at the recommended

inﬂation

pressures (see Tire Care and Maintenance

on page 148).

• Lighten your load by removing any

unnecessary cargo.

• Fully raise all windows.

• Limit the use of resources such as heating

and air conditioning. Using seat heaters to

keep warm is more

ecient than heating

the cabin. To automatically limit the

amount of power that the climate control

system uses to maintain the temperature

of the Battery and the cabin area, touch

Controls > Driving > Range Mode > ON.

The power meter on the instrument panel and

the Energy app (described next) provides

feedback on energy usage. With this

feedback, you will soon become familiar with

how driving habits and environmental

conditions impact how much energy Model S

is using.

Energy App

Use the Energy app to view real-time and

projected energy usage. Choose from two

types of charts:

•

Consumption - display how much energy

Model S has consumed over the past 10,

25 or 50 km.

Touch Average Range to display a graph

of the average energy consumed over the

past 10, 25 or 50 km. The average range

and the energy usage data are used to

predict the projected range. Touch Instant

Range to display a graph of the energy

consumed over the last few data points

only. The instant range and the energy

usage data are used to calculate the

projected range.

• Trip - If your Model S is equipped with

navigation, you can monitor the amount of

energy being used while navigating to a

destination. You can track actual usage

against the initial prediction. The green

line represents the actual usage whereas

the gray line represents predicted usage.

To change the zoom level, touch the zoom

icon located in the top right corner of the

chart.

Note: The "Trip" chart displays energy usage

only if you are currently navigating to a

destination.

Saving Energy

Model S has an energy-saving feature that

reduces the amount of energy being

consumed when Model S is not in use. Touch

Controls > Displays > Energy Saving and

choose from the following options:

• OFF - Model S shifts to the energy-saving

mode at night (10 pm to 5 am).

• ON -

signiﬁcantly less energy is consumed

whenever Model S is not in use. The start-

up time of the instrument panel and

Bluetooth could be slower.

• Always Connected - preserves cell

connectivity when energy saving is active.

This allows the mobile app to connect to

Model S quicker, and provides immediate

internet access when entering the car.

Slightly more energy is consumed.

Range Assurance

Model S helps protect you against running out

of energy. Model S continuously monitors its

energy level and proximity to known charging

locations.

Getting Maximum Range

70 Model S Owner's Manual

The map displays superchargers

only.

The map displays superchargers,

destination chargers, and visited

chargers. In situations where a

charging location may not be

reachable based on your currently

available driving range, its

associated icon on the map

displays as semi-transparent.

When you are at risk of driving beyond the

range of known charging locations, the

touchscreen displays a message giving you

the opportunity to display a list of charging

locations that are within range. When you

select a charging location from the list,

Model S provides navigation instructions and

the turn-by-turn direction list displays the

predicted amount of energy that will remain

when you arrive at the charging destination.

In addition to the message that displays when

you are at risk of driving beyond the range of

known charging locations, a warning symbol

displays on the range assurance icon:

Touch to display a search list of

charging locations that are

estimated to be within your driving

range. Then touch a location in the

search list to navigate to it.

Based on the amount of energy

remaining in your Model S, there

are no known charging locations

within your driving range.

Getting Maximum Range

Driving 71

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 wheel. These

lines adjust appropriately as you move the

steering wheel.

Note: Visual feedback from the parking

sensors displays on the instrument panel (see

Park Assist on page 64).

Note: Depending on date of manufacture and

options selected at time of purchase, some

Model S vehicles are not equipped with

parking sensors.

Warning: Never depend on the rear view

camera to inform you if the area behind

you is free of objects and/or people when

reversing. The camera may not detect

objects or barriers that can potentially

cause damage or injury. In addition,

several external factors can reduce the

performance of the camera, including a

dirty or obstructed lens. Therefore,

depending on the rear view camera 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 camera for

guidance purposes only. It is not intended

to replace your own direct visual checks

and is not a substitute for careful driving.

Cleaning the Camera

To ensure a clear picture, keep the camera

lens clean, and free of obstructions. Remove

any buildup of dirt by occasionally wiping the

camera lens with a soft damp cloth.

Caution:

Do not use chemical-based or

abrasive cleaners. Doing so can damage

the surface of the camera lens.

Rear View Camera

72 Model S Owner's Manual

How It Works

Your Model S includes the following Driver Assistance components that actively monitor the

surrounding roadway:

1. A camera is mounted above the rear license plate.

2. Ultrasonic sensors are located in the front and rear bumpers.

3. A camera is mounted in each door pillar.

4. Three cameras are mounted to the windshield above the rear view mirror.

5. A camera is mounted to each front fender.

6. Radar is mounted behind the front bumper on the left side of the vehicle.

Model S is also equipped with high precision electronically-assisted braking and steering systems.

About Driver Assistance

Driver Assistance 73

Features

These safety features are available on all Tesla

vehicles equipped with Driver Assistance

components:

• Lane Assist (see Lane Assist on page

91).

• Collision Avoidance Assist (see Collision

Avoidance Assist on page 93).

• Speed Assist (see Speed Assist on page

97).

• Auto High Beam (see High Beam

Headlights on page 56).

These convenience features, designed to

reduce driver workload, are available only if

your Tesla vehicle is equipped with the

optional Enhanced Autopilot or Full Self-

Driving Capability packages:

•

Trac-Aware Cruise Control (see Trac-

Aware

Cruise Control on page 76).

• Autosteer (see Autosteer on page 82).

• Auto Lane Change (see Auto Lane

Change on page 85).

• Autopark (see Autopark on page 87).

You can enable/disable Driver Assistance

features and in some cases, control how they

work. To access settings for Driver Assistance

features, touch Controls > Settings > Driver

Assistance.

Calibration

Model S must maneuver with a great deal of

precision when Driver Assistance features are

being used. Therefore, before some features

(for example,

Trac-Aware Cruise Control or

Autosteer) can be used for the ﬁrst time,

some cameras must complete a self-

calibration process.

Calibration typically completes after driving

32-40 km, but the distance varies depending

on road and environmental conditions. Driving

on a straight road with highly-visible lane lines

allows Model S to calibrate quicker. When

calibration is complete, the features are

available for use the next time you drive (i.e.

you must stop and shift into Park before you

can use the features). Contact Tesla if your

Model S has not completed the calibration

process after driving 160 km.

Note: If you attempt to use a feature that is

not available until the calibration process is

complete, the feature will not be enabled and

the instrument panel displays a message.

Note:

Model S repeats the calibration process

if the cameras are serviced by Tesla and in

some cases, after a software update.

Limitations

Many factors can impact the performance of

Driver Assistance components, causing them

to be unable to function as intended. These

include (but are not limited to):

• Poor visibility (due to heavy rain, snow,

fog, etc.).

• Bright light (due to oncoming headlights,

direct sunlight, etc.).

• Damage or obstructions caused by mud,

ice, snow, etc.

• Interference or obstruction by object(s)

mounted onto the vehicle (such as a bike

rack).

• Obstruction caused by applying excessive

paint or adhesive products (such as

wraps, stickers, rubber coating, etc.) onto

the vehicle.

• Narrow or winding roads.

• A damaged or misaligned bumper.

• Interference from other equipment that

generates ultrasonic waves.

• Extremely hot or cold temperatures.

Warning: The list above does not

represent an exhaustive list of situations

that may interfere with proper operation

of Driver Assistance components. Never

depend on these components to keep

you safe. It is the driver's responsibility to

stay alert, drive safely, and be in control

of the vehicle at all times.

Caution: If a windshield replacement is

needed, take your vehicle to Tesla

Service. This will ensure appropriate

handling and mounting of the camera(s).

Failure to do so can cause one or more

Driver Assistance features to malfunction.

Cleaning Cameras and Sensors

To ensure the various Driver Assistance

components can provide information that is as

accurate as possible, keep them clean and free

of obstructions or damage. Occasionally

remove any buildup of dirt by wiping the

components with a soft cloth dampened with

warm water.

Caution:

Do not use chemical-based or

abrasive cleaners. Doing so can damage

surfaces.

About Driver Assistance

74 Model S Owner's Manual

Caution: Avoid using a high-pressure

power washer.

Caution: Do not clean an ultrasonic

sensor or camera lens with a sharp or

abrasive object that can scratch or

damage its surface.

About Driver Assistance

Driver Assistance 75

Note: Trac-Aware Cruise Control is a BETA

feature.

If your Model S is equipped with Driver

Assistance components (see About Driver

Assistance on page 73), and you have

purchased the optional Enhanced Autopilot or

Full Self-Driving Capability package, the

forward looking cameras and the radar sensor

are designed to determine when there is a

vehicle in front of you in the same lane. If the

area in front of Model S is clear,

Trac-Aware

Cruise Control maintains a set driving speed.

When a vehicle is detected, Trac-Aware

Cruise Control is designed to slow down

Model S as needed to maintain a selected

time-based distance from the vehicle in front,

up to the set speed.

Trac-Aware Cruise

Control does not eliminate the need to watch

the road in front of you and to manually apply

the brakes when needed.

Trac-Aware Cruise Control is primarily

intended for driving on dry, straight roads,

such as highways and freeways. It should not

be used on city streets.

Warning: Trac-Aware Cruise Control is

designed for your driving comfort and

convenience and is not a collision warning

or avoidance system. It is your

responsibility to stay alert, drive safely,

and be in control of the vehicle at all

times. Never depend on Trac-Aware

Cruise Control to adequately slow down

Model S. Always watch the road in front

of you and be prepared to take corrective

action at all times. Failure to do so can

result in serious injury or death.

Warning: Although Trac-Aware Cruise

Control is capable of detecting

pedestrians and cyclists, never depend on

Trac-Aware Cruise Control to

adequately slow Model S down for them.

Always watch the road in front of you and

be prepared to take corrective action at

all times. Failure to do so can result in

serious injury or death.

Warning: Do not use Trac-Aware Cruise

Control on city streets or on roads where

trac conditions are constantly changing.

Warning: Do not use Trac-Aware Cruise

Control on winding roads with sharp

curves, on icy or slippery road surfaces,

or when weather conditions (such as

heavy rain, snow, fog, etc.) make it

inappropriate to drive at a consistent

speed. Trac-Aware Cruise Control does

not adapt driving speed based on road

and driving conditions.

Operating Trac-Aware Cruise

Control

To use Trac-Aware Cruise Control, you must

be driving at least 30 km/h, unless a vehicle is

detected ahead of you. If a vehicle is detected

ahead of you, you can use Trac-Aware

Cruise Control at any speed, even when

stationary, provided you are at least 150 cm

away from the vehicle.

The minimum set speed is 30 km/h. The

maximum set speed is 150 km/h. It is the

driver's responsibility to cruise at a safe speed

based on road conditions and speed limits.

The instrument panel

displays a gray speedometer

icon on the left side of the

driving speed to indicate

that

Trac-Aware Cruise

Control is available but is not

currently active. The number

shown in gray is determined

by Speed Assist (see

Controlling Speed Assist on

page 97).

When driving at your desired speed, set the

cruising speed by moving the cruise control

lever up or down, then releasing.

To set the cruising speed to the set speed as

determined by Speed Assist (see Controlling

Speed Assist on page 97), pull the cruise

control lever towards you, then release.

Trac-Aware

Cruise Control

76 Model S Owner's Manual

The gray speedometer icon

on the instrument panel

turns blue and displays the

set speed to indicate that

Trac-Aware Cruise Control

is active.

Note: The minimum set speed is 30 km/h. The

maximum set speed is 150 km/h. It is the

driver's responsibility to cruise at a safe speed

based on road conditions and speed limits.

You can now release the accelerator pedal and

allow

Trac-Aware Cruise Control to maintain

your set speed. When no vehicle is detected

ahead,

Trac-Aware Cruise Control maintains

the set speed. If a vehicle is detected, Trac-

Aware

Cruise Control maintains your chosen

following distance, up to the set speed,

accelerating and decelerating Model S as

needed. When the vehicle you are following is

no longer detected,

Trac-Aware Cruise

Control accelerates up to the set speed.

Trac-Aware Cruise Control also adjusts the

speed as appropriate when entering and

exiting curves.

You can manually accelerate at any time when

driving at a set speed using

Trac-Aware

Cruise Control. But when you release the

accelerator, Model S returns to the set speed.

When following a vehicle, Trac-Aware Cruise

Control remains active at low speeds, even if

Model S comes to a standstill. When the

vehicle is moving again,

Trac-Aware Cruise

Control resumes operating at your current set

speed. However, under the following

circumstances,

Trac-Aware Cruise Control

goes into a HOLD state instead of resuming,

and the instrument panel displays a message

indicating that you need to resume cruise

control:

• You have been at a standstill for 5

minutes.

• The driver's seat belt is unbuckled.

• Model S detects a pedestrian nearby (the

HOLD state may clear when the

pedestrian is no longer close by).

• Model S suddenly loses visibility of the

vehicle you are following.

• The ultrasonic sensors detect an obstacle

in front of Model S.

To resume Trac-Aware Cruise Control, press

the accelerator pedal or pull the cruise control

lever toward you (see Canceling and

Resuming on page 80).

In right hand

trac, engaging the right turn

signal when driving in the right-most lane

within 50 meters of an exit (on a controlled

access road only, such as a highway or

freeway), causes

Trac-Aware Cruise Control

to assume you are exiting. As a result,

Trac-

Aware Cruise Control begins to slow down the

vehicle. Likewise in left hand trac, when

engaging the left turn signal when driving in

the left-most lane within 50 meters of an exit.

The onboard Global Positioning System (GPS)

determines if you are driving in a region with

right or left hand

trac. In situations where

GPS data is unavailable (for example, if there

is inadequate signal), engaging the turn signal

near an exit does not cause

Trac-Aware

Cruise Control to slow down Model S.

Note: If you double-pull the cruise control

lever (or single-pull when Trac-Aware Cruise

Control is active), Autosteer activates if

enabled (see Autosteer on page 82) and the

set speed changes to either your current

driving speed, or the speed limit plus any

oset you have deﬁned in Speed Assist,

whichever is greater (see Cruising at the

Speed Limit on page 78).

Note: When

Trac-Aware Cruise Control is

actively slowing down Model S to maintain the

selected distance from the vehicle ahead, the

brake lights turn on to alert other road users

that you are slowing down. You may also

notice slight movement of the brake pedal.

However, when

Trac-Aware Cruise Control is

accelerating Model S, the accelerator pedal

does not move.

Warning:

Due to limitations inherent in

the onboard GPS, you may experience

situations in which Trac-Aware Cruise

Control slows down the vehicle, especially

near highway exits where a curve is

detected and/or you are actively

navigating to a destination and not

following the route.

Warning: Trac-Aware Cruise Control

cannot detect all objects and may not

Trac-Aware Cruise Control

Driver Assistance 77

brake/decelerate for stationary vehicles

or objects, especially in situations when

you are driving over 80 km/h and in

situations where a vehicle you are

following moves out of your driving path

and a stationary vehicle or object is in

front of you. Always pay attention to the

road ahead and stay prepared to take

immediate corrective action. Depending

Trac-Aware Cruise Control to avoid

a collision can result in serious injury or

death. In addition,

Trac-Aware Cruise

Control may react to vehicles or objects

that either do not exist or are not in the

lane of travel, causing Model S to slow

down unnecessarily or inappropriately.

Warning: Trac-Aware Cruise Control

may be unable to provide adequate

speed control because of limited braking

capability and hills. It can also misjudge

the distance from a vehicle ahead. Driving

downhill can increase driving speed,

causing Model S to exceed your set speed

(and potentially the road's speed limit).

Never depend on

Trac-Aware Cruise

Control to slow down the vehicle enough

to prevent a collision. Always keep your

eyes on the road when driving and be

prepared to take corrective action as

needed. Depending on

Trac-Aware

Cruise Control to slow the vehicle down

enough to prevent a collision can result in

serious injury or death.

Warning: Trac-Aware Cruise Control

may occasionally cause Model S to brake

when not required or when you are not

expecting it. This can be caused by

closely following a vehicle ahead,

detecting vehicles or objects in adjacent

lanes (especially on curves), etc.

Adjust your following distance

To adjust the following distance you want to

maintain between your Model S and a vehicle

traveling ahead of you, rotate the cruise

control lever to choose a setting from 1 (the

closest following distance) to 7 (the longest

following distance). Each setting corresponds

to a time-based distance that represents how

long it takes for Model S, from its current

location, to reach the location of the rear

bumper of the vehicle ahead of you.

As you rotate the cruise control lever, the

instrument panel displays the current setting.

Release the lever when the desired setting is

displayed.

Note: Your setting is retained until you

manually change it.

Warning: It is the driver's responsibility to

determine and maintain a safe following

distance at all times. Do not rely on

Trac-Aware Cruise Control to maintain

an accurate or appropriate following

distance.

Warning: Never depend on Trac-Aware

Cruise Control to adequately slow down

Model S to avoid a collision. Always watch

the road in front of you and stay prepared

to take immediate corrective action.

Cruising at the Speed Limit

Trac-Aware Cruise Control makes it easy to

cruise at the speed limit. You can cruise at the

speed limit that is currently being determined

by Speed Assist (see Speed Assist on page

97). To do so, pull the cruise control lever

toward you. When you release, your cruising

speed is set to the speed that is determined

by Speed Assist, taking into consideration any

oset you have speciﬁed. If you are already

driving faster than the speed limit when you

pull the lever, the set speed does not adjust to

the speed limit—it adjusts to your current

driving speed.

Note: When you adjust the cruising speed

based on the speed limit, the set speed does

not change when the speed limit changes. You

must pull the cruise control lever again to

cruise at the new speed limit. You can also

manually adjust your cruising speed at any

time (see Changing the Set Speed on page

79).

Trac-Aware

Cruise Control

78 Model S Owner's Manual

Note: Your set speed will use your current

driving speed if you move the cruise control

lever up or down.

Note: If Speed Assist is unable to determine a

speed limit, your set speed does not change

when you pull the cruise control lever toward

you.

Warning: Do not rely on Speed Assist or

Trac-Aware Cruise Control to

determine an accurate or appropriate

cruising speed. Always cruise at a safe

speed based on road conditions and

applicable speed limits.

Changing the Set Speed

To change the set speed while using Trac-

Aware Cruise Control, move the cruise control

lever up (increase) or down (decrease) until

your desired set speed is displayed.

To increase/decrease speed by 1 km/h, move

the lever up or down to the ﬁrst position and

release. To increase/decrease speed to the

closest 5 km/h increment, move the lever up/

down to the second position and release. For

example, if you are traveling at 83 km/h and

you move the lever up to the second position

and release, the speed increases to 85 km/h.

You can also increase/decrease speed by

holding the lever in the full up/down position

and releasing when the desired speed displays

below the cruise control icon.

To cruise at the speed limit that is currently

being determined by Speed Assist (including

any osets that you have set), pull the cruise

control lever toward you. See Speed Assist on

page 97.

Note: It may take a few seconds for Model S

to reach the new cruising speed, assuming

Model S does not detect a vehicle ahead

driving slower than your set speed.

Overtake Acceleration

When following a vehicle with Trac-Aware

Cruise Control active, brieﬂy engaging the

turn signal (to indicate a move into the

passing lane) accelerates Model S towards the

vehicle ahead. By momentarily holding the

turn signal lever up or down, you can quickly

accelerate up to your set speed without

having to press the accelerator pedal. The turn

signal accelerates only when the following

conditions are met:

•

Trac-Aware Cruise Control is operating

and detects a vehicle in front of you.

• No obstacles or vehicles are detected in

the target lane.

• Model S is traveling below the set speed,

but over 72 km/h.

Overtake Acceleration is intended as an aid

when passing a vehicle ahead of you. When

the turn signal is engaged,

Trac-Aware

Cruise Control continues to maintain distance

from the vehicle ahead, but allows you to drive

slightly closer than your selected distance.

Acceleration cancels when:

• You reach your set cruising speed.

• Changing lanes takes too long.

• Model S gets too close to the vehicle

ahead.

• You disengage the turn signal.

Note: Overtake Acceleration occurs when you

either fully engage the turn signal, or you hold

the turn signal in the momentary position

(partially engaged). When you release or

disengage the turn signal, Model S stops

accelerating (in the same way as when you

release the accelerator pedal) and resumes

the set speed.

Warning:

Overtake Acceleration can

cancel for many unforeseen reasons in

addition to those listed above (for

example, lack of GPS data). Stay alert and

Trac-Aware Cruise Control

Driver Assistance 79

never depend on Overtake Acceleration

to increase your driving speed.

Warning: Overtake Acceleration increases

your driving speed whenever the

appropriate turn signal is engaged, and

accelerates Model S closer to the vehicle

ahead. Although Trac-Aware Cruise

Control continues to maintain distance

from the vehicle ahead, it is important to

be aware that your selected following

distance is reduced when Overtake

Acceleration is active, particularly in cases

where it may not be your intention to

overtake the vehicle you are following.

Canceling and Resuming

To manually cancel Trac-Aware Cruise

Control, brieﬂy push the cruise control lever

away from you or press the brake pedal. The

speedometer icon on the instrument panel

turns gray to indicate that

Trac-Aware

Cruise Control is not actively controlling your

speed.

To resume cruising at the previously set

speed,

brieﬂy pull the cruise control lever

toward you.

To resume cruising at the current driving

speed, move the cruise control lever up or

down, then release

Note:

When Trac-Aware Cruise Control

cancels, Model S does not coast. Instead,

regenerative braking slows down Model S in

the same way as when you move your foot

o

the accelerator when driving without Trac-

Aware

Cruise Control (see Regenerative

Braking on page 60).

Warning: Trac-Aware Cruise Control

cancels, or may not be available, in the

following situations:

• You press the brake pedal.

• Your driving speed drops below

8 km/h in situations when Model S

does not detect a vehicle ahead

within the

speciﬁed distance.

• Your driving speed exceeds the

maximum cruising speed of 150 km/h.

• You shift Model S into a

dierent

gear.

• The driver's seat belt is unbuckled.

• A door is opened.

• The view from the radar sensor or

camera(s) is obstructed. This could

be caused by dirt, mud, ice, snow, fog,

etc.

• The traction control setting is

manually disabled or is repeatedly

engaging to prevent wheels from

slipping.

• The wheels are spinning while at a

standstill.

• The

Trac-Aware Cruise Control

system is failing or requires service.

When

Trac-Aware Cruise Control is

unavailable or cancels, Model S no longer

drives consistently at a set speed and no

longer maintains a

speciﬁed distance

from the vehicle ahead.

Warning:

Trac-Aware Cruise Control

can cancel unexpectedly at any time for

unforeseen reasons. Always watch the

road in front of you and stay prepared to

Trac-Aware Cruise Control

80 Model S Owner's Manual

take appropriate action. It is the driver's

responsibility to be in control of Model S

at all times.

Summary of Cruise Indicators

Trac-Aware Cruise Control is

available but is not actively

controlling your speed until you

activate it. The number shown in

gray is determined by Speed Assist

(see Controlling Speed Assist on

page 97).

Trac-Aware Cruise Control is

operating and is either maintaining

the set speed (no vehicle in front) or

is maintaining a chosen following

distance from a vehicle ahead (up to

the set speed).

Model S has fully stopped but is in a

HOLD state. If safe, press the

accelerator pedal to resume cruising

at the set speed.

Limitations

Trac-Aware Cruise Control is particularly

unlikely to operate as intended in the

following types of situations:

• The road has sharp curves.

• Visibility is poor (due to heavy rain, snow,

fog, etc.).

• Bright light (such as from oncoming

headlights or direct sunlight) is interfering

with the view of the camera(s).

• The radar sensor is obstructed (dirty,

covered, etc.).

• The windshield is obstructing the view of

the camera(s) (fogged over, dirty, covered

by a sticker, etc.).

Warning:

The list above does not

represent an exhaustive list of situations

that may interfere with proper operation

of Trac-Aware Cruise Control.

Trac-Aware Cruise Control

Driver Assistance 81

Note: Autosteer is a BETA feature.

If your Model S is equipped with Driver

Assistance components (see About Driver

Assistance on page 73), and you have

purchased the optional Enhanced Autopilot or

Full Self-Driving Capability packages, you can

use Autosteer to manage steering and speed

under certain circumstances. Autosteer builds

upon

Trac-Aware Cruise Control (see

Trac-Aware Cruise Control on page 76),

intelligently keeping Model S in its driving lane

when cruising at a set speed. Using the

vehicle's camera(s), the radar sensor, and the

ultrasonic sensors, Autosteer detects lane

markings and the presence of vehicles and

objects, assisting you in steering Model S

based on the lane markings and the vehicle

directly in front of you.

Warning: Autosteer is a hands-on feature.

You must keep your hands on the steering

wheel at all times.

Warning: Autosteer is intended for use

only on highways and limited-access

roads with a fully attentive driver. When

using Autosteer, hold the steering wheel

and be mindful of road conditions and

surrounding trac. Do not use Autosteer

on city streets, in construction zones, or

in areas where bicyclists or pedestrians

may be present. Never depend on

Autosteer to determine an appropriate

driving path. Always be prepared to take

immediate action. Failure to follow these

instructions could cause damage, serious

injury or death.

Operating Autosteer

Before you can operate Autosteer, you must

enable it by touching Controls > Settings >

Driver Assistance > Autosteer > ON.

To indicate that Autosteer is

available (but not actively

steering Model S), the

instrument panel displays a

gray Autosteer iconon the

right side of the driving

speed.

To initiate Autosteer, pull the cruise control

lever toward you twice in quick succession.

Autosteer brieﬂy displays a message on the

instrument panel reminding you to pay

attention to the road and have your hands on

the steering wheel. To indicate that Autosteer

is now actively assisting in steering Model S,

the instrument panel displays the Autosteer

icon in blue. When Autosteer is able to detect

lane markings, it also displays the driving lane

in blue.

Note: To initiate Autosteer when there is no

vehicle in front of you, you must be driving at

least 30 km/h on a roadway with visible lane

markings. If a vehicle is detected ahead of

you, you can initiate Autosteer at any speed,

even when stationary (if you are at least 150

cm away from the vehicle).

The instrument panel displays a message

indicating that Autosteer is temporarily

unavailable if you attempted to engage

Autosteer when driving at a speed that is not

within the speed required for Autosteer to

operate. Autosteer may also be unavailable if

it is not receiving adequate data from the

camera(s) or sensors.

Autosteer

82 Model S Owner's Manual

If Autosteer is unable to detect lane markings,

the driving lane is determined based on the

vehicle you are following.

In most cases, Autosteer attempts to center

Model S in the driving lane. However, if the

sensors detect the presence of an obstacle

(such as a vehicle or guard rail), Autosteer

may steer Model S in a driving path that is

oset from the center of the lane.

Warning: Autosteer is not designed to,

and will not, steer Model S around objects

partially or completely in the driving lane.

Always watch the road in front of you and

stay prepared to take appropriate action.

It is the driver's responsibility to be in

control of Model S at all times.

Restricted Speed

Autosteer is intended for use only by a fully

attentive driver on freeways and highways

where access is limited by entry and exit

ramps. If you choose to use Autosteer on

residential roads, a road without a center

divider, or a road where access is not limited,

Autosteer may limit the maximum allowed

cruising speed. The maximum allowed cruising

speed on such roads is calculated based on

the detected speed limit including a Speed

Assist

oset of up to +10 km/h. Any Speed

Assist oset above +10 km/h is rounded down

to +10 km/h. However, you can select a more

restrictive cruising speed by reducing the

speed limit

oset (see Controlling Speed

Assist on page 97) or by adjusting the cruise

control lever.

In situations where the speed limit cannot be

detected when Autosteer is engaged,

Autosteer reduces your driving speed and

limits the set speed to 70 km/h. Although you

can manually accelerate to exceed the limited

speed, Model S may not brake for detected

obstacles. Autosteer will slow down to the

limited speed when you release the

accelerator pedal. When you leave the road, or

disengage Autosteer by using the steering

wheel, you can increase your set speed again,

if desired.

Hold Steering Wheel

Autosteer uses data from the camera(s),

sensors, and GPS to determine how best to

assist you in steering Model S. When active,

Autosteer requires you to hold the steering

wheel. If it does not detect your hands on the

steering wheel for a period of time, a ﬂashing

white light appears around the instrument

panel and the following message displays:

Autosteer detects your hands by recognizing

light resistance as the steering wheel turns, or

from you manually turning the steering wheel

very lightly (i.e., without enough force to

retake control). When your hands are

detected, the message disappears and

Autosteer resumes normal operation.

Note: Autosteer may also sound a chime at

the same time that the message is initially

displayed.

Autosteer requires that you pay attention to

your surroundings and remain prepared to

take control at any time. If Autosteer still does

not detect your hands on the steering wheel,

the request escalates by sounding chimes that

increase in frequency.

If you repeatedly ignore hands-on prompts,

Autosteer displays the following message and

is disabled for the rest of the drive. If you

don't resume manual steering, Autosteer

sounds a continuous chime, turns on the

warning

ﬂashers, and slows the vehicle to a

complete stop.

For the rest of the drive, you must steer

manually. Autosteer is available again after

you stop and shift the vehicle into Park.

Autosteer is Aborting

In situations where Autosteer is unable to

assist in steering Model S, Autosteer aborts,

sounds a warning chime, and displays the

following message on the instrument panel:

Autosteer

Driver Assistance 83

Canceling Autosteer

Autosteer cancels when:

• You apply rotational force to the steering

wheel (even a slight amount).

• You press the brake pedal.

• You push the cruise control lever away

from you.

• The maximum speed that Autosteer

supports–150 km/h–is exceeded.

• You shift into a

dierent gear.

• An Automatic Emergency Braking event

occurs (see Collision Avoidance Assist on

page 93).

