Declarations of Conformity.................................................216
Page 3
Interior Overview
Overview
Interior Overview
1. Interior door handles (Opening Doors from the Interior on page 12)
2. Trac-Aware Cruise Control (Trac-Aware Cruise Control on page 88) and Autosteer
(Autosteer on page 95)
3. High beams (High Beam Headlights on page 56), Turn signals (Turn Signals on page 57),
Wipers and washers (Wipers and Washers on page 64)
4. Steering wheel buttons - left (Using Left Steering Wheel Buttons on page 44)
5. Instrument panel (Instrument Panel on page 58)
6. Steering wheel buttons - right (Using Right Steering Wheel Buttons on page 45)
7. Gear selector (Shifting Gears on page 52)
8. Touchscreen (Touchscreen Overview on page 4)
9. Glovebox button (Glove Box on page 21)
10. Cabin climate control (Climate Controls on page 128)
11. Power window switches (Opening and Closing on page 15)
12. Exterior mirror adjustment switches (Mirrors on page 48)
13. Seats (Front and Rear Seats on page 25)
14. Steering column adjuster (hidden from view in the above image) (Steering Wheel on page
44)
15. Horn (Horn on page 46)
16. Brakes (Braking and Stopping on page 66)
17. Accelerator pedal (Acceleration Modes on page 74)
18. Hazard warning lights (Hazard Warning Flashers on page 57)
19. Cup holders (Cup Holders on page 23)
2Model S Owner's Manual
Page 4
Exterior Overview
Exterior Overview
1. Exterior lights (Lights on page 54)
2. Door handles (Using Exterior Door Handles on page 12)
3. Sunroof (optional) (Sunroof on page 24)
4. Charge port (Charging Instructions on page 164)
5. Autopilot cameras (About Autopilot on page 85)
6. Exterior mirrors (Mirrors on page 48)
7. Hood/Front trunk (Front Trunk on page 19)
8. Radar sensor (hidden from view in the above image) (About Autopilot on page 85)
9. Wheels and tires (Wheels and Tires on page 197)
10. Rear view camera (Rear View Camera on page 79 and About Autopilot on page 85)
11. Rear trunk/liftgate (Rear Trunk on page 16)
12. Ultrasonic sensors (Park Assist on page 71 and About Autopilot on page 85)
Overview3
Page 5
Touchscreen Overview
Touchscreen Overview
The main components of the touchscreen are shown here. The touchscreen is used to control
many features that, in traditional cars, are controlled using physical buttons (for example,
adjusting the heating and air conditioning, headlights, etc.). You can also use the touchscreen to
customize Model S to suit your preferences.
Warning: Always pay attention to road and trac conditions when driving. To minimize driver
distraction and ensure the safety of vehicle occupants as well as other road users, avoid using
the touchscreen to adjust settings while the vehicle is in motion.
Note: The image below is provided for demonstration purposes only. Depending on vehicle
options, software version and market region, your touchscreen may appear slightly dierent.
4Model S Owner's Manual
Page 6
Touchscreen Overview
Overview5
Page 7
Touchscreen Overview
1. This area on the top of the touchscreen displays useful information and provides shortcuts to
various features. In addition to the time of day and the current outside temperature, this area
displays the following icons:
Touch to lock/unlock all doors and trunks.
Touch to display the charging screen and access charge settings on the
touchscreen.
Access information about your Model S. See The Tesla "T" on page 9.
Add, configure, or quickly switch driver profiles (including Valet Mode and Easy
Entry). See Driver Profiles on page 42.
Displays when a warning notification is in eect. Touch to display information
about the warning.
Displays when a software update is available (see Software Updates on page 157).
Displays when dashcam is ready to be used (you have inserted a supported flash
drive into a front USB port). Touch to operate dashcam (see Dashcam on page
80).
Touch to enable or disable Sentry Mode to actively monitor the vehicle's
surroundings (see Sentry Mode on page 149).
Control or program HomeLink devices (if equipped) (see HomeLink Universal
Transceiver on page 153).
6Model S Owner's Manual
Page 8
Touchscreen Overview
Connected to a Wi-Fi network.
Connected to cellular network. Touch to connect to Wi-Fi (see Connecting to Wi-Fi
on page 156).
Connect to a Bluetooth device (see Pairing a Bluetooth Phone on page 143).
Displays the status of the front passenger airbag (applicable only in regions where
the airbag can be disabled, as described in Airbags on page 37).
2. Controls. Touch to control features and customize Model S to suit your preferences (see
Controls on page 118).
3. Media Player (see Media and Audio on page 140).
Overview7
Page 9
Touchscreen Overview
4. Touch the app launcher then choose from the following apps:
Call. See Phone on page 143.
Calendar. See Calendar on page 148.
Camera. Display the area behind Model S. This area also displays automatically
whenever you shift into Reverse. See Rear View Camera on page 79.
Energy. See Getting Maximum Range on page 77.
Charging. See Charging Instructions on page 164.
Web. Access the Internet using the web browser).
Entertainment. Browse the full library of games and access video streaming
services, all from your vehicle's touchscreen. To launch, Model S must be in Park.
Note: Due to vehicle configuration or market region, Entertainment, Arcade,
and/or Theater may not be available on your vehicle.
Toybox. Shortcut to Eater Eggs. See Easter Eggs on page 209.
Note: Swiping up on the app launcher displays the most recently used app (provided an app
is not currently being displayed).
Note: Depending on the market region and vehicle options, your vehicle may not be equipped
with some features.
5. Climate Controls (see Climate Controls on page 128).
6. Volume Control (see Volume Control on page 140).
8Model S Owner's Manual
Page 10
Touchscreen Overview
7. The map displays on the touchscreen at all times (see Maps and Navigation on page 134).
Note: When you touch Controls, choose an app, or expand Media Player, the window displays
on top of the map. To close the Controls window, touch Controls again or touch the X in the
top corner of the window. To close an app, touch the X in the top corner of the window. To
close Media Player, drag it all the way down to the bottom of the touchscreen or touch the
icon again.
The Tesla "T"
Touch the Tesla "T" at the top center of the touchscreen to display:
•Vehicle name (see Naming Your Vehicle on page 126).*
•Vehicle configuration.*
•Odometer.*
•Vehicle Identification Number (VIN).*
•Version of software currently installed on your Model S.
•Access to release notes associated with the currently-installed software version.*
•Access to this owner's manual.
•One-touch access to call Tesla Customer Support and Roadside Assistance (if available in your
market region).
•One-touch access to all discovered Easter Eggs (see Easter Eggs on page 209).
*You can also display this information by touching Controls > Software.
Overview9
Page 11
Keys and Doors
Opening and Closing
Keys and Doors
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 three feet (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 (Controls > Safety & Security >
Passive Entry). 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 12), 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 10.
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 12).
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. Driver Door Unlock
Mode (see Door Unlock Mode on page 12)
must be o and the vehicle must detect the
key near the driver's door before opening the
rear trunk.
Model S also locks automatically. If you enable
Walk Away Door Lock, Model S locks when
you walk away carrying your key with you (see
Walk-Away Locking on page 13).
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 touching
Controls > Quick Controls.
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
•Single-click to lock doors and trunks
(all doors and trunks must be closed).
Hazard warning lights flash once and
door handles retract. If a door or the
rear trunk is open, hazard warning
lights flash three times and doors do
not lock.
•Double-click to unlock. Hazard
warning lights flash twice and door
handles extend. If a door or the rear
trunk is open, hazard warning lights
flash three times and doors do not
lock.
3. Front trunk
•Double-click to open the front trunk.
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).
10Model S Owner's Manual
Page 12
Keys and Doors
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
50).
Radio equipment on a similar frequency can
aect the key. If this happens, move the key at
least one foot (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 13).
For increased security, your key fob may
require periodical updates. To update your key
fob, go to Controls > Service > Update Key
Fob and follow the onscreen instructions. Your
vehicle must be in Park to update the key fob.
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 with normal use. When the battery is low,
a message displays on the instrument panel.
Follow these steps to replace it:
Note: Tesla recommends replacing the battery
in all keys at the same time.
1. With the key placed button-side down on
a soft surface, use a small flat-bladed tool
or fingernail to release the bottom cover.
2.
Remove the battery by carefully lifting it
away from the front retaining clips.
3. Insert the new battery (type CR2032) with
the ‘+’ side facing up.
Note: Tesla recommends using Panasonic
CR2032 batteries. These can be
purchased through online retailers, local
supermarkets, and drug stores.
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.
5. Test that the key works by unlocking and
locking your vehicle.
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.
Opening and Closing11
Page 13
Keys and Doors
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 (Controls > Safety &
Security > Passive Entry).
You can set the door handles to extend
automatically whenever you approach the
driver’s side carrying the key. On the
touchscreen, touch Controls > Vehicle > AutoPresent 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 AutoPresent 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. Also, the image of
the Model S on the touchscreen's
Controls > Quick Controls window
also provides a visual representation
of an open door or trunk.
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 > Vehicle > ChildProtection Lock, to turn on the childprotection locks (see Child-Protection Lock on
page 13).
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 > Vehicle > Unlock on Park. When
enabled, 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 (for
example, 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 to unlock only the driver's
door when you approach your vehicle carrying
your key or when you shift into Park. To do so,
touch Controls > Vehicle > Driver Door Unlock
Mode.
12Model S Owner's Manual
Page 14
Keys and Doors
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
or o. Touch Controls > Vehicle > ChildProtection Lock.
Note: It is recommended that you turn childprotection 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 5 mph (8 km/h).
Walk-Away Locking
Doors and trunks automatically lock whenever
you walk away carrying the key or if the key is
otherwise not detected by your vehicle (not
present, dead battery, etc.).
To turn this feature on or o, touch Controls >
Vehicle > 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-Away Locking.
Note: If Model S detects an authenticated key
for five minutes after you exit the vehicle and
close all doors, Walk-Away Lock disables and
will not lock when you leave with the key. You
will need to manually lock your vehicle until
after your next drive.
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 relock until after all the doors are closed and
you have walked away with the key.
Note: If your vehicle was unlocked using the
mobile app, it automatically locks after a short
period of time with all doors closed. If parking
in an area without cellular service, such as an
indoor parking garage, ensure that you have a
functional key fob readily available.