When Autosteer cancels, it sounds chimes and

the Autosteer icon either turns gray to

indicate that Autosteer is no longer active, or

disappears to indicate that it is not currently

available.

Note: If Autosteer cancels because you

applied rotational force to the steering wheel,

Trac-Aware Cruise Control remains active.

Disengage

Trac-Aware Cruise Control as

you normally would, by brieﬂy pushing the

cruise control lever away from you or pressing

the brake pedal.

To disable Autosteer so it is no longer

available, touch Controls > Settings > Driver

Assistance > Autosteer > OFF.

Limitations

Autosteer is particularly unlikely to operate as

intended when:

• Autosteer is unable to accurately

determine lane markings. For example,

lane markings are excessively worn, have

visible previous markings, have been

adjusted due to road construction, are

changing quickly (lanes branching

o,

crossing over, or merging), objects or

landscape features are casting strong

shadows on the lane markings, or the road

surface contains pavement seams or other

high-contrast lines.

• Visibility is poor (heavy rain, snow, fog,

etc.).

• A camera(s) or sensor(s) is obstructed,

covered, or damaged.

• Driving on hills.

• Approaching a toll booth.

• Driving on a road that has sharp curves or

is excessively rough.

• Bright light (such as direct sunlight) is

interfering with the view of the camera(s).

• The sensors are

aected by other

electrical equipment or devices that

generate ultrasonic waves.

Warning: Many unforeseen circumstances

can impair the operation of Autosteer.

Always keep this in mind and remember

that as a result, Autosteer may not assist

in steering Model S appropriately. Always

drive attentively and be prepared to take

immediate action.

Autosteer

84 Model S Owner's Manual

Warning: Auto Lane Change is designed

to be used only when driving on

restricted-access highways (i.e. with on-

ramps and o-ramps).

If your Model S is equipped with Driver

Assistance components (see About Driver

Assistance on page 73), and you have

purchased the optional Enhanced Autopilot or

Full Self-Driving Capability packages, you can

use Auto Lane Change to move Model S into

an adjacent lane. When both

Trac-Aware

Cruise Control and Autosteer are active, Auto

Lane Change intelligently assists you in

steering Model S into an adjacent driving lane.

Using the forward looking camera(s), the

radar sensor, and ultrasonic sensors, Model S

detects lane markings and the presence of

other vehicles.

Auto Lane Change is designed for use on

restricted-access highways with visible lane

markings and under relatively predictable

circumstances in which minimal steering and

driver intervention is needed.

Warning: It is the driver's responsibility to

determine whether a lane change is safe

and appropriate. Auto Lane Change

cannot detect oncoming trac in the

target lane, especially fast moving

vehicles from the rear. Therefore, before

initiating a lane change, always check

blind spots, lane markings, and the

surrounding roadway to

conﬁrm it is safe

and appropriate to move into the target

lane.

Warning: Never depend on Auto Lane

Change to determine an appropriate

driving path. Drive attentively by

watching the road and trac ahead of

you, checking the surrounding area, and

monitoring the instrument panel for

warnings. Always be prepared to take

immediate action.

Warning: Do not use Auto Lane Change

on city streets or on roads where trac

conditions are constantly changing and

where bicycles and pedestrians are

present.

Warning: The performance of Auto Lane

Change depends on the ability of the

camera(s) to recognize lane markings.

Warning: Do not use Auto Lane Change

on winding roads with sharp curves, on

icy or slippery roads, or when weather

conditions (such as heavy rain, snow, fog,

etc.) may be obstructing the view from

the camera(s) or sensors.

Warning: Failure to follow all warnings

and instructions can result in serious

property damage, injury or death.

Operating Auto Lane Change

Before you can operate Auto Lane Change,

you must enable it by touching Controls >

Settings > Driver Assistance > Auto Lane

Change > ON.

Note: Before you can turn on Auto Lane

Change, you must turn on Autosteer (see

Autosteer on page 82). Without Autosteer,

Auto Lane Change cannot operate.

Note: Your chosen setting is retained until you

manually change it. It is also saved in your

driver

proﬁle.

To change lanes using Auto Lane Change:

1. Perform visual checks to make sure it is

safe and appropriate to move into the

target lane.

2. Engage the appropriate turn signal and

initiate the lane change by having your

hands on the steering wheel.

3. Disengage the turn signal after you are in

the target lane.

Auto Lane Change assists in moving Model S

into the adjacent lane in the direction

indicated by the turn signal, provided the

following conditions are met:

• Auto Lane Change detected your hands

on the steering wheel.

• The Auto Lane Change setting is turned

on.

• The turn signal is engaged.

• Autosteer is actively steering Model S.

• The ultrasonic sensors do not detect a

vehicle or obstacle up to the center of the

target lane.

• The lane markings indicate that a lane

change is permitted.

• The view of the camera(s) is not

obstructed.

• Lane Assist does not detect a vehicle in

the blind spot (see Lane Assist on page

91).

• Midway through the lane change, Auto

Lane Change can detect the outside lane

marking of the target lane.

• Driving speed is at least 45 km/h.

Auto Lane Change

Driver Assistance 85

As the lane change is in progress, Overtake

Acceleration is activated, allowing Model S to

accelerate closer to a vehicle in front (see

Overtake Acceleration on page 79). Midway

through the lane change, Auto Lane Change

must be able to detect the target lane's

outside lane marking. If this lane marking

cannot be detected, both Auto Lane Change

and Autosteer will cancel.

Note: Auto Lane Change assists in moving

Model S one lane at a time. Moving into an

additional lane requires you to engage the

turn signal a second time after the

ﬁrst lane

change is complete.

Warning: If Auto Lane Change aborts

during a lane change (for example, Auto

Lane Change cannot detect the outside

of the target lane midway through the

lane change), Model S returns to its

original driving lane.

When Auto Lane Change is active, it is

important to monitor its performance by

watching the driving path in front of you and

the surrounding area. Stay prepared to take

over steering at any time. As you are crossing

over into the adjacent lane, the instrument

panel displays the lane marking as a dashed

blue line. Once in your new lane, lane markings

are displayed as solid blue lines again.

In situations where Auto Lane Change is

unable to operate at optimal performance, or

cannot operate due to inadequate data, the

instrument panel displays a series of warnings.

Therefore, when using Auto Lane Change,

always pay attention to the instrument panel

and be prepared to manually steer Model S.

Warning:

When Auto Lane Change is

actively assisting in steering Model S, the

steering wheel moves accordingly.

Although you must have your hands on

the steering wheel, any signiﬁcant

restriction of or force on the steering

wheel's movement can cancel both Auto

Lane Change and Autosteer.

Canceling Auto Lane Change

Auto Lane Change cancels when you manually

move the steering wheel, press the brake

pedal, or disengage the turn indicator before

Model S crosses the markers on the existing

lane.

To disable Auto Lane Change so it is no longer

available, touch Controls > Settings > Driver

Assistance > Auto Lane Change > OFF.

Limitations

Auto Lane Change is particularly unlikely to

operate as intended in the following types of

situations:

• Auto Lane Change is unable to accurately

determine lane markings. For example,

lane markings are excessively worn, have

visible previous markings, have been

adjusted due to road construction, are

changing quickly (lanes branching

o,

crossing over, or merging), objects or

landscape features are casting strong

shadows on the lane markings, or the road

surface contains pavement seams or other

high-contrast lines.

• A vehicle is detected in your blind spot

when you engage the turn signal.

• The road has sharp curves.

• Visibility is poor (due to heavy rain, snow,

fog, etc.) or weather conditions are

interfering with sensor operation.

• Bright light (oncoming headlights or

direct sunlight) is interfering with the view

of the camera(s).

• A sensor or camera is damaged or

obstructed (such as by mud, fog, ice,

snow, etc.).

• The sensors are

aected by other

electrical equipment or devices that

generate ultrasonic waves.

• Model S is being driven very close to a

vehicle in front of it, which is blocking the

view of the camera(s).

Warning:

Many unforeseen circumstances

can impair the operation of Auto Lane

Change. Always keep this in mind and

remember that as a result, Auto Lane

Change may not assist in steering

Model S appropriately. Always drive

attentively and stay prepared to

immediately take action at any time.

Auto Lane Change

86 Model S Owner's Manual

If your Model S is equipped with Driver

Assistance components (see About Driver

Assistance on page 73), and you have

purchased the optional Enhanced Autopilot or

Full Self-Driving Capability package, Autopark

uses data from the ultrasonic sensors and GPS

to:

• Simplify parking on public roads by

maneuvering Model S into parallel and

perpendicular parking spaces. See Parking

on Public Roads on page 87.

• Automatically park and retrieve Model S

from outside the vehicle on a private

residential property. See Using Summon

on page 89.

Warning: Summon is a BETA feature.

Please use this feature with caution,

staying prepared to take immediate

action at any time.

Warning: Autopark's performance

depends on the ability of the ultrasonic

sensors to determine the vehicle's

proximity to curbs, objects, and other

vehicles.

Parking on Public Roads

When driving, follow these steps to allow

Autopark to maneuver Model S into a parking

space:

When driving slowly on a public road,

monitor the instrument panel to

determine when Autopark has detected a

parking space. When Autopark detects a

potential parking space, the instrument

panel displays a parking icon. Autopark

detects parallel parking locations when

driving below 24 km/h and perpendicular

parking locations when driving below 16

km/h.

Note: The parking icon appears only if the

vehicle's position and/or the

circumstances of the surrounding area are

such that Autopark can determine an

appropriate driving path. If Autopark

cannot determine an appropriate path (for

example, when driving on a narrow street

where moving into the parking space

causes the front of the vehicle to extend

into the adjacent lane), you can either

reposition the vehicle,

ﬁnd a dierent

parking space, or park manually.

2. Check to determine if the detected

parking space is appropriate and safe. If

so, pull forward and stop approximately a

car length ahead of the parking space (as

you normally would when parallel parking

or when backing into a perpendicular

parking space).

3. Release the steering wheel, shift Model S

into Reverse, then touch Start Autopark

on the touchscreen.

4. When parking is complete, Autopark

displays the "Complete" message.

In situations where Autopark cannot operate

due to inadequate sensor data, the instrument

panel displays a message indicating that you

must manually park Model S.

Note: If you press the brake when Autopark is

actively parking Model S, the parking process

pauses until you touch Resume on the

touchscreen.

Note: Autopark detects potential

perpendicular parking spaces that are at least

2.9 meters wide with a vehicle parked on each

side. Autopark detects parallel parking spaces

that are at least 6 meters, but less than 9

meters long. Autopark does not operate on

angled parking spaces.

Autopark

Driver Assistance 87

Warning: Never depend on Autopark to

ﬁnd a parking space that is legal, suitable,

and safe. Autopark may not always detect

objects in the parking space. Always

perform visual checks to conﬁrm that a

parking space is appropriate and safe.

Warning: When Autopark is actively

steering Model S, the steering wheel

moves in accordance with Autopark's

adjustments. Do not interfere with the

movement of the steering wheel. Doing

so cancels Autopark.

Warning: During the parking sequence,

continually check your surroundings. Be

prepared to apply the brakes to avoid

vehicles, pedestrians, or objects.

Warning: When Autopark is active,

monitor the touchscreen and instrument

panel to ensure that you are aware of the

instructions that Autopark is providing.

To Pause Parking

To pause Autopark, press the brake pedal

once. Model S stops and remains stopped until

you touch Resume on the touchscreen.

To Cancel Parking

Autopark cancels the parking sequence when

you manually move the steering wheel,

change gears, or touch Cancel on the

touchscreen. Autopark also cancels parking

when:

• The parking sequence exceeds the

maximum of seven moves.

• Model S detects that the driver is exiting

the vehicle.

• A door is opened.

• You press the accelerator pedal.

• You press the brake pedal while Autopark

is paused.

• An Automatic Emergency Braking event

occurs (see Collision Avoidance Assist on

page 93).

Limitations

Autopark is particularly unlikely to operate as

intended in these situations:

• The road is sloped. Autopark is designed

to operate on

ﬂat roads only.

• Visibility is poor (due to heavy rain, snow,

fog, etc.).

• The curb is constructed of material other

than stone, or the curb cannot be

detected.

• The target parking space is directly

adjacent to a wall or pillar (for example,

the last parking space of a row in an

underground parking structure).

• One or more of the ultrasonic sensors is

damaged, dirty, or obstructed (such as by

mud, ice, or snow).

• Weather conditions (heavy rain, snow, fog,

or extremely hot or cold temperatures)

are interfering with sensor operation.

• The sensors are

aected by other

electrical equipment or devices that

generate ultrasonic waves.

Warning: Many unforeseen circumstances

can impair Autopark's ability to park

Model S. Keep this in mind and remember

that as a result, Autopark may not steer

Model S appropriately. Pay attention

when parking Model S and stay prepared

to immediately take control.

Autopark

88 Model S Owner's Manual

Using Summon

Note: Summon is a BETA feature. Summon is

designed and intended for use only on a

private residential property where the

surrounding area is familiar and predictable.

When using Summon, you must continually

monitor the vehicle. It is the driver's

responsibility to use this feature safely,

responsibly, and as intended.

With Summon, you can move Model S in and

out of a parking space from outside the

vehicle using the mobile app. Using data from

the ultrasonic sensors, Summon maneuvers

Model S forward or reverse into a parking

space. When parking is complete Summon

shifts Model S into Park. Parking is complete

when:

• Model S detects an obstacle in its driving

path (within a chosen distance)

• Summon has moved Model S the

maximum distance of 12 meters

• In the case of reversing, Summon has

reached the maximum Summon Distance.

To use Summon:

• FIRST TIME ONLY: Enable Summon and

customize how it works (see Customizing

Summon on page 89).

• Position Model S for parking (see Position

the Vehicle for Parking on page 90).

• Initiate the parking maneuver using the

mobile app. Detailed instructions for each

method are provided later.

You can summon Model S back to its original

position if you previously auto parked it and

the vehicle has remained in the Park gear.

Then, using the mobile app, simply specify the

opposite direction. Summon moves the

vehicle along the original path provided the

environment has not changed (i.e. no

obstructions have been introduced). If

obstacles are detected, Summon attempts to

avoid the obstacles while staying as close as

possible to its original path.

To cancel Summon and stop Model S at any

time during a parking maneuver, use the

mobile app, press any button on the key, or (if

sitting in the vehicle) interact with the steering

wheel, brake pedal, accelerator pedal, or gear

stalk.

Note: If you want Summon to move multiple

times in the same direction, up to the

maximum of 12 meters, cancel Summon and

then re-initiate the parking process, choosing

the same direction.

Note: Summon can move Model S a short

distance laterally to avoid an obstacle but in

doing so, does not return the vehicle to its

driving path (i.e. Summon does not attempt to

move Model S around an obstacle).

Warning: Summon is unable to operate as

intended if the ultrasonic sensors are

obstructed by a vehicle bra, excessive

paint, or adhesive products (such as

wraps, stickers, rubber coating, etc.).

Warning: Model S cannot detect

obstacles that are located lower than the

bumper, very narrow (i.e. bicycles), or

hanging from a ceiling. In addition, many

unforeseen circumstances can impair

Summon's ability to move in or out of a

parking space and as a result, Summon

may not appropriately steer Model S.

Therefore, you must continually monitor

the vehicle's movement and surroundings

and remain prepared to stop Model S at

any time.

Customizing Summon

Before operating Summon, use the

touchscreen to enable it. Touch Controls >

Settings > Driver Assistance > Summon > ON.

Then touch Customize to specify how

Summon operates whenever it parks or

retrieves your vehicle:

• Bumper Clearance: Set the distance that

you want Summon to stop from a

detected object. For example, you may

want Summon to stop within just a few

inches of the garage wall. This distance

applies only to objects detected directly in

front of (when moving forward) or behind

(when reversing) Model S.

• Summon Distance: Specify the distance

Model S travels when backing out of a

parking space.

• Side Clearance: Allow Model S to enter

and exit very narrow parking spaces.

Warning:

Parking in a narrow space

limits the ability of the sensors to

accurately detect the location of

obstacles, increasing the risk of

damage to Model S and/or

surrounding objects.

Autopark

Driver Assistance 89

• Use Auto HomeLink (if equipped): Set to

ON if you want to activate HomeLink to

open/close a programmed garage door

that meets safety standards during the

parking process. If enabled, the garage

door automatically opens and closes when

Model S enters or exits.

Note: This setting automatically opens

and closes the garage door only when

using Summon. To automate HomeLink in

other situations (such as when driving),

you must access the HomeLink device's

main settings by touching Controls >

Settings > HomeLink (see HomeLink

Universal Transceiver on page 133).

Warning: Do not use this setting with

gates or with a garage door that does

not meet safety standards. A garage

door opener that does not have

safety stop and reverse features

(cannot detect an object in its path

and then automatically stop and

reverse) does not meet these

standards. Using a garage door

opener without these features

increases the risk of injury or death.

Note: All settings associated with Summon are

retained until you manually change them.

Position the Vehicle for Parking

Before operating Summon, align Model S

laterally with the parking space so Model S

can move straight into the space in either

Drive or Reverse. You must also position

Model S within 12 meters of the parking space

(the maximum distance that Summon can

move Model S).

If applicable, open your garage door. As

described earlier, this can be automated using

Auto HomeLink (if equipped).

Note: Use Summon on

ﬂat driveways only

where a raised concrete edge does not exceed

approximately 2.5 cm.

Operating Summon with the Mobile App

On the mobile app, start Summon and hold

down the forward or reverse button to move

Model S into the parking space.

Summon shifts Model S into Drive or Reverse

(based on the direction you

speciﬁed) and

drives into the parking space.

Note: If you release the direction button on

the mobile app, Summon stops moving

Model S.

Note:

Summon requires that Model S can

detect a valid key nearby.

Note: Summon cancels if your phone enters

sleep mode or is turned o.

Stopping or Canceling Summon

You can stop Model S at any time while

Summon is active by pressing any button on

the key or by using the mobile app. Summon

also cancels when:

• A door handle is pressed or a door is

opened.

• You interact with the steering wheel, brake

pedal, accelerator pedal, or gear stalk.

• Model S detects an obstacle and cannot

move forward for more than

approximately two seconds.

• Summon has moved Model S the

maximum distance of approximately 12

meters.

Limitations

Summon is unlikely to operate as intended in

the following types of situations:

• The road is sloped. Summon is designed

to operate on

ﬂat roads only.

• Summon has detected a raised concrete

edge when moving forward into the

parking location. Summon does not drive

forward over an edge that is higher than

approximately 2.5 cm.

• One or more of the ultrasonic sensors is

damaged, dirty, or obstructed (such as by

mud, ice, or snow).

• Weather conditions (heavy rain, snow, fog,

or extremely hot or cold temperatures)

are interfering with sensor operation.

• The sensors are

aected by other

electrical equipment or devices that

generate ultrasonic waves.

Note: Summon is disabled if Model S is in

Valet mode (see Valet Mode on page 40).

Warning:

The list above does not

represent an exhaustive list of situations

that may interfere with proper operation

of Autopark's Summon feature. It is the

driver's responsibility to remain in control

of Model S at all times. Pay close

attention whenever Summon is actively

moving Model S and stay prepared to

take immediate action. Failure to do so

can result in serious property damage,

injury or death.

Autopark

90 Model S Owner's Manual

If your Model S is equipped with Driver

Assistance components (see About Driver

Assistance on page 73), the cameras monitor

the markers on the lane you are driving in and

the ultrasonic sensors monitor the

surrounding areas and the blind spot for the

presence of a vehicle or other objects.

When an object is detected in your blind spot

or close to the side of Model S (such as a

vehicle, guard rail, etc.), colored lines radiate

from the image of Model S on the instrument

panel. The location of the lines correspond to

the location of the detected object. The color

of the lines (white, yellow, orange, or red)

represents the object's proximity to Model S,

with white being the farthest and red being

very close and requiring your immediate

attention. These colored lines only display

when driving between approximately 12 km/h

and 140 km/h. When Autosteer is active, these

colored lines also display if driving slower than

12 km/h. However, the colored lines do not

display if Model S is at a standstill (for

example, in heavy

trac).

Lane Assist also warns you of undesired lane

departures by vibrating the steering wheel

slightly if a front wheel passes over a lane

marking and the associated turn signal is

o.

This warning is active only when driving

between approximately 59 and 150 km/h. To

turn this warning on or

o, touch Controls >

Settings > Driver Assistance > Lane

Departure Warning. Your chosen setting is

retained until you manually change it. It is also

saved in your driver

proﬁle.

In addition to the warnings previously

described, Lane Assist may provide steering

interventions if Model S drifts into (or close to)

an adjacent lane in which an object, such as a

vehicle, is detected. In these situations,

Model S automatically steers to a safer

position in its driving lane. This steering is

applied only when Model S is traveling

between 48 and 140 km/h on major roadways

with clearly visible lane markings. When Lane

Assist applies a steering intervention, the

instrument panel

brieﬂy displays a warning

message.

Warning: Steering interventions are

minimal and are not designed to move

Model S out of its driving lane. Do not rely

on steering interventions to avoid side

collisions.

Warning: Lane Assist features are for

guidance purposes only and are not

intended to replace your own direct visual

checks. Never depend on Lane Assist to

inform you of unintentionally driving

outside of the boundaries of the driving

lane or informing you that an object or

vehicle is in your blind spot or close to

the side of your vehicle. Several external

factors can reduce the performance of

Lane Assist. It is the driver's responsibility

to stay alert, pay attention to the driving

lane and always be aware of other road

users. Failure to do so can result in

serious injury or death.

Warning: Lane Assist is designed to

detect lane markings and may not detect

the edge of a road, especially if the road

has no curb. It is the driver's responsibility

to drive attentively and stay within the

boundaries of the driving lane.

Warning: Before changing lanes, always

visually check the lane you are moving

into by using side mirrors and performing

the appropriate shoulder checks. Several

factors can aect the performance of the

Lane Assist warnings, resulting in lack of,

or false warnings (see Limitations and

Inaccuracies on page 91).

Limitations and Inaccuracies

Lane Assist cannot always clearly detect lane

markings and you may experience

unnecessary or invalid warnings in these

situations:

Lane Assist

Driver Assistance 91

• Visibility is poor and lane markings are not

clearly visible (due to heavy rain, snow,

fog, etc.). The exact detection zone of the

ultrasonic sensors varies depending on

environmental conditions.

• Bright light (such as from oncoming

headlights or direct sunlight) is interfering

with the view of the camera(s).

• A vehicle in front of Model S is blocking

the view of the camera(s).

• The windshield is obstructing the view of

the camera(s) (fogged over, dirty, covered

by a sticker, etc.).

• Lane markings are excessively worn, have

visible previous markings, have been

adjusted due to road construction, or are

changing quickly (for example, lanes

branching

o, crossing over, or merging).

• The road is narrow or winding.

• Objects or landscape features are casting

strong shadows on lane markers.

Lane Assist may not provide warnings, or may

apply inappropriate warnings, in these

situations:

• One or more of the ultrasonic sensors is

damaged, dirty, or obstructed (such as by

mud, ice, or snow).

• Weather conditions (heavy rain, snow, fog,

or extremely hot or cold temperatures)

are interfering with sensor operation.

• The sensors are

aected by other

electrical equipment or devices that

generate ultrasonic waves.

• An object that is mounted to Model S is

interfering with and/or obstructing a

sensor (such as a bike rack or a bumper

sticker).

In addition, Lane Assist may not steer Model S

away from an adjacent vehicle, or may apply

unnecessary or inappropriate steering, in

these situations:

• You are driving Model S on sharp corners

or on a curve at a relatively high speed.

• Bright light (such as from oncoming

headlights or direct sunlight) is interfering

with the view of the camera(s).

• You are drifting into another lane but an

object (such as a vehicle) is not present.

• A vehicle in another lane cuts in front of

you or drifts into your driving lane.

• Model S is traveling less than 48 km/h or

over 145 km/h.

• One or more of the ultrasonic sensors is

damaged, dirty, or obstructed (such as by

mud, ice, or snow).

• Weather conditions (heavy rain, snow, fog,

or extremely hot or cold temperatures)

are interfering with sensor operation.

• The sensors are aected by other

electrical equipment or devices that

generate ultrasonic waves.

• An object mounted to Model S (such as a

bike rack or a bumper sticker) is

interfering with or obstructing a sensor.

• Visibility is poor and lane markings are not

clearly visible (due to heavy rain, snow,

fog, etc.).

• Lane markings are excessively worn, have

visible previous markings, have been

adjusted due to road construction or are

changing quickly (for example, lanes

branching

o, crossing over, or merging).

Warning: The lists above do not represent

every possible situation that may interfere

with Lane Assist warnings. Lane Assist

may not operate as intended for many

other reasons. To avoid a collision, stay

alert and always pay attention to the

roadway when driving Model S so you can

anticipate the need to take corrective

action as early as possible.

Lane Assist

92 Model S Owner's Manual

If your Model S is equipped with Driver

Assistance components (see About Driver

Assistance on page 73), the following collision

avoidance features are designed to increase

the safety of you and your passengers:

• Forward Collision Warning - provides

visual and audible warnings in situations

when Model S detects that there is a high

risk of a frontal collision (see Forward

Collision Warning on page 93).

• Automatic Emergency Braking -

automatically applies braking to reduce

the impact of a frontal collision (see

Automatic Emergency Braking on page

94).

• Pedal Misapplication Mitigation - may

reduce the impact of a collision in

situations where Model S detects an

object in its immediate driving path and

determines that the driver has

accidentally pressed the accelerator pedal

(see Pedal Misapplication Mitigation on

page 95).

Warning: Forward Collision Warning is for

guidance purposes only and is not a

substitute for attentive driving and sound

judgment. Keep your eyes on the road

when driving and never depend on

Forward Collision Warning to warn you of

a potential collision. Several factors can

reduce or impair performance, causing

either unnecessary, invalid, inaccurate, or

missed warnings. Depending on Forward

Collision Warning to warn you of a

potential collision can result in serious

injury or death.

Warning: 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.

Warning: Pedal Misapplication Mitigation

is not designed to prevent a collision. At

best, it can minimize the impact of a

collision. Depending on Pedal

Misapplication Mitigation to avoid a

collision can result in serious injury or

death.

Forward Collision Warning

The forward looking camera(s) and the radar

sensor monitor the area in front of Model S for

the presence of an object such as a vehicle,

bicycle, or pedestrian. If a collision is

considered likely unless you take immediate

corrective action, Forward Collision Warning is

designed to sound a chime and highlight the

vehicle in front of you in red on the instrument

panel. If this happens, TAKE IMMEDIATE

CORRECTIVE ACTION!

Warnings cancel automatically when the risk

of a collision has been reduced (for example,

you have decelerated or stopped Model S, or

the object in front of your vehicle has moved

out of your driving path).

If immediate action is not taken when Model S

issues a Forward Collision Warning, Automatic

Emergency Braking (if enabled) may

automatically apply the brakes if a collision is

considered imminent (see Automatic

Emergency Braking on page 94).

By default, Forward Collision Warning is

turned on. To turn it

o or adjust its sensitivity,

touch Controls > Settings > Driver

Assistance > Forward Collision Warning.

Instead of the default warning level of

Medium, you can turn the warning

O, or you

can choose to be warned Late or Early.

Note: Your chosen setting for Forward

Collision Warning is retained until you

manually change it. It is also saved in your

driver

proﬁle.

Warning:

The camera(s) and sensors

associated with Forward Collision

Warning are designed to monitor an

approximate area of up to 160 meters in

your driving path. The area being

monitored by Forward Collision Warning

can be adversely aected by road and

Collision Avoidance Assist

Driver Assistance 93

weather conditions. Use appropriate

caution when driving.

Warning: Forward Collision Warning is

designed only to provide visual and

audible alerts. It does not attempt to

apply the brakes or decelerate Model S.

When seeing and/or hearing a warning, it

is the driver's responsibility to take

corrective action immediately.

Warning: Forward Collision Warning may

provide a warning in situations where the

likelihood of collision may not exist. Stay

alert and always pay attention to the area

in front of Model S so you can anticipate

whether any action is required.

Warning: Forward Collision Warning

operates only when driving between

approximately 10 km/h and 150 km/h.

Warning: Forward Collision Warning does

not provide a warning when the driver is

already applying the brake.

Automatic Emergency Braking

The forward looking camera(s) and the radar

sensor are designed to determine the distance

from an object (vehicle, motorcycle, bicycle, or

pedestrian) traveling in front of Model S.

When a frontal collision is considered

unavoidable, Automatic Emergency Braking is

designed to apply the brakes to reduce the

severity of the impact.

When Automatic Emergency Braking applies

the brakes, the instrument panel displays a

visual warning and sounds a chime. You may

also notice abrupt downward movement of

the brake pedal. The brake lights turn on to

alert other road users that you are slowing

down.

If driving (46 km/h) or faster, the brakes are

released after Automatic Emergency Braking

has reduced your driving speed by (40 km/h).

For example, if Automatic Emergency Braking

applies braking when driving 90 km/h, it

releases the brakes when your speed has been

reduced to 50 km/h.

Automatic Emergency Braking operates only

when driving between approximately 10 km/h

and 150 km/h.

Automatic Emergency Braking does not apply

the brakes, or stops applying the brakes,

when:

• You turn the steering wheel sharply.

• You press and release the brake pedal

while Automatic Emergency Braking is

applying the brakes.

• You accelerate hard (the pressure on the

accelerator pedal increases from below

90% to above 90%) while Automatic

Emergency Braking is applying the brakes.

• The vehicle, motorcycle, bicycle, or

pedestrian is no longer detected ahead.