Unlocking When the Key Doesn't
Work
If Model S does not unlock when you walk up
to it, or when you double-click the unlock
button on the top of your key, the key’s
battery may be dead. Even if this is the case,
you can still use the key to unlock and drive
Model S.
Note: Although you can still use your key, you
should consider using the mobile app to
remotely unlock and start the vehicle. Then,
replace your key's battery when convenient.
To unlock Model S (and disable the security
alarm) using the key, first position the key near
the base of the passenger side windshield
wiper. Then press the front door handle on the
right side of the vehicle. If Model S doesn't
unlock, try adjusting the position of the key
and try again. The key must be in the correct
position for the vehicle to unlock.
Note: The following illustration assumes a left
hand drive (LHD) vehicle. On a right hand
drive (RHD) vehicle, the locations are
mirrored.
To drive Model S after gaining access to the
cabin, place the bottom of the key against the
center console, immediately below the 12V
power outlet, then press and hold the brake
pedal to start Model S.
Opening and Closing13
Page 15
Keys and Doors
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.
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.
14Model S Owner's Manual
Page 16
Windows
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.
Note: See Cold Weather Best Practices on
page 83 for information on preparing
windows for cold weather.
Caution:
careful not to unintentionally press the
window switches, as they may lower the
windows on the driver or other doors.
Caution: Closing the door while the
window is fully raised (for example, if
manually raised) can damage the
windows or the vehicle. Ensure the
window is slightly lowered before closing
the door.
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.
When exiting the vehicle, be
Windows
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.
Opening and Closing15
Page 17
Rear Trunk
Rear Trunk
Opening
To open the rear trunk, ensure the vehicle is in
Park then do one of the following:
•Touch the associated OPEN button on the
touchscreen (Controls > Quick Controls).
•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 can use the
switch to manually open the rear trunk. See
Using the Key on page 10.
When a door or trunk/liftgate is
open, the instrument panel displays
the Door Open indicator light. The
image of your Model S on the
touchscreen also displays the open
trunk.
To stop a powered liftgate while it is moving,
single-click the rear trunk button on the key
fob. 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 doubleclick, it closes.
Note: In emergency situations, you can
override an Open or Close command by
grabbing hold of the lift gate to stop it in
place.
To open the rear trunk from inside Model S in
the unlikely situation that Model S has no
power, see Interior Emergency Trunk Release
on page 17.
Warning:
liftgate, it is important to check that the
16Model S Owner's Manual
Before opening or closing the
area around the liftgate is free of
obstacles (people and objects). Although
the powered liftgate can detect obstacles,
it cannot 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 285 lbs (130
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:
•Touch the associated CLOSE button on
the touchscreen (Controls > Quick
Controls).
•Double-click the trunk button on the key
fob.
•Press the switch located on the underside
of the liftgate (see Adjusting Liftgate
Opening Height on page 17).
If a powered liftgate senses an obstruction
when closing, it automatically opens and
sounds five 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.
Page 18
Rear Trunk
Adjusting Liftgate Opening Height
If Model S is equipped with a powered liftgate,
you can adjust its opening height to make it
easier to reach or to avoid low-hanging
ceilings or objects (for example, a garage door
or light):
1. Open the liftgate, then manually lower or
raise it to the desired opening height.
2. Press and hold the button on the
underside of the liftgate for two seconds
until you hear a confirmation 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 13), 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
285 lbs (130 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.
Opening and Closing17
Page 19
Rear Trunk
Warning: Do not allow children to play
inside the trunk or become locked inside.
An unrestrained child could suer serious
injury or death in a crash. A child could
suer heat exhaustion if trapped in the
vehicle, especially without climate control
on.
18Model S Owner's Manual
Page 20
Front Trunk
Opening
To open the front trunk:
1. Ensure that the area around the hood is
free of obstacles.
2. Touch the associated OPEN button on the
touchscreen (Controls > Quick Controls),
double-click the front trunk button on the
key, or touch the front trunk button on the
mobile app.
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 your Model S on the
touchscreen 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 13 is
turned on), or when Valet mode is active (see
Valet Mode on page 43).
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.
Front Trunk
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.
Opening and Closing19
Page 21
Front Trunk
Press the interior release button to open the
front trunk, then push up on the hood.
Note: The interior release button glows
following a brief exposure to ambient light.
Warning: People should never climb
inside the front trunk. Never shut the
front trunk when a person is inside.
Warning: Care should be taken to ensure
that objects inside the front trunk do not
bump against the release button, causing
the trunk to accidentally open.
20Model S Owner's Manual
Page 22
Interior Storage and Electronics
Interior Storage and Electronics
Glove Box
To open the glove box, press the switch
located on the side of the touchscreen. 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 43). It does not lock
when you lock Model S using the lock icon on
the touchscreen's status bar.
Note: If you leave the glove box open, its light
eventually turns o.
Warning: When driving, keep the glove
box closed to prevent injury to a
passenger if a collision or sudden stop
occurs.
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.
Note: Power is available whenever the vehicle
is considered "awake" The vehicle may be
awake for many reasons. For example, when
using features such as Summon, or when
features such as Smart Preconditioning, Cabin
Overheat Protection, Keep Climate On, Dog
Mode, Sentry Mode, etc. are enabled. The
vehicle is also awake whenever the 12V battery
is being charged or is in use, during HV
charging, when the vehicle is communicating
with the mobile app, etc. Leaving an accessory
plugged in does not deplete the 12V battery.
Inductive Phone Charger
The Model S inductive phone charger can
charge your Qi-enabled smartphone at up to
7.5W of power. Simply open the center
console rear bin lid and place your
smartphone in the phone charger, which is
located on the back of the bin cover. The
inductive phone charger uses either one of the
front USB ports to charge.
USB Ports
Your Model S has two USB ports 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
142. You can also use these ports to charge
USB devices.
Model S will charge your smartphone only
when the vehicle is powered on (i.e., the
touchscreen is on and you are in the vehicle).
You smartphone will not continue to charge if
you leave it plugged in after exiting the
vehicle. Model S will not charge your
smartphone if the vehicle's Battery is
discharged.
Note: The inductive phone charger may not
work if your phone case is too large or made
of metal. Take the smartphone out of the case
and place the phone in the charger.
Opening and Closing21
Page 23
Interior Storage and Electronics
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: Power is available whenever the vehicle
is considered "awake" The vehicle may be
awake for many reasons. For example, when
using features such as Summon, or when
features such as Smart Preconditioning, Cabin
Overheat Protection, Keep Climate On, Dog
Mode, Sentry Mode, etc. are enabled. The
vehicle is also awake whenever the 12V battery
is being charged or is in use, during HV
charging, when the vehicle is communicating
with the mobile app, etc. Leaving an accessory
plugged in does not deplete the 12V battery.
Note: In situations where Model S is unable to
detect the key (low battery, interference, etc.),
place it immediately below the 12V power
socket where Model S can best detect it.
Warning:
accessory’s connector can become hot.
The power socket and an
22Model S Owner's Manual
Page 24
Interior Storage and Electronics
Cup Holders
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.
Opening and Closing23
Page 25
Sunroof
Sunroof
Opening and Closing
If your Model S is equipped with a sunroof,
you can vent and close the sunroof remotely
using the mobile app or you can adjust the
position of the sunroof by controlling it from
the menu on your right scroll wheel.
For full control of the sunroof, touch
Controls > Quick Controls on the touchscreen.
Drag, or tap on, the image of the sunroof or
touch the buttons next to the image of your
vehicle. The sunroof moves to the selected
position. To stop the sunroof from moving at
any time, touch the image of the sunroof.
•OPEN: touch once to open the sunroof to
its comfort position (75% open). Touch
twice to open the sunroof fully.
•VENT: touch to open the sunroof slightly.
•CLOSE: touch to fully close the sunroof.
Note: If the sunroof 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.
Note: If you find wind noise (which varies
depending on driving speed) excessive, even
with the sunroof in the comfort position, open
a window slightly.
Caution:
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
Remove snow and ice before
can damage the sunroof’s seals and antitrap mechanism, and can cause injury to
occupants.
24Model S Owner's Manual
Page 26
Front and Rear Seats
Seating and Safety Restraints
Front and Rear Seats
Correct Driving Position
The seat, head support, seat belt and airbags
work together to maximize your safety. Using
these correctly ensures greater protection.
Position the seat so you can wear the seat belt
correctly, while being as far away from the
front airbag as possible:
1. Sit upright with both feet on the floor and
the seat back reclined no more than 30
degrees.
2. Make sure you can easily reach the pedals
and that your arms are slightly bent when
holding the steering wheel. Your chest
should be at least 10 inches (25 cm) from
the center of the airbag cover.
3. Place the shoulder section of the seat belt
mid-way between your neck and your
shoulder. Fit the lap section of the belt
tightly across your hips, not across your
stomach.
Model S seats include integrated head
supports that cannot be adjusted or removed.
Adjusting the Front Seats
1. Move seat forward/backward and adjust
the seat’s height and tilt angle up/down.
2. Adjust backrest.
3. Adjust lumbar support.
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.
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.
Seating and Safety Restraints25
Page 27
Front and Rear Seats
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.
Note: Driving with the rear seats folded
forward might result in increased perceivable
noise and/or vibration coming from the rear of
the vehicle (trunk, suspension, etc.).
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.
Warning:
are locked in their upright position by
pushing it forward or rearward. Failure to
do so increases the risk of injury.
Always ensure the seat backs
Seat Heaters
The front seats contain heating pads that
operate at three levels from 3 (highest) to 1
(lowest). To operate the seat heaters, see
Climate Controls on page 128.
If Model S is equipped with the cold weather
package, you can also control seat heaters in
all rear seating positions, as well as heated
wipers and washer nozzles by touching the
climate controls on the touchscreen (see
Climate Controls on page 128).
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. Also, if the
vehicle is equipped with an occupant
detection system that is used to
determine the status of the passenger
front airbag, seat covers may interfere
with this system.
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.
26Model S Owner's Manual
Page 28
Seat Belts
Wearing Seat Belts
Using seat belts and child safety seats is the
most eective 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.
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.
Seat Belt Reminders
The seat belt reminder on the
instrument panel alerts you if a seat
belt for an occupied driver or
passenger seat is unbuckled. If the
belt remains unbuckled, the
reminder flashes and an intermittent
chime sounds. If all occupants are
buckled up and the reminder stays
on, re-buckle 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.
Warning: Seat belts must be worn by
passengers in all seating positions.