Automatic Emergency Braking is always

enabled when you start Model S. To disable it

(in addition to disabling Pedal Misapplication

Mitigation) for your current drive, touch

Controls > Settings > Driver Assistance >

Automatic Emergency Braking > Disable.

Warning: Disabling Automatic Emergency

Braking also disables Pedal Misapplication

Mitigation.

Warning: It is strongly recommended that

you do not disable Automatic Emergency

Braking. If you disable it, Model S does

not automatically apply the brakes in

situations where a collision is considered

likely.

Warning: Automatic Emergency Braking

is designed to reduce the severity of an

impact. It is not designed to avoid a

collision.

Warning: Several factors can aect the

performance of Automatic Emergency

Braking, causing either no braking or

inappropriate or untimely braking. It is the

driver’s responsibility to drive safely and

remain in control of the vehicle at all

times. Never depend on Automatic

Emergency Braking to avoid or reduce

the impact of a collision.

Warning: Automatic Emergency Braking

is designed to reduce the impact of

frontal collisions only and does not

function when Model S is in Reverse.

Warning: Automatic Emergency Braking

is not a substitute for maintaining a safe

traveling distance between you and the

vehicle in front of you.

Warning: The brake pedal moves

downward abruptly during automatic

braking events. Always ensure that the

brake pedal can move freely. Do not place

Collision Avoidance Assist

94 Model S Owner's Manual

material under or on top of the Tesla-

supplied driver’s ﬂoor mat (including an

additional mat) and always ensure that

the driver’s ﬂoor mat is properly secured.

Failure to do so can impede the ability of

the brake pedal to move freely.

Note: For advance notice of an Automatic

Emergency Braking event, turn on Forward

Collision Warning (see Forward Collision

Warning on page 93). When turned on, you

hear a chime and see a collision warning on

the instrument panel if a collision is

considered likely. Then, if you do not take

immediate corrective action, a collision is

considered imminent and Automatic

Emergency Braking applies braking to reduce

driving speed. If enabled, Automatic

Emergency Braking applies braking when a

collision is considered inevitable, even if

Forward Collision Warning is turned

o.

Pedal Misapplication Mitigation

Pedal Misapplication Mitigation is designed to

reduce the impact of a collision by reducing

motor torque and in some cases, applying the

brakes, if Model S detects an object in its

driving path and has determined that you

have accidentally pressed the accelerator

pedal (instead of the brake pedal). For

example, Model S, while parked in front of a

closed garage door with the Drive gear

engaged, detects that you have pressed hard

on the accelerator pedal. Although Model S

still accelerates and hits the garage door, the

reduced torque may result in less damage.

When the torque is reduced, the instrument

panel displays:

To override this feature and resume normal

motor torque (and cancel any automated

braking that may be in

eect), release and

reapply the accelerator pedal.

Pedal Misapplication Mitigation is designed to

operate only when all of these conditions are

met:

• A driving gear is engaged (Drive or

Reverse).

• Model S is stopped or traveling less than

10 mph (16 km/h).

• Model S detects an object in its immediate

driving path.

• Pressure on the accelerator pedal pressure

exceeds 50%.

Pedal Misapplication Mitigation is enabled

whenever Automatic Emergency Braking is

enabled (see Automatic Emergency Braking

on page 94).

Warning: Pedal Misapplication Mitigation

is designed to reduce the severity of an

impact. It is not designed to avoid a

collision.

Warning: Pedal Misapplication Mitigation

may not limit torque in all situations.

Several factors, including environmental

conditions, distance from an obstacle, and

a driver's actions, can limit, delay, or

inhibit Pedal Misapplication Mitigation.

Warning: Do not rely on Pedal

Misapplication Mitigation to control

acceleration or to avoid, or limit, the

severity of a collision, and do not attempt

to test Pedal Misapplication Mitigation.

Doing so can result in serious property

damage, injury, or death.

Warning: Several factors can aect the

performance of Pedal Misapplication

Mitigation, causing an inappropriate or

untimely reduction in motor torque

and/or undesired braking. It is the driver's

responsibility to drive safely and remain in

control of Model S at all times.

Limitations and Inaccuracies

Collision Avoidance features cannot always

detect all objects, vehicles, bikes, or

pedestrians, and you may experience

unnecessary, inaccurate, invalid, or missed

warnings for many reasons, particularly if:

• The road has sharp curves.

• Visibility is poor (due to heavy rain, snow,

fog, etc.).

• Bright light (such as from oncoming

headlights or direct sunlight) is interfering

with the view of the camera(s).

• The radar sensor is obstructed (dirty,

covered, etc.).

• The windshield is obstructing the view of

the camera(s) (fogged over, dirty, covered

by a sticker, etc.).

Warning:

The limitations previously

described do not represent an exhaustive

list of situations that may interfere with

proper operation of Collision Avoidance

Assist features. These features may fail to

provide their intended function for many

other reasons. It is the driver’s

responsibility to avoid collisions by

staying alert and paying attention to the

Collision Avoidance Assist

Driver Assistance 95

area beside Model S so you can anticipate

the need to take corrective action as early

as possible.

Caution: If a fault occurs with a Collision

Avoidance Assist feature, Model S

displays an alert. Contact Tesla Service.

Collision Avoidance Assist

96 Model S Owner's Manual

How Speed Assist Works

When the Speed Limit Warning is turned on,

the instrument panel displays a speed limit as

determined by GPS data. Warnings (described

later) take eect when you exceed this limit.

In situations where Speed Assist is unable to

determine a speed limit (for example, speed

limit signs and GPS data are not available at

the current location), or if Speed Assist is

uncertain that an acquired speed limit is

accurate (for example, although a speed limit

sign was initially detected, some time has

passed before a subsequent sign has been

detected), the instrument panel may not

display a speed limit sign and warnings do not

take

eect.

If you set the speed limit warning to Display

(see Controlling Speed Assist on page 97)

and exceed the determined speed limit, the

speed limit sign on the instrument panel

increases in size.

If you set the speed limit warning to Chime

(see Controlling Speed Assist on page 97)

and exceed the determined speed limit, the

speed limit sign on the instrument panel

increases in size and Model S also sounds a

warning chime.

Note: Speed limit warnings go away after ten

seconds, or when Model S slows down below

the

speciﬁed limit.

Warning:

Do not rely on Speed Assist to

determine the appropriate speed limit or

driving speed. Always drive at a safe

speed based on trac and road

conditions.

Controlling Speed Assist

To adjust the Speed Limit Warning setting,

touch Controls > Settings > Driver

Assistance > Speed Limit Warning, then

choose one of these options:

• O - Speed limit warnings do not display

and chimes are not sounded.

• Display - Speed limit signs display on the

instrument panel and the sign increases in

size when you exceed the determined

limit.

• Chime - In addition to the visual display, a

chime is sounded whenever you exceed

the determined speed limit.

You can also specify how the speed limit is

determined:

• Relative - The speed limit is determined

automatically based on detected

trac

signs and GPS data. If desired, you can set

a speed limit oset (+ or -) if you want to

be alerted only when you exceed the

oset speed limit by a speciﬁed amount.

For example, you can increase the oset

to +10 km/h if you only want to be warned

when you exceed the speed limit by

10 km/h.

Note: The oset from speed limit also

aects the number shown in the gray

speedometer icon on the left side of the

driving speed on the instrument panel.

• Absolute - Manually specify any speed

limit between 30 and 240 km/h.

Note: GPS data is not always accurate. The

GPS can miscalculate a road's location and

provide the speed limit for a directly adjacent

road that may have a

dierent speed limit. For

example, the GPS can assume Model S is on a

freeway or highway when it is actually on a

nearby surface street, and vice versa.

Note: Your chosen setting is retained until you

manually change it. It is also saved in your

driver

proﬁle.

Limitations and Inaccuracies

Speed Assist may not be fully functional or

may provide inaccurate information in these

situations:

• The speed limits stored in the GPS

database are incorrect or outdated.

Speed Assist

Driver Assistance 97

• Model S is being driven in an area where

GPS data is not available.

• A road or a speed limit has recently

changed.

Warning: The list above does not

represent an exhaustive list of situations

that may interfere with proper operation

of Speed Assist. Speed Assist may fail to

provide warnings for many other reasons.

Speed Assist

98 Model S Owner's Manual

The Big Picture

The main components of the touchscreen are shown here. To manually control the brightness and

contrast, touch Controls > Displays. When set to Auto, the touchscreen changes between the Day

(light background) and Night (dark background) setting depending on ambient lighting

conditions.

Note: The following illustration is provided for demonstration purposes only. Depending on vehicle

options, software version and market region, your touchscreen may appear slightly

dierent.

Touchscreen Overview

Using the Touchscreen 99

Touchscreen Overview

100 Model S Owner's Manual

1. Status bar

The top line displays provides shortcuts to lock/unlock Model S, to access HomeLink (if

equipped) and Driver Proﬁles, display vehicle information (the Tesla “T”), download software

updates, display network strength and Bluetooth

status Wi-Fi settings, and to access the

passenger airbag setting. If an alert icon (exclamation mark) is displayed, touch it to see

warning messages that are in

eect.

Note: The airbag status symbol displays only when Model S is powered on.

Note: You can also display the time and outside temperature on the instrument panel by

choosing the Clock option using the left or right scroll wheel on the steering wheel (see

Steering Wheel on page 41).

Note: Touch the lock icon to unlock/lock all doors. In situations where only the driver's door is

unlocked (for example, Door Unlock Mode is set to Driver), the lock icon displays as unlocked

and touching it locks all doors. For more information on Door Unlock Mode, see Doors on

page 4.

Touchscreen Overview

Using the Touchscreen 101

2. Apps

Touch an app to display it in the viewing area. Apps have default positions. Navigation and

Camera open in the top viewing area, whereas all other apps open in the bottom viewing area.

Instead of displaying the app in the default viewing area, you can specify where you want to

display the app by touching and holding the app's icon and dragging it onto the preferred

viewing area.

Media. See Media and Audio on page 119.

Maps and Navigation (if equipped). See Maps and Navigation on page 126.

Note: When displaying maps in the top (or entire) viewing area when a

driving gear is engaged, the status and app bars at the top disappear after a

few seconds to maximize the size of the map. Touch the map to redisplay

them.

Calendar. See Calendar on page 131.

Energy. See Getting Maximum Range on page 70.

Web. Access the Internet using the web browser (if equipped).

Camera. Display the area behind Model S. This area also displays

automatically whenever you shift into Reverse. See Rear View Camera on

page 72.

Phone. See Phone on page 124.

3. Main viewing area

The main viewing area changes depending on the app you have chosen. For some apps (such

as Navigation and Web), you can zoom in and out using standard touchscreen ﬁnger gestures.

4. Maximize/minimize app

Touch the small rectangle to expand the associated app to ﬁll the entire main viewing area

(some apps are not expandable). Touch again to display two apps in half-screen view.

5. Controls

Touch to access all Model S controls and settings (doors, locks, lights, etc).

Touchscreen Overview

102 Model S Owner's Manual

6. Climate controls (see Climate Controls on page 111).

7. Volume control

Touch the up and down arrows to increase or decrease the volume of the speakers. You can

also adjust the volume using the scroll wheel on the left side of the steering wheel.

8. Reverse the position of the two currently displayed apps.

Warning: Paying attention to road and trac conditions must always be the driver's highest

priority. To ensure the safety of vehicle occupants as well as other road users, using the

touchscreen should be done only when road and trac conditions permit.

Touchscreen Overview

Using the Touchscreen 103

Controlling Features

Touch Controls on the bottom corner of the touchscreen to control and customize all main

features of Model S.

Note: The following illustration is provided for demonstration purposes only. Depending on vehicle

options, software version and market region, the options available on the Controls screen may be

dierent.

Controls

104 Model S Owner's Manual

1. Close

Touch the circled X in the top left corner of a window to close it (or you can touch anywhere

outside the window).

2. Sunroof

If Model S is equipped with a sunroof, touch to adjust its position (see Sunroof on page 16).

3. Suspension

If Model S is equipped with Smart Air Suspension, touch to manually raise or lower Model S, or

to remove a previously saved auto-raising location (see Smart Air Suspension on page 117).

Model S must be powered on and you must press the brake pedal before you can change

suspension settings. Smart Air Suspension causes Model S to self-level, even when powered

o. Therefore, when towing or lifting, you must disable self-leveling (see Instructions for

Transporters on page 179 and Jacking and Lifting on page 162).

4. Driving

• Steering mode

Adjust the amount of eort required to turn the steering wheel. Sport feels more

responsive whereas Comfort feels easier to drive and park (see Steering Wheel on page

41).

• Acceleration

Choose an acceleration setting that determines whether acceleration is limited or

increased (see Acceleration Modes on page 67).

• Creep

When on, Model S slowly moves forward when in Drive and backward in Reverse when

you release the brake (similar to a conventional vehicle with an automatic transmission).

You can adjust this setting only when Model S is in Park.

• Traction Control

In circumstances where you deliberately want the wheels to spin, you can enable Slip

Start. A warning message displays on the instrument panel. Although Slip Start disables

automatically when driving speed exceeds 80 km/h (or when you start Model S), it is

strongly recommended that you disable it immediately after the circumstances that

required you to enable it have passed. See Traction Control on page 63.

• Regenerative braking

When you release the accelerator when driving, regenerative braking slows Model S and

feeds any surplus energy back to the Battery. If set to Low, Model S does not slow down

as quickly, but you may experience less range (see Regenerative Braking on page 60).

Note: Regardless of the setting, the energy gained by regenerative braking is reduced if

the Battery is full, or if it is extremely cold or hot (the surplus energy is used to heat or

cool the Battery).

• Range Mode

If on, Model S conserves energy by limiting the power of the climate control system. Cabin

heating and cooling may be less

eective, but seat heaters can be used to provide

warmth in colder climates. When turned on in a dual-motor vehicle, torque distribution

between the motors is optimized to maximize range.

5. Cold Weather

If Model S is equipped with the optional cold weather package, you can control all seat

heaters as well as the heated wipers and steering wheel. Heaters that are turned on are

displayed in red. To turn

o all seat heaters, touch All O. Note that you can also control the

front driver and passenger seats using the main climate control panel located on the bottom

of the touchscreen (see Climate Controls on page 111).

6. Trips

View and reset the trip meters that summarize how far you have driven (see Trip Information

on page 69).

Controls

Using the Touchscreen 105

7. Displays

Manually control the brightness and the Day (light background) or Night (dark background)

setting of the touchscreen and instrument panel. When set to Auto, the brightness changes

automatically between day and night brightness based on ambient lighting conditions. When

Auto-adjust is checked, the displays are further adjusted based on both the surroundings and

by learning your preferences (i.e. it remembers the type of manual adjustments you make).

To disable the touchscreen momentarily for cleaning purposes, touch Clean Mode.

You can also put Model S into an energy saving mode so it consumes less energy when not in

use (see Getting Maximum Range on page 70).

Note: The Displays settings can also be accessed from the Settings screen.

8. E-Brake & Power

O

You can manually:

• Apply and release the parking brake (see Parking Brake on page 61).

• Power

o (see Powering O on page 45).

9. Doors & Locks (see Doors on page 4)

10. Lights (see Lights on page 53)

Warning: Do not read the touchscreen while driving. Doing so increases the likelihood of a

collision. Everything you need to know when driving is displayed on the instrument panel.

Controls

106 Model S Owner's Manual

Customizing Your Vehicle

Touch the Settings tab on the Controls window to adjust Model S to suit your preferences.

Note: The following illustration is provided for demonstration purposes only. Depending on vehicle

options, software version, and market region, the options available on the Settings screen may be

dierent. For example, in many regions, the “Language & Units” tab is called “Units & Format.”

Settings

Using the Touchscreen 107

1. Adjust settings associated with installed apps (applications). Settings associated with apps

that are either unavailable on Model S, or have no settings that you can adjust at this time, are

grayed out.

2. Manage driver proﬁles (see Driver Proﬁles on page 39).

3. Language & Units

Adjust how Model S displays:

• Region Format: Choose a region to

deﬁne the formatting convention used to display

dates (mm dd yy/dd-mm-yy, etc) and decimal separators (5.123, 5,123, etc).

• Language: Set the language used when Model S displays alerts, notiﬁcation messages,

and navigation instructions (if equipped).

NOTE: Model S must be in Park to change the language. When you change the language,

you experience a brief delay as the vehicle shuts down and restarts the touchscreen.

• Distance: Miles or km can be shown on the range display, speedometer, energy chart, trip

meters, Google map searches and navigation routes.

• Time Format: 12 or 24 hour.

• Temperature: °C or °F.

• Energy & Charging: Display remaining energy and charging units as either a percentage of

battery energy remaining, or as an estimate of the distance that you can drive. When you

choose Distance, you can display mileage based on either:

• Rated - based on ECE R101 testing.

• Typical - based on US EPA testing.

Note: When anticipating when you need to charge, use range estimates as a general

guideline only.

• Tire Pressure: BAR or PSI.

4. Vehicle

Note: Depending on date of manufacture and options chosen at time of purchase, some

vehicles are not equipped with all features listed below.

• Headlights After Exit: If on in low lighting conditions, headlights stay on for one minute

after you exit, or until you lock the vehicle (see Headlights After Exit on page 56).

• Adaptive Headlights (if equipped): If on, the Adaptive Front Lighting System (AFS)

automatically adjusts the beam of the headlights to improve your driving view (see

Adaptive Front Lighting System (AFS) on page 56).

• Mirror Auto-Tilt: If on, exterior mirrors tilt downward when reversing (see Mirrors on page

44).

• Mirror Auto-Fold: If on, exterior mirrors fold when you lock Model S with the key, mobile

app, or walk-away locking. They extend automatically when you return. You can also fold

the mirrors manually by touching the center mirror control button (see Mirrors on page

44).

• Smart Preconditioning: If on, Model S predicts your driving schedule and automatically

adjusts the temperature of the cabin based on your last set temperature and your driving

schedule, making Model S comfortable and ready to drive. It may take some time for your

vehicle to learn your driving habits and if you do not have a regular driving schedule, it

will be unable to identify a pattern. Smart Preconditioning also warms your battery in

colder temperatures.

Note: To conserve energy in situations where Model S has a low charge level, smart

preconditioning may not occur.

Note: Smart Preconditioning is available only if you save your home and work locations

(see Favorite, Home, and Work Destinations on page 129).

Settings

108 Model S Owner's Manual

• Cabin Overheat Protection: If on, the air conditioning system can reduce cabin

temperatures in extremely hot ambient conditions for a period of up to twelve hours after

exiting Model S (see Cabin Overheat Protection on page 115).

Warning: Never leave children or pets in the vehicle unattended. Due to automatic

shut-o or extreme outside conditions, the inside of the vehicle can become

dangerously hot even with Cabin Overheat Protection enabled.

Note: Cabin Overheat Protection does not operate when the energy remaining in the

Battery is 20% or less.

Note: Cabin Overheat Protection can be used only if the Tilt/Intrusion detection system (if

equipped) is turned o (see Security Settings on page 132).

• Autowipers (Beta): If on, wipers turn on automatically when Model S detects rain on the

windshield. You must also set the wipers to an Auto setting (see Wipers and Washers on

page 58).

5. Doors & Locks

Note: Depending on date of manufacture and options chosen at time of purchase, some

vehicles are not equipped with all features listed below.

• Door Unlock Mode: Choose whether you want ALL doors, or just the DRIVER door, to

unlock when you approach Model S carrying your key.

• Child-Protection Lock: If on, safety locks prevent the rear doors and the liftgate from

being opened from inside the vehicle.

• Walk-away Door Lock: If on, doors automatically lock when you walk away from the

vehicle, carrying your key with you (see Walk-away Locking on page 7).

• Auto-Present Handles: If on, door handles extend automatically whenever you approach

Model S carrying a key (if Passive Entry is enabled), whether locked or unlocked (see

Doors on page 4).

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, or if

the key remains within range for

ﬁve minutes after all doors have been closed.

• Unlock on Park: If on, doors automatically unlock when you engage the Park gear.

• Passive Entry: If on, doors automatically unlock and door handles extend (if Auto-Present

Handles is on) whenever you approach Model S carrying a key. If

o, you must use the key

to unlock Model S. See Using the Key on page 4.

Note: You must press the brake pedal to power Model S on before you can change the

Passive Entry setting. See Starting on page 45.

Note: If Passive Entry is o and you do not press the brake pedal to start Model S within

approximately

ﬁve minutes, a message displays on the instrument panel and you must use

the key to lock then unlock Model S again before starting the vehicle.

Note: Depending on your region, Passive Entry may be enabled or disabled by default.

6. Safety & Security

Turn various safety, security, and privacy features on and o:

• Passenger Front Airbag (see Disabling the Passenger Front Airbags on page 37).

• Active safety devices Model S is equipped with, such as Park Assist Chimes (see Park

Assist on page 64).

• Security features that Model S is equipped with, such as the alarm (see Security Settings

on page 132).

• Privacy features such as allowing access by Tesla’s mobile applications (see Mobile App

on page 137) and enabling the sharing of road measurement data (see Data Sharing on

page 183).

Settings

Using the Touchscreen 109

7. Displays

Manually control the brightness and the DAY (light background) or NIGHT (dark background)

setting of the touchscreen and instrument panel. When set to AUTO, the brightness changes

automatically between day and night brightness based on ambient lighting conditions. When

Auto-adjust is checked, the displays are further adjusted based on both the surroundings and

by learning your preferences (i.e. it remembers the type of manual adjustments you make).

To disable the touchscreen momentarily for cleaning purposes, touch CLEAN MODE.

You can also put Model S into an energy saving mode so it consumes less energy when not in

use (see Getting Maximum Range on page 70).

Note: The Displays settings can also be accessed from the Controls screen.

8. HomeLink (if equipped)

If the HomeLink feature is available in your region, use it to control RF-enabled garage doors,

lights, or security systems (see HomeLink Universal Transceiver on page 133).

9. Driver Assistance

If Model S is equipped with Driver Assistance components, you can control the features that

provide a safer and more convenient driving experience (see About Driver Assistance on page

73).

10. Service & Reset

Turn various service-related features on and

o:

• Service Mode: If on, moves wiper blades to the service position to make them easier to

access when replacing them. Your Model S must be in Park (see Wipers and Washers on

page 58).

• Tire Pressure Monitor: Touch RESET SENSORS to reset the TPMS sensors after replacing a

wheel (see Resetting the TPMS Sensors on page 152).

• Tow Mode: Activate Tow Mode to keep Model S in Neutral (see Keeping Your Vehicle in

Neutral (Tow Mode) on page 46).

• Factory Reset: Touch ERASE & RESET to erase all personal data (saved addresses, music

favorites, etc.) and restore all customized settings to their factory defaults.

11. Manual

Display this owner's manual.

Note: If upgrades are available for Model S (for example, an upgrade to include Autopilot or to

increase driving range), the Upgrades tab also appears on the Settings window. Simply choose

the upgrade that you want to purchase, then follow the onscreen instructions.

Warning:

Do not read the touchscreen while driving. Doing so increases the likelihood of a

collision.

Naming Your Vehicle

To further personalize Model S, you can name it. The name you give your Model S will appear in

the mobile app. To name your vehicle, touch the Tesla “T” at the top center of the touchscreen,

then touch Name Your Vehicle.

When you save, Name Your Vehicle is replaced by the name you provided. You can touch the

name at any time to rename your vehicle.

Erasing Personal Data

You can erase all personal data (saved addresses, music favorites, imported contacts, HomeLink

programming, etc.) and restore all customized settings to their factory defaults. This is useful

when transferring ownership of Model S. Touch Controls > Settings > Service & Reset > FACTORY

RESET > ERASE & RESET. Before erasing, Model S

veriﬁes your credentials by prompting you to

enter the user name and password associated with your Tesla Account.

Settings

110 Model S Owner's Manual

Overview of Climate Controls

The climate controls are always available at the bottom of the touchscreen. By default, climate

control is set to Auto, which maintains optimum comfort in all but the most severe weather

conditions. When you adjust the temperature, the system automatically adjusts the heating, air

conditioning, air distribution, air circulation, and fan speed to maintain your selected temperature.

To override these settings, touch Auto (see Customizing Climate Control on page 112).

The fan, heating, and air conditioning systems are powered by the Battery. Therefore, prolonged

use decreases driving range.

Note: The following illustration is provided for demonstration purposes only. Depending on vehicle

options, software version, market region, and settings, the information displayed may be slightly

dierent.

1. The front seats are equipped with heating pads that operate at three levels from 3 (highest) to

1 (lowest). When operating, the indicator turns red and displays the setting number.

Note: If Model S is equipped with the optional cold weather package, you can also control

seat heaters in the rear seats, heated wipers, and heated steering wheel by touching

Controls > Cold Weather (see Controls on page 104). When equipped with the optional

executive rear seats, you can control the seat and the backrest separately in each second row

passenger seat.

2. Touch the up or down arrow to set the cabin temperature. To apply a temperature setting to

both the driver and passenger side at the same time, touch SYNC TEMP on the temperature

popup that appears when you touch an arrow.

3. Touch the fan icon to customize and automate climate control settings (See Customizing

Climate Control on page 112.)

4. The windshield defroster distributes air

ﬂow to the windshield. Touch once to turn on, touch a

second time to operate the heating and fan at their maximum level, and touch a third time to

turn

o and restore the air distribution, heating, and fan to their previous settings.

5. Turn climate control system on/o.

Note: The label on this button says Keep Climate On if you have set the climate control system

to maintain your temperature settings when parked (see Customizing Climate Control on

page 112).

6. The rear window defroster warms up the rear window for 15 minutes, then automatically shuts

o. Exterior side mirrors are also heated.

Note: Depending on date of manufacture and options selected at time of purchase, some

vehicles are not equipped with a heater in the exterior side mirrors.

Warning:

To avoid burns resulting from prolonged use, individuals who have peripheral

neuropathy, or whose capacity to feel pain is limited because of diabetes, age, neurological

injury, or some other condition, should exercise caution when using the climate control

system and seat heaters.

Climate Controls

Using the Touchscreen 111

Customizing Climate Control

The climate control system is designed to automatically provide optimum comfort in most

situations. All you need to do is set the desired temperature, and the air conditioning, air

recirculation, air distribution, and fan speed automatically maintain your selected temperature.

You can even keep the climate control system on while you are away from the vehicle so that the

selected temperature is maintained.

To override the automatic setting, touch AUTO to customize individual settings. Then touch the

setting you want to change. When you change a setting, the AUTO icon turns from blue to gray

and RESET AUTO displays instead. Touch RESET AUTO to change all settings on the panel back to

their defaults. Or, you can touch AUTO associated with any individual setting to change it back to

its default.

In addition to the ﬁve settings shown above (and described below), if Model S is in Park, a Climate

Timer displays below the above popup (see Keep Climate On on page 114).

1. Touch RESET AUTO to change all settings back to their default values.

2. Touch A/C ON or A/C OFF to turn the air conditioning on and

o, respectively. Turning it o

reduces cooling, but saves energy.

Because Model S runs much quieter than a gasoline-powered vehicle, you may notice the

sound of the A/C compressor as it is operating. To minimize noise, reduce the fan speed.

Climate Controls

112 Model S Owner's Manual

3. Choose how air is drawn into Model S:

Outside air is drawn into Model S (see Ventilation on page 115). Although

less ecient than recirculating the air in very hot or cold climate

conditions, this setting draws more air into the rear seating areas, and is

recommended when occupants are seated in the Tesla built-in rear facing

child seats.

Air inside Model S is recirculated. This prevents outside air (trac fumes)

from entering, but reduces dehumidifying performance. Recirculating the

air is the most ecient way to cool the front cabin area. To prevent the

windshield from fogging in some conditions, brieﬂy change the setting

every hour to draw in outside air.

If your Model S is equipped with the HEPA (High Eciency Particulate

Air) ﬁlter, you can ensure the best possible quality of air inside the cabin.

When selected, outside air is drawn in and ﬁltered through the medical-

grade HEPA ﬁlter in addition to the secondary ﬁltration systems. The

HEPA

ﬁlter is extremely eective at removing particles, including

pollution, allergens, bacteria, pollen, mold spores, and viruses. Both the

HEPA ﬁlter and the secondary ﬁltration system also contain activated

carbon to remove a broad spectrum of odors and gases. When you

engage the HEPA option, the fan operates at the highest speed. In

addition, the positive pressure inside the cabin minimizes the amount of

outside air that can leak into the vehicle.

Note: Some gases, such as carbon monoxide, are not

eectively removed

by activated carbon.

4. Choose where air ﬂows into the cabin. You can choose more than one location:

Foot-level vents

Face-level vents

Windshield vents

Note: When air is directed to the foot-level vents, approximately one third of the air continues

to ﬂow to the windshield vents to assist in defogging. However, when air is directed to the

face-level vents, no air

ﬂows to the windshield because the air ﬂowing through the face-level

vents may be adequate to assist in defogging the windshield.

5. Touch the arrows to set the speed of the fan.

Note: Adjusting the fan speed may change the selected setting for how air is drawn into

Model S in order to increase or reduce

airﬂow. If you set the fan speed very high (for example,

setting 10), Model S may automatically switch from drawing in outside air to recirculating air

to achieve the high air

ﬂow. Touch RESET AUTO to reset all settings to their default values.

Climate Controls

Using the Touchscreen 113

Keep Climate On

The Keep Climate On settings allows you to

keep your climate control system running as

long as the vehicle is in Park, even after you've

left. This is useful in situations where it is

important that the cabin is maintained at a

comfortable temperature (for example, you

are leaving your pet in Model S or you are

sleeping in Model S). To use the Keep Climate

On setting, the Battery's charge level must be

at least twenty percent.

To operate Keep Climate On:

1. Engage the Park gear. The Keep Climate

On setting is available only when Model S

is in Park.

2. On the Climate Controls, touch AUTO .

The Climate Timer appears below the

individual settings you use to adjust the

climate settings in the seating area.

3. If necessary, adjust the climate settings.

4. Touch Keep Climate On > ON.

The climate control system maintains your

climate settings until you shift out of Park or

manually turn it

o. If the Battery's charge

level drops to twenty percent, the climate

control system automatically turns o and the

Tesla mobile app sends you a

notiﬁcation

reminding you to check on anything that you

have left in Model S.

The next time you start Model S, the climate

control system will continue operating using

the previous settings from your most recent

drive.

Warning:

Never depend on the climate

control system to continue operating.

Doing so can cause serious injury and/or

death (for example, leaving a dog in the

car on a hot day).

Climate Controls

114 Model S Owner's Manual

Ventilation

Outside air is drawn into Model S through the

grill in front of the windshield. Keep the grill

clear of obstructions such as leaves and snow.

To direct the ﬂow of air inside Model S, move

the interior vents up, down, or from side to

side.

Note:

You can direct the outer face level vents

toward the side windows to help defrost or

defog them.

Cabin Air Filter

Model S has an air

ﬁlter that prevents pollen,

industrial fallout, road dust and other particles

from entering through the vents. Tesla

replaces the air

ﬁlter at the regularly

scheduled maintenance intervals of every

12 months, or every 20,000 km.

Cabin Overheat Protection

The climate control system can reduce cabin

temperatures in extremely hot ambient

conditions for a period of up to twelve hours

after you exit Model S. When enabled, air

conditioning turns on when cabin

temperatures exceed 40° C. To disable this

feature, touch Controls > Settings > Vehicle >

Cabin Overheat Protection > OFF.

Warning:

Never leave children or pets in

the vehicle unattended. Due to automatic

shut-o or extreme outside conditions,

the inside of the vehicle can become

dangerously hot even with Cabin

Overheat Protection enabled.

Note: Cabin Overheat Protection does not

operate, or stops operating, when the energy

remaining in the Battery is 20% or less.

Note: Cabin Overheat Protection can be used

only if the Tilt/Intrusion detection system (if

equipped) is turned

o (see Security Settings

on page 132).

Climate Controls

Using the Touchscreen 115

Climate Control Operating Tips

• When you use the mobile app to turn on

the climate control system, it

automatically turns o after 30 minutes.

To cool or heat the cabin for a longer

period, you must turn it on again.

• To conserve energy, you can limit the

power of the climate control system by

turning on Range Mode. Cabin heating

and cooling may be less

eective, but seat

heaters can be used to provide warmth in

colder climates. Touch Controls >

Driving > Range Mode.

• If the climate control system operates

more loudly than you prefer, reduce the

fan speed.

• In addition to cooling the interior, the A/C

compressor also cools the Battery.

Therefore, in hot weather, the A/C

compressor can turn on even if you turned

o. This is normal because the system’s

priority is to cool the Battery to ensure it

stays within an optimum temperature

range to support long life and optimum

performance.

• To ensure the climate control system

operates

eciently, close all windows and

ensure that the exterior grill in front of the

windshield is free of ice, snow, leaves, and

other debris.

• In very humid conditions, it is normal for

the windshield to fog slightly when you

ﬁrst turn on the air conditioning.

• It is normal for a small pool of water to

form under Model S when parked. Extra

water produced by the dehumidifying

process is drained underneath.

• To reduce the temperature in the cabin in

hot weather conditions, the fan may turn

on to vent the cabin when the vehicle is

parked. (This occurs only if the battery's

charge level is above 20%.)

Climate Controls

116 Model 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 the

system’s reservoir ﬁlls with air.

Smart Air Suspension has both manual and

automatic modes of operation.

Height Adjustments

Caution: 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, parking curbs, 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 56 km/h.

• High. When set to High, the suspension

automatically lowers to Standard when

driving speed reaches 73 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.

When you return to the saved location,

Model S raises the suspension and the

instrument panel displays this message:

Note:

• When you are returning to a saved

location and driving faster than the High

and Very High suspension settings allow

(see Height Adjustments on page 117), 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

Lowering) until you are driving faster than

the speed thresholds.

• 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

auto-raising location status 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.

Smart Air Suspension

Using the Touchscreen 117

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 that reduces the

performance of 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 o.

Press the brake pedal, then touch Controls >

Suspension > Jack.

To deactivate, touch Jack again.

Note: Jack mode automatically cancels when

you drive over 7 km/h.

Note: Model S also sets Jack mode

automatically if it detects that the vehicle

cannot lower to its target height, or if it

detects that an object is supporting the

vehicle's weight (for example the bumper of

the vehicle is resting on a curb).

Smart Air Suspension

118 Model S Owner's Manual

Overview

Touch the Media Player application to listen to

Internet radio, stream music or podcasts (if

available), or play audio ﬁles from a Bluetooth

or USB-connected device. You can play AM (if

equipped), FM (if equipped), and DAB radio (if

your vehicle is equipped with the optional

sound package).

Available source content displays across the

top of Media Player: Radio, Spotify, TuneIn,

and Phone. An additional source, USB,

displays when you insert a

ﬂash drive into a

USB connection (see USB Connections on

page 122). You can browse the content

available on Media Player by touching a

source, or you can use Search to

ﬁnd speciﬁc

content (see Searching within Media Player on

page 119).

The Now Playing view, which displays at the

bottom of Media Player, enables you to control

what's currently playing (for example,

pausing/playing, skipping to the next track/

station, etc.). You can also use the Now

Playing view to mark what's playing as a

favorite (see Favorites and Recent on page

121), and access recently played and favorite

stations, music, and podcasts.

The Now Playing view displays regardless of

the source (Radio, Spotify, TuneIn, Phone, and

USB) you select in Media Player. You can

maximize and minimize the Now Playing view

simply by touching it.

Note:

Trac announcements can be heard

only when playing AM (if equipped), FM (if

equipped) or DAB radio. To turn

trac

announcement on or o, touch the TP button

on the Now Playing view.

Volume Control

To adjust Media Player's volume, roll the scroll

wheel on the left side of the steering wheel up

or down. To mute the volume, press the left

scroll wheel.

The scroll wheel adjusts the volume for media,

navigation instructions, or phone calls, based

on what is currently being heard through the

speakers. If you're listening to a song, audio

ﬁle, or podcast, and you receive a phone call

or Model S relays a step in Trip Planner's turn-

by-turn directions through the speakers, the

song, audio

ﬁle, or podcast is muted

temporarily.

Note: Pressing the left scroll wheel during a

phone call mutes both the sound and your

microphone.

Audio Settings

Achieve the sound you want by adjusting the

fade (front/rear) and balance (left/right), or

by customizing the strength of sound

frequencies. Press the equalizer icon on the

top right corner of the Media Player to access

audio settings.

Adjust fade and balance on the left side of the

screen by positioning the center circle of the

cross bars to the location in Model S where

you want to focus the sound. Adjust any of the

ﬁve frequency bands (Bass, Bass/Mid, Mid,

Mid/Treble, and Treble) on the right side of the

screen by dragging the corresponding slider

up or down on the decibel (dB) bar.

If equipped, touch the Dolby check box to

enable Dolby Surround.

Searching within Media Player

Search is available throughout Media Player.

You can search across all content categories,

or you can limit your search to a particular

category. Search results include the following

content:

• TuneIn

• Spotify

• USB content

To search, touch anywhere in Media Player's

search bar and enter the name of the song,

album, artist, podcast, playlist, or station you

want to search for. Select a

ﬁlter to narrow the

scope of your search, or leave it at its default

setting to include top results from all

categories.

Note: You can also search hands-free using

voice commands (see Using Voice Commands

on page 43).

If you are using TuneIn, you can browse

content by category from the Browse area of

the TuneIn source. You can browse content by

location (Africa, Asia, North America, and so

on), by local radio, by talk radio, by favorites,

and other categories. To return from browsing

or to select another category to browse,

simply touch TuneIn at the top of Media

Player.

Media and Audio

Using the Touchscreen 119

AM (if equipped) and FM Radio

If it's available in your location, Media Player

provides AM (if equipped) and FM radio

service that you can select from the Radio

source. To tune the radio to a speciﬁc

frequency, choose a frequency and then touch

the next or previous arrows to move from one

frequency to the next (or previous). You can

also tap or drag your ﬁnger on the tuner to

the desired frequency. The three bars on the

left side of the frequency number indicate the

strength of the signal for the chosen

frequency. Touch HD to play high

deﬁnition

versions of available frequencies.

Mark a radio station as a favorite to display it

on the Radio source for easy access (see

Favorites and Recent on page 121).

DAB Radio Services

If Model S is equipped with the optional sound

package, you can also select DAB radio from

the Radio source of Media Player.

You can select a DAB radio station by

browsing a list of stations in your area, or by

tapping the next or previous buttons on the

Now Playing view.

Media and Audio

120 Model S Owner's Manual

Internet Radio

Internet radio services are accessed over a

data connection. To use Internet radio, touch

Media Player's Spotify or TuneIn source,

browse through the available categories

and/or stations, and then touch what you

want to play. When browsing through a large

category such as genres, a second browse

page displays. Use the left arrow button on

the left side of Media Player to return to the

prior page, or tap on the source again to

return to the main browse page.

To play the next (and in some cases previous)

available station, episode, or track being

provided by the Internet radio service, touch

the next (or previous) arrows on the Now

Playing view, or use the buttons on the left

side of the steering wheel (see Using Left

Steering Wheel Buttons on page 41). The

function of these controls vary depending on

the Internet service you are listening to.

You can also use voice commands only

available when speaking the English language

only) to play a

speciﬁc song, artist, or album

from an Internet radio service (see Using

Voice Commands on page 43).

When you are listening to internet radio, you

can do the following on the Now Playing view:

• Touch the Favorites icon to save the radio

station or podcast as a favorite (see

Favorites and Recent on page 121).

• Touch any number to access digital radio

stations (if available). Digital radio stations

provide higher quality sound and, in some

cases,

dierent programming than their

analog equivalents.

• Touch the right arrow to view a list of

tracks for a podcast or playlist.

By default, TuneIn uses a Tesla account that

has been set up for you. To sign in to a

dierent TuneIn account, scroll to the bottom

of the TuneIn source, touch Sign In, and enter

the login information for the account.

Note: When playing a TuneIn podcast, you can

rewind or fast forward to any location in the

podcast. On the Now Playing view, drag the

arrow below the slider bar to the desired

location.

Note: Model S does not support free Spotify

trial accounts.

Favorites and Recent

To ensure you always have easy access to your

favorite stations and audio

ﬁles, they display

at the top of Media Player and on the Now

Playing view. Regardless of which source you

are on (Radio, TuneIn, Phone, or USB), you see

favorites from all sources. You can maximize

or minimize source content simply by swiping.

Your USB favorites are available from the Now

Playing view in a Favorites folder. (You may

need to scroll to see the folder.) Your

ﬁrst USB

favorite plays when you touch the Favorites

folder in the Now Playing view. Use the next or

previous arrows to scroll through your USB

favorites.

Note: In Spotify, you can save a playlist, but

you cannot select favorites.

To add a currently playing radio

station, podcast, or audio ﬁle to your

Favorites list, touch the Favorites

icon on the Now Playing view. (You

may need to touch the Now Playing

view to maximize it before you can

touch the Favorites icon.)

To delete a favorite, touch the

highlighted Favorites icon. You can

also delete one or more favorites on

the bottom of the Now Playing view

by pressing and holding a favorite.

An X appears on all favorites. Touch

the X again to delete the selected

favorites.

To see selections that you played recently,

touch Recent on the Now Playing view. Your

recently played selections are updated

continuously so you don't need to delete

them.

Note: Selections you play on AM and FM radio

stations do not display in your Recent

selections.

Playing Media from Devices

You can play audio

ﬁles from a USB-

connected

ﬂash drive or from a Bluetooth-

connected device (like a phone). When you

connect a USB ﬂash drive, Media Player

displays the USB source content. When you

connect a Bluetooth-capable device, the name

of the device displays on the Phone source.

After connecting a USB

ﬂash drive or

Bluetooth device, touch the song, album, or

playlist you want to play.

Media and Audio

Using the Touchscreen 121

To play the next song in a selected playlist or

album, touch the previous or next arrows on

the Now Playing view, or use the buttons on

the left side of the steering wheel (see Using

Left Steering Wheel Buttons on page 41). You

can also shue tracks in a playlist or repeat a

playlist or track using the shue/repeat icons

displayed below the album cover art.

USB Connected Flash Drives

Connect a

ﬂash drive to one of the USB

connections (see USB Connections on page

122). Touch Media Player > USB, and then

touch the name of the folder that contains the

song you want to play. After you display the

contents of any folder on the USB connected

ﬂash drive, you can touch the right arrow in

the Now Playing view to display your songs in

a list. Touch any song in the list to play it. Or

use the previous and next arrows in the Now

Playing view to scroll through your songs.

Note: To play media from a USB connection,

Model S recognizes

ﬂash drives only. You can

play media from other types of devices (such

as an iPod) by connecting to the device using

Bluetooth (described below).

Note: Media Player supports USB

ﬂash drives

with FAT32 formatting. (NTFS and exFAT are

not currently supported.)

Bluetooth

Connected Devices

If you have a Bluetooth-capable device such

as a phone that is paired and connected to

Model S (see Pairing a Bluetooth Phone on

page 124), you can play audio

ﬁles stored on

it. You can also stream a music service from it

(for example, Pandora or Spotify). Choose

Media Player's Phone source, touch Connect

Phone, touch the name of your Bluetooth-

connected device, and then touch CONNECT.

Your Bluetooth device begins playing the

audio

ﬁle that is currently active on your

device, and Media Player displays the Now

Playing view. If an audio

ﬁle is not playing on

your device, select the audio ﬁle you want to

listen to from your device. After an audio

ﬁle

begins to play in Media Player, you can then

use Media Player's controls to play other

tracks.

Note: To play media from a Bluetooth-

connected device, ensure that access to the

device’s media is turned on (see Phone on

page 124).

USB Connections

Your Model S has two USB connections

located on the front of the center console that

you can use to connect USB devices. To play

audio

ﬁles stored on a USB drive connected to

these ports, see Playing Media from Devices

on page 121. You can also use these

connections to charge USB devices.

Note: Do not connect multiple devices using a

USB hub. This can prevent connected devices

from charging or from being recognized by

the Media Player.

12V Power Socket

Your Model S has a power socket located on

the front of the center console. Power is

available whenever the instrument panel and

touchscreen are on.

The 12V power socket is suitable for

accessories requiring up to 11A continuous

draw (15A peak) or a maximum of 150

continuous watts (180 watts peak).

Note: In situations where Model S is unable to

detect the key (low battery, interference, etc.),

Media and Audio

122 Model S Owner's Manual

place it immediately below the 12V power

socket where Model S can best detect it.

Warning: The power socket and an

accessory’s connector can become hot.

Media and Audio

Using the Touchscreen 123

Bluetooth

Compatibility

You can use your Bluetooth-capable phone

hands-free in Model S provided your phone is

within operating range. Although Bluetooth

typically supports wireless communication

over distances of up to approximately

9 meters, performance can vary based on the

phone you are using.

Before using your phone with Model S, you

must pair it. Pairing sets up Model S to work

with your Bluetooth-capable phone (see

Pairing a Bluetooth Phone on page 124).

You can pair up to ten Bluetooth phones.

Model S always automatically connects to the

last phone that was used (provided it is within

range). If you want to connect to a

dierent

phone, see Connecting to a Paired Phone on

page 125.

Note: On many phones, Bluetooth turns

o if

the phone’s battery is low.

Note: In addition to phones, you can also pair

Bluetooth-enabled devices with Model S. For

example, you can pair an iPod Touch or an

iPad or Android tablet to stream music.

Pairing a Bluetooth Phone

Pairing sets up Model S to work with your

Bluetooth-capable phone. Once a phone is

paired, Model S can connect to it whenever

the phone is within range.

To pair a phone, follow these steps while

sitting inside Model S:

1. Ensure both the touchscreen and the

phone are powered on.

2. On the touchscreen’s status bar, touch the

Bluetooth icon.

3. On your phone, enable Bluetooth and set

it to discoverable.

4. On the Model S touchscreen, touch Start

Search. The touchscreen searches then

displays the list of all available Bluetooth

devices within operating distance.

5. On the Model S touchscreen, touch the

phone with which you want to pair. Within

a few seconds, the touchscreen displays a

randomly generated number, and your

phone should display the same number.

6. Check that the number displayed on your

phone matches the number displayed on

the touchscreen. Then, on your phone,

conﬁrm that you want to pair.

When paired, Model S automatically connects

to the phone, and the touchscreen displays

the Bluetooth symbol next to the phone’s

name to show that the connection is active.

Importing Contacts and Recent

Calls

Once paired, you can use the Bluetooth

settings screen (touch the Bluetooth icon on

the touchscreen's status bar) to specify

whether you want to allow access to your

phone’s contacts and recent calls.

If access is turned on, you can see your list of

contacts and recent calls on the Model S

touchscreen. Touch Phone > Contacts. You

can then touch a contact to dial its phone

number or navigate to its address.

Note: Before contacts can be imported, you

may need to either set your phone to allow

syncing, or respond to a popup on your phone

conﬁrm that you want to sync contacts.

This varies depending on the type of phone

you are using. For details, refer to the owner

documentation provided with your phone.

If access is turned on, imported information is

displayed when you touch the contacts tab on

the Phone app.

Note: For security reasons, erase your

contacts if you sell Model S (see Erasing

Personal Data on page 110).

Unpairing a Bluetooth Phone

If you want to disconnect your phone and use

it again later, simply touch Disconnect on the

Bluetooth settings screen. If you do not want

to use your phone with Model S again, touch

Forget This Device. Once you forget a device,

you need to pair it again if you want to use it

with Model S (see Pairing a Bluetooth Phone

on page 124).

Note: Your phone automatically disconnects

whenever you leave Model S.

Phone

124 Model S Owner's Manual

Connecting to a Paired Phone

Model S automatically connects with the last

phone to which it was connected, provided it

is within operating range and has Bluetooth

turned on. If the last phone is not within range,

it attempts to connect with the next phone

that it has been paired with.

To connect to a

dierent phone, touch the

Bluetooth icon on the touchscreen's status

bar. The Bluetooth window displays a list of

paired phones. Choose the phone you want to

connect to, then touch Connect. If the phone

you want to connect to is not listed, follow the

instructions on Pairing a Bluetooth Phone on

page 124.

When connected, the Model S touchscreen

displays the Bluetooth symbol next to the

phone name to show that the connection is

active.

Making a Phone Call

You can make a phone call by:

• Speaking a voice command (English) (see

Using Voice Commands on page 43).

• Choosing a contact from your contact list.

• Using the Model S on-screen dialer.

To make a phone call using the on-screen

dialer:

1. Touch the Phone app on the touchscreen,

then touch Dialer.

2. Enter the phone number on the dialer.

3. Touch Call. The touchscreen displays the

call screen and the number you are

calling.

To make a phone call by choosing a contact:

1. Touch the Phone app on the touchscreen,

then touch Contacts.

Note: Ensure that access to the phone’s

contacts is turned on (see Importing

Contacts and Recent Calls on page 124).

2. Touch the name of the contact you want

to call to display details about the contact.

3. Touch the number you want to dial (if you

have more than one number for the

contact). The touchscreen displays the call

screen and the name of the contact you

are calling.

Note: If it is safe and legal to do so, you can

also initiate a call by dialing the number or

selecting the contact directly from your

phone.

Receiving a Phone Call

When your phone receives an incoming call,

both the instrument panel and the

touchscreen display the caller’s number or

name (if the caller is in your phone’s contact

list and Model S has access to your contacts).

Touch one of the options on the touchscreen,

or use the scroll wheel on the right side of the

steering wheel to Answer or Ignore the call

(see Using Right Steering Wheel Buttons on

page 42).

In Call Options

When a call is in progress, you can display the

call menu on the instrument panel by pressing

the top button on the right side of the

steering wheel. Then use the right scroll wheel

to scroll through and choose an option (see

Using Right Steering Wheel Buttons on page

42). To adjust the call volume, roll the steering

wheel's left scroll wheel during a call.

Warning: Stay focused on the road at all

times while driving. Using or programing

a phone while driving, even with

Bluetooth enabled, can result in serious

injury or death.

Warning: Follow all applicable laws

regarding the use of phones while driving,

including, but not limited to, laws that

prohibit texting and require hands-free

operation at all times.

Phone

Using the Touchscreen 125

Overview

The Google MapsTM application provides the

navigation functions in the Model S .

• If Model S is equipped with the Navigation

option, the application is labeled Nav, and

onboard maps are available. Onboard

maps allow you to navigate to any

location, even if a data connection is not

available, but you must enter the

location's exact and complete address.

• If Model S is not equipped with the

Navigation option, onboard maps are not

available, but if you have a data

connection, you can

ﬁnd and display any

location.

When you specify a location, the touchscreen

displays the route and provides turn-by-turn

directions. Each turn is preceded by the

distance to the maneuver. If you won't have

enough energy, and there is no Supercharger

on the route, an alert at the top of the turn-by-

turn directions tells you that charging is

required to reach your destination.

If the energy remaining after a round-trip is

less than ten percent, or if a round trip will

consume a

signiﬁcant amount of battery

energy, a round trip estimate of the energy

you will use displays at the bottom of the

turn-by-turn directions. You can display a

round trip energy estimate for all trips,

regardless of battery energy used, by

selecting Always Show Estimated Round Trip

Energy in the settings for Maps and

Navigation. When enabled, the round trip

energy estimate will always display at the

bottom of the turn-by-turn directions. (You

may need to scroll to the bottom of the turn-

by-turn directions to see the round trip energy

estimate.)

Using Maps

Touch Navigate, or speak a voice command

(see Using Voice Commands on page 43), to

specify a location. You can enter or speak an

address, landmark, business, etc. You can also

touch Navigate and choose from Home and

Work locations, a list of favorite destinations

(see Favorite, Home, and Work Destinations

on page 129), recent locations and searches

(the most recently used locations display at

the top), and charging stations you have

visited.

When you touch the pin for a location,

landmark, or business in the Recent or

Favorites list, or touch a pin on the map, the

chosen location is centered on the map, and a

popup that provides more information about

the location is displayed. In the popup, the

name, phone number, and address of the

location, landmark, or business is displayed.

Any of the following information may also be

displayed: its Google rating, its price range,

whether it's open or closed, and whether it

has chargers, Wi-Fi, restrooms, and food.

From this popup window, you can save the

location as a favorite, and, if equipped with

the Navigation option, navigate to the

destination by touching Navigate, or call

someone at the location by touching Call. If

equipped with the Navigation option, when

you touch the name of a location in the

Recent or Favorites list (versus touching its

pin), you can initiate navigation immediately.

Model S calculates the route and displays

turn-by-turn directions.

By default, the map displays Supercharger

locations (see Charging Locations on page

127). If Model S is equipped with the

Navigation option, you can drop a pin

anywhere on the map by pressing and holding

a location on the map.

Use the icons in the lower right corner to

customize what the map displays:

Satellite Imagery - touch to turn

satellite imagery on and o.

Trac - touch to turn the display

of trac on and o. To ensure that

heavy trac areas are easy to

identify along a navigation route,

green

trac lines display under the

blue route line, whereas yellow and

red trac lines display on top.

Charging locations - touch to

display charging locations on the

map and in a popup list that

includes city and proximity (see

Charging Locations on page 127).

Note: The popup list displays the

straight line distance to the

location, not the driving distance to

the location. When you begin

navigating, the navigation system

displays the driving distance to the

location.

Maps and Navigation

126 Model S Owner's Manual

Touch the zoom icons in the top right area to

zoom the map in and out on your current or

chosen location. Touch the North/Heading Up

icon to center the map on your current

location and change the orientation of the

map:

North Up - North is always at the

top of the screen.

Heading Up - The direction you are

heading is always at the top of the

screen. The map rotates when you

change direction. This icon has an

integrated compass that indicates

the direction you are driving.

You can rotate the map in any direction using

your ﬁngers. When you rotate the map in a

clockwise or counter-clockwise direction, or

move the map up, down, left, or right, the

North/Heading Up icon turns gray and no

longer tracks your position. (The message

"Tracking Disabled" is displayed next to the

North/Heading Up icon.) To re-enable

tracking, and adjust the orientation of the map

so that North, or the direction you are

traveling, is at the top of the screen, touch the

North/Heading Up icon again. The North/

Heading Up icon is reenabled, and the

message, "North Up" or "Heading Up" is

displayed.

Note: To keep tracking enabled, zoom in or

out using only the zoom icons or by pinching

your

ﬁngers. To disable tracking, move the

map in any direction.

To maximize the size of the map, the

touchscreen's status bar and app area, as well

as the icons on the map, disappear after a few

seconds. Simply touch the map to redisplay

them.

Charging Locations

Superchargers are displayed on the map by

default, represented by red pins that you can

touch to display more information about the

Supercharger location, navigate to it, or mark

it as a favorite. When you touch the pin for a

Supercharger location on the map,

information about the Supercharger location is

displayed, including the total number of

Superchargers, the number of Superchargers

available, the address of the Supercharger, and

its approximate distance from you. The popup

also displays any amenities that are available

at the Supercharger location, including

restrooms, restaurants, lodging, shopping, and

Wi-Fi availability.

Note: The popup displays the straight line

distance to the charger location, not the

driving distance to the charger location. When

you begin navigating, the navigation system

displays the driving distance to the charger

location.

In addition to Superchargers, you can display

destination chargers and charging stations

that you used before by touching the charging

icon in the lower right corner of the map.

Display details about any charging location by

touching its pin:

The Supercharger location is

operational.

The Supercharger location may be

out of operation or is operating at

a reduced capacity (touch the pin

to display details).

The location is equipped with a

charging station (Wall Connector).

Touch to display more information,

such as the charging station's

capacity and usage restrictions.

The location is equipped with more

than one charging station. The

number on the icon indicates how

many charging stations are located

at the destination. Zoom in to

display the pin for each charging

station (described above).

Starting Navigation

1. Touch the Nav app to display the map.

2. Touch Navigate and enter a destination.

You can also use voice commands (see

Maps and Navigation

Using the Touchscreen 127

Steering Wheel on page 41), touch a

location in the Recent or Favorites list, or

touch a pin on the map, and then touch

Navigate from the popup.

• If you have a data connection, you can

start entering the destination, then

choose one of the auto-complete

entries that appear in the popup list.

For example, you can enter just the

street, business name, or category

(such as hotels,

coee, etc.).

Note: The popup list displays the

straight line distance to the location,

not the driving distance to the

location. When you begin navigating,

the navigation system displays the

driving distance to the location.

• If you don’t have a data connection,

touch Navigate, touch the Search

ﬁeld, and then touch Oine Address

Entry to use the onboard maps. Enter

the complete address, and then touch

Find.

Note: If a connected phone's calendar is set

up to work with Model S, and a calendar event

includes a

speciﬁc location, you can initiate

navigation from the calendar (see Calendar on

page 131).

During Navigation

During navigation, the touchscreen displays a

turn-by-turn direction list that includes

estimated mileage, driving time, arrival time,

and an estimate of how much energy is

remaining when you reach the destination.

Note: If Model S requires charging to reach

the destination and Trip Planner is turned on

(see Trip Planner on page 129), the

navigation route includes Supercharger stops.

The touchscreen also displays your location on

the map. Depending on the map’s zoom level,

you might not be able to see the entire route.

Whenever a navigation route is active, you can

display the full route on the map by touching

the route overview icon:

The route overview icon is available

in the top right corner of the map

whenever a navigation route is

active. You can touch this icon to

display the current leg of your trip

or to change the orientation of the

map to North Up or Heading Up

(see Using Maps on page 126).

During navigation, the instrument panel

displays the turn-by-turn directions, and you

will also hear spoken directions. To change the

language of spoken directions, touch

Controls > Settings > Language & Units. To

change the volume of the spoken directions,

use the scroll wheel on the left side of the

steering wheel while navigation directions are

being spoken. You can also change or mute

the volume by touching the volume icon

located in the top right corner of the turn-by-

turn direction list.

Model S detects real-time

trac conditions

and automatically adjusts the estimated

driving and arrival times based on

trac. In

situations where trac conditions will delay

your estimated time of arrival and an alternate

route is available, Model S reroutes you to your

destination. You can turn this feature

o by

touching Controls > Settings > Apps > Maps &

Navigation >

Trac-Based Routing > O. You

can specify the amount of time savings (in

minutes) that must be achieved before you are

rerouted by touching the arrows associated

with the Re-Route If It Saves More Than

setting.

Model S can also monitor

trac to your work

location (on weekday mornings) and to your

home location (on weekday evenings) and

advise you if there is a better route in

situations where

trac conditions will cause a

delay by touching Controls > Settings >

Apps > Maps & Navigation > Show Commute

Advice > ON. You can specify that commute

advice be given only when a faster route is

available by selecting Only when a faster

route is available.

Note:

Trac-Based Commute Advice is only

available if your Model S is equipped with the

Navigation option and you have saved Home

and Work locations.

Model S can route you around ferries and tolls.

Touch Controls > Settings > Apps > Maps &

Navigation, and then touch the associated

check boxes.

As you approach an upcoming turn on your

navigation route, a vertical progression bar

displays on the right side of the touchscreen's

turn-by-turn direction list. This vertical bar

also displays on the right side of the

navigation instructions on the instrument

panel. As you progress toward the location

where you will need to make a turn, the bar

ﬁlls, from bottom to top. When you arrive at

the location of the turn, the bar is completely

ﬁlled.