Seat Belts
3.
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.
To Fasten a Belt
1. Ensure correct positioning of the seat (see
Correct Driving Position on page 25).
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.
Seating and Safety Restraints27
Page 29
Seat Belts
Warning:
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.
Once the seat belt pre-
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
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 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.
28Model S Owner's Manual
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 181.
Seat Belt Warnings
Warning:
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 as described in
the Child Safety Seat topic. 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 should be worn by all
Page 30
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 Restraints29
Page 31
Child Safety Seats
Child Safety Seats
Guidelines for Seating Children
Your Model S seat belts are designed for adults and larger children. You must restrain infants and
small children in the rear seats only, and you must use a suitable child safety seat appropriate for
the child’s age, weight, and size.
Never use child safety seats in the front row passenger seat.
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.
Model S has an occupancy sensor in the front passenger seat that controls the status of the
passenger front airbag (see Airbags on page 37).
When driving with a child seat on the front passenger seat, always doublecheck the status of the passenger front airbag to confirm that it is OFF.
To protect an adult subsequently occupying the front passenger seat, always
double-check the passenger front airbag to confirm that it is ON.
30Model S Owner's Manual
Page 32
Child Safety Seats
Choosing a Child Safety Seat
All children age 12 and under should ride in the second row seats. Always use a child safety seat
suitable for a young child’s age and weight. The following table is based on child safety seat
recommendations determined by National Highway Trac Safety Administration (NHTSA). For
more information, go to www.nhtsa.gov/ChildSafety/Guidance.
InfantsToddlersYoung
AgeBirth to 1 year*Over 1 year*4 years and
WeightUp to at least 20 lbs (9 kg)*Over 20 lbs (9 kg) (minimum)
Type of child
safety seat
Seat positionRear facing only*Rear facing as long as possible,
Recommended
attachment
method
* Many child safety seats currently available allow children to ride rear-facing using the child
safety seat’s integrated 5-point harness for a longer period of time BASED UPON SPECIFIC
HEIGHT AND WEIGHT LIMITS. Keep your child in a rear facing seat for as long as possible.
CHECK THE CHILD SAFETY SEAT MANUFACTURER’S INSTRUCTIONS AND CAREFULLY
FOLLOW ALL INSTRUCTIONS.
** LATCH ("Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children") and ISOFIX are international standards for
attachment points for child safety seats in passenger cars that enable compliant child safety
seats to be quickly and safely secured. The system has other regional names including LUAS
("Lower Universal Anchorage System") or Canfix in Canada. It has also been called the
"Universal Child Safety Seat System" or UCSSS.
*** Subject to instructions provided by the child safety seat manufacturer.
****Keep your child in a forward facing child safety seat with a harness and tether until the child
reaches the child safety seat's maximum allowable height or weight as specified by the
manufacturer of the child safety seat.
Rear facing (or convertible)Forward facing (or
If combined weight of child
and safety seat is up to
65 lbs (29 kg), attach using
either LATCH** (lower anchor
only) or the seat belt only.***
If combined weight of child
and safety seat is over 65 lbs
(29 kg), attach using the seat
belt only.***
and up to 40 lbs (18 kg)*
convertible)*
then forward facing*
If combined weight of child
and safety seat is up to 65 lbs
(29 kg), attach using either
LATCH** (both lower anchors
and top tether anchor), or the
seat belt and upper tether
strap.*** If combined weight of
child and safety seat is over
65 lbs (29 kg), attach using the
seat belt and upper tether
strap.***
children
older, and
less than 57
in. (145 cm)
tall
Over 40 lbs
(18 kg)
Forward
facing or
seat belt
retained
booster
seat****
Forward
facing
Attach
booster
seats using
the seat
belt only.
Warning: Do not use Easy Entry (as described in Driver Profiles on page 42) to automatically
move the driver's seat to the full rearward position if a child safety seat is installed on a rear
Seating and Safety Restraints31
Page 33
Child Safety Seats
seat behind the driver's seat. With reduced clearance, the movement of the seat may impact
a child's legs, cause injury, or dislodge the seat.
Warning: Do not use LATCH anchors with child safety seats or booster seats that have an
integral safety belt where the combined weight of the child plus the child safety seat exceeds
65 lbs (29.5 kg).
Warning: Laws that govern how and where children should be carried when traveling in a
vehicle are subject to change. It is the driver’s responsibility to keep up to date on, and
comply with, all current regulations in the region(s) where Model S is driven. To check the
child passenger safety laws for states in the U.S., go to: http://www.ghsa.org/html/stateinfo/
laws/childsafety_laws.html.
32Model S Owner's Manual
Page 34
Child Safety Seats
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.
•LATCH retained - these seats attach to
anchor bars built into the vehicle’s rear
seats.
Check the child safety seat manufacturer’s
instructions and the table in this manual 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.
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.
Installing Seat Belt Retained Child
Seats
2.
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
Seating and Safety Restraints33
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. Attach the upper tether strap(s), as
required by the manufacturer of the child
restraint system (see Attaching Upper
Tether Straps on page 35).
Installing ISOFIX (LATCH) Child
Seats
Lower LATCH 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.
Page 35
Child Safety Seats
In the rear seats, install LATCH child safety
seats in the outboard seating positions only.
Use only a seat belt retained seat in the center
position.
To install a LATCH child safety seat, carefully
read and follow the instructions provided by
the manufacturer of the child restraint system.
These instructions describe how to slide the
child restraint system onto the seat's anchor
bars until you hear it "click" into place. You
may need to push the child restraint system
firmly against the seat back to ensure it fits
snugly.
34Model S Owner's Manual
Adjust until the child restraint system is fittedfirmly against the seat back. Ensure the child
restraint system fits snugly.
Page 36
Before seating a child, ensure that the child
restraint system is securely installed. Grasp the
front of the child restraint system with one
hand on each side, and attempt to:
•Twist the child restraint system from side
to side.
•Pull the child restraint system away from
the seat.
If the child restraint system moves away from
the seat, both latches are not fully engaged
onto the seat's anchor bars. You must reinstall
it and try again. It is critical that both latches
on the child restraint system are fully engaged.
Note: Do not use LATCH anchors with child
seats or booster seats that have an integrated
safety belt where the combined weight of the
child plus the child restraint system exceeds
65 lbs (29.5 kg).
Child Safety Seats
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.
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:
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.
Seating and Safety Restraints35
Tighten upper tether straps
Testing a Child Safety Seat
Before seating a child, always make sure the
child safety seat is not loose:
Page 37
Child Safety Seats
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 one inch
(2.5 cm), it is too loose. Tighten the belt or
reconnect the LATCH retained child safety
seat.
3. If you are unable to reduce slack, try a
dierent seat location or try another child
safety seat.
Child Safety Seat Warnings
Warning: Extreme hazard! Do not seat a
child on the front passenger seat even if
you are using a child safety seat. This seat
has an airbag in front of it. Although this
airbag is disabled when Model S detects a
lightweight passenger, do not rely on
technology to protect your child.
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 20 lbs (9 kg) and can sit
independently. Up to the age of two, a
child's spine and neck are not suciently
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
36Model S Owner's Manual
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.
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.
Page 38
Airbags
Airbags
Location of Airbags
Airbags are located in the approximate areas shown below. Airbag warning information is printed
on the sun visors.
Model S is equipped with an airbag and lap/shoulder belt at both front 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.
1. Passenger knee airbag
2. Passenger front airbag
3. Side airbags
4. Curtain airbags
5. Driver’s knee airbag
6. Driver’s front airbag
Seating and Safety Restraints37
Page 39
Airbags
How 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, side
collisions and when braking heavily or driving
over bumps and potholes. Likewise, front
airbags may not inflate in all frontal collisions,
such as minor front collisions, underride
collisions, or minor impacts with narrow
objects (such as posts or poles). Significantsuperficial damage can occur to the vehicle
without the airbags inflating and, conversely, a
relatively small amount of structural damage
can cause airbags to inflate. Therefore, the
external appearance of the vehicle after a
collision does not represent whether or not
the front airbags should have inflated.
Warning: Before modifying your vehicle
to accommodate a person with
disabilities in a way that may aect the
airbag system, contact Tesla.
Types of Airbags
Model S has the following types of airbags:
•Front airbags: The front airbags are
designed to reduce injuries if larger
children or adults are riding in the front
seats. Follow all warnings and instructions
related to seating a child on the front
passenger seat (if permitted in your
market region).
•Knee airbags: Knee airbags and the front
airbags work together. The knee airbags
limit the forward motion of the front seat
occupants by restricting leg movement,
thereby positioning the occupants so that
the front airbags work more eectively.
•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. Curtain airbags on both
the impacted and non-impacted side of
the vehicle will inflate only if a severe side
impact occurs, or if the vehicle rolls over.
Passenger Front Airbag Status
The status of the passenger front airbag
displays in the top corner of the touchscreen:
Before driving with a child
seated on the front passenger
seat (if permitted in your market
region), always double-check the
status of the passenger front
airbag to confirm that it is OFF.
When the passenger airbag is
OFF, it will not inflate when a
collision occurs. This indicator
also displays when the seat is
unoccupied.
To protect an adult occupying
the front passenger seat, ensure
the passenger front airbag is ON.
When the passenger airbag is
ON, it may inflate when a
collision occurs
Warning: If seating a child in the front
passenger seat is legally permissible in
your market region, it is the driver's
responsibility to ensure that the
passenger front airbag is OFF. Never seat
a child in the front passenger seat with an
active airbag, even if using a child safety
38Model S Owner's Manual
Page 40
Airbags
seat or booster seat. DEATH or SERIOUS
INJURY to the child can occur.
Disabling the Passenger Front
Airbag
Model S has an occupancy sensor in the front
passenger seat that controls the status of the
passenger front airbag.
Note: The occupancy sensor system meets the
regulatory requirement of FMVSS 208 and
automatically detects when inflating the
passenger front airbag would be unnecessary
or potentially harmful.
Weight in
front
passenger
seat
EmptyOFFPASSENGER
Up to 20 lbs
(9 kg)
20-100 lbs
(9-45 kg)*
Over 100 lbs
(45 kg)
*Values are approximate. A weight detected
near the threshold can cause the airbag
status to occasionally turn on and o
depending on seating position and
physique.