Maps and Navigation

128 Model S Owner's Manual

Predicting Energy Usage

When navigating to a destination, Model S

helps you anticipate your charging needs by

calculating the amount of energy that will

remain when you reach your destination. The

calculation is an estimate based on driving

and environmental factors such as predicted

speed and elevation changes. The touchscreen

displays this calculation at the bottom of the

turn-by-turn direction list when you

ﬁrst

initiate the navigation route. Thereafter, you

can display it by touching the area at the

bottom of the turn-by-turn direction list.

Throughout your route, Model S monitors

energy usage and updates the calculation as

needed. A popup warning displays at the

bottom of the turn-by-turn direction list in

these situations:

• A yellow warning displays when you have

very little energy remaining to reach your

destination and should drive slowly to

conserve energy. For tips on conserving

energy, see Getting Maximum Range on

page 70.

• A red warning displays when you must

charge Model S to reach your destination.

If you select Always Show Estimated Round

Trip Energy in the Navigation settings,

Model S also lets you know if you have enough

energy for a round trip at the bottom of the

turn-by-turn directions. By default, an

estimate of your round trip energy usage

displays at the bottom of the turn-by-turn

directions when the remaining battery energy

is estimated at less than ten percent after

completion of the round trip, or when the

round trip consumes a

signiﬁcant amount of

your energy.

When navigating, you can also use the Energy

app to monitor energy usage while on your

trip (see Getting Maximum Range on page

70).

Trip Planner

Trip Planner helps you take longer road trips

with

conﬁdence. If reaching your destination

requires charging, Trip Planner routes you

through the appropriate Supercharger

locations. Trip Planner selects a route that

minimizes the time you spend driving and

charging. To use Trip Planner, touch Controls >

Settings > Apps > Maps and Navigation > Trip

Planner > On.

After you select a destination, Trip Planner

zooms out to give you an overview of your

trip. As you begin your trip, Trip Planner

zooms in to start navigation. The turn-by-turn

directions include:

• The list of Supercharger stops (Trip

Planner does not consider charging

locations that are not Superchargers).

• The charging time required at each

Supercharger stop.

• The estimated amount of energy available

when you arrive at the

ﬁrst Supercharger

location.

Note: You can scroll down the list (or zoom

out on the map) to see the next Supercharger

location on your trip. Trip Planner estimates

how much time you will need to charge at

each location.

While charging at a Supercharger stop, the

charging screen displays the remaining charge

time needed for your trip. If you charge for a

shorter or longer length of time, the charge

time for subsequent stops are readjusted.

Note: If a Supercharger located on your

existing route experiences an outage, Trip

Planner displays a

notiﬁcation and reroutes

you to a dierent Supercharger location.

If Trip Planner estimates that you won't have

enough energy for your round trip, and there

is no Supercharger stop on your route, Trip

Planner displays an alert at the top of the

turn-by-turn directions and an empty battery

icon with the amount of additional energy

needed for your trip at the bottom of the turn-

by-turn directions.

Favorite, Home, and Work

Destinations

Add any destination to your

Favorites list by either touching its

pin while navigating to it, or by

displaying it on the map and then

touching its pin. In the popup dialog

that appears, touch the Favorites

icon, and then touch Add to

Favorites. To remove a favorite

destination, select it on the map,

touch the Favorites icon in the

popup that displays, and

conﬁrm

deletion of the favorite by touching

Delete.

Maps and Navigation

Using the Touchscreen 129

If you frequently drive to a destination, you

may want to add it as a Favorite to avoid

having to enter the location's name or address

each time. When you add a destination as a

Favorite, you can easily navigate to it by

touching Navigate > Favorites and then

selecting it from the list.

The Navigate option also has placeholders for

your Home and Work locations. Based on your

usage patterns, Model S may prompt you to

save a current location as Home or Work.

After you save a Home and a Work location,

Model S may prompt you to navigate to your

Work location in the mornings and to your

Home location in the evenings and tell you

how long it will take to navigate in current

trac conditions. To navigate to your Work or

Home location, simply press NAV TO WORK

or NAV TO HOME when prompted. You can

also touch Controls > Settings > Apps > Maps

& Navigation and specify an amount of time

to be saved (up to 30 minutes) before Model S

re-routes your drive.

To edit Home and Work locations (or any

location), touch Navigate, press and hold your

Home or Work location, and enter a new

address in the popup. You can also delete any

location in the Recent or Favorites list by

pressing and holding the location, and then

touching its associated X.

Note: For security reasons, if you sell Model S,

erase your Home and Work locations, and

your favorite destinations (see Erasing

Personal Data on page 110).

Updated Maps

To receive updated maps, periodically connect

Model S to a Wi-Fi network (see Connecting

to Wi-Fi on page 135). As updated maps

become available, they are sent to Model S

over Wi-Fi only. The touchscreen displays a

message informing you when new maps have

been installed.

Maps and Navigation

130 Model S Owner's Manual

Overview

The Calendar app allows you to view your phone’s (iPhone

or Android

™

) calendar for the current

and next day. The Calendar app requires that:

• The Tesla Model S mobile app is running and you are logged in. When prompted on your

phone, you must grant calendar access to the mobile app. The mobile app can then

periodically (and automatically) send calendar data from your phone to Model S. Also,

whenever you display the mobile app on your phone, updated calendar data is sent to

Model S. To ensure you have access to all features of the Calendar app, you will need the latest

version of the mobile app.

• Your phone is connected to Model S via Bluetooth (for privacy reasons, calendar data displays

only from a phone that is connected via Bluetooth).

• Remote access to Model S is turned on (touch Controls > Settings > Safety & Security >

Remote Access > On).

• Both your phone and Model S have good connectivity.

When you enter Model S, the touchscreen can display a reminder of the day's events. You can

customize if and when your calendar events are displayed by touching Controls > Settings >

Apps > Calendar > Show Calendar Upon Entry.

To view scheduled events for the next 48 hours, choose the Calendar app from the main

touchscreen window. The Calendar app displays events in chronological order.

1. If the calendar event includes an address, a navigation arrow displays to indicate that you can

touch the address to navigate to the event's location (if your Model S is equipped with

Navigation).

2. If a phone number is associated with a calendar event, you can touch the number to initiate a

phone call.

3. In situations where events are displayed from multiple calendars, you can

ﬁlter to show only

events from one or more

speciﬁc calendars.

4. If the calendar event has notes associated with it, touch the information icon to display the

notes in a popup window.

5. If an event's notes include one or more phone numbers, a phone symbol displays with the

information icon and the

ﬁrst phone number found in the notes displays on the event list and

you can use this number to initiate a phone call (as described in item 2 above). But you can

also initiate a call from within the notes popup window by referencing other numbers that are

included in the notes (this is particularly useful for conference calls). If the notes contain a

web link, you can touch the link to open it in the Web Browser app.

Calendar and Navigation

If Model S is equipped with navigation, and a calendar event has a location

speciﬁed, you will be

given the option to navigate to that location. Also, when an event on your Calendar takes place

within the next hour and has a uniquely

speciﬁed location, the Model S navigation system notiﬁes

you if there is a better route due to trac, even if you’re not using navigation.

Calendar

Using the Touchscreen 131

About the Security System

If Model S does not detect a key nearby and a

locked door or trunk is opened, an alarm

sounds and the headlights and turn signals

ﬂash. To deactivate the alarm, press any

button on the key.

To manually enable or disable the alarm

system, touch Controls > Settings > Safety &

Security > Alarm. When set to ON, Model S

activates its alarm one minute after you exit,

the doors lock, and a recognized key is no

longer detected.

If your Model S is equipped with the optional

security package, it includes a battery-backed

siren that sounds in situations where a locked

door or trunk is opened and Model S does not

detect a key nearby. If the Tilt/Intrusion

setting is on, the siren also sounds if Model S

detects motion inside the cabin or if the

vehicle is moved or tilted (for example, with a

tow truck or jack). To temporarily turn the Tilt/

Intrusion detection system

o, touch

Controls > Settings > Safety & Security > Tilt/

Intrusion > OFF. The Tilt/Intrusion setting is

enabled every time Model S is unlocked.

Note: If you plan to leave something that

moves, such as a dog, inside your locked

Model S, remember to turn

o Tilt/Intrusion.

Motion detected inside Model S activates the

siren.

Note: The Alarm must be on to enable Tilt/

Intrusion.

Security Settings

132 Model S Owner's Manual

About HomeLink

You can program the HomeLink

Universal

Transceiver (if equipped) to operate up to

three Radio Frequency (RF) devices, including

garage doors, gates, lights, and security

systems.

Note: Depending on date of manufacture,

options selected, and time of purchase, some

Model S vehicles are not equipped with

HomeLink.

Programming HomeLink

1. Park Model S in front of the device you

want to program, and have the device's

remote control ready.

Note: Make sure you haven’t reached the

limit of learned remotes/vehicles. Most

device receivers can learn up to

ﬁve

remotes/vehicles. If necessary, clear the

receiver memory and restart the

programming process. For information

about clearing the receiver memory, refer

to the owner documentation for your

device.

2. On the touchscreen, touch Controls >

Settings > HomeLink.

3. Touch Add New HomeLink, then use the

onscreen keyboard to enter a name for

your HomeLink device.

4. Touch Program.

5. Follow the onscreen instructions.

Once programmed, you can operate the

device by touching its corresponding

HomeLink icon on the touchscreen's status

bar. HomeLink remembers the location of your

programmed devices. When you approach a

known location, the HomeLink control on the

touchscreen automatically drops down. When

you drive away, it disappears.

Note: For security reasons, delete your

HomeLink devices if you sell your Model S

(see Deleting a Device on page 133).

Warning:

Your device might open or close

during programming. Before

programming, make sure that the device

is clear of any people or objects.

Warning: Do not use the HomeLink

Universal Transceiver with a device that

does not have safety stop and reverse

features. Using a device without these

safety features increases the risk of injury

or death.

Auto Opening and Closing

To operate a HomeLink device without

touching the touchscreen, you can automate

the device to open as you approach and close

as you drive away:

• Touch Controls > Settings > HomeLink

and choose the device you want to

automate.

• Select the Auto-open when arriving

checkbox.

• Touch the arrows to specify the distance

you want your vehicle to be from the

device before it opens.

• Select the Auto-close when leaving

checkbox if you want the device to close

as you drive away.

As you approach (or drive away from) a

device that is set to operate automatically, the

HomeLink status icon displays a count-down

message to let you know when the device will

automatically open. In situations where you

don't want the device to automatically open

or close, touch Skip Auto-Open or Skip Auto-

Close at any time during the count-down

message.

Resetting the Location of the

HomeLink Device

If you experience situations in which you

sometimes drive up to your HomeLink device

and it doesn't open, or the HomeLink icon on

the touchscreen's status bar does not display

the dropdown when you approach the device,

you may need to reset the device's location.

To do so, park as close as possible to the

HomeLink device (garage door, gate, etc.) and

display the HomeLink settings page by

touching Controls > Settings > HomeLink.

Touch the name of the device you want to

reset, then Reset Location.

Deleting a Device

To delete a HomeLink device, touch Controls >

Settings > HomeLink. Touch the name of the

device you want to delete, then touch Delete.

Note: You can also perform a factory reset to

erase your HomeLink settings, along with all

other personal data (saved addresses, music

favorites, imported contacts, etc.). See Erasing

Personal Data on page 110.

HomeLink

Universal Transceiver

Using the Touchscreen 133

Troubleshooting HomeLink

When programming a HomeLink device, the

touchscreen walks you through a two-part

programming process:

1. Model S records the signal from the

remote. The touchscreen instructs you to

stand in front of the vehicle, point the

remote at the front bumper and press and

hold the button until the headlights

ﬂash.

When the headlights ﬂash, Model S has

learned the remote and you can touch

Continue on the touchscreen. If the

headlights do not

ﬂash, refer to the

following guidelines.

2. The device's receiver learns Model S. The

touchscreen instructs you to press the

LEARN button on the device's receiver. If

training the receiver does not work, refer

to the following guidelines.

Note: Only devices that are equipped with

a “rolling code” remote need to learn

Model S. If you have an old device that is

not equipped with a "rolling code" remote,

the device does not need to learn Model S

and you can skip this part of the process.

You can also skip this part if your receiver

is "Quick-Train" compatible.

Headlights do not

ﬂash

• Check the batteries in the remote. It is a

good idea to replace the batteries before

you start programming.

• Hold the remote against the front bumper,

with the button pressed, approximately 15

cm to the left of the Tesla emblem. In

some cases you must hold the button on

the remote for up to three minutes.

• Check compatibility of the remote by

contacting the HomeLink manufacturer

(www.homelink.com).

After programming, the device does not

work

• Park Model S with its front bumper as

close as possible to the HomeLink device

(garage door, gate, etc.).

• Make sure you haven’t reached the device

receiver's limit of learned remotes/cars.

Most receivers can learn up to

ﬁve

remotes/cars. If the receiver's memory is

full, you must clear the memory and

restart the programming process. For

instructions on how to clear the receiver's

memory, refer to the owner

documentation provided with the

HomeLink device.

• Make sure you are pressing the receiver's

LEARN button. Most receivers have two

buttons and a LED. One button is a RESET

button and the other is a LEARN button.

Pressing the LEARN button usually causes

the LED to ﬂash. For instructions on how

to put the receiver into learning mode,

refer to the owner documentation

provided with the HomeLink device.

• Most devices stay in learning mode for

only three to

ﬁve minutes. Immediately

after pressing the device's LEARN button,

follow the instructions displayed on the

touchscreen.

HomeLink

Universal Transceiver

134 Model S Owner's Manual

Wi-Fi is available as a data connection method

and is often faster than cellular data networks.

Connecting to Wi-Fi is especially useful in

areas with limited or no cellular connectivity.

To ensure fast, reliable delivery of Model S

updates (see Software Updates on page 136),

Tesla recommends leaving Wi-Fi turned on

and connected to a Wi-Fi network. To connect

to a Wi-Fi network:

1. Touch the LTE (or 3G) icon in the

touchscreen status bar. Model S will start

scanning and display the Wi-Fi networks

that are within range.

2. Select the Wi-Fi network you want to use,

enter the password (if necessary), then

touch Connect.

You can also connect to a hidden network that

isn't shown on the list of scanned networks.

Just touch Wi-Fi Settings and enter the name

of the network in the resulting dialog box.

Once you have connected to a network,

Model S automatically connects whenever the

network is within range. If more than one

previously connected network is within range,

Model S connects to the one most recently

used.

Note: You can also use a mobile hotspot or

your phone's Internet connection via Wi-Fi

tethering.

Note: At Tesla Service Centers, Model S

automatically connects to the Tesla Service

Wi-Fi network.

Connecting to Wi-Fi

Using the Touchscreen 135

Loading New Software

Model S updates its software wirelessly,

providing new features throughout your term

of ownership. Tesla recommends that you

install software updates as soon as they are

available. The

ﬁrst time you enter Model S

after an update is made available, a scheduling

window displays on the touchscreen. The

scheduling window displays again at the end

of your ﬁrst driving session.

Note: Some software updates can take up to

three hours to complete. Model S must be in

Park while the new software is being installed.

To ensure the fastest and most reliable

delivery of software updates, leave the Wi-Fi

turned on and connected whenever possible

(see Connecting to Wi-Fi on page 135).

When a software update is available, a yellow

clock icon appears on the touchscreen’s status

bar. Touch this clock icon to display the

update window. You can then either:

• Schedule the update by setting the time

you want the update to begin. Then touch

Set For This Time. Once scheduled, the

yellow clock icon changes to a white clock

icon. You can reschedule the update any

time before it begins.

• Touch Install Now to immediately start the

update process.

If Model S is charging when the software

update begins, charging stops. Charging

resumes automatically when the software

update is complete. If you are driving Model S

at the scheduled update time, the update is

canceled and you need to reschedule it.

Note: Over time, the touchscreen may display

a software update window informing you to

SET FOR THIS TIME or INSTALL NOW. This

software update window will persist until you

complete the installation of the software

update. You must install all software updates

as soon as they are available and any harm

relating to the failure to install a software

update will not be covered by the vehicle’s

warranty. Failure or refusal to install such

updates may result in the inaccessibility of

certain vehicle features (including

incompatibility with digital media devices) or

in Tesla being unable to diagnose and service

your vehicle.

Note: If software updates are not installed,

some vehicle features may become

inaccessible and digital media devices may

become incompatible. Reverting to a previous

software version is not possible.

If the touchscreen displays a message

indicating that a software update was not

successfully completed, contact Tesla.

Viewing Release Notes

When a software update is complete, learn

about the new features by reading the release

notes. To display release notes about your

current software version at any time touch the

Tesla “T” at the top center of the touchscreen,

then touch Release Notes.

Tesla strongly recommends reading all release

notes. They may contain important safety

information or operating instructions

regarding your Model S.

Software Updates

136 Model S Owner's Manual

Model S Mobile App

The Tesla Model S mobile app allows you to

communicate with Model S remotely using

your iPhone

or Android

™

phone. With this

app, you can:

• View the vehicle's estimated range.

• Check charging progress or stop charging

and receive

notiﬁcations when charging

has started, has been interrupted, is

nearing completion, or is complete.

Note: If Supercharging, additional

notiﬁcations will alert you when idle fees

are incurred. The idle fees are waived if

your vehicle is moved within

ﬁve minutes

of when you ﬁnish charging. See

Supercharger Usage Fees and Idle Fees on

page 146.

• Check the interior temperature and heat

or cool Model S before driving (even if it's

in a garage).

• Locate Model S with directions, or track its

movement across a map.

• Flash lights or honk the horn to

ﬁnd

Model S when parked.

• Vent or close the sunroof.

• Lock or unlock Model S from afar.

• Open the front or rear trunks.

• Enable valet mode.

• Allow Model S to be started remotely.

• Park or unpark Model S using Summon

(see Using Summon on page 89).

• Support the Model S Calendar app by

allowing the mobile app to send your

phone's calendar data to Model S.

• Receive

notiﬁcations when the car alarm

has been triggered, or a new Model S

software update is available.

• Receive

notiﬁcations of scheduled

software updates.

• View the odometer, VIN, and current

software version.

Simply download the Tesla Model S mobile

app to your phone and enter your Tesla

Account login credentials. You must also

ensure that Model S is ready to communicate

with the mobile app by turning on its remote

access setting. Touch Controls > Settings >

Safety & Security > Remote Access > On

(see Settings on page 107).

Note: Tesla does not support the use of third

party applications to contact Model S.

Note: To ensure access to new and improved

features, download updated versions of the

mobile app as they become available.

Mobile App

Using the Touchscreen 137

High Voltage Components

1. Front Motor (dual-motor vehicles only)

2. Air Conditioning Compressor

3. Battery Coolant Heater

4. Forward Junction Box

5. High Voltage Cabling

6. On-board Charger

7. DC-DC Converter

8. Cabin Heater

9. High Voltage Battery

10. Charge Port

11. Rear Motor

Warning:

The high voltage system has no user serviceable parts. Do not disassemble, remove

or replace high voltage components, cables or connectors. High voltage cables are typically

colored orange for easy identiﬁcation.

Warning: Read and follow all instructions provided on the labels that are attached to Model S.

These labels are there for your safety.

Warning: In the unlikely event that a ﬁre occurs, immediately contact your local ﬁre

emergency responders.

Electric Vehicle Components

138 Model S Owner's Manual

Charging Equipment

Charging equipment designed speciﬁcally to

charge your Model S is available from Tesla. A

Tesla Wall Connector, which installs in your

garage, is the fastest way to charge Model S at

home.

In several market regions, Model S is equipped

with a Mobile Connector and the adapter(s)

you need to plug into commonly used power

outlets. When using the Mobile Connector,

ﬁrst plug the Mobile Connector into the power

outlet, and then plug in Model S. For more

information about your Mobile Connector, see

the Mobile Connector Owner’s Manual

(available on the touchscreen). Additional

adapters can be purchased from Tesla.

Tesla also

oers various adapters that allow

you to plug Model S into the most commonly

used public charging stations in your region.

Connect the adapter to the charging station’s

charge cable, open the charge port door using

the touchscreen (see Charging Instructions on

page 142), and then plug in Model S.

For more information on the charging

equipment available for your region, go to

www.tesla.com, choose your region, and then

view the available charging options.

Electric Vehicle Components

Charging 139

About the Battery

Model S has one of the most sophisticated

battery systems in the world. The most

important way to preserve the Battery is to

LEAVE YOUR VEHICLE PLUGGED IN when

you are not using it. This is particularly

important if you are not planning to drive

Model S for several weeks. When plugged in,

Model S wakes up when needed to

automatically maintain a charge level that

maximizes the lifetime of the Battery.

There is no advantage to waiting until the

Battery’s level is low before charging. In fact,

the Battery performs best when charged

regularly.

Note: If the Model S Battery becomes

completely discharged in a situation in which

towing is required, the owner is responsible

for towing expenses. Discharge-related towing

expenses are not covered under the Roadside

Assistance policy.

The peak charging rate of the Battery may

decrease slightly after a large number of DC

Fast Charging sessions, such as those at

Superchargers. To ensure maximum driving

range and Battery safety, the Battery charge

rate is decreased when the Battery is too cold,

when the Battery’s charge is nearly full, and

when the Battery conditions change with

usage and age. These changes in the

condition of the Battery are driven by battery

physics and may increase the total

Supercharging duration by a few minutes over

time.

Battery Care

Never allow the Battery to fully discharge.

Even when Model S is not being driven, its

Battery discharges very slowly to power the

onboard electronics. On average, the Battery

discharges at a rate of 1% per day. Situations

can arise in which you must leave Model S

unplugged for an extended period of time (for

example, at an airport when traveling). In

these situations, keep the 1% in mind to ensure

that you leave the Battery with a

sucient

charge level. For example, over a two week

period (14 days), the Battery discharges by

approximately 14%.

Discharging the Battery to 0% may

permanently damage the Battery. To protect

against a complete discharge, Model S enters

a low-power consumption mode when the

charge level drops to 5%. In this mode, the

Battery stops supporting the onboard

electronics to slow the discharge rate to

approximately 4% per month. Once this low-

power consumption mode is active, it is

important to plug in Model S within two

months to avoid Battery damage.

Note: When the low-power consumption

mode is active, the auxiliary 12V battery is no

longer being charged and can completely

discharge within 12 hours. In the unlikely event

that this occurs, you may need to jump start

or replace the 12V battery before you can

charge. In this situation, contact Tesla.

Temperature Limits

For better long-term performance, avoid

exposing Model S to ambient temperatures

above 60° C or below -30° C for more than 24

hours at a time.

Energy Saving Feature

Model S has an energy-saving feature that

reduces the amount of energy being

consumed when Model S is not in use. Touch

Controls > Displays > Energy Saving. For

more information on maximizing range and

saving energy, see Getting Maximum Range

on page 70.

Battery Warnings and Cautions

Warning:

The Battery has no parts that an

owner or a non-Tesla authorized service

technician can service. Under no

circumstances should you open or tamper

with the Battery. Always contact Tesla to

arrange for Battery servicing.

Caution: If the Battery’s charge level falls

to 0%, you must plug it in. If you leave it

unplugged for an extended period, it may

not be possible to charge or use Model S

without jump starting or replacing the 12V

battery. Leaving Model S unplugged for

an extended period can also result in

permanent Battery damage. If you are

unable to charge Model S, contact Tesla

immediately.

Caution: The Battery requires no owner

maintenance. Do not remove the coolant

ﬁller cap and do not add ﬂuid. If the

instrument panel warns you that the ﬂuid

level is low, contact Tesla immediately.

Battery Information

140 Model S Owner's Manual

Caution: Do not use the Battery as a

stationary power source. Doing so voids

the warranty.

Battery Information

Charging 141

Opening the Charge Port

The charge port is located on the left side of

Model S, behind a door that is part of the rear

tail light assembly. Park so that the charge

cable easily reaches the charge port.

With Model S unlocked (or a recognized key is

within range) and in Park, press and release

the button on the Tesla charge cable to open

the charge port door.

Note: If the charge cable is in range of the

charge port door, you can press the button on

the charge cable to open the charge port door

even when Model S is locked or a recognized

key is not in range.

You can also open the charge port door using

any of these methods:

• Touch Controls > Charge Port on the

touchscreen.

• On the key, hold down the rear trunk

button for 1-2 seconds.

• Press the charge port door when Model S

is unlocked or a recognized key is nearby.

Note: The charge port lights up white when

you open the charge port door. If you do not

insert a charge cable into the charge port

within a few minutes after opening the charge

port door, the charge port door closes. If this

happens, use the touchscreen to open the

charge port door again.

Caution: Do not try to force the charge

port door open.

Plugging In

If desired, use the touchscreen to change the

charge limit and the charging current (see

Changing Charge Settings on page 144).

To charge at a public charging station, attach

an adapter to the station’s charging connector.

The most commonly used adapter(s) for each

market region are provided. Depending on the

charging equipment you are using, you may

need to start and stop charging using a

control on the charging equipment.

If you are using the Mobile Connector, plug it

into the power outlet before plugging it into

Model S.

Align the connector to the charge port and

insert fully. When the connector is properly

inserted, charging begins automatically after

Model S:

• Engages a latch that holds the connector

in place;

• Shifts into Park (if it was in any other

gear);

Charging Instructions

142 Model S Owner's Manual

• Heats or cools the Battery, if needed. If

the Battery requires heating or cooling,

you may notice a delay before charging

begins.

Note: Whenever Model S is plugged in but not

actively charging, it draws energy from the

wall outlet instead of using energy stored in

the Battery. For example, if you are sitting in

Model S and using the touchscreen while

parked and plugged in, Model S draws energy

from the wall outlet instead of the Battery.

Caution: The connector end of the charge

cable can damage the paint if dropped

onto the vehicle.

During Charging

During charging, the charge port light pulses

green, and the instrument panel displays the

charging status. The frequency at which the

charge port light pulses slows down as the

charge level approaches full. When charging is

complete, the light stops pulsing and is solid

green.

Note: If Model S is locked, the charge port

light does not light up.

If the charge port light turns red while

charging, a fault is detected. Check the

instrument panel or touchscreen for a

message describing the fault. A fault can

occur due to something as common as a

power outage. If a power outage occurs,

charging resumes automatically when power

is restored.

Note: When charging, particularly at high

currents, the refrigerant compressor and fan

operate as needed to keep the Battery cool.

Therefore, it is normal to hear sounds during

charging.

Note: Air conditioning performance is

generally not

aected by charging. However,

under certain circumstances (for example, you

are charging at high currents during a

particularly warm day), the air coming from

the vents may not be as cool as expected and

a message displays on the instrument panel.

This is normal behavior and ensures that the

Battery stays within an optimum temperature

range while charging to support longevity and

optimum performance.

Warning:

Never spray liquid at a high

velocity (for example, if using a pressure

washer) towards the charge port while

charging. Failure to follow these

instructions can result in serious injury or

damage to the vehicle, charging

equipment, or property.

Stopping Charging

Stop charging at any time by disconnecting

the charge cable or touching Stop Charging

on the touchscreen.

Note: To prevent unauthorized unplugging of

the charge cable, Model S must be unlocked

or able to recognize your key before you can

disconnect the charge cable.

To disconnect the charge cable:

1. Press and hold the button on a Tesla

connector to release the latch. You can

also touch Stop Charging on the charging

screen (see Changing Charge Settings on

page 144).

2. Pull the connector from the charge port.

3. Push the charge port door closed.

Caution: Tesla strongly recommends

leaving Model S plugged in when not in

use. This maintains the Battery at the

optimum level of charge.

Charge Port Light

• WHITE: The charge port door is open.

Model S is ready to charge and the

connector is not inserted, or the latch is

released and the connector is ready to be

removed.

• BLUE: Model S detects that a connector

has been plugged in, but charging has not

started. Either Model S is preparing to

charge, or a charging session is scheduled

to begin at a

speciﬁed future time.

• BLINKING GREEN: Charging is in

progress. As Model S approaches a full

charge, the frequency of the blinking

slows.

• SOLID GREEN: Charging is complete.

• SOLID AMBER: The connector is not fully

plugged in. Realign the connector to the

charge port and insert fully.

• BLINKING AMBER: Model S is charging at

a reduced current (AC charging only).

• RED: A fault is detected and charging has

stopped. Check the instrument panel or

touchscreen for a fault message.

Charging Instructions

Charging 143

Changing Charge Settings

The charge settings screen displays on the

touchscreen whenever the charge port door is

open.

To display charge settings at any time, touch

the Battery icon on the top of the

touchscreen, or touch Controls > Charging

(located in the upper right portion of the

Controls screen).

Note: The following illustration is provided for

demonstration purposes only and may vary

slightly depending on software version and

market region.

Note: If charging at a Tesla Supercharger, and

paid supercharging is potentially in

eect, the

charging screen also displays information

about your previous or current Supercharger

session (see Supercharger Usage Fees and

Idle Fees on page 146).

1. Charge status messages (such as

Charging Scheduled, Charging In

Progress) display here.

2. To adjust the charge limit, touch Set

Charge Limit, and drag the arrow to

change the charge limit setting. The

setting you choose applies to immediate

and scheduled charging sessions.

Location-speciﬁc schedule. With Model S

in Park, set a speciﬁc time to begin

charging at the current location. If, at the

scheduled time, Model S is not plugged in

at the location, charging starts as soon as

you plug it in provided you plug it in

within six hours of the scheduled time. If

plugged in after six hours, charging does

not start until the scheduled time on the

next day. To override this setting, touch

Start Charging or Stop Charging (see

item 4). When you set a scheduled

charging time, Model S displays the set

time on the instrument panel and

touchscreen.

4. Touch to open the charge port door or to

start (or stop) charging.

5. Charging rate per hour, estimated increase

in driving distance (or energy) achieved

so far in this charging session, current

supplied/available from the connected

power supply, and voltage supplied by the

charge cable.

6. The current automatically sets to the

maximum current available from the

attached charge cable, unless it was

previously reduced to a lower level. If

needed, touch the up/down arrows to

change the current (for example, you may

want to reduce the current if you are

concerned about overloading a domestic

wiring circuit shared by other equipment).

It is not possible to set the charging

current to a level that exceeds the

maximum available from the attached

charge cable. When you change the

current, Model S remembers the location.

If you charge at the same location, you do

not need to change it again.

Note: For 3-phase charging, the available

current represents the current per phase

(up to 32 amps). During charging, the

right status

ﬂag displays the 3-phase

symbol in front of the displayed current.

Note: If Model S automatically reduced

the current at a charging location because

of ﬂuctuations in input power (see the

note in Charging Status on page 145),

Tesla recommends charging at the lower

current until the underlying problem is

resolved and the charging location can

provide consistent power.

Charging Instructions

144 Model S Owner's Manual

Charging Status

The following illustration is provided for demonstration purposes only and may vary slightly

depending on the software version and market region.

1. Charging status information. For example, when Model S is charging, it displays the time

remaining until fully charged at the currently selected charge level. When a charging session is

scheduled, it displays when charging starts.

2. Total estimated driving distance (or energy) available. To choose between displaying distance

or energy percentage, touch Controls > Settings > Language & Units > Energy & Charging.

Note: A portion of the battery image may appear blue. This indicates that a small portion of

the energy stored in the battery is not available because the battery is cold. This is normal and

no reason for concern. When the battery warms up, the blue portion no longer displays.

3. Charging rate per hour.

4. Estimated increase in driving distance (or energy) achieved so far in this charging session.

5. Current supplied/available from the connected power supply (see Changing Charge Settings

on page 144).

If connected to a 3-phase power supply, the available current represents the

current per phase and the 3-phase symbol displays.

6. Voltage supplied by the charge cable.

Note: If Model S is charging and detects unexpected ﬂuctuations in input power, the charging

current is automatically reduced by 25%. For example, a 40 amp current is reduced to 30 amps.

This automatic current reduction increases robustness and safety in situations when an external

problem exists (for example, a home wiring system, receptacle, adapter or cord is unable to meet

its rated current capacity). As a precaution, when Model S automatically reduces current, it saves

the reduced current at the charging location. Although you can manually increase it, Tesla

recommends charging at the lower current until the underlying problem is resolved and the

charging location can provide consistent power.

Charging Instructions

Charging 145

Supercharger Usage Fees and Idle

Fees

When charging using a Tesla supercharger,

PAID SUPERCHARGING information displays

at the bottom of the charging screen. This

information includes the location, the time

that charging started, and an estimate of how

much the session will cost. When you stop

charging, the

ﬁnal cost displays until a new

Supercharging session begins. If free charging

is applicable, the cost displays as zero.

When charging at a Tesla supercharger, you

are subject to idle fees. Idle fees are designed

to encourage drivers to move their vehicle

from the Supercharger when charging is

complete and are in

eect whenever at least

half of the Superchargers at a site are

occupied. The Tesla mobile app

notiﬁes you

when charging nears completion, and again

when charging is complete. Additional

notiﬁcations are sent if idle fees are incurred.

Idle fees are waived if you move your vehicle

within

ﬁve minutes of charging completion.

Log into your Tesla Account to view fees and

details about Supercharger sessions, track the

remaining balance of free credits, set up a

payment method, and make payments. Once a

payment method is saved, fees are

automatically paid from your account.

Charging Instructions

146 Model S Owner's Manual

Service Intervals

Regular maintenance is the key to ensuring

the continued reliability and eciency of your

Model S.

Rotate the tires every 10,000 km. Maintain the

correct tire pressures, and take Model S to

Tesla at the regularly scheduled maintenance

intervals of every 12 months, or every

20,000 km, whichever comes

ﬁrst. It is also

important to perform the daily and monthly

checks described below.

Model S should be serviced by Tesla-certiﬁed

technicians. Damages or failures caused by

maintenance or repairs performed by non-

Tesla certiﬁed technicians are not covered by

the warranty.

Daily Checks

• Check the Battery’s charge level,

displayed on the instrument panel or

mobile app.

• Check the condition and pressure of each

tire (see Tire Care and Maintenance on

page 148).

• Check that all exterior lights, horn, turn

signals, and wipers and washers are

working.

• Check the operation of the brakes,

including the parking brake.

• Check the operation of the seat belts

(see Seat Belts on page 21).

• Look for abnormal

ﬂuid deposits

underneath Model S that might indicate a

leak. It is normal for a small pool of water

to form (caused by the air conditioning

system’s dehumidifying process).

Monthly Checks

• Check the mileage to determine if the tires

need to be rotated (every 10,000 km), and

check the condition and pressure of each

tire (see Tire Care and Maintenance on

page 148).

• Check windshield washer

ﬂuid level and

top up if necessary (see Topping Up

Washer Fluid on page 161).

• Check that the air conditioning system is

operating correctly (see Climate Controls

on page 111).

Warning:

Contact Tesla immediately if

you notice any signiﬁcant or sudden drop

in ﬂuid levels or uneven tire wear.

Fluid Replacement Intervals

Do not change or top up the Battery coolant

or brake ﬂuid. Tesla service technicians replace

ﬂuids at the regularly scheduled service

intervals:

• Brake

ﬂuid. Every 2 years or 40,000 km,

whichever comes ﬁrst.

• Battery coolant. Every 4 years or

80,000 km, whichever comes

ﬁrst.

Note: Any damage caused by opening the

Battery coolant reservoir is excluded from the

warranty.

High Voltage Safety

Your Model S has been designed and built

with safety as a priority. However, be aware of

these precautions to protect yourself from the

risk of injury inherent in all high-voltage

systems:

• Read and follow all instructions provided

on the labels that are attached to Model S.

These labels are there for your safety.

• The high voltage system has no user-

serviceable parts. Do not disassemble,

remove or replace high voltage

components, cables or connectors. High

voltage cables are colored orange for easy

identiﬁcation.

• If a collision occurs, do not touch any high

voltage wiring, connectors, or

components connected to the wiring.

• In the unlikely event that a

ﬁre occurs,

immediately contact your local ﬁre

emergency responders.

Warning:

Always disconnect the charge

cable before working underneath

Model S, even if charging is not in

progress.

Warning: Keep your hands and clothing

away from cooling fans. Some fans

operate even when Model S is powered

o.

Warning: Some ﬂuids (battery acid,

Battery coolant, brake ﬂuid, windshield

washer additives, etc.) used in vehicles

are poisonous and should not be inhaled,

swallowed, or brought into contact with

open wounds. For your safety, always

read and follow instructions printed on

ﬂuid containers.

Maintenance Schedule

Maintenance 147

Maintaining Tire Pressures

Keep tires inﬂated to the pressures shown on

the Tire and Loading Information label, even if

it diers from the pressure printed on the tire

itself. The Tire and Loading Information label is

located on the center door pillar and is visible

when the driver’s door is open.

The Tire Pressure indicator light on

the instrument panel alerts you if

one or more tires is under- or over-

inﬂated.

The Tire Pressure indicator light does not

immediately turn o when you adjust tire

pressure. After

inﬂating the tire to the

recommended pressure, you must drive over

25 km/h for more than 10 minutes to activate

the Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS),

which turns

o the Tire Pressure indicator

light.

If the indicator light ﬂashes for one minute

whenever you power on Model S, a fault with

the TPMS is detected (see TPMS Malfunction

on page 152).

On newer vehicles, you can display tire

pressures on the instrument panel by

choosing to display Car Status using the right

or left steering wheel buttons (see Using Left

Steering Wheel Buttons on page 41 or Using

Right Steering Wheel Buttons on page 42).

You can also choose whether you want to

display tire pressures using BAR or PSI by

touching Controls > Settings > Language &

Units > Tire Pressure.

Checking and Adjusting Tire Pressures

Follow these steps when tires are cold and

Model S has been stationary for over three

hours:

1. Remove the valve cap.

2. Firmly press an accurate tire pressure

gauge onto the valve to measure pressure.

3. If required, add or remove air to reach the

recommended pressure.

Note: You can release air by pressing the

metal stem in the center of the valve.

4. Re-check pressure using the tire gauge.

5. Repeat steps 3 and 4 as necessary until

the tire pressure is correct.

6. Replace the valve cap to prevent dirt from

entering. Periodically check the valve for

damage and leaks.

Warning: Under-inﬂation is the most

common cause of tire failures and can

cause a tire to overheat, resulting in

severe tire cracking, tread separation, or

blowout, which causes unexpected loss of

vehicle control and increased risk of

injury. Under-inﬂation also reduces the

vehicle's range and tire tread life.

Warning: Check tire pressures using an

accurate pressure gauge when tires are

cold. It takes only about 1.6 kms of driving

to warm up the tires suciently to aect

tire pressures. Parking the vehicle in

direct sunlight or in hot weather can also

aect tire pressures. If you must check

warm tires, expect increased pressures.

Do not let air out of warm tires in an

attempt to match recommended cold tire

pressures. A hot tire at or below the

recommended cold tire

inﬂation pressure

is dangerously

under-inﬂated.

Warning: Do not use any tire sealant

other than the type provided in a Tesla

tire repair kit. Other types can cause tire

pressure sensors to malfunction. If your

Model S did not include a tire repair kit,

you can purchase one from Tesla.

Tire Care and Maintenance

148 Model S Owner's Manual

Inspecting and Maintaining Tires

Regularly inspect the tread and side walls for

any sign of distortion (bulges), foreign objects,

cuts or wear.

Warning: Do not drive Model S if a tire is

damaged, excessively worn, or inﬂated to

an incorrect pressure. Check tires

regularly for wear, and ensure there are

no cuts, bulges or exposure of the ply/

cord structure.

Tire Wear

Adequate tread depth is important for proper

tire performance. Tires with a tread depth less

than 3 mm are more likely to hydroplane in

wet conditions and should not be used. Tires

with a tread depth less than 4 mm do not

perform well in snow and slush and should not

be used when driving in winter conditions.

Model S is originally

ﬁtted with tires that have

wear indicators molded into the tread pattern.

When the tread has been worn down to 3 mm,

the indicators start to appear at the surface of

the tread pattern, producing the

eect of a

continuous band of rubber across the width of

the tire. For optimal performance and safety,

Tesla recommends replacing tires before the

wear indicators are visible.

Tire Rotation, Balance, and Wheel Alignment

Tesla recommends rotating the tires every

10,000 km.

Unbalanced wheels (sometimes noticeable as

vibration through the steering wheel)

aect

vehicle handling and tire life. Even with regular

use, wheels can get out of balance. Therefore,

they should be balanced as required.

If tire wear is uneven (on one side of the tire

only) or becomes abnormally excessive, check

the alignment of wheels.

Note: When replacing only two tires, always

install the new tires on the rear.

Punctured Tires

A puncture eventually causes the tire to lose

pressure, which is why it is important to check

tire pressures frequently. Permanently repair

or replace punctured or damaged tires as

soon as possible.

Your tubeless tires may not leak when

penetrated, provided the object remains in the

tire. If, however, you feel a sudden vibration or

ride disturbance while driving, or you suspect

a tire is damaged, immediately reduce your

speed. Drive slowly, while avoiding heavy

braking or sharp steering and, when safe to do

so, stop the vehicle. Arrange to have Model S

transported to a Tesla Service Center, or to a

nearby tire repair center.

Note: In some cases, you can temporarily

repair small tire punctures (under 6 mm) using

an optional tire repair kit available from Tesla.

This allows you to slowly drive Model S to

Tesla or to a nearby tire repair facility.

Warning: Do not drive with a punctured

tire, even if the puncture has not caused

the tire to deﬂate. A punctured tire can

deﬂate suddenly at any time.

Flat Spots

If Model S is stationary for a long period in

high temperatures, tires can form

ﬂat spots.

When Model S is driven, these ﬂat spots cause

a vibration which gradually disappears as the

tires warm up and regain their original shape.

To minimize ﬂat spots during storage, inﬂate

tires to the maximum pressure indicated on

the tire wall. Then, before driving, release air

to adjust tire pressure to the recommended

levels.

Improving Tire Mileage

To improve the mileage you get from your

tires, maintain tires at the recommended tire

pressures, observe speed limits and advisory

speeds, and avoid:

• Pulling away quickly, or hard acceleration.

• Fast turns and heavy braking.

• Potholes and objects in the road.

• Hitting curbs when parking.

• Contaminating tires with

ﬂuids that can

cause damage.

Tire Care and Maintenance

Maintenance 149

Replacing Tires and Wheels

Tires degrade over time due to the eects of

ultraviolet light, extreme temperatures, high

loads, and environmental conditions. It is

recommended that tires are replaced every six

years, or sooner if required.

Wheel and tires are matched to suit the

handling characteristics of the vehicle.

Replacement tires must comply with the

original

speciﬁcation. If tires other than those

speciﬁed are used, ensure that the load and

speed ratings marked on the tire (see

Understanding Tire Markings on page 172)

equal or exceed those of the original

speciﬁcation.

Ideally, you should replace all four tires at the

same time. If this is not possible, replace the

tires in pairs, placing the new tires on the rear.

Always balance the wheel after replacing a

tire.

If you replace a wheel, the TPMS (Tire Pressure

Monitoring System) sensors need to be reset

to ensure they provide accurate warnings

when tires are under- or

over-inﬂated (see

Resetting the TPMS Sensors on page 152).

For the speciﬁcation of the original wheels

and tires installed on Model S, see Wheels and

Tires on page 171.

Warning: For your safety, use only tires

and wheels that match the original

speciﬁcation. Tires that do not match the

original speciﬁcation can aect the

operation of the TPMS.

Warning: Never exceed the speed rating

of your vehicle's tires. The speed rating is

shown on the sidewall of your tires (see

Understanding Tire Markings on page

172).

Asymmetric Tires

Model S tires are asymmetric and must be

mounted on the wheel with the correct

sidewall facing outward. The sidewall of the

tire is marked with the word OUTSIDE. When

new tires are installed, make sure that the tires

are correctly mounted on the wheels.

Warning:

Road holding is seriously

impaired if the tires are incorrectly

installed on the wheels.

Tire Care and Maintenance

150 Model S Owner's Manual

Seasonal Tire Types

Summer Tires

Your vehicle may be originally equipped with

high performance summer tires or all season

tires. Tesla recommends using winter tires if

driving in cold temperatures or on roads

where snow or ice may be present. Contact

Tesla for winter tire recommendations.

Warning: In cold temperatures or on

snow or ice, summer tires do not provide

adequate traction. Selecting and installing

the appropriate tires for winter conditions

is important to ensure the safety and

optimum performance of your Model S,

even when equipped with dual-motors.

All-Season Tires

Your Model S may be originally equipped with

all-season tires. These tires are designed to

provide adequate traction in most conditions

year-round, but may not provide the same

level of traction as winter tires in snowy or icy

conditions. All-season tires can be

identiﬁed

by “ALL SEASON" and/or "M+S” (mud and

snow) on the tire sidewall.

Winter Tires

Use winter tires to increase traction in snowy

or icy conditions. When installing winter tires,

always install a complete set of four tires at

the same time. Winter tires must be the same

size, brand, construction and tread pattern on

all four wheels. Contact Tesla for winter tire

recommendations.

When equipped with winter tires, refer to the

tire warning label on the door pillar.

Winter tires can be

identiﬁed by a

mountain/snowﬂake symbol on the

tire's sidewall.

When driving with winter tires, you may

experience more road noise, shorter tread life,

and less traction on dry roads.

Driving in Low Temperatures

Tire performance is reduced in low ambient

temperatures, resulting in reduced grip and an

increased susceptibility to damage from

impacts. Performance tires can temporarily

harden when cold, causing you to hear

rotational noise for the ﬁrst few kilometers

until the tires warm up.

Using Tire Chains

Tesla has tested and approved Maggie Group

Trak Sport P217 tire chains to increase traction

in snowy conditions. These chains should only

be installed on rear 19" tires. Do not use chains

on 21" tires or on front tires. The approved tire

chains can be purchased from Tesla.

When installing tire chains, follow the

instructions provided by the tire chain

manufacturer. Mount them as tightly as

possible.

When using tire chains:

• Drive slowly. Do not exceed 48 km/h.

• Avoid heavily loading Model S (heavy

loads can reduce the clearance between

the tires and the body).

• Remove the tire chains as soon as

conditions allow.

Note: Tire chains are prohibited in some

jurisdictions. Check local laws before installing

tire chains.

Caution:

Using non-recommended tire

chains, or using tire chains on other sized

tires can damage the suspension, body,

wheels, and/or brake lines. Damage

caused by using non-recommended tire

chains is not covered by the warranty.

Caution: Do not use chains on a Model S

equipped with 21" tires and do not use

tire chains on front tires.

Caution: Ensure that the tire chains

cannot touch suspension components or

brake lines. If you hear the chains making

unusual noises that would indicate

contact with Model S, stop and

investigate immediately.

Tire Care and Maintenance

Maintenance 151

Tire Pressure Monitoring

Each tire should be checked monthly when

cold and inﬂated to the recommended

pressures that are printed on the Tire and

Loading Information label located on the

driver’s door pillar (see Maintaining Tire

Pressures on page 148). If your vehicle has

tires of a dierent size than the size indicated

on the vehicle placard or tire

inﬂation pressure

label, determine the proper tire inﬂation

pressure for those tires.

As an added safety feature, your vehicle has

been equipped with a TPMS that displays a

tire pressure telltale (Tire Pressure Warning)

on the instrument panel when one or more of

your tires is

signiﬁcantly under- or over-

inﬂated. Accordingly, when the Tire Pressure

indicator light displays on the instrument

panel to alert you about tire pressure, stop

and check your tires as soon as possible, and

inﬂate them to the proper pressure (see

Maintaining Tire Pressures on page 148).

Driving on a

signiﬁcantly under-inﬂated tire

causes the tire to overheat and can lead to tire

failure.

Under-inﬂation also reduces range

eciency and tire tread life, and may aect

the vehicle's handling and stopping ability.

If Model S detects a fault with the

TPMS, this indicator ﬂashes for one

minute whenever you power on

Model S.

Note: Installing accessories that are not

approved by Tesla can interfere with the

TPMS.

Warning:

The TPMS is not a substitute for

proper tire maintenance, including

manually checking tire pressures and

regularly inspecting the condition of tires.

It is the driver's responsibility to maintain

correct tire pressure, even if under- or

over-inﬂation has not reached the level

for the TPMS to trigger the Tire Pressure

Warning on the instrument panel.

Resetting the TPMS Sensors

After replacing one or more wheels (but not

after replacing a tire or rotating wheels), the

TPMS sensors need to be reset to ensure tire

pressure warnings are accurate.

On newer versions of Model S, the TPMS

sensors are reset automatically after driving

over 25 km/h for longer than 10 minutes. But

for older versions, follow these steps:

Inﬂate all tires to their recommended

pressures, as indicated on the Tire and

Loading Information label located on the

door pillar.

2. Get ready to drive for ten minutes, then

touch Controls > Settings > Service &

Reset > Tire Pressure Monitor > Reset

Sensors.

3. Follow the onscreen instructions.

Caution: Selecting the incorrect

wheel size may result in false tire

pressure warnings. If a tire pressure

warning displays, exit the vehicle,

close the rear trunk and all doors,

wait for the touchscreen to go black,

then re-enter the vehicle and ensure

that the correct wheel size is selected

before touching Reset Sensors.

Note: On some older versions of Model S,

when changing to 21" wheels, the TPMS may

generate false tire pressure warnings. Bring

Model S to a Tesla Service Center for further

adjustment.

Warning: Do not reset the TPMS sensors

in an attempt to clear tire pressure

warnings.

Replacing a Tire Sensor

If the Tire Pressure warning indicator displays

frequently, contact Tesla to determine if a tire

sensor needs to be replaced. If a non-Tesla

Service Center repairs or replaces a tire, the

tire sensor may not work until Tesla performs

the setup procedure.

TPMS Malfunction

Model S has also been equipped with a TPMS

malfunction indicator to indicate when the

system is not operating properly.

The TPMS malfunction indicator is

combined with the tire pressure

indicator light. When the system

detects a malfunction, the indicator

ﬂashes for approximately one minute

after Model S powers on, and then

remains continuously lit. This

sequence continues upon

subsequent vehicle start-ups as long

as the malfunction exists. When the

TPMS malfunction indicator is on,

the system might not be able to

detect or signal under- and

over-

inﬂated

tires as intended.

Tire Care and Maintenance

152 Model S Owner's Manual

TPMS malfunctions can occur for a variety of

reasons, including installing replacement or

alternate tires or wheels that prevent the

TPMS from functioning properly. Always check

the TPMS malfunction indicator light after

replacing one or more tires or wheels on your

vehicle to ensure that the replacement tires or

wheels allow the TPMS to continue to function

properly.

Note: If a tire has been replaced or repaired

using a

dierent tire sealant than the one

available from Tesla, and a low tire pressure is

detected, it is possible that the tire sensor has

been damaged. Contact Tesla to have the fault

repaired as soon as possible.

Tire Care and Maintenance

Maintenance 153

Cleaning the Exterior

To prevent damage to the paint, immediately

remove corrosive substances (bird droppings,

tree resin, dead insects, tar spots, road salt,

industrial fallout, etc.). Do not wait until

Model S is due for a complete wash. If

necessary, use denatured alcohol to remove

tar spots and stubborn grease stains, then

immediately wash the area with water and a

mild, non-detergent soap to remove the

alcohol.

Follow these steps when washing the exterior

of Model S:

1. Rinse Thoroughly

Before washing,

ﬂush grime and grit from

the bodywork using a hose. Flush away

accumulations of mud in areas where

debris easily collects (such as wheel

arches and panel seams). If salt has been

used on the highways (such as during

winter months), thoroughly rinse all traces

of road salt from the underside of the

vehicle.

2. Hand Wash

Hand wash Model S using a clean soft

cloth and cold or lukewarm water

containing a mild, high-quality car

shampoo.

3. Rinse with Clean Water

After washing, rinse with clean water to

prevent soap from drying on the surfaces.

4. Dry Thoroughly and Clean Exterior Glass

After washing and rinsing, dry thoroughly

with a chamois.

Clean windows and mirrors using an

automotive glass cleaner. Do not scrape,

or use any abrasive cleaning

ﬂuid on glass

or mirrored surfaces.

Cautions for Exterior Cleaning

Caution: Do not use windshield treatment

ﬂuids. Doing so can interfere with wiper

friction and cause a chattering sound.

Caution: Do not use hot water or

detergents.

Caution: Do not wash in direct sunlight.

Caution: If using a pressure washer,

maintain a distance of at least 30 cm

between the nozzle and the surface of

Model S. Keep the nozzle moving and do

not concentrate the water jet on any one

area.

Caution: Do not aim water hoses directly

at window, door or hood seals, or through

wheel apertures onto brake components.

Caution: Avoid using tight-napped or

rough cloths, such as washing mitts.

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.

Using any other type of car wash could

cause damage that is not covered by the

warranty.

Caution: Ensure the wipers are o before

washing Model S to avoid the risk of

damaging the wipers.

Caution: Do not use chemical based

wheel cleaners. These can damage the

ﬁnish on the wheels.

Caution: Avoid using a high pressure

power washer on the camera(s) or

parking sensors (if equipped) and do not

clean a sensor or camera lens with a

sharp or abrasive object that can scratch

or damage its surface.

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

154 Model S Owner's Manual

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

aect 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.

Leather Seats

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. 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. Using detergents or commercially

available leather cleaners and conditioners is

not recommended because they can discolor

or dry out the leather.

Polyurethane 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. After cleaning, allow the seats to air

dry.

Cloth 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. Vacuum the seats as needed to remove

any loose dirt.

Carpets

Avoid over-wetting carpets. For heavily soiled

areas, use a diluted upholstery cleaner.

Seat Belts

Extend the belts to wipe. Do not use any type

of detergent or chemical cleaning agent.

Allow the belts to dry naturally while

extended, preferably away from direct

sunlight.

Tesla Built-In Rear Facing Child Seats

Vacuum the seats to remove any loose dirt.

Wipe the seats with a soft cloth dampened

with warm water. You can also use an

upholstery cleaner designed for automotive

use. Extend the belts to wipe. Allow the belts

to dry naturally, preferably away from direct

sunlight.

Touchscreen and Instrument Panel

Clean the touchscreen and instrument panel

using a soft lint-free cloth

speciﬁcally

designed to clean monitors and displays. Do

not use cleaners (such as a glass cleaner) and

do not use a wet wipe or a dry statically-

charged cloth (such as a recently washed

microﬁber). To wipe the touchscreen without

activating buttons and changing settings, you

can enable clean mode. Touch Controls >

Displays > Clean Mode. The display darkens to

make it easy to see dust and smudges.

Chrome and Metal Surfaces

Polish, abrasive cleaners or hard cloths can

damage the

ﬁnish on chrome and metal

surfaces.

Cautions for Interior Cleaning

Caution:

Using solvents (including

alcohol), bleach, citrus, naphtha, or

silicone-based products or additives on

interior components can cause damage.

Caution: Statically-charged materials can

cause damage to the touchscreen or

instrument panel.

Warning: If you notice any damage on an

airbag or seat belt, contact Tesla

immediately.

Warning: Do not allow any water,

cleaners, or fabric to enter a seat belt

mechanism.

Warning: Exposure to chemical cleaners

can be hazardous and can irritate eyes

Cleaning

Maintenance 155

and skin. Read and observe the

instructions provided by the manufacturer

of the chemical cleaner.

Polishing, Touch Up, and Body

Repair

To preserve the cosmetic appearance of the

body, you can occasionally treat the paint

surfaces with an approved polish containing:

• Very mild abrasive to remove surface

contamination without removing or

damaging the paint.

• Filling compounds that

ﬁll scratches and

reduce their visibility.

• Wax to provide a protective coating

between the paint and environmental

elements.

Regularly inspect the exterior paint for

damage. Treat minor chips and scratches

using a paint touch-up pen (available for

purchase from Tesla). Use the touch-up pen

after washing but before polishing or waxing.

Repair rock chips, fractures or scratches. Body

repairs should be performed only by a Tesla

approved body shop. Contact Tesla for a list of

approved body shops.

Caution: Do not use cutting pastes, color

restoration compounds, or polishes

containing harsh abrasives. These can

scour the surface and permanently

damage the paint.

Caution: Do not use chrome polish or

other abrasive cleaners.

Using a Car Cover

To preserve the cosmetic appearance of the

body when Model S is not being used, use a

genuine Tesla car cover. Car covers can be

purchased from Tesla. See Parts and

Accessories on page 163.

Caution:

Use only a Tesla-approved car

cover when Model S is plugged in. Using a

non-Tesla car cover can prevent the

Battery from being adequately cooled

during charging.

Floor Mats

To extend the life of your carpet and make

them easier to clean, use genuine Tesla ﬂoor

mats (see Parts and Accessories on page

163). Maintain ﬂoor mats by regularly cleaning

them and checking that they are properly

attached. Replace

ﬂoor mats if they become

excessively worn.

Warning: To avoid potential interference

with a foot pedal, ensure that the driver’s

ﬂoor mat is securely fastened, and never

place an additional ﬂoor mat on top of it.

Floor mats should always rest on top of

the vehicle carpeting surface and not on

another ﬂoor mat or other covering.

Cleaning

156 Model S Owner's Manual

Checking and Replacing Wiper

Blades

Caution: Wiper blades do not lock into a

lifted position. When cleaning or

replacing a wiper blade, lift the wiper arm

only a short distance from the windshield,

just far enough to access the blade. Do

not lift a wiper arm beyond its intended

position. Doing so can cause damage that

is not covered by the warranty.

To make wiper blades easy to access, turn o

the wipers, shift Model S into Park, then use

the touchscreen to move them to the service

position. Touch Controls > Settings > Service

& Reset > Service Mode > ON.

Note: Wipers automatically return to their

normal position when you shift Model S out of

Park.

Periodically check and clean the edge of the

wiper blade and check the rubber for cracks,

splits and roughness. If damaged, replace the

blade immediately to prevent damage to the

glass.

Contaminants on the windshield, or on the

wiper blades, can reduce the

eectiveness of

the wiper blades. Contaminants include ice,

wax spray from car washes, washer ﬂuid with

bug and/or water repellent, bird droppings,

tree sap, and other organic substances.

Follow these guidelines for cleaning:

• Clean the windshield using non-abrasive

glass cleaner.

• Lift the wiper arm a short distance away

from the windshield, just far enough to

access the wiper blade, then wipe the

blade clean using isopropyl (rubbing)

alcohol or washer

ﬂuid.

If the wipers remain ineective after cleaning,

replace the wiper blades.

Note: For optimum performance, replace the

wiper blades at least once a year.

To replace the wiper blades:

1. Turn o the wipers, shift Model S into

Park, then use the touchscreen to move

the wipers to the service position. Touch

Controls > Settings > Service & Reset >

Service Mode > ON.

Note: The wipers must be

o to turn

Service Mode on.

2. Lift the wiper arm a short distance away

from the windshield, just far enough to

access the wiper blade.

Hold the wiper arm (the wiper arm does

not lock into a lifted position) and press

the locking tab while sliding the blade

down the arm.

4. If necessary, temporarily place a towel

between the wiper arm and windshield to

avoid scratching the windshield.