Passenger
airbag status
OFFPASSENGER
OFF or ON
ONPASSENGER
Indicator
status
AIRBAG OFF
AIRBAG OFF
OFF PASSENGER
AIRBAG OFF
ON PASSENGER
AIRBAG ON
AIRBAG ON
Note: It takes approximately six seconds after
you power on Model S for the occupancy
sensor to report accurate status of the front
passenger airbag. As a result, when you first
power on Model S, even in situations when it
should be OFF because the seat is occupied
by a weight of 20 lbs (9 kg) or less, it will take
the touchscreen approximately six seconds to
display the status, PASS AIRBAG OFF. If it fails
to do so, contact Tesla service immediately
and do not seat a child in the front passenger
seating position.
To make sure the sensing system can correctly
detect occupancy status, eliminate the
following:
•Objects lodged under the seat.
•Heavy objects sitting on the seat
(briefcase, large purse).
Seating and Safety Restraints39
Page 41
Airbags
•Objects wedged between the seat back
and seat cushion.
•Cargo interfering with the seat.
•Aftermarket items attached to, or sitting
on, the seat (covers, mats, blankets, etc.).
These conditions can interfere with the
occupancy sensor. If you have eliminated the
above possibilities, and the airbag status is still
incorrect, ask passengers to ride in the rear
seats and contact Tesla to have the airbag
system checked.
Note: The front passenger occupancy sensor
aects the operation of the passenger front
airbags only. The side airbags are not aected.
Warning: If the front passenger airbag is
not turning on or o as expected based
on the weight thresholds previously
described, contact Tesla immediately.
Warning: Never seat a child on the front
passenger seat, even if the passenger
airbag is o. All occupants age 12 and
under must ride in the rear seats (see
Child Safety Seats on page 30).
Warning: To ensure accuracy of the
occupant detection system, do not make
any modifications to the front passenger
seat.
Warning: Do not use seat covers on
Model S. Doing so could restrict
deployment of the seat-mounted side air
bags if a collision occurs. It can also
reduce the accuracy of the occupant
detection system.
Inflation
After inflation, the airbags deflate to provide a
gradual cushioning eect 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
40Model S Owner's Manual
Eects
Warning:
powder is released. This powder can
irritate the skin and should be thoroughly
flushed from the eyes and from any cuts
or abrasions.
extend.
When airbags inflate, a fine
•Hazard warning lights turn on.
•Interior lights turn on.
•High voltage is disabled.
To restore high voltage power, use the
touchscreen to manually power o Model S
(see Powering O on page 50), then press
the brake to power it back on again.
Airbag Warning Indicator
The airbag indicator on the
instrument cluster 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
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. The National
Highway Trac Safety Administration
(NHTSA) recommends a minimum
distance of 10" (25 cm) between an
occupant’s chest and an airbag.
Warning: Children should not be seated
on the front passenger seat unless
Page 42
permitted by regulations in your market
region. Follow all regulations in your
region for the appropriate way to seat a
child based on the child's weight, size,
and age. The safest place to seat infants
and young children is in the rear seating
positions. Seating an infant or child in a
rear-facing child restraint system on a
seat equipped with an operational airbag
can cause serious injury or death.
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
Seating and Safety Restraints41
Page 43
Driver Profiles
Driving
Driver Profiles
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 Controls window.
To add a new driver profile, touch
the driver profile icon at the top of
the touchscreen. 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
(described below) 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 43).
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).
Note: To stop automatic adjustments that are
in process based on a driver's profile, touch
Stop on the Driver Profile dropdown menu.
Automatic adjustments also stop if you
manually adjust a seat, mirror or the steering
wheel.
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 use Easy Entry with a driver profile, ensure
the Use Easy Entry box is checked.
Warning: Never use Easy Entry to move
the driver's seat to the full rearward
position when a child safety seat is
installed on a rear seat located behind the
driver's seat. With reduced clearance, the
movement of the seat may impact a
child's legs, cause injury, or dislodge the
seat.
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.
Saved Settings
A subset of the settings that you choose from
the Controls window to customize your
Model S are also saved to your driver's profile.
The settings that are associated with driver
profiles may vary depending on the version of
software currently installed on your Model S.
Note:
42Model S Owner's Manual
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Driver Profiles
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
the driver profile icon on the top of the
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 three feet (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 the driver profile icon on the
top of the touchscreen. 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 70 mph (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.
•Autopilot convenience features are
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.
•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 30 feet or 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 on the top of 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 the PIN to Drive setting is enabled
(see PIN to Drive on page 149), you must
enter the driving PIN before you can define or
enter a Valet PIN. Once in Valet mode, Model S
can be driven without the valet needing to
enter the driving PIN.
Note: The PIN to Drive setting is not available
when Valet mode is active.
If you forget your valet 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.
Driving43
Page 45
Steering Wheel
Steering Wheel
Adjusting Steering Eort
You can adjust the feel and sensitivity of the
steering system to suit your personal
preference:
1. On the touchscreen, touch Controls >
Driving > Steering Mode.
2. Choose a steering option:
•Comfort - Reduces the eort required
to turn the wheel. In town, Model S
feels easier to drive and park.
•Standard - Tesla believes that this
setting oers the best handling and
response in all conditions.
•Sport - Increases the eort 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.
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.
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 Button
•To adjust the media volume, roll up or
down.
Note: The scroll button 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
button.
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).
44Model S Owner's Manual
Page 46
Steering Wheel
•To choose what displays on the left
side of the instrument panel, hold the
scroll button briefly until the available
options are displayed. Roll the scroll
button to choose Empty, Car Status,
Clock, Media, Energy, Trips, etc. When
the option you want is highlighted,
tap the scroll button.
Note: The option you choose to
display using the left scroll button 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 down
both scroll buttons for approximately
five seconds. See Restarting the
Touchscreen on page 50.
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 Bluetoothconnected 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 46.
2. Scroll Button
•During a phone call, touch the scroll
button to display call options that
allow you to perform an action on the
call.
•Roll the scroll button 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, hold the
scroll button briefly until the available
options are displayed. Roll the scroll
button to choose Empty, Car Status,
Clock, Media, Energy, Trips, etc. When
the option you want is highlighted,
tap the scroll button.
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 button is
retained until you manually change it.
It is also saved in your driver profile.
•To restart the touchscreen, hold down
both scroll buttons for approximately
five seconds. See Restarting the
Touchscreen on page 50.
3. Menu button
Press to display a menu that allows you to
control the following Model S:
•Temperature. Roll the scroll button to
change the driver side temperature, or
press the wheel to turn the climate
control system on and o.
•Fan Speed. Roll the scroll button to
adjust the speed of the fan used to
cool or heat the cabin.
•Display Brightness. Roll the scroll
button to change the brightness level
of the displays, or press the wheel to
restore default settings.
•Sunroof (if equipped). Roll the scroll
button to adjust the position of the
sunroof.
Driving45
Page 47
Steering Wheel
•Recent Calls. If your phone is paired to
Model S, roll the scroll button to view
your recent calls. Press the scroll
button to call the contact that's
displayed. To pair your phone, see
Pairing a Bluetooth Phone on page
143.
•Contacts. If your phone is paired to
Model S, roll the scroll button 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 143.
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, listen to Internet music
or control many aspects of your Model S.
Voice commands are designed to understand
natural requests. 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.
Note: Voice commands may be spoken in
English or French (Canada).
•To call a contact on your Bluetoothconnected 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”).
•Control various aspects of Model S by
speaking statements or commands. For
example, "Speed up the wipers", "The
screen is too bright", "Turn on the driver's
seat heater", "I'm cold".
Note: Tesla is continuously improving the
ability of Model S to recognize voice
commands. To support these ongoing quality
improvements, Tesla captures short voice
recordings anonymously. To protect your
privacy, these short recordings are not
associated with your personal information or
with your vehicle's identification number. Tesla
assures that it is not possible to search any
system for a recording associated with a
specific customer or vehicle.
Heated Steering Wheel
If Model S is equipped with the optional cold
weather package, you can warm up the
steering wheel by touching climate controls
on the touchscreen (see Climate Controls on
page 128). When turned on, radiant heat
keeps the steering wheel at a comfortable
temperature.
Note: Depending on date of manufacture, your
Model S may not include a heated steering
wheel, even when equipped with the optional
cold weather package.
Horn
To sound the horn, press the center pad on
the steering wheel.
46Model S Owner's Manual
Page 48
Steering Wheel
Driving47
Page 49
Mirrors
Mirrors
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 > Vehicle > Mirror AutoFold. 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 31 mph (50 km/h), or until you
use the center button to unfold the mirrors.
Note: You cannot fold a mirror if driving above
31 mph (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.
Note: See Cold Weather Best Practices on
page 83 for information to ensure your
mirrors function properly in cold weather.
Auto-Fold Mirrors Based on Location
Model S can automatically fold and unfold the
side mirrors based on location, which saves
you from having to manually position them
each time you need to fold or unfold the
mirrors when at a frequented place (such as
narrow garages, tight parking spaces, etc.).
To set up, Model S must be driving at a low
speed (less than 3 mph/5 kph) or stopped at
the location you want your vehicle to
remember. Go to Controls > Vehicle > Always
Fold Mirrors at this Location. Next time you
approach the saved location, your mirrors fold
and unfold within 25 feet (7.5 meters) of the
specified location.
You can also integrate auto-folding mirrors
with HomeLink (see HomeLink Universal
Transceiver on page 153). To enable, go to
HomeLink > Auto-Fold Mirrors when Nearby.
Caution:
Mirrors may not automatically
fold or unfold if you return to a saved
location and are driving faster than 3
mph/5 kph.
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.
48Model S Owner's Manual
Page 50
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 >
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.
When in the Drive or Neutral gear, the rear
view mirror automatically dims in low lighting
conditions (for example, when driving at night
or through a tunnel).
Mirrors
Driving49
Page 51
Starting and Powering O
Starting and Powering O
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
52.
Note: If the PIN to Drive feature is enabled
(see PIN to Drive on page 149), you must also
enter a valid PIN on the touchscreen before
you can drive Model S.
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.
A number of factors can
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.
aect whether
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 > Safety & Security > 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 52.
Restarting the Touchscreen
If your touchscreen is unresponsive or
demonstrates unusual behavior, you can
restart it to potentially resolve the issue.
Note: 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.
1. Shift into Park.
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 22). Or try using
another key. If another key does not work,
contact Tesla.
50Model S Owner's Manual
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2. Hold down both scroll buttons on the
steering wheel until the touchscreen turns
black.