5. Align the new blade on the wiper arm and

slide it toward the hooked end of the arm

until it locks into place.

6. Place the wiper arm against the

windshield.

7. Turn Service Mode

o.

If the problem persists with new blades, clean

the windshield and wiper blades by wiping

them with a soft cloth or sponge moistened

with warm water and non-detergent soap.

Then, rinse the windshield and wiper blades

with clean water. The windshield is clean when

water beads do not form.

Caution:

Only use cleaning products

approved for use on automotive glass and

rubber. Inappropriate products can cause

damage or smears, and create glare on

the windshield.

Caution: Only install replacement blades

that are identical to the original blades.

Using inappropriate blades can aect the

operation of the rain sensor and damage

the wiper system and windshield.

Cleaning Washer Jets

The position of the windshield washers is set

at the factory and should never need

adjusting.

If a windshield washer becomes blocked, use a

thin strand of wire to clear any blockages from

the nozzle.

Wiper Blades and Washer Jets

Maintenance 157

Warning: Do not operate the washers

while cleaning Model S. Windshield

washer ﬂuid can irritate eyes and skin.

Read and observe the washer ﬂuid

manufacturer’s instructions.

Wiper Blades and Washer Jets

158 Model S Owner's Manual

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.

Caution: The maintenance panel protects

the front trunk from water. When re-

attaching, make sure it is fully seated.

Checking Battery Coolant

If the quantity of

ﬂuid in the cooling system

drops below the recommended level, the

instrument panel displays a warning message.

Stop driving Model S as soon as safety

permits and contact Tesla.

Fluid Level Check

Tesla checks the Battery coolant level at the

regularly scheduled maintenance intervals.

On a single motor Model S, you can check the

ﬂuid level visually. BUT DO NOT REMOVE THE

FILLER CAP AND DO NOT ADD FLUID. Doing

so can result in damage not covered by the

warranty.To check the

ﬂuid level, park Model S

on level ground. When Model S is cool, remove

the maintenance panel (see Removing the

Maintenance Panel on page 159). The

ﬂuid

level can be seen by looking at the outside

marks on the side of the reservoir.

The

ﬂuid level should be between the MIN and

the MAX marks. If you notice that the ﬂuid

level has dropped signiﬁcantly, contact Tesla

before using Model S.

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 instrument panel 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.

Fluid Reservoirs

Maintenance 159

Checking Brake Fluid

Warning: 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.

The Brake indicator on the

instrument panel 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.

Fluid Level Check

Tesla checks the brake ﬂuid level at the

regularly scheduled maintenance intervals. To

check it yourself, park Model S on level

ground. When Model S is cool, remove the

maintenance panel (see Removing the

Maintenance Panel on page 159).

Check the ﬂuid level visually by looking at the

outside marks on the side of the reservoir

without removing the

ﬁller cap.

The brake ﬂuid level should always be

between the MIN and the MAX marks.

Note: Although brake ﬂuid level drops slightly

during normal use as a result of brake pad

wear, it should not drop below the MIN mark.

Topping Up the Brake Fluid

Do not top up your brake

ﬂuid. Tesla service

does this when you bring Model S in for

regular servicing. The following instructions

are provided for information purposes and

future reference only:

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—ﬂuid

absorbs moisture which decreases

braking performance.

Warning: Brake ﬂuid is highly toxic. Keep

containers sealed and out of the reach of

children. In the event of accidental

consumption, seek medical attention

immediately.

Caution: Brake ﬂuid damages painted

surfaces. Immediately soak up any spills

with an absorbent cloth and wash the

area with a mixture of car shampoo and

water.

Fluid Reservoirs

160 Model S Owner's Manual

Topping Up Washer Fluid

The only reservoir into which you can add

ﬂuid is the washer ﬂuid reservoir, which is

located behind the front trunk. When the level

is low, a message displays on the instrument

panel.

Caution: Do not add formulated washer

ﬂuids that contain water repellent or bug

wash. These ﬂuids can cause streaking,

smearing, and squeaking or other noises.

Operate the washers periodically to check that

the nozzles are clear and properly directed.

See Wipers and Washers on page 58.

To top up the washer

ﬂuid:

1. Open the hood.

2. Clean around the ﬁller cap before opening

it to prevent dirt from entering the

reservoir.

3. Open the

ﬁller cap.

4. Fill the reservoir until the ﬂuid level is

visible just below the

ﬁller neck.

5. Replace the ﬁller cap.

Note: Some national or local regulations

restrict the use of Volatile Organic

Compounds (VOCs). VOCs are commonly

used as antifreeze in washer

ﬂuid. Use a

washer

ﬂuid with limited VOC content only if it

provides adequate freeze resistance for all

climates in which you drive Model S.

Caution:

Under no circumstances do you

need to inspect or top up other ﬂuid

reservoirs. Two additional ﬂuid reservoirs

are located next to the washer ﬂuid, but

underneath the maintenance panel. In the

unlikely event that you see a message on

the instrument panel that one of these

ﬂuid levels is low, stop driving Model S as

soon as safe to do so, and contact Tesla.

Caution: Do not spill washer ﬂuid on

body panels. Doing so can cause damage.

Wipe up spills immediately and wash the

aected area with water.

Warning: In temperatures below 4° C, use

a washer ﬂuid with antifreeze. In cold

weather, using a washer ﬂuid without

antifreeze can impair visibility through

the windshield.

Warning: Windshield washer ﬂuid can

irritate eyes and skin. Read and observe

the instructions provided by the washer

ﬂuid manufacturer.

Fluid Reservoirs

Maintenance 161

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

o. Use the

touchscreen 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.

3. Position the lift arm pads under the

designated body lift points at the

locations shown.

Warning: DO NOT position the lift

arm pads under the Battery.

4. Adjust the height and position of the lift

arm pads to ensure that 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 7 km/h.

Note:

Jack mode may be unexpectedly

enabled in situations where an object is

supporting the vehicle's weight (for example

the bumper of the vehicle is resting on a curb).

Warning: If your Model S is equipped with

Smart Air Suspension, it automatically

self-levels, even when power is o. 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

designated body lift points only. The

locations shown are the only approved

lifting points for Model S. Lifting at any

other points can cause damage. Damage

caused by incorrectly lifting Model S is

not covered by the warranty.

Jacking and Lifting

162 Model S Owner's Manual

Parts, Accessories, and

Modiﬁcations

Use only genuine Tesla parts and accessories.

Tesla performs rigorous testing on parts to

ensure their suitability, safety, and reliability.

Purchase these parts from Tesla, where they

are professionally installed and where you can

receive expert advice about

modiﬁcations to

Model S. Accessories are available for

purchase from Tesla stores or online at

www.tesla.com/shop.

Tesla is unable to assess parts manufactured

by other distributors and therefore accepts no

responsibility if you use non-Tesla parts on

Model S.

Warning: Installing non-approved parts

and accessories, or performing non-

approved modiﬁcations, can aect the

performance of Model S and the safety of

its occupants. Any damage caused by

using or installing non-approved parts, or

by performing non-approved

modiﬁcations, is not covered by the

warranty.

Warning: Tesla does not accept liability

for death, personal injury or damage that

occurs if you use or install non-approved

accessories or make non-approved

modiﬁcations.

Body Repairs

If Model S is in a collision, contact Tesla to

ensure that it is repaired with genuine Tesla

parts. Tesla has selected and approved body

shops that meet strict requirements for

training, equipment, quality, and customer

satisfaction.

Some repair shops and insurance companies

might suggest using non-original equipment

or salvaged parts to save money. However,

these parts do not meet Tesla's high standards

for quality,

ﬁt and corrosion resistance. In

addition, non-original equipment and salvaged

parts (and any damage or failures they might

cause) are not covered by the warranty.

Using RFID Transponders

Model S has a metallic coating on the

windshield that can interfere with signals sent

from RFID transponders used by many toll

systems. Most Model S vehicles, depending on

date of manufacture, include an area in the

windshield in which the metallic coating is cut

out to accommodate transponders. This area,

located on the right side of the rear view

mirror, is the best location to mount a

transponder. If your vehicle does not include

this cut out area, mount the transponder to

the rear window.

Note: You can also attach a weather-proof

transponder to the front license plate.

Parts and Accessories

Maintenance 163

Vehicle Identiﬁcation Number

You can ﬁnd the VIN at the following

locations:

• Touch the Tesla "T" at the top center of

the touchscreen. The popup window

displays the VIN.

• Stamped on a plate located at the top of

the dashboard. Can be seen by looking

through the windshield.

• Printed on the Statutory Plate, located on

the door pillar. Can be seen when the

driver’s door is open.

• On vehicles manufactured as of August

2015, the VIN is stamped on the chassis

and can be seen by removing the sill panel

on the front passenger door by gently

prying it upward using a

ﬂat-bladed tool.

Caution:

Removing the sill panel to

view the VIN is not recommended

because damage is likely to occur.

The panel is held in place with fragile

clips that break easily. Damage

caused by removing the sill panel is

not covered by the warranty.

Identiﬁcation Labels

164 Model S Owner's Manual

Load Capacity Labeling

It is important to understand how much

weight your Model S can safely carry. This

weight is called the vehicle capacity weight

and includes the weight of all occupants,

cargo and any additional equipment added to

your Model S since it was manufactured.

Two labels attached to the center door pillar

indicate how much weight Model S can safely

carry. Labels are visible when the front door is

open.

1. Tire and Loading Information Label

2. Statutory Plate

Warning: Overloading Model S has an

adverse eect on braking and handling,

which can compromise your safety or

cause damage.

Caution: Never load more than 136 kg in

the front trunk. Doing so can cause

damage.

Caution: Never load more than 175 lbs

(80 kg) on the rear load ﬂoor (above the

lower trunk compartment) or more than

130 lbs (60 kg) in the lower trunk

compartment. Doing so can cause

damage.

Caution: Never store large amounts of

liquid in Model S. A signiﬁcant spill can

cause electrical components to

malfunction.

Tire and Loading Information Label

The Tire and Loading Information label

provides:

• The maximum number of occupant

seating positions.

• The maximum vehicle capacity weight.

• The size of the original tires.

• The cold

inﬂation pressures for the

original front and rear tires. These

pressures are recommended to optimize

ride and handling characteristics.

Never change this label, even if you use

dierent tires in the future.

Note: If Model S is loaded to its full capacity,

double check all tires to ensure they are

inﬂated to their recommended pressure levels.

Statutory Plate

In addition to the VIN, the Statutory Plate

provides:

• GVWR - Gross Vehicle Weight Rating. The

maximum allowable total mass of Model S.

This is calculated as the weight of

Model S, all passengers,

ﬂuids, and cargo.

• GAWR - Gross Axle Weight Rating for the

front and rear axles. The GAWR is the

maximum distributed weight that each

axle can support.

Caution:

To prevent damage, never load

Model S so that it is heavier than GVWR

or exceeds the individual GAWR weights.

Vehicle Loading

Speciﬁcations 165

Calculating Load Limits

1. Locate the statement “The combined

weight of occupants and cargo should

never exceed XXX kg or XXX lbs” on the

“Tire and Loading Information” label.

2. Determine the combined weight of all

occupants that will ride in the vehicle.

3. Subtract the combined weight of the

occupants from XXX kg or XXX lbs (see

Step 1).

4. The resulting

ﬁgure equals the available

cargo load capacity. For example, if the

“XXX” amount equals 1400 lbs (635 kg)

and there will be

ﬁve 150 lb (68 kg)

passengers in the vehicle, the amount of

available cargo capacity is 650 lbs

(1400 ‑ 750 (5 x 150) = 650 lbs) or 295 kg

(635 ‑ 340 (5 x 68) = 295 kg).

5. Determine the combined cargo weight

being loaded on the vehicle. That weight

must not exceed the available cargo load

capacity calculated in Step 4.

Warning: Trunks are the preferred places

to carry objects. In a collision, or during

hard braking and sharp turns, loose items

in the cabin could injure occupants.

Example Load Limit Calculations

How much cargo Model S can carry depends

on the number and weight of passengers. The

following calculated load limit examples

assume passengers weigh 150 lbs (68 kg). If

passengers weigh more or less, available

cargo weight decreases or increases

respectively.

Driver and one passenger

Description

Total

Vehicle capacity weight 954 lbs

(433 kg)

Subtract occupant weight

(2 x 150 lbs/68 kg)

300 lbs

(136 kg)

Available cargo weight 654 lbs

(297 kg)

Driver and four passengers

Description

Total

Vehicle capacity weight 954 lbs

(433 kg)

Description Total

Subtract occupant weight (5 x

150 lbs/68 kg)

750 lbs

(340 kg)

Available cargo weight 204 lbs

(93 kg)

The cargo weight should be distributed

between the front and rear trunks.

Caution: Do not exceed the maximum

front trunk load weight of 136 kg.

Caution: Never load more than 175 lbs

(80 kg) on the rear load ﬂoor (above the

lower trunk compartment) or more than

130 lbs (60 kg) in the lower trunk

compartment. Doing so can cause

damage.

Towing a Trailer

Warning: Do not use Model S for towing

purposes. Model S does not support a

trailer hitch. Installing one could cause

damage and increase the risk of a

collision.

Caution: Using Model S for towing may

void the warranty.

Roof Racks

If Model S is equipped with a sunroof, you can

carry up to 75 kg using a Tesla-approved roof

rack (see Parts and Accessories on page 163).

A Model S equipped with a body color roof or

a glass roof is incompatible with roof racks.

Caution:

Do not use roof racks, or place

any load, on the roof of a Model S that is

equipped with a solid or all glass roof.

Doing so can cause signiﬁcant damage.

Vehicle Loading

166 Model S Owner's Manual

Exterior Dimensions

A Overall Length 196 in 4,970 mm

Overall Width (including mirrors)

Overall Width (excluding mirrors)

86.2 in

77.3 in

2,189 mm

1,964 mm

C Overall Height 56.9 in* 1,445 mm*

D Wheel Base 116.5 in 2,960 mm

E Overhang - Front 36.9 in 929 mm

F Overhang - Rear 42.55 in 1,081 mm

G Ground Clearance - Coil

Suspension (single motor vehicle)

5.5 in* 139.7 mm*

G Ground Clearance - Coil

Suspension (dual motor vehicle)

5.3 in* 134.6 mm*

G Ground Clearance - Air Suspension 4.6 - 6.3 in 116.8 - 160 mm

Track - Front

Track - Rear

65.4 in

66.9 in

1,662 mm

1,700 mm

*Values are approximate. The dimensions can vary depending on vehicle conﬁguration and

various other factors.

Interior Dimensions

Head Room

Front

Rear

38.8 in

35.3 in

986 mm

897 mm

Leg Room

Front

Rear

42.7 in

35.4 in

1,085 mm

899 mm

Shoulder Room

Front

Rear

57.7 in

55 in

1,466 mm

1,397 mm

Hip Room

Front

Rear

55 in

54.7 in

1,397 mm

1,389 mm

Dimensions and Weights

Speciﬁcations 167

Cargo Volume

Total cargo volume (rear seats not

folded)

28.4 cu ft 804.2 L

Rear cargo volume 26.3 cu ft 744.7 L

Rear cargo volume (with seats

folded down)

58.1 cu ft 1,645.2 L

Front cargo volume 2.1 cu ft 59.5 L

Weights

Curb Weight* - 60/70/75 4,469 lbs 2,027 kg

Curb Weight* - 60D/70D/75D 4,647 lbs 2,108 kg

Curb Weight* - 90D 4,736 lbs 2,148 kg

Curb Weight* - P90D 4,841 lbs 2,196 kg

Curb Weight* - 100D 4,883 lbs 2,215 kg

Curb Weight* - P100D 4,941 lbs 2,241 kg

GVWR** - 60/70/75 5,710 lbs 2,590 kg

GVWR** - 60D/70D/75D 5,732 lbs 2,600 kg

GVWR** - 90D 5,820 lbs 2,640 kg

GVWR** - P90D 5,886 lbs 2,670 kg

GVWR** - 100D 5,939 lbs 2,694 kg

GVWR** - P100D 5,997 lbs 2,720 kg

Gross Axle Weight Rating - Front 2,866 lbs 1,300 kg

Gross Axle Weight Rating- Rear 3,196 lbs 1,450 kg

Trailer Towing Not permissible

*Curb Weight = weight of the vehicle with correct ﬂuid levels, no occupants and no cargo

**GVWR = Gross Vehicle Weight Rating

Dimensions and Weights

168 Model S Owner's Manual

Motor

Type AC induction motor, liquid-cooled, with

variable frequency drive

Nominal Voltage 320 Volts

Maximum speed of large motors:

- rear motor on all single motor vehicles

- rear motor on Performance dual-motor vehicles

16,000 rpm

Maximum speed of small motors:

- front motor on all dual-motor vehicles

- rear motor on non-Performance dual-motor

vehicles

18,000 rpm

Maximum net power* and motor speed of large

motors

Base: 285 kW @ 6,850 rpm

Performance: 375 kW @ 5,900 rpm

Maximum net power* and motor speed of small

motors

193 kW @ 6100 rpm

Maximum torque of large motors

Base: 440 Nm

Performance: 650 Nm

Maximum torque of small motors

330 Nm

*Tested in accordance with ECE R85

Transmission

Type

Single speed ﬁxed gear

Overall Final Drive Ratio

Small motor: 9.325:1

Large motor: 9.734:1

Reverse Gear Reverse direction of motor, limited to

24 km/h

Steering

Type

Rack and pinion with electronic power

steering, speed sensitive

Number of turns lock to lock 2.05

Turning Circle (curb to curb) 11.3 meters

Subsystems

Speciﬁcations 169

Brakes

Type

4-wheel anti-lock braking system (ABS)

with Electronic Brake Force Distribution,

Integrated Advanced Stability Control and

Electronic Accelerator pedal actuated

regenerative braking system

Calipers Four piston ﬁxed

Rotor Diameters (ventilated)

Front: 13.98”/355 mm

Rear: 14.37”/365 mm

Front Rotor thickness

New: 1.26”/32 mm

Service limit: 1.18”/30 mm

Rear Rotor thickness

New: 1.10”/28 mm

Service limit: 1.02”/26 mm

Front Brake Pad Thickness (excluding back plate) 0.393”/10 mm

Rear Brake Pad Thickness (excluding back plate) Base: 0.354”/9 mm

Parking brake

Electrically actuated parking brake

calipers

Suspension

Front Independent, double wishbone, air spring

or coil spring/telescopic damper, sway bar

Rear Independent, multi-link, air spring or coil

spring/telescopic damper, sway bar (air

suspension vehicles only)

Battery - 12V

Rating

33 amp hour or higher

Voltage and Polarity 12V negative (-) ground

Battery - High Voltage

Type

Liquid-cooled lithium ion (Li-ion)

Rating 60, 70, 75, 85, 90, or 100 kWh (at

beginning of life)

Nominal Voltage - 85, 90, and 100 kWh

Nominal Voltage - 60, 70, and 75 kWh

350 V DC

300 V DC

Temperature Range Do not expose Model S to ambient

temperatures above 60° C or below

-30° C for more than 24 hours at a time.

Subsystems

170 Model S Owner's Manual

Wheel Speciﬁcations

Wheel Type Location Size Oset

19"

Front 8.0J x 19

1.575"

40 mm

Rear 8.0J x 19

1.575"

40 mm

21" - Silver (standard) Front 8.5J x 21

1.575"

40 mm

21" - Grey (standard) Rear 8.5J x 21

1.575"

40 mm

21" - Silver and Grey (optional) Performance

Plus vehicles

Rear 9.0J x 21

1.575"

40 mm

Lug Nut Torque 129 lb. ft (175 Nm)

Lug Nut Socket Size 21 mm

Note: For instructions on how to jack/lift Model S, see Jacking and Lifting on page 162.

Tire Speciﬁcations

Tire Type Location Size

19" wheels All P245/45R19

21" wheels

Front

Rear

P245/35R21

P265/35R21*

*On a performance dual-motor Model S, the width of the rear tires may vary depending on date

of manufacture. Some vehicles may be equipped with P245/35R21 tires on both front and rear.

Tire pressures vary depending on the type of tires ﬁtted. Refer to the tire pressures printed on

the Tire and Loading Information label. This label is located on the center door pillar and is

visible when the driver’s door is open (see Maintaining Tire Pressures on page 148).

Winter tires can be purchased from a Tesla store.

Wheels and Tires

Speciﬁcations 171

Understanding Tire Markings

Laws require tire manufacturers to place standardized information on the sidewall of all tires. This

information identiﬁes and describes the fundamental characteristics of the tire.

1 Tire category. P indicates that the tire is for passenger vehicles.

2 Tire width. This 3-digit number is the width (in millimeters) of the tire from sidewall

edge to sidewall edge.

3 Aspect ratio. This 2-digit number is the sidewall height as a percentage of the tread

width. So, if the tread width is 205 mm, and the aspect ratio is 50, the sidewall height is

102 mm.

4 Tire construction. R indicates that the tire is of Radial ply construction.

5 Wheel diameter. This 2-digit number is the diameter of the wheel rim in inches.

6 Load index. This 2 or 3-digit number is the weight each tire can support. This number is

not always shown.

7 Speed rating. When stated, indicates the maximum speed (in mph) at which the tire

can be used for extended periods. Q=99 mph (160 km/h), R=106 mph (170 km/h),

S=112 mph (180 km/h), T=118 mph (190 km/h), U=124 mph (200 km/h), H=130 mph

(210 km/h), V=149 mph (240 km/h), W=168 mph (270 km/h), Y=186 mph (300 km/h).

8 Tire composition and materials. The number of plies in both the tread area and the

sidewall area indicates how many layers of rubber coated material make up the

structure of the tire. Information is also provided on the type of materials used.

9 Maximum tire load. The maximum load which can be carried by the tire.

Wheels and Tires

172 Model S Owner's Manual

10 Maximum permissible inﬂation pressure. This pressure should not be used for normal

driving.

11 U.S. DOT Tire Identiﬁcation Number (TIN). Begins with the letters DOT and indicates

that the tire meets all federal standards. The next 2 digits/letters represent the plant

code where it was manufactured, and the last 4 digits represent the week and year of

manufacture. For example, the number 1712 is used to represent the 17th week of 2012.

The other numbers are marketing codes used at the manufacturer’s discretion. This

information can be used to contact consumers if a tire defect requires a recall.

12 Treadwear grade. This number indicates the tire’s wear rate. The higher the treadwear

number is, the longer it should take for the tread to wear down. A tire rated at 400, for

example, lasts twice as long as a tire rated at 200.

13 Traction grade. Indicates a tire’s ability to stop on wet roads. A higher graded tire

should allow you to stop your vehicle in a shorter distance than a tire with a lower

grade. Traction is graded from highest to lowest as AA, A, B, and C.

14 Temperature grade. The tire’s resistance to heat is grade A, B, or C, with A indicating

the greatest resistance. This grading is provided for a correctly inﬂated tire, which is

being used within its speed and loading limits.

Wheels and Tires

Speciﬁcations 173

Tire and Loading Glossaries

General Wheel and Tire Terms

Accessory Weight The combined weight (in excess of those items replaced) of

items available as factory installed equipment.

Bead The inner edge of a tire that is shaped to ﬁt to the rim and form

an air tight seal. The bead is constructed of steel wires which

are wrapped, or reinforced, by the ply cords.

Cold Tire Pressure The air pressure in a tire that has been standing in excess of

three hours, or driven for less than one mile.

Curb Weight The weight of a standard vehicle, including any optional

equipment ﬁtted, and with the correct ﬂuid levels.

Gross Vehicle Weight The maximum permissible weight of a vehicle with driver,

passengers, load, luggage, and equipment.

kPa (kilo pascal) A metric unit used to measure pressure. One kilo pascal equals

approximately 0.145 psi.

Maximum Inﬂation Pressure The maximum pressure to which the tire should be inﬂated.

This pressure is given on the tire side wall in psi (lbf/in2).

Caution: This pressure marked on the tire is the maximum

allowed by the tire manufacturer. It is not the pressure

Tesla recommends using for Model S.

Maximum Loaded Vehicle

Weight

The sum of curb weight, accessory weight, vehicle capacity

weight, and production options weight.

Production Options Weight The combined weight of options installed which weigh in

excess of 3 lb more than the standard items that they replaced,

and are not already considered in curb or accessory weights.

PSI (lbf/in2) Pounds per square inch (the unit used to measure tire

pressure).

Recommended Tire Inﬂation

Pressure

Tire inﬂation pressure, established by Tesla, which is based on

the type of tires that are mounted on the vehicle at the factory.

This information can be found on the Tire and Loading

Information label located on the door pillar.

Rim The metal support for a tire, or tire and tube, upon which the

tire beads are seated.

Vehicle Capacity Weight The number of seats multiplied by 150 lbs plus the rated

amount of load/luggage.

Load Carrying Deﬁnitions

Normal occupant weight

68 kilograms (150 lbs) times the number of occupants speciﬁed

in the second column of the tables for calculating load limits

(see Vehicle Loading on page 165).

Occupant distribution Distribution of occupants in a vehicle.

Passenger car tire A tire intended for use on passenger cars, multipurpose

passenger vehicles, and trucks, that have a gross vehicle weight

rating (GVWR) of 10,000 pounds or less.

Wheels and Tires

174 Model S Owner's Manual

Rim diameter Nominal diameter of the bead seat.

Rim size designation Rim diameter and width.

Rim type designation The manufacturing industry's designation for a rim by style or

code.

Rim width Nominal distance between the rim's ﬂanges.

Vehicle maximum load on the

tire

Load on an individual tire that is determined by distributing to

each axle its share of the maximum loaded vehicle weight and

dividing by two.

Vehicle normal load on the tire Load on an individual tire that is determined by distributing to

each axle its share of the curb weight, accessory weight, and

normal occupant weight and dividing by two.

Pneumatic Radial Tire Deﬁnitions

Bead separation A breakdown of the bond between components in the bead.

Bias ply tire A pneumatic tire in which the ply cords that extend to the

beads are laid at alternate angles substantially less than 90

degrees to the center line of the tread.

Carcass The tire structure, except tread and sidewall rubber which, that

when inﬂated, bears the load.

Chunking The breaking away of pieces of the tread or sidewall.

Cord The strands forming the plies in the tire.

Cord separation The parting of cords from adjacent rubber compounds.

Cracking Any parting within the tread, sidewall, or inner liner of the tire

extending to cord material.

Extra load tire A tire designed to operate at higher loads and higher inﬂation

pressure than the corresponding standard tire.

Groove The space between two adjacent tread ribs.

Inner liner The layer(s) forming the inside surface of a tubeless tire that

contains the inﬂating medium within the tire.

Inner liner separation The parting of the inner liner from cord material in the carcass.

Load rating The maximum load that a tire is rated to carry for a given

inﬂation pressure.

Maximum load rating The load rating for a tire at the maximum permissible inﬂation

pressure for that tire.

Measuring rim The rim on which a tire is ﬁtted for physical dimension

requirements.

Open splice Any parting at any junction of tread, sidewall, or inner liner that

extends to the cord material.

Outer diameter The overall diameter of an inﬂated new tire.

Wheels and Tires

Speciﬁcations 175

Overall width The linear distance between the exteriors of the sidewalls of an

inﬂated tire, including elevations due to labeling, decorations,

or protective bands or ribs.

Ply A layer of rubber-coated parallel cords.

Ply separation A parting of rubber compound between adjacent plies.

Pneumatic tire A mechanical device made of rubber, chemicals, fabric and

steel or other materials, that, when mounted on an automotive

wheel, provides the traction and contains the gas or ﬂuid that

sustains the load.

Radial ply tire A pneumatic tire in which the ply cords that extend to the

beads are laid at substantially 90 degrees to the center line of

the tread.

Reinforced tire A tire designed to operate at higher loads and at higher

inﬂation pressures than the corresponding standard tire.

Section width The linear distance between the exteriors of the sidewalls of an

inﬂated tire, excluding elevations due to labeling, decoration, or

protective bands.

Sidewall The portion of a tire between the tread and bead.

Sidewall separation The parting of the rubber compound from the cord material in

the sidewall.

Snow tire A tire that attains a traction index equal to or greater than 110,

compared to the ASTM E1136-93 (re-approved 2003,

incorporated by reference, see §571.5) Standard Reference Test

Tire when using the snow traction test as described in ASTM

F1805-00 (incorporated by reference, see §571.5), and that is

marked with an Alpine Symbol

speciﬁed in S5.5(i) on at least

one sidewall.

Test rim The rim on which a tire is ﬁtted for testing, and may be any rim

listed as appropriate for use with that tire.

Tread The portion of a tire that comes into contact with the road.

Tread rib A tread section running around the circumference of a tire.

Tread separation The pulling away of the tread from the tire carcass.

Tread wear indicators (TWI) The projections within the principal grooves designed to give a

visual indication of the degrees of wear of the tread.

Wheel-holding ﬁxture The ﬁxture used to hold the wheel and tire assembly securely

during testing.

Wheels and Tires

176 Model S Owner's Manual

Tesla Roadside Assistance is available to you, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, for the duration of

your warranty period.

When contacting Tesla Roadside Assistance, please provide:

• The Vehicle

Identiﬁcation Number (VIN). The VIN is displayed when you touch the Tesla "T" at

the top of the touchscreen. The VIN can also been seen on the upper dashboard by looking

through the driver's side of the windshield.

• Your exact location.

• The nature of the problem.

Tesla Roadside Assistance is available to speak with roadside service professionals 24/7/365 to

answer any questions and explain the proper procedure for transporting your Model S.

Country-speciﬁc Phone Numbers

A toll free number is available in most European regions. If a toll free number is not listed for your

area, go to www.tesla.com to check if a toll free number has become available since this

document was published.