3. After a few seconds, the Tesla logo
appears. Wait approximately 30 seconds
for the touchscreen to restart. If the
touchscreen is still unresponsive or
demonstrating unusual behavior after a
few minutes, try power cycling the vehicle.
See Power Cycling the Vehicle on page
51.
Note: Restarting the touchscreen using the
scroll buttons does not power Model S o and
on.
Power Cycling the Vehicle
If your vehicle demonstrates unusual behavior
or a nondescript alert is present, you can try
power cycling the vehicle to potentially
resolve the issue.
1. Shift into Park.
2. On the touchscreen, touch Controls >
Safety & Security > Power O.
3. Wait for at least two minutes without
interacting with the vehicle. Do not open
the doors, touch the brake pedal, touch
the touchscreen, etc.
4. After two minutes have passed, press the
brake pedal or open the door to wake the
vehicle.
Starting and Powering O
Driving51
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Gears
Gears
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 5 mph (8 km/h).
If moving less than 1 mph (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 > Safety & Security), Model S shifts
into Neutral (see Parking Brake on page 68).
Drive
Push the lever all the way down and release.
You can shift into Drive when Model S is
stopped or moving less than 5 mph (8 km/h)
in Reverse. If Model S is moving less than
1 mph (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 you connect a charge cable or if
two or more of the following conditions are
met simultaneously while traveling slower than
approximately 1.5 mph (2 km/h):
•The driver's seat belt is unbuckled.
•The occupancy sensor in the driver's seat
does not detect an occupant.
•The driver's door is opened.
Note: The above conditions do not reflect a
comprehensive list of reasons why Model S
may or may not automatically shift into Park
and, in certain scenarios, it is possible for your
vehicle to shift into Park when only one of the
above conditions is true.
Warning: In emergency situations, if the
brakes are not functioning properly, press
and hold the Park button on the gear
selector to bring the vehicle to a stop. Do
not use this method to stop the vehicle
unless absolutely necessary.
Warning: It is the driver's responsibility to
always ensure the vehicle is in Park before
exiting. Never rely on Model S to
automatically shift into Park for you; it
might not work in all circumstances (for
example, if Creep or a slope causes the
vehicle to travel greater than
approximately 1.5 mph (2 km/h)).
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 > Service > Tow Mode.
Model S beeps, and shifts into Neutral (which
releases the parking brake).
52Model S Owner's Manual
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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 > Safety &
Security > Parking Brake).
Gears
Driving53
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Lights
Lights
Controlling Lights
Touch Controls > Lights on the touchscreen to
control 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: The image below is provided for
demonstration purposes only. Depending on
vehicle options, software version and market
region, your touchscreen may appear slightly
dierent.
•
OFF: Exterior lights turn o until you
manually turn them back on or until
the next time you drive. If daytime
running lights are required in your
region, the exterior lights used for this
purpose are always on when Drive
gear is engaged.
•PARKING: Only the side marker lights,
parking lights, tail lights and license
plate lights turn on.
Note: If daytime running lights are
required in your region, the exterior
lights used for this purpose are always
on whenever a driving gear (Drive or
Reverse) is engaged.
•ON: Exterior lights turn on.
Warning: Always ensure that your
headlights are on during low visibility
conditions. Failure to do so may result
in a collision.
2. If equipped, touch to turn the fog lights
on or o. Fog lights operate only when
low beam headlights are on. When
headlights are turned o, fog lights also
turn o.
The front fog indicator displays
on the instrument panel
whenever the optional front 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.
3. Turn the interior dome (map) lights on or
o. If set to AUTO, all interior dome lights
1. Exterior lights (headlights, tail lights, side
marker lights, parking lights, and license
plate lights) are set to AUTO each time
you start Model S. When set to AUTO,
exterior lights automatically turn on when
driving in low lighting conditions. If you
change to a dierent setting, lights always
revert to AUTO on your next drive.
Touch one of these options to temporarily
change the exterior light setting:
turn on when you unlock Model S, open a
door upon exiting, or shift into Park.
Note: 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.
4. If you turn on AMBIENT LIGHTS, interior
ambient lights turn on whenever the
headlights are on.
54Model S Owner's Manual
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5. If you turn on Auto High Beam (only
available on Model S equipped with
Autopilot components), your vehicle
automatically switches from high beam
headlights to low beam headlights when
there is light detected in front of Model S.
See High Beam Headlights on page 56.
6. If you turn on Headlights after Exit, the
exterior lights remain on for a short period
of time after you stop driving and park
Model S in low lighting conditions. See
Headlights After Exit on page 56.
Note: Model S has lights along the 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. In market regions where
daytime running lights are not required to stay
on, the signature lights turn o to conserve
energy when you turn on the Range mode
setting (see Controls on page 118 or Driving
Tips to Maximize Range on page 77).
Lights
Driving55
Page 57
Lights
High Beam Headlights
Push the left-hand steering column lever away
from you to turn the high beam headlights on
continuously. To cancel, pull the lever towards
you.
To brieflyflash the high beam headlights, pull
the lever towards 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 or o, touch Controls > Lights >
Auto High Beam.
Note: Your chosen setting is retained until you
manually change it.
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 to show the status of the
headlights:
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
temporarily unavailable.
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.
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
remain on. They automatically turn o after
one minute or when you lock Model S.
You can turn this feature on and o by
touching Controls > Lights > Headlights After
Exit. When Headlights After Exit is o, the
headlights turn o when you engage the Park
gear and open a door.
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.
If the AFS fails, the instrument panel
displays an alert. Contact Tesla
Service.
56Model S Owner's Manual
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Turn Signals
Move the left-hand steering column lever up
(before turning right) or down (before turning
left). The turn signals flash three times or
continuously, depending on how far up or
down you move the lever. Lightly push the
turn signal lever up or down for a three-flash
sequence. For a continuous signal, push the
lever fully up or down.
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.
Lights
Warning: If you have purchased an
optional Autopilot package, and Trac-Aware Cruise Control is active, engaging
a turn signal can cause Model S to
accelerate when using Trac-Aware
Cruise Control in specific situations (see
Overtake Acceleration on page 92).
Warning: If you have purchased an
optional Autopilot package and Autosteer
is active, engaging a turn signal may
cause Model S to change lanes.
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 key nearby.
Driving57
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Instrument Panel
Instrument Panel
Instrument Panel Overview
The instrument panel changes depending on whether Model S is:
•O (shown below).
•Driving (see Instrument Panel - Driving on page 62).
•Charging (see Charging Status on page 169).
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 dierent.
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
temporarily unavailable. 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.
58Model S Owner's Manual
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IndicatorDescription
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 automatically turn back on. See High Beam Headlights on page 56.
Parking lights (side marker lights, tail lights, and license plate lights) are on. See
Lights on page 54.
Front fog lights, if equipped. See Lights on page 54.
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 amber). See Traction
Control on page 70. If this indicator remains on, a fault is detected and you
should immediately contact Tesla.
Instrument Panel
If a fault is detected that reduces the performance of the air suspension system,
this amber indicator light displays. If the problem persists, contact Tesla. See Air
Suspension on page 146.
If a fault is detected that disables the air suspension system, a red indicator lights
up on the instrument panel. Contact Tesla.
A brake system fault is detected or the brake fluid level is low. See Braking and
Stopping on page 66. Contact Tesla immediately.
Airbag safety. If this red indicator does not flash on briefly when Model S prepares
to drive, or if it remains on, contact Tesla immediately. See Airbags on page 37.
Driving59
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Instrument Panel
IndicatorDescription
An ABS (Anti-lock Braking System) fault is detected. See Braking and Stopping on
page 66. Contact Tesla immediately.
The parking brake is manually applied. See Parking Brake on page 68.
A parking brake fault is detected. Contact Tesla. See Parking Brake on page 68.
Vehicle Hold is actively applying the brakes. See Vehicle Hold on page 73.
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 173.
A door or trunk is open. See Keys and Doors on page 10, Rear Trunk on page 16, or
Front Trunk on page 19.
A seat belt for an occupied seat is not fastened. See Seat Belts on page 27.
Note: Depending on the date of manufacture, rear seating positions may not be
equipped with a seat belt reminder.
Electronic stability control systems are no longer minimizing wheel spin. On a Rear
Wheel Drive vehicle, the traction control system has been turned o, or on an AllWheel Drive vehicle, Slip Start has been enabled. See Traction Control on page
70.
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 206.
60Model S Owner's Manual
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IndicatorDescription
Appears when some of the stored energy in the Battery may not be available due
to cold weather conditions. If Model S is plugged in, you can heat your Battery by
turning on climate control with the mobile app. The snowflake icon disappears
when the Battery is suciently warm.
Vehicle power is currently being limited because the energy remaining in the
Battery is low or the vehicle's systems are being heated or cooled.
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
Driving61
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Instrument Panel
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 the Autopilot components (see
About Autopilot on page 85). The visualization automatically zooms in and out as needed to
inform you when a vehicle is detected in your blind spot.
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 dierent.
1. Indicator lights display along the top to provide status (see Instrument Panel Overview on
page 58).
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 44).
3. Trac-Aware Cruise Control is cruising at a set speed. When Trac-Aware Cruise Control is
available but you haven't set a cruising speed, the icon is gray and the speed is not shown
(see Trac-Aware Cruise Control on page 88).
Note: On roads where the map data determines that a conditional speed limit exists (for
example, a speed limit based on time of day or weather conditions), a second speed limit
displays below the first speed limit. It is the driver's responsibility to determine whether the
conditional speed limit is currently in eect and adjust the driving speed accordingly.
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 95).
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.
62Model S Owner's Manual
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Instrument Panel
•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 45).
7. Pay attention to important alert messages that display here. If any alerts are in eect, 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 45).
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 > Display >
Energy Display.
Note: When anticipating when you need to charge, use range estimates as a general guideline
only.
10. The speed limit (if available) that is currently being detected by Speed Assist (see Speed
Assist on page 116).
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 95).
Note: If Navigate on Autopilot is active, the instrument panel displays the driving lane as a
single blue line in front of Model S (see Navigate on Autopilot on page 98).
15. Currently selected gear: Park, Reverse, Neutral, or Drive.
Warning: Although the instrument panel shows surrounding trac, some vehicles may not be
displayed. Never rely on the instrument panel to determine if a vehicle is present (for
example, in your blind spot). Always use your mirrors and perform shoulder checks.
Driving63
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Wipers and Washers
Wipers and Washers
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 >
Vehicle > Autowipers (Beta). When wipers are
set to Auto, 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:
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 wiper blades.
Periodically check and clean the edge of the
wiper blade. If damaged, replace the wiper
blade immediately. For details on checking
and replacing wiper blades, see Wiper Blades
and Washer Jets on page 183.
Ensure the wipers are in the O
Caution:
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 > Service > Wiper
Service Mode. 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 the climate control on the
touchscreen (see Climate Controls on page
128). Wiper heaters automatically turns o
after 15 minutes.
In harsh climates, ensure that the
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 Windshield Washer Fluid on page 186).
64Model S Owner's Manual
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De-icing Washer Nozzles
If Model S is equipped with the optional cold
weather package, washer nozzles have deicers that turn on whenever the ambient
temperature nears freezing, or when you turn
on the heated wipers (see Climate Controls on
page 128). 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
Driving65
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Braking and Stopping
Braking and Stopping
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 brieflyflashes
yellow 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 aected by an
ABS failure. However, braking
distances may increase. Drive
cautiously and avoid heavy braking.
If the instrument panel displays this
red brake indicator at any time other
than briefly when you first start
Model S, a brake system fault is
detected, or the level of the brake
fluid is low. Contact Tesla
immediately. Apply steady pressure
and keep the brakes firm to bring the
vehicle to a stop when safe to do so.
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 is designed to
automatically brake in situations where a
collision is considered imminent (see
Automatic Emergency Braking on page 114).
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.
Caution: In emergency situations, if the
brakes are not functioning properly, press
and hold the Park button on the gear
selector to bring the vehicle to a stop. Do
not use this method to stop the vehicle
unless absolutely necessary.
Brake Disc Wiping
Model S is equipped with brake disc wiping,
which automatically assists in maintaining
brake responsiveness in cold and wet weather
conditions. When such conditions are
detected, brake disc wiping repeatedly applies
an imperceptible amount of brake force to
clear away water on the brake disc surface.
This ensures your brakes are responsive even
during poor weather conditions.
Hydraulic Fade Compensation
Your vehicle is also equipped with hydraulic
fade compensation. This assists in monitoring
brake system pressure and ABS activity for
instances of lower brake performance. If lower
brake performance is detected (as a result of
brake fade, or cold or wet conditions, for
example), you may feel the brake pedal pull
away from your foot, detect some noise, and
notice a strong increase in vehicle braking.
Continue to press the brake pedal without
releasing or "pumping" them— just brake as
you normally would.
66Model S Owner's Manual
Page 68
Braking and Stopping
Caution: If the brakes are not functioning
properly, stop the vehicle as soon as
safety permits and contact Tesla Service.
See Park on page 52 for information on
using the Park button to stop the vehicle
in case of emergency.
Warning: Always maintain a safe driving
distance from the vehicle in front of you
and be cautious in hazardous driving
conditions. Do not rely on brake disc
wiping or hydraulic fade compensation to
act as a substitute for adequate braking.
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.
Warning:
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 67)
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 44).
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.
Driving67
In snowy or icy conditions
To Set the Regenerative Braking Level
You can use the touchscreen to change the
level of regenerative braking:
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".
Stopping Mode
Regenerative braking decelerates Model S
whenever you release the accelerator pedal
when driving. You can choose what you want
Model S to do once the driving speed has
been reduced to a very low speed (almost at a
stop) and both the accelerator pedal and
brake pedal are released. While in Park, touch
Controls > Driving > Stopping Mode and
choose from these options:
Page 69
Braking and Stopping
•CREEP: When close to, or at, a complete
stop, the motor continues to apply torque,
moving Model S slowly forward (in Drive)
or backwards (in Reverse), similar to a
conventional vehicle with an automatic
transmission. In some situations, such as
on a steep hill or driveway, you may need
to press the accelerator pedal to continue
moving or to prevent Model S from
moving in the opposite direction.
Warning: Never rely on CREEP to
apply enough torque to prevent your
vehicle from rolling down a hill.
Always press the brake pedal to
remain stopped or the accelerator
pedal to proceed up the hill. Failure
to do so can result in property
•HOLD: Maximizes range and reduces
•ROLL: When close to, or at, a complete
68Model S Owner's Manual
damage and/or a collision.
brake wear by continuing to provide
regenerative braking at speeds lower than
with the Creep and Roll settings. When
Model S stops, the brakes are
automatically applied without you having
to put your foot on the brake pedal.
Whether stopped on a flat surface or a hill,
Vehicle Hold keeps the brake applied,
provided your foot remains o the
accelerator and brake pedals. See Vehicle
Hold on page 73.
Warning: Never rely on HOLD to
adequately decelerate or fully stop
your vehicle. Many factors can
contribute to a longer stopping
distance, including downward slopes,
the low regenerative braking setting,
and reduced or limited regenerative
braking (see Regenerative Braking on
page 67). Always be prepared to use
the brake pedal to adequately
decelerate or stop.
stop, Model S becomes free rolling like a
vehicle in Neutral. Therefore, if stopped on
a slope, Model S will roll downward. The
brake does not engage, and the motor
does not apply torque (until the
accelerator pedal is pressed).
Note: If you choose CREEP or ROLL, you
can still use Vehicle Hold to apply the
brakes. However, you will need to briefly
press the brake pedal when the vehicle is
stopped. See Vehicle Hold on page 73.
Warning:
moves when unsafe to do so. It is your
responsibility to stay alert and be in
control of the vehicle at all times. Failure
Press the brake pedal if Model S
to do so can result in serious damage,
injury, or death.
Warning: Do not rely on regenerative
braking and your chosen Stopping Mode
to keep you and your vehicle safe. Various
factors such as driving with a heavy
vehicle load, on a steep hill, or on wet or
icy roads aect deceleration rate and the
distance at which Model S will come to a
stop. Drive attentively and always stay
prepared to use the brake pedal to stop
as appropriate based on trac and road
conditions.
Warning: Forward Collision Warning and
Automatic Emergency Braking do not
operate when driving at very low speeds
(see Collision Avoidance Assist on page
113). Do not rely on these features to
warn you, or to prevent or reduce the
impact of a collision.
Note: Your chosen setting is retained in your
Driver Profile until you manually change it.
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 pedaloperated brake system.
Warning:
rear wheels may not have sucient
traction to prevent Model S from sliding
down a slope, particularly if not using
winter tires. Avoid parking on hills in
snowy or icy conditions. You are always
responsible for parking safely.
Warning: Your Model S may display an
alert if the road is too steep to safely park
on, or if the parking brakes are not
properly engaged. These alerts are for
guidance purposes only and are not a
substitute for the driver’s judgment of
safe parking conditions, including specific
road or weather conditions. Do not
depend on these alerts to determine
whether or not it is safe to park at any
location. You are always responsible for
parking safely.
In snowy or icy conditions the
Page 70
Use the touchscreen to manually release the
parking brake (which also shifts Model S into
Neutral):
1. Touch Controls > Safety & Security.
2. Press the brake pedal, then touch Parking
Brake. If Model S was previously in Park, it
shifts into Neutral.
When you use the touchscreen to
manually apply the parking brake,
the red parking brake indicator lights
up on the instrument panel.
If the parking brake experiences an
electrical issue, the amber parking
brake indicator lights up and a fault
message displays at the top of the
instrument panel.
Caution: In the unlikely event that Model S
loses electrical power, you cannot access
the touchscreen and are therefore unable
to release the parking brake. Contact
Tesla.
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 Subsystems on page 194.
Additionally, Tesla recommends cleaning and
lubricating the brake calipers every year or
12,500 miles (20,000 km) if in an area where
roads are salted during winter months.
Warning:
brake pads damages the braking system
and can result in a braking hazard.
Neglecting to replace worn
Braking and Stopping
Driving69
Page 71
Traction Control
Traction Control
How It Works
The traction control system constantly
monitors the speed of the front and rear
wheels. If Model S experiences a loss of
traction, the system minimizes wheel spin by
controlling brake pressure and motor power.
By default, the traction control system is on.
Under normal conditions, it should remain on
to ensure maximum safety.
This yellow indicator flashes on the
instrument panel whenever the
traction control system is actively
controlling brake pressure and motor
power to minimize wheel spin. If the
indicator stays on, a fault is detected
with the traction control system.
Contact Tesla Service.
Warning: Traction control cannot prevent
collisions caused by driving dangerously
or turning too sharply at high speeds.
Allowing Wheel Slip
To allow the wheels to spin at a limited speed,
you can enable Slip Start. Slip Start can be
enabled only when Model S is moving 30 mph
(48 km/h) or slower. Slip Start automatically
disables when the speed exceeds 50 mph
(80 km/h).
Under normal conditions, Slip Start should not
be enabled. Enable it only in circumstances
where you deliberately want the wheels to
spin, such as:
•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 Trac-Aware Cruise
Control.
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Park Assist
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).
The sensors are activated when driving slower
than 5 mph (8 km/h).
Warning:
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
Never depend on Park Assist to
Park Assist
either no readings or false readings (see
Limitations and False Warnings on page
72). Therefore, depending on Park Assist
to determine if Model S is approaching an
obstruction can result in damage to the
vehicle and/or objects, and can
potentially cause serious injury. Always
inspect the area with your own eyes.
When reversing, perform shoulder checks
and use all mirrors. Park assist does not
detect children, pedestrians, bicyclists,
animals, or objects that are moving,
protruding, located too far above or
below the sensors, or too close or too far
from the sensors. Park Assist is for
guidance purposes only and is not
intended to replace your own direct visual
checks. It is not a substitute for careful
driving.
Visual and Audio Feedback
When you shift to Reverse, the Park Assist
view displays on the left side of the instrument
panel, showing objects that are in close
proximity to the front and rear of Model S.
This view closes when you shift into Drive
unless an object is detected close to the front
of Model S, in which case the Park Assist view
closes automatically when your driving speed
exceeds 5 mph (8 km/h). When reversing,
visual feedback also displays on the
touchscreen, immediately below the camera
view (see Rear View Camera on page 79). You
can manually close the park assist view on the
touchscreen by touching the X in the upper
corner.
When driving with the Camera app displayed
on the touchscreen, you can switch to the
Park Assist view when driving at speeds below
5 mph (8 km/h). Touch the button located in
the upper left corner of the Camera app
window. This is useful if you need assistance
with parallel parking.