Note: The phone number is also available by touching the Tesla "T" at the top center of the

touchscreen.

Country Toll Toll Free Local

Andorra +31 13 799 9501 0800 914 590 —

Austria — 0800 88 0992 07208 80470

Belgium — 0800 29 027 +03 808 17 82

Bulgaria 013 799 9504 — 024 925 455

Croatia 013 799 9505 — 017 776 417

Cyprus +31 13 799 9506 08007 7318 022 030915

Czech Republic +31 13 799 9507 080008 4048 0228 882 612

Denmark +31 13 799 9508 80 71 1024 898 869 84

Estonia 013 799 9509 — 0880 3141

Finland +31 13 799 9510 0880 055 2084 075 3263818

France +31 13 799 9511 0800 94 1029 09 70 73 08 50

Germany +31 13 799 9512 0800 589 3542 08921 093303

Gibraltar +31 13 799 9513 — —

Greece +31 13 799 9514 0800 848 1169 02111 984867

Hungary +31 13 799 9515 0800 88052 01 700 8549

Iceland +31 13 799 9516 — —

Ireland +31 13 799 9517 +1 800 90 2905 01 513 4727

Italy +31 13 799 9518 800 596 815 069 480 1252

Latvia +31 13 799 9519 — 067 859 774

Liechtenstein +31 13 799 9520 — —

Lithuania +31 13 799 9521 — 0521 40649

Contacting Roadside Assistance

Roadside Assistance 177

Country Toll Toll Free Local

Luxembourg +31 13 799 9522 08002 2538 027 86 14 16

Malta +31 13 799 9523 — 02778 1126

Monaco +31 13 799 9524 — —

Netherlands +31 13 799 9525 0800 020 0160 013 799 9525

Norway +31 13 799 9527 800 11 093 23 96 02 85

Poland 022 307 26 45 — —

Portugal +31 13 799 9529 800 180 343 030 880 5628

Romania +31 13 799 9530 — 0316 301 257

San Marino +31 13 799 9531 — —

Slovakia +31 13 799 9532 — 023/300 26 43

Slovenia +31 13 799 9533 — 08 288 00 33

Spain +31 13 799 9534 0900 800 324 0911 98 26 24

Sweden +31 13 799 9535 020 88 92 68 0775 88 80 36

Switzerland — 0800 002 623 061 855 30 21

UK — 0800 756 9960 0162 845 0660

Contacting Roadside Assistance

178 Model S Owner's Manual

When Transporting Model S

Always transport Model S with all four tires o

the ground. A ﬂatbed truck or comparable

transport vehicle is recommended. A wheel lift

and dolly can be used only when transporting

Model S for a maximum of 15 miles (25 km),

provided the driving speed does not exceed

45 mph (70 km/h). When transporting,

whether on a

ﬂatbed truck or using a wheel

lift and dolly, Model S can face either direction.

Do not transport Model S using any other

method unless

speciﬁed by Tesla. Follow the

steps provided and observe all warnings and

cautions. Damage caused by transporting your

vehicle is not covered by the warranty.

Note: The following illustrations are for

demonstration purposes only.

Warning: Model S is equipped with high

voltage components (see High Voltage

Components on page 138). Before

transporting Model S as a result of an

event (such as a collision) that may have

compromised a high voltage component,

it is important to assume that these

components are energized. Always follow

high voltage safety precautions (wearing

personal protective equipment, etc.) until

emergency response professionals have

evaluated the vehicle and can accurately

conﬁrm that all high voltage systems are

no longer energized. Failure to do so may

result in serious injury or death.

Disable Self-Leveling (air

suspension vehicles only)

If Model S is equipped with Smart Air

Suspension, it automatically self-levels, even

when power is

o. To prevent damage, you

must activate Jack mode to disable self-

leveling:

1. Touch Controls > Suspension on the

touchscreen.

2. Press the brake pedal, then touch Very

High to maximize height.

3. Touch Jack.

Note:

Jack mode cancels when Model S is

driven over 4 mph (7 km/h).

Warning: Failure to activate Jack mode

on a Model S equipped with Smart Air

Suspension can result in the vehicle

becoming loose during transport, which

may cause signiﬁcant damage.

Activate Tow Mode

Model S may automatically shift into Park

when it detects the driver leaving the vehicle,

even if it has previously been shifted into

Neutral. To keep Model S in Neutral (which

disengages the parking brake), you must use

the touchscreen to activate Tow mode:

1. Shift into Park.

2. Chock the tires or otherwise ensure

Model S is stable.

3. Press and hold the brake pedal, then on

the touchscreen touch Controls >

Settings > Service & Reset > Tow Mode >

ON.

When Tow mode is active, Model S

displays this indicator light on the

instrument panel, along with a

message telling you that Model S is

free-rolling.

To cancel Tow Mode, shift Model S into Park.

Caution:

If the electrical system is not

working, and you therefore cannot release

the electric parking brake, attempt to

jump start the 12V battery. For

instructions, call Tesla Roadside

Assistance. If a situation occurs where

you cannot disengage the parking brake,

use a self-loading dolly or tire skates.

Before doing so, always check the

manufacturer’s

speciﬁcations and

recommended load capacity.

Pull onto the Flatbed Truck

The method used to pull Model S onto the

truck depends on whether a tow eye is

available (provided with your vehicle at time

of purchase).

If equipped with a tow eye:

1. Locate the tow eye.

Instructions for Transporters

Roadside Assistance 179

2. Remove the tow eye cover by inserting a

small ﬂat screwdriver into the slot located

along the top of the cover, then prying

gently to release the cover from the top

snap

Caution: Keep the tow eye cover in a

safe place so you can replace it when

towing is complete.

3. Fully insert the tow eye into the opening,

then turn it counter-clockwise until

securely fastened.

4. Attach the winch cable to the tow eye.

Caution:

Before pulling, make sure

the tow eye is securely tightened.

5. Pull Model S slowly onto the ﬂatbed truck.

6. Shift Model S into Park by pressing the

button on the end of the gear selector.

If not equipped with a tow eye:

Attach the tow straps to the large hole on

each of the rearmost lower suspension

arms underneath the front of the vehicle.

2. To protect the underbody from any

damage, place a protective barrier (such

as a piece of wood) between the tow

strap and the underbody.

3. Pull Model S slowly onto the

ﬂatbed truck.

4. Shift Model S into Park by pressing the

button on the end of the gear selector.

Secure the Tires

The vehicle's tires must be secured onto the

truck using the eight-point tie-down method.

• Ensure any metal parts on the tie-down

straps do not contact painted surfaces or

the face of the wheels.

• Do not place tie-down straps over body

panels or through the wheels.

Caution:

Attaching tie-down straps to the

chassis, suspension or other parts of the

vehicle's body may cause damage.

Instructions for Transporters

180 Model S Owner's Manual

But wait, there's more! Below is a list of the Easter Eggs that have been discovered so far and how

to access them. Alternatively, touch the Tesla "T" (top center of the touchscreen) then drag the

About Your Tesla box downwards for one-touch access to all discovered Easter Eggs.

For This... Do This...

Santa Mode "What have you been longing for?" Enjoy the holidays year-

round with this one! Simply initiate a voice command and

say "Ho Ho Ho". Or, if you are feeling extra sour, you can say

"Ho Ho Ho Not Funny" instead.

Rainbow Road Feeling nostalgic? Need more cowbell? Visit Rainbow Road

by pulling the cruise stalk toward you four times in quick

succession while Autosteer is enabled.

Sketchpad Triple-tap the Tesla "T" (top center of the touchscreen) and

channel your inner Picasso. Show us what you got! Touch

Publish to submit your artistic compositions to Tesla for

critiquing.

Mars Press and hold the Tesla "T" (top center of the touchscreen)

then enter mars in the access code popup. The map shows

your Model S as a rover on the Martian landscape, and the

About Your Tesla box displays SpaceX's interplanetary

spaceship.

007 (air suspension vehicles

only)

Press and hold the Tesla "T" (top center of the touchscreen)

and enter 007 in the access code popup. You are no longer

a "Driver", you're a "Diver"! Touch Controls > Suspension to

change your depth.

Ludicrous Speed (P100D vehicles

only)

Press and hold the Ludicrous setting (Controls > Driving >

Acceleration > Ludicrous) for approximately ﬁve seconds.

Touch Yes, bring it on! if you want to go fast. To display

power and acceleration readings on the instrument panel,

press either scroll wheel

brieﬂy until the available options

are displayed. Then, roll the scroll wheel to highlight

Readout then press the scroll wheel again.

The Answer to the Ultimate

Question of Life, The Universe,

and Everything

Rename your car to 42 (see Naming Your Vehicle on page

110) and notice the new name of your Model S.

Rainbow Charge Port When Model S is locked and charging, press the button on

the mobile connector ten times in quick succession. Neat,

huh?

Easter Eggs

Consumer Information 181

Document Applicability

Owner information is updated regularly to

reﬂect updates to your vehicle. However, in

some cases, recently released features may

not be described. To display information about

recently released features, view the Release

Notes on the touchscreen. Release Notes are

displayed on the touchscreen after a software

update, and can be displayed at any time by

touching the Tesla "T" at the top of the

touchscreen, then touching the Release Notes

link. If information related to how to use the

touchscreen

conﬂicts with information in the

Release Notes, the Release Notes take

precedence.

Illustrations

Illustrations are provided for demonstration

purposes only. Depending on vehicle options,

software version, region of purchase, and

speciﬁc settings, your vehicle may appear

slightly dierent. Although the owner

information is applicable to both right-hand

drive and left-hand drive vehicles, many

illustrations show only left-hand drive vehicles.

However, the essential information that the

illustrations are providing is correct.

Errors or Inaccuracies

All

speciﬁcations and descriptions are known

to be accurate at time of publishing. However,

because continuous improvement is a goal at

Tesla, we reserve the right to make product

modiﬁcations at any time. To communicate

any inaccuracies or omissions, or to provide

general feedback or suggestions regarding the

quality of this owner information, send an

email to OwnersManualFeedback@Tesla.com.

Location of Components

Owner information may specify the location of

a component as being on the left or right side

of the vehicle. As shown, left (1) and right (2)

represent the side of the vehicle when sitting

inside.

Copyrights and Trademarks

All information in this document and all

vehicle software is subject to copyright and

other intellectual property rights of Tesla, Inc.

and its licensors. This material may not be

modiﬁed, reproduced or copied, in whole or in

part, without the prior written permission of

Tesla, Inc. and its licensors. Additional

information is available upon request. Tesla

uses software created by the Open Source

community. Please visit Tesla’s Open Source

software website at http://www.tesla.com/

opensource. The following are trademarks or

registered trademarks of Tesla, Inc. in the

United States and other countries:

All other trademarks contained in this

document are the property of their respective

owners and their use herein does not imply

sponsorship or endorsement of their products

or services. The unauthorized use of any

trademark displayed in this document or on

the vehicle is strictly prohibited.

About this Owner Information

182 Model S Owner's Manual

Vehicle Telematics

Model S is equipped with electronic modules

that monitor and record data from various

vehicle systems, including the motor, driver

assistance components, Battery, braking and

electrical systems. The electronic modules

record information about various driving and

vehicle conditions, including braking,

acceleration, trip and other related

information regarding your vehicle. These

modules also record information about the

vehicle’s features such as charging events and

status, the enabling/disabling of various

systems, diagnostic trouble codes, VIN, speed,

direction and location.

The data is stored by the vehicle and may be

accessed, used and stored by Tesla service

technicians during vehicle servicing or

periodically transmitted to Tesla wirelessly

through the vehicle’s telematics system. This

data may be used by Tesla for various

purposes, including, but not limited to:

providing you with Tesla telematics services;

troubleshooting; evaluation of your vehicle’s

quality, functionality and performance;

analysis and research by Tesla and its partners

for the improvement and design of our

vehicles and systems; and as otherwise may

be required by law. In servicing your vehicle,

Tesla can potentially resolve issues remotely

simply by reviewing your vehicle’s data log.

Tesla’s telematics system wirelessly transmits

vehicle information to Tesla on a periodic

basis. The data is used as previously described

and helps ensure the proper maintenance of

your vehicle. Additional Model S features may

use your vehicle’s telematics system and the

information provided, including features such

as charging reminders, software updates, and

remote access to, and control of, various

systems of your vehicle.

Tesla does not disclose the data recorded in

your vehicle to any third party except when:

• An agreement or consent from the

vehicle’s owner (or the leasing company

for a leased vehicle) is obtained.

•

Ocially requested by the police or other

authorities.

• Used as a defense for Tesla in a lawsuit.

• Ordered by a court of law.

• Used for research purposes without

disclosing details of the vehicle owner or

identiﬁcation information.

• Disclosed to a Tesla

aliated company,

including their successors or assigns, or

our information systems and data

management providers.

In addition, Tesla does not disclose the data

recorded to an owner unless it pertains to a

non-warranty repair service and in this case,

will disclose only the data that is related to the

repair.

Data Sharing

For quality assurance and to support the

continuous improvement of advanced features

such as Autopilot, Tesla measures road

segment data of all participating vehicles. All

Tesla vehicles can learn from the experience of

the billions of miles that Tesla vehicles have

driven. Although Tesla shares this data with

partners that contribute similar data, the data

does not include any personally

identiﬁable

information about you or your vehicle. To

allow data sharing, touch Controls >

Settings > Safety & Security > Data Sharing,

then touch the I agree checkbox to

conﬁrm

that you agree to allowing Tesla to collect this

data.

Note: Although Model S uses GPS in

connection with driving and operation, as

discussed in this owner's manual, Tesla does

not record or store

vehicle-speciﬁc GPS

information. Consequently, Tesla is unable to

provide historical information about a vehicle's

location (for example, Tesla is unable to tell

you where Model S was parked/traveling at a

particular date/time).

Quality Control

You might notice a few km on the odometer

when you take delivery of your Model S. This is

a result of a comprehensive testing process

that ensures the quality of your Model S.

The testing process includes extensive

inspections during and after production. The

ﬁnal inspection takes place at Tesla and

includes a road test conducted by a

technician.

Disclaimers

Consumer Information 183

Contacting Tesla

For detailed information about your Model S,

go to www.tesla.com, and log on to your Tesla

Account, or sign up to get an account.

If you have any questions or concerns about

your Model S, call Tesla. To

ﬁnd the number for

your region, go to www.tesla.com, select your

region at the bottom of the page, then view

contact information.

Note: You can also use voice commands to

provide feedback to Tesla. Say "Note",

"Report", "Bug note", or "Bug report" followed

by your brief comments. Model S takes a

snapshot of its systems, including your current

location, vehicle diagnostic data, and screen

captures of the touchscreen and instrument

panel. Tesla periodically reviews these notes

and uses them to continue improving Model S.

Reporting Safety Defects

184 Model S Owner's Manual

Key and Passive Unlocking System

FCC Certiﬁcation

Model Number Mfr MHz Tested For

A-0749G02 Pektron 315

USA

Canada

Taiwan

The devices listed above comply with Part 15 of the FCC rules. Operation is subject to the

following two conditions:

1. This device may not cause harmful interference, and

2. This device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause

undesired operation.

Changes or

modiﬁcations not expressly approved by Tesla could void your authority to operate

the equipment.

Certiﬁcation

The following device is used in vehicles in Canada:

• Keyfob Model Number: A-0749G02 (315 MHz)

• Keyfob Manufacturer: Pektron

Per IC 10176A-002, this device complies with Industry Canada license-exempt RSS standard(s).

Operation is subject to the following two conditions:

1. This device may not cause harmful interference, and

2. This device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause

undesired operation.

MIC

Certiﬁcation

Model Number

Mfr MHz Tested For

A-0749G04 Pektron 315 Japan

CE Certiﬁcation

Model #

Mfr MHz Tested For

A-0749G01 Pektron 433

Europe

Australia

New Zealand

Singapore

Malaysia

South Korea

A-0749G05 Pektron 433

China

Hong Kong

Declarations of Conformity

Consumer Information 185

The devices listed above comply with CE standards. Operation is subject to the following two

conditions:

1. This device may not cause harmful interference, and

2. This device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause

undesired operation.

Changes or

modiﬁcations not expressly approved by Tesla could void your authority to operate

the equipment.

NCC Certiﬁcation

• Keyfob Model Numbers: A-0749G01 (433 MHz) and A-0749G02 (315 MHz)

• Keyfob Manufacturer: Pektron

According to NCC low-power radio wave radiation rate of motor management measures:

Article XII of the type certiﬁed by the low power radio, non-licensed, company, ﬁrm or user is not

allowed to change the frequency, increase the power or change the characteristics of the original

design and function.

Article XIV: The use of low-power radio-frequency devices shall not

inﬂuence aircraft security and

interfere with legal communications; interference phenomenon discovered over time, should be

immediately suspended, and improved to no interference before use can continue. Legal

communications, referring to the provisions of the Telecommunications Act of radio

communications operations. Low-power radio communications shall tolerate radio wave

interference from radiated devices, legal or industrial,

scientiﬁc and medical.

Tire Pressure Monitoring System

FCC IDs: TZSTPMS201, Z9F-201FS43X

IC ID: 11852A-201FS4X

The tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) complies with Part 15 of the FCC rules and RSS-210 of

Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada. Operation is subject to the following two

conditions:

1. This device may not cause harmful interference, and

2. This device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause

undesired operation.

Changes or

modiﬁcations not expressly approved by Tesla could void your authority to operate

the equipment.

HomeLink

This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC rules, RSS-210 Industry Canada, and with EU

Directive 2014/53/EU.

Operation is subject to the following conditions:

• This device may not cause harmful interference.

• This device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause

undesired operation.

Any changes or

modiﬁcations to the device not expressly approved by the manufacturer or Tesla

could void your authority to operate the equipment.

Declarations of Conformity

186 Model S Owner's Manual

Radio Frequency Information

This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device,

pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection

against harmful interference in a residential installation. This equipment generates, uses and can

radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instructions,

may cause harmful interference to radio communications. However, there is no guarantee that

interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does cause harmful

interference to radio or television reception, which can be determined by turning the equipment

o and on, try to correct the interference by one or more of the following measures:

• Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.

• Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver.

• Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit

dierent from that to which the receiver is

connected.

• Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.

Declarations of Conformity

Consumer Information 187

ABS (Anti-lock Braking System) 60

absolute speed limit 97

Acceleration (dual-motor) 104

Acceleration settings 67

access panel, removing 159

accessories

plugging into power socket 122

adaptive headlights 56

air circulation 112

air conditioning 111

air distribution 112

air

ﬁlter 115

air suspension 118

air vents 115

airbag, front passenger, disabling 37

airbags 35

alarm 132

all-season tires 151

always connected, setting 70

anti-lock braking (ABS) 60

audio

playing ﬁles 119

steering wheel buttons 41

volume control 119

Auto High Beam 56

Auto Lane Change 85

auto-raising suspension 117

automatic emergency braking 94

Autopark 87

Autopilot components 73

Autosteer 82

average range 70

backup camera 72

battery (12V)

complete discharge 140

speciﬁcations 170

Battery (high voltage)

care of 140

coolant 159

speciﬁcations 170

temperature limits 140

battery (key), replacing 5

blind spot warning 91

Bluetooth

devices, playing audio ﬁles from 122

general information 124

phone, pairing and using 124

body repairs 163

body touch up 156

brake

ﬂuid replacement 147

brakes

automatic in emergencies 94

ﬂuid level 160

brakes (continued)

overview of 60

speciﬁcations 170

brightness of displays 107

Cabin Overheat Protection setting 107

cabin temperature control 111

Calendar app 131

camera (rear view) 72

cameras (autopilot) 73

car cover 156

car status, displaying 41, 42

car washes 154

cargo area 11

cargo volume 168

carpets, cleaning 155

certiﬁcations 185

CHAdeMO 139

chains 151

change of ownership 110

charge port 142

charge port light 143

charging

charge settings 144

components and equipment 138

instructions 142

public charging stations 139

scheduling 144

status of 145

charging locations, ﬁnding 127

child protection

disabling liftgate and rear door handles 7

disabling rear window switches 9

child seats

cleaning 155

disabling front passenger airbag 37

installing and using 24

Tesla built-in rear facing 31

Chill acceleration 67

cleaning 154

climate controls 111

Climate Timer 114

Cold Weather controls 104

collision avoidance assist 93

console

12V power socket 122

cup holders 17

USB ports 122

consumption chart 70

contact information

roadside assistance 177

coolant

Battery, checking level of 159

Battery, replacement interval 147

copyrights 182

Creep 104

Index

188 Model S Owner's Manual

cruise control 76

cup holders 17

DAB radio 120

dashboard overview 2

data recording 183

data sharing 183

day mode 107

declarations of conformity 185

delivery mileage 183

devices

Bluetooth, playing audio ﬁles 122

connecting 122

playing audio ﬁles from 122

dimensions 167

display brightness 107

dome (map) lights 53

door handles 6

door labels 165

Door Unlock Mode 6

doors 4

doors, opening 4

Drive gear 46

drive-away locking 7

driver

proﬁles 39

seat adjustment 18

driver assistance

Auto Lane Change 85

automatic emergency braking 93

Autopark 87

Autosteer 82

blind spot warning 91

collision avoidance assist 93

forward collision warning 93

overtake acceleration 76

overview 73

settings for 107

side collision warning 91

speed assist 97

speed limit warning 97

staying inside lane markings 91

staying within speed limits 97

Trac-Aware Cruise Control 76

driving

seating position 18

starting 45

tips to maximize range 70

Easter Eggs 181

easy entry, driver

proﬁle 39

EDR (event data recorder) 183

electric parking brake 61

emergency braking

emergency ﬂashers 57

emergency rear door opening 8

energy

gained from regenerative braking 60

range information 47

energy & charging setting 107

Energy app 70

energy saving mode 70

Erase & Reset 110

event data recording 183

exterior

car cover 156

cleaning 154

dimensions 167

lights 53

overview 3

polishing, touch up, & repair 156

factory defaults, restoring 110

factory reset 110

fan speed, interior 112

favorite destinations 129

Favorites 126

Favorites (Media Player) 121

FCC

certiﬁcations 185

features, downloading new 136

ferries, avoiding 128

ﬁrmware (software) updates 136

ﬂash drives, playing audio ﬁles from 122

ﬂashers, warning 57

ﬂoor mats 156

ﬂuids

replacement intervals 147

reservoirs, checking 159

fog lights 53

forward collision warning 93

front passenger detection 37

front trunk 13

garage doors, opening 133

gates, opening 133

GAWR 165

gears 46

glove box 15

Gross Axle Weight Rating 165

Gross Vehicle Weight Rating 165

ground clearance 167

GVWR 165

Index

Index 189

hazard warning ﬂashers 57

head restraints 19

head supports 19

headlights

adaptive 56

after exit 56

high beams 56

heated wipers 58

heating 111

height adjustments (suspension)

auto-raising 117

automatic and manual settings 118

disabling (Jack mode) 118

high beam headlights 56

high voltage

Battery speciﬁcations 170

components 138

safety 147

hills, stopping on 66

hitches 166

Home location 129

HomeLink

FCC certiﬁcation 186

programming and using 133

hood 13

horn 43

certiﬁcations 185

identiﬁcation labels 164

Insane acceleration (performance dual motor)

Insane setting (dual-motor) 104

instant range 70

instrument panel

charging status 145

cleaning 155

overview of 47

interior

cleaning 155

dimensions 167

lights 53

overview 2

temperature control 111

Internet radio 121

intrusion detection 132

ISOFIX child seats, installing 27

J1772 139

Jack mode 118

jacking 162

key

FCC and IC certiﬁcations 185

how to use 4

key not inside 45

ordering extras 5

replacing battery 5

keyless entry 4

label

Statutory Plate 165

Tire and Loading Information 165

lane assist 91

lane change ﬂash 57

lane change, automatic 85

lane departure warning 91

Language & Units 107

language setting 107

Launch Mode (performance dual motor) 67

liftgate

adjust opening height 10

opening 10

lifting 162

lights

adaptive headlights 56

hazard warning 57

headlights after exit 56

turn signals 56

load limits 165

location-based suspension 117

locking and unlocking doors 4

Ludicrous acceleration (performance dual

motor) 67

Ludicrous setting (dual-motor) 104

lumbar support 18

maintenance

brake ﬂuid, checking 160

cleaning 154

daily and monthly checks 147

ﬂuid replacement intervals 147

panel, removing 159

replacing wiper blades 157

service intervals 147

tires 148

washer

ﬂuid, topping up 161

washer jets, cleaning 157

map updates 130

maps 126

mats 156

Max Battery Power 104

Index

190 Model S Owner's Manual

Max Battery Power (performance dual motor)

media 119

mileage upon delivery 183

mirrors 44

mobile app 137

Mobile Connector

description 139

using 142

modiﬁcations

163

motor torque, reduced 95

my car does what? 181

naming 110

navigation 126

NCC

certiﬁcations 185

Neutral gear 46

night mode 107

odometer 69

oset from speed limit 97

overhang dimensions 167

overtake acceleration 76

Owner Information, about 182

Park Assist 64

Park gear 46

parking brake 61

parking, automatic 87

parts replacement 163

Passive Entry 107

Pedal Misapplication Mitigation 93

personal data, erasing 110

phone

steering wheel buttons 42

using 124

PIN 40

power management 70

power socket 122

power windows 9

powering on and

o 45

Preconditioning 107

preferences, setting 107

public charging stations 139

radar 73

radio 119

Radio Frequency information

185

range

displayed on instrument panel 47

driving tips to maximize 70

regenerative braking 60

range assurance 70

Range mode 70

Range Mode 104

Rated range 107

re-routing 128

rear seats, folding and raising 19

rear view camera 72

rear window switches, disabling 9

Recent (Media Player) 121

Recents 126

regenerative braking 60

region format 107

relative speed limit 97

release notes 136

restarting the touchscreen 45

Reverse gear 46

RFID transponders 163

roadside assistance 177

roof racks 166

rotating tires 149

route overview 128

safety information

airbags 37

child seats 29

rear facing child seats 34

seat belts 22

seat belts

cleaning 155

in a collision 22

overview of 21

pre-tensioners 22

wearing when pregnant 21

seat covers 20

seat heaters 111

seating capacity 165

seats

adjusting 18

heaters 111

Tesla built-in rear facing 31

security settings 132

sensors 73

service data recording 183

service intervals 147

Settings 107

Settings, erasing 110

shifting gears 46

Show Commute Advice 128

side collision warning 91

slip start 63

Smart Preconditioning 107

Index

Index 191

software reset 110

software updates 136

speciﬁcations

cargo volume 168

dimensions 167

exterior 167

interior 167

motor 169

subsystems 169

tires 171

weights 168

wheels 171

speed assist 97

speed limit warning 97

Sport acceleration (performance dual motor)

stability control 63

Standard acceleration 67

starting 45

Statutory Plate 165

steering

speciﬁcations 169

steering wheel

adjusting position 41

adjusting sensitivity 41

buttons 41

heated 41

scroll wheels 41

steering, automatic

summer tires 151

Summon 87

sunroof 16

supercharging

described 146

idle fees 146

pay-per-use fees 146

suspension 118

suspension speciﬁcations 170

telematics 183

temperature

Battery (high voltage), limits 140

cabin, controls for 111

heated steering wheel 43

outside 47

tie-down straps 180

tilt detection 132

Tire and Loading Information label 165

tire noise 151

Tire Pressure Monitoring System

FCC certiﬁcation 186

overview of 152

tire pressures, checking 148

tires

all-season 151

balancing 149

chains 151

tires (continued)

inspecting and maintaining 149

pressures, how to check 148

replacing 150

replacing a tire sensor 152

rotation 149

speciﬁcation 171

summer 151

tire markings 172

winter 151

toll system transponders, attaching 163

tolls, avoiding 128

torque speciﬁcations 169

touch up body 156

touchscreen

clean mode 155

cleaning 155

Controls 104

overview 99

Settings 107

software updates 136

tow eye, locating 179

Tow mode 179

towing 179

towing a trailer 166

towing instructions 179

TPMS

FCC certiﬁcation 186

overview of 152

traction control 63

trademarks 182

Trac-Aware Cruise Control 76

Trac-Based Routing 128

trailer hitches 166

transmission speciﬁcations 169

transponders, attaching 163

transporting 179

trip chart 70

trip meter 69

trip overview 128

trip planner 128

trunk, front 13

trunk, rear

child protection lock 7

disabling interior handle 7

TuneIn radio 121

turn signals 56

Typical range 107

ultrasonic sensors 73

Unlock on Park 4

unlocking and locking doors 4

unlocking when key doesn't work 7

USB devices

connecting 122

playing audio ﬁles from 122

Index

192 Model S Owner's Manual

USB ports 122

Valet mode 40

Vehicle Hold 66

Vehicle

Identiﬁcation Number (VIN) 164

vehicle loading 165

vent, sunroof 16

ventilation 115

VIN (Vehicle

Identiﬁcation Number) 164

voice commands 41

volume control 99

volume control (media) 119

walk-away locking 7

Wall Connector 139

warning

ﬂashers 57

washer

ﬂuid, topping up 161

washer jets, cleaning 157

washers, using 58

weight

speciﬁcations 168

wheel chocks 180

wheels

alignment 149

replacing 150

speciﬁcations 171

torque 171

Wi-Fi, connecting to 135

windshield washer

ﬂuid, topping up 161

winter tires 151

wiper blades, replacing 157

wipers, de-icing 58

wipers, using 58

Work location 129

Index

Index 193

2018 Tesla Model S Car

Product's Documents

User Manual

Specifications

Tesla 2018 TESLA MODEL S Questions and Answers

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