If chimes are turned on (see Controlling
Audible Feedback on page 72), an audible
beep sounds as you approach an object. You
can temporarily mute the chime by pressing
the scroll button on the left side of the
steering wheel or by touching the mute button
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:
debris, snow, and ice. Avoid using a high
Keep sensors clean from dirt,
Driving71
Page 73
Park Assist
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 > Safety & Security > Park
Assist Chimes.
To mute the chimes temporarily, press the
scroll button on the left side of the steering
wheel or touch the mute button in the corner
of the Park Assist view. The chimes are muted
until you shift into a dierent gear or drive
over 5 mph (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
8 inches (20 cm) (such as a curb or low
barrier).
Caution:
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 aected by other
electrical equipment or devices that
generate ultrasonic waves.
•You are driving in a location where the
sensors' ultrasonic waves are deflected
away from the vehicle (such as driving
next to a wall or pillar).
Shorter objects that are
•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 79).
72Model S Owner's Manual
Page 74
Vehicle Hold
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.
Note: When Stopping Mode is set to Hold (see
Stopping Mode on page 67), Vehicle Hold
engages automatically whenever Model S
stops while in a driving gear. There is no need
to press the brake to engage it.
Vehicle Hold
Driving73
Page 75
Acceleration Modes
Acceleration Modes
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 Autopilot hardware).
•Standard: provides the normal level of
acceleration (available on nonPerformance All-Wheel Drive vehicles and
Rear Wheel Drive Model S vehicles
equipped with Autopilot hardware).
•Sport: provides the normal level of
acceleration (available on Performance
All-Wheel Drive vehicles).
•Insane: increases peak torque by
approximately 30 percent (available on
Performance All-Wheel Drive vehicles not
equipped with the Ludicrous upgrade).
•Ludicrous: increases peak torque by
approximately 60 percent (available on
Performance All-Wheel Drive vehicles
equipped with the Ludicrous upgrade).
•Insane+: increases peak torque by
approximately 30 percent (available on
Performance All-Wheel Drive vehicles not
equipped with the Ludicrous upgrade)
while also heating up the Battery to its
ideal operating temperature to ensure
access to 100% of available power. Before
choosing this setting, read about Using
Insane+ or Ludicrous+ on page 74.
•Ludicrous+: increases peak torque by
approximately 60 percent (available on
Performance All-Wheel Drive vehicles
equipped with the Ludicrous upgrade)
while also immediately heating up the
Battery to its ideal operating temperature
to ensure access to 100% of available
power. Before choosing this setting, read
about Using Insane+ or Ludicrous+ on
page 74.
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 eciency.
Note: When Chill is selected, Chill displays on
the instrument panel above the driving speed.
In addition, a Performance All-Wheel Drive
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 75.
To choose an acceleration mode, touch
Controls > Driving > Acceleration.
74Model S Owner's Manual
Using Insane+ or Ludicrous+
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 choose
Insane+ or Ludicrous+ to heat the Battery to
its ideal operating temperature. This ensure
access to 100% of available power.
While the battery is being heated, the
touchscreen displays a status message
providing you with an approximate wait time,
and letting you know when the additional
power is available. In addition to heating the
Battery, Insane+ and Ludicrous+ modes strive
to keep the Battery within an optimal
temperature range. Therefore, under
aggressive driving scenarios, you may also see
the “Cooling” status for several minutes until
temperatures fall. Model S stays in the chosen
mode for three hours, even if you leave the
vehicle. After three hours, the feature times
out.
Note: Insane+ and Ludicrous+ are designed to
achieve maximum performance for short term
acceleration. These settings are 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 choosing the
Insane+ or Ludicrous+ setting to achieve
maximum Battery power. In fact, in normal
driving situations, the additional power that
can be achieved using Insane+ and Ludicrous+
may be unnoticeable.
Note: To support Insane+ or Ludicrous+, the
charge level must be 20% or higher. You
cannot initiate these settings if the charge
level is less than 20%. In addition, these
settings immediately cancel if at any time
during use, the charge level drops below 20%.
When using Insane+ or Ludicrous+, Model S
consumes more energy to keep the Battery
within an optimal temperature range.
To cancel Insane+ or Ludicrous+ at any time,
change the acceleration level to another
setting. To prevent excess and potentially
unnecessary energy consumption (for
example, you leave the vehicle and forget to
cancel Insane+ or Ludicrous+), these settings
cancel automatically in three hours, regardless
of whether you are still driving or have left the
vehicle.
Note: Insane+ or Ludicrous+ strives to keep
the Battery within an optimal temperature
Page 76
Acceleration Modes
range. In addition to heating the Battery, these
settings also cool 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 AllWheel Drive 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
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 trac 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
1. Ensure the brakes are slightly warm by
driving for a few minutes and using the
brakes a few times.
2. If equipped, set the air suspension to Low
(see Air Suspension on page 146).
3. Set the acceleration level to Insane or
Ludicrous and enable Max Battery Power.
4.
Close the Max Battery Power popup
window by touching the X in the upper
left corner. Notice that the touchscreen
now displays the estimated time for the
Battery to achieve maximum power below
the acceleration level setting. When the
Battery preparation is complete, the
estimated time changes to "READY!".
Note: There is no need to wait until Max
Battery Power is in its READY state—you
can use Launch immediately after
enabling Max Battery Power. Although
vehicle performance increases
immediately after enabling Max Battery
Power, maximum power is not achieved
until the Battery is within the target
temperature range and “READY!” is
displayed.
Note: Heating the Battery can take over an
hour, depending on environmental
conditions, the starting temperature, and
whether or not Model S is being driven.
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. Within eight seconds, fully press the
accelerator pedal a second time to preload 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 (which allows the wheels to
spin). See Traction Control on page 70.
Note: Launch Mode is available only if the
ambient temperature is 37° F (3° C) or
warmer.
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Trip Information
Trip Information
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 44 or
Using Right Steering Wheel Buttons on page
45).
Odometer
To display the odometer, touch the Tesla “T” at
the top center of the touchscreen.
76Model S Owner's Manual
Page 78
Getting Maximum Range
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 range 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 67).
•Set Stopping Mode to HOLD to gain the
benefit of regenerative braking at low
driving speeds (see Stopping Mode on
page 67).
•Keep tires at the recommended inflation
pressures (see Tire Care and Maintenance
on page 173).
•Lighten your load by removing any
unnecessary cargo.
•Fully raise all windows.
•Limit the use of resources such as heating,
lights, and air conditioning. Using seat
heaters to keep warm is more ecient
than heating the cabin.
•Turn on Range Mode (touch Controls >
Driving > Range Mode). Range Mode
automatically limits the amount of power
that the climate control system uses to
maintain the temperature the cabin area
and limits the amount of energy being
used to heat or cool the Battery. In
addition, Range Mode turns o signature
lights (only in market regions where
daytime running lights are not required).
The power meter on the instrument panel and
the Energy app provides feedback on energy
usage. With this feedback, you can 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:
Getting Maximum Range
•
Consumption: display how much energy
Model S has consumed over the past 5, 15
or 30 miles (10, 25 or 50 km).
Touch Instant Range or Average Range to
adjust the projected range estimation.
Instant Range uses only the latest few
data points to estimate the projected
range, whereas Average Range uses the
past 5, 15 or 30 miles (10, 25 or 50 km) of
energy consumption to provide a more
accurate 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. On
newer vehicles, this feature is automated to
provide an optimal level of energy saving.
However, on older vehicles, you can touch
Controls > Display > Energy Saving and
choose from the following options:
•OFF - Model S shifts to the energy-saving
mode at night (10 pm to 5 am). Idle
energy consumption may increase.
•ON - significantly less energy is consumed
whenever Model S is not in use. The startup 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.
Driving77
Page 79
Getting Maximum Range
Touch the map's charging icon to
toggle between displaying
superchargers only, and displaying
all chargers, including destination
chargers, and visited chargers.
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.
78Model S Owner's Manual
Page 80
Rear View Camera
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 display on the instrument panel (see
Park Assist on page 71).
To display the view from the camera at any
time:
Open the app launcher then
touch the camera icon.
Rear View Camera
Caution:
abrasive cleaners. Doing so can damage
the surface of the camera lens.
Do not use chemical-based or
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.
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Dashcam
Dashcam
About Dashcam
Note: Dashcam is a BETA feature.
In addition to supporting Autopilot features,
the cameras can record and store video
footage on a USB flash drive. This can be
convenient in situations where you want a
video recording of a particular incident, such
as a collision. You can pause, resume, or save
video recordings directly from your vehicle’s
touchscreen.
Note: Dashcam only works when Model S is
powered on (see Starting and Powering O on
page 50). Dashcam does not record video
when your vehicle is powered o.
Using Dashcam
Dashcam requires the use of a properly
formatted USB flash drive to store and retrieve
footage (see USB Flash Drive Requirements
for Videos and Recording on page 150). Once
a properly formatted USB flash drive has been
inserted into one of your vehicle's front USB
ports, a dashcam icon appears at the top of
the touchscreen. Touch the dashcam icon to
control dashcam:
RECORDING. Tap the dashcam
icon, when dashcam is paused, to
start recording video on the flash
drive.
PAUSED. Press and hold the
dashcam icon, when recording, to
pause recording. Ensure that
dashcam is paused before
removing the flash drive to avoid
losing camera footage.
SAVED. Tap the dashcam icon,
when recording, to archive the
most recent ten minutes of video.
These saved video recordings are
not overwritten by new recordings.
Note: Dashcam automatically begins recording
when you insert a properly configured USB
flash drive into one of the front USB ports.
USB Flash Drive Requirements for
Videos and Recording
Flash drives used to store video from your
vehicle's cameras must meet these
requirements:
•Use a
•The flash drive must have a sustained
•The flash drive must be USB 2.0
•Use a dedicated flash drive exclusively for
•The flash drive must be properly
Although not a comprehensive list, Tesla has
confirmed through testing that the following
flash drives meet the requirements for
Dashcam and Sentry Mode use:
•SanDisk Ultra Fit USB 3.1 Flash Drive
•Samsung MUF-64AB/AM FIT Plus –
Formatting the USB Flash Drive
To correctly save and retrieve video footage,
your vehicle requires a properly formatted
USB flash drive containing a base-level folder
called “TeslaCam” (without quotation marks).
In addition, the flash drive must be formatted
as FAT 32 (for Windows), MS-DOS FAT (for
Mac), ext3, or ext4 in order to save videos.
NTFS and exFAT are not currently supported.
For MacOS:
1. Insert the USB flash drive into your
2. Navigate to Utilities > Disk Utility (or you
3. Select your flash drive in the left menu.
4. Navigate to Erase in the top menu ribbon.
flash drive with as much available
storage as possible, since video footage
takes up a large amount of space (Tesla
recommends using a flash drive with at
least 32 GB of storage). Some personal
computer operating systems may not be
able to format flash drives larger than 32
GB as FAT 32. Consider using a third party
application to format flash drives larger
than 32 GB.
write speed of at least 4 MB/s. A
sustained write speed is dierent from the
peak write speed. Check the product
details of your flash drive for more
information.
compatible. If using a USB 3.0 flash drive,
it must be able to support USB 2.0.
saving footage for your vehicle.
formatted (see Formatting the USB Flash
Drive on page 151).
200MB/s USB 3.1 Flash Drive
personal computer.
can conduct a Spotlight Search for this).
80Model S Owner's Manual
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Dashcam
5. In the pop-up menu, select the correct
format (MS-DOS FAT) and click Erase.
Note: Selecting Erase completely erases
all content on your flash drive. If you have
other content stored on the flash drive,
migrate it to a dierent device before
erasing it.
6. Once the flash drive is successfully erased,
navigate to Finder and select your USB
flash drive from the left menu. The flash
drive should not contain any files.
7. Right-click in the empty space of the flash
drive and select New Folder. A folder
appears in your flash drive space.
8. Right-click on the folder, select Rename,
and name the folder to “TeslaCam”
(without quotation marks). Click "Save".
This folder will contain all recent and
saved clips from Sentry Mode and
dashcam.
9. Properly eject the USB flash drive from
your personal computer.
For Windows:
1. Insert the USB flash drive into your
personal computer.
2. Navigate to File Explorer.
3. Right-click on your USB flash drive and
select "Format...".
4. In the pop-up menu, under the File
System section, select “FAT 32”.
Note: You can also name your USB (under
Volume Label) for easier recognition.
5. Check the “Quick format box” and click
Start.
6. Go back to File Explorer, click on your
flash drive, and right-click to create a
folder, or select “New Folder” in the top
menu.
7. Name the folder “TeslaCam” (without
quotation marks) and click "Save". This
folder will contain all recent and saved
clips from Sentry Mode and dashcam.
8. Properly eject the USB flash drive from
your personal computer.
Once you have created the “
in your USB flash drive and ejected it from
your personal computer, insert the flash drive
into one of the front USB ports in Model S. Do
not use the rear USB ports, as they are solely
meant for charging devices. It may take your
vehicle up to 15 seconds to recognize the flash
drive. When recognized, icons for dashcam
and Sentry Mode appear at the top of your
touchscreen (note that you may need to
enable to Sentry Mode by going to Controls >
Safety & Security > Sentry Mode). Your vehicle
is ready to record video.
Retrieving Footage
To retrieve video footage from the flash drive,
remove the flash drive from the front USB port
and use a personal computer or other device
to access the files. Navigate to the “TeslaCam”
folder on the flash drive.
Within the “TeslaCam” folder, there are three
sub-folders: Recent Clips, Saved Clips, and
Sentry Clips. The footage in Recent Clips
constantly loops in a 60-minute cycle when
the cameras are activated. Therefore, the
footage is constantly being overwritten every
hour unless the footage is saved. When an
event is recorded, one video is recorded for
each of the front, rear (available on vehicles
manufactured after approximately February
2018), left, and right cameras.
Saved footage is located in either the Saved
Clips or Sentry Clips folder. Footage in the
Saved Clips folder contains all saved
recordings from dashcam, which have been
manually saved by touching the dashcam icon
on the touchscreen. Sentry Clips contains all
saved footage from Sentry Mode events,
which have been automatically saved when
the Alert or Alarm state was triggered. Once
footage of a particular event is saved, the
latest 10 minutes of video is archived in your
flash drive labeled with a unique timestamp.
Note: As your USB flash drive runs out of
available space, the oldest footage in Sentry
Clips are deleted to make room for new
footage. Once the old footage is deleted, you
will be unable to retrieve them. When the flash
drive is full, Sentry Mode and dashcam can no
longer save video footage.
Note: To prevent the flash drive from getting
full, move saved videos to another device as
soon as possible.
Note: You are responsible for complying with
all local laws, regulations, and property
restrictions regarding video recordings.
TeslaCam” folder
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Dashcam
Note: The cameras do not record audio.
Save Clips on Honk
Once a properly formatted USB flash drive is
inserted in one of the vehicle's front USB
ports, you can choose to save dashcam clips
while driving when you honk the horn on your
steering wheel. Navigate to Controls > Safety
and Security > Save Clips on Honk > ON to
enable. The most recent ten minutes of
footage is saved. You can also save dashcam
footage by touching the dashcam icon at the
top of the touchscreen.
82Model S Owner's Manual
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Cold Weather Best Practices
The following best practices can help ensure
that you have the best ownership experience
possible in harsh cold weather conditions.
Before Driving
Warm the cabin and Battery ahead of
departure for maximum range and
performance. There are several ways to
precondition your vehicle:
•Mobile app preconditioning: On the
mobile app, navigate to Climate > Turn On
and customize the temperature at which
you want to heat the cabin, which also
warms the Battery as needed (see Mobile
on page 159).
App
•Mobile app defrost: On the mobile app,
navigate to Climate > Defrost to melt
snow, ice, and frost on the windshields,
driver and passenger windows, mirrors,
and charge port. The Battery will also
warm as needed.
Note: Tesla recommends activating the
climate settings at least 30-45 minutes
before departure (see
page 128). Preconditioning times depend
on outside temperature and other factors.
•Scheduled Departure: Use to preset a time
at which you want your vehicle to be
ready to drive (see Scheduled Charging
and Scheduled Departure on page 167).
When snow and ice accumulate on your
vehicle, moving parts, such as the door
handles, windows, mirrors, and wipers can
freeze in place.
Windows
•On the mobile app, navigate to Climate >
•Use the mobile app to schedule a service
as mentioned previously.
Defrost
appointment where Tesla can provide
hydrophobic coating to your windows for
a nominal fee.
Climate Controls on
Mirrors
If ice buildup is expected when parking, turn
o
Auto-Fold Mirrors by navigating to
Controls > Vehicle > Mirror Auto-Fold > ON.
Ice can prevent exterior side mirrors from
folding or unfolding.
Wipers
If snow or ice buildup is expected when
parking, navigate to Controls > Service >
Wiper Service Mode > ON. This raises your
wipers so they are against the windshield and
they can defrost while the windshield defrosts
(see Wipers and Washers on page 64).
Winter Tires and Tire Chains
•Use winter tires to increase traction in
snowy or icy conditions. You can purchase
winter tires on http://www.tesla.com (see
Seasonal Tire Types
•Tire chains provide additional traction
when driving in snowy or icy conditions.
Check your local regulations to see if tire
chains are recommended or required
during winter months. See
Chains on page 178 for more information.
on page 178).
Using Tire
While Driving
Cold weather can increase energy
consumption because more power is required
for driving, cabin and Battery heating. Follow
these suggestions to reduce energy
consumption:
•Using the seat heaters to keep warm is
more ecient than using climate controls.
Lowering the cabin temperature and using
seat heaters will reduce energy
consumption (see
page 128).
•Slow down your driving and avoid
frequent and rapid acceleration.
•Turn on Range Mode to automatically limit
the power that the climate control system
uses to maintain the temperature of the
Battery and the cabin area. Range Mode
also turns
equipped) and adjusts the front and rear
motor torque split to maximize range (see
Getting Maximum Range
Climate Controls on
o signature lights (if
on page 77).
Driving83
Page 85
Cold Weather Best Practices
Regenerative Braking
Regenerative braking may be limited if the
Battery is too cold. As you continue to drive,
the Battery warms up and regenerative power
increases (see Regenerative Braking on page
67).
Note: Limited regenerative braking can be
avoided if you allow enough time to
precondition your vehicle or use scheduled
departure before your drive, as mentioned
previously.
Blue Snowflake Icon
A blue snowflake icon appears on
your instrument panel when
some of the stored energy in the
Battery may not be available due
to cold Battery temperature. This
portion of unavailable energy
displays in blue on the Battery
meter. Regenerative braking,
acceleration, and charging rates
may be limited. The snowflake
icon no longer displays when the
Battery is suciently warmed.
Warming the Battery Before Supercharging
If you are using Trip Planner (see Trip Planner
on page 138) and navigate to a Supercharger
station, your vehicle will allocate energy to
pre-heat the Battery in cold weather. This
ensures you arrive at the Supercharger with an
optimal Battery temperature, reducing the
amount of time it takes to charge.
Autopilot
To ensure optimal Autopilot performance,
keep the sensors and radar free of snow, ice,
mud, and dirt (see About Autopilot on page
85).
After Driving
Leave Model S plugged in when not in use.
This uses the charging system, rather than the
Battery itself, to keep your Battery warm (see
Battery Information on page 162).
Scheduled Departure
When parked, plug in Model S and set a time
at which you want your vehicle to be ready to
drive. Your vehicle determines the appropriate
time to begin charging so that charging is
complete and the cabin and Battery are warm
by your set departure time. See Scheduled
Charging and Scheduled Departure on page
167 for more information.
Charge Port
•If your charge port latch freezes in place
and a charging cable becomes stuck in
the charge port, try manually releasing the
charge cable. See Manually Releasing
Charge Cable on page 165.
•Use the mobile app to precondition your
vehicle on HI to help thaw ice on the
charge port latch so that the charge cable
can be removed or inserted (see Mobile
App on page 159).
Note: If your charge port latch is frozen in
place, it may not lock the charging cable in
place when inserted, but it is still able to AC
charge at a slower rate even if the latch is not
engaged.
Storage
If you leave Model S parked for an extended
period of time, plug it into a charger to
prevent normal range loss and maintain the
Battery at an optimal temperature. Your
vehicle is safe to say plugged in for any length
of time.
When not in use, Model S automatically enters
a sleep mode to conserve range and energy.
Reduce the number of times you check your
vehicle’s status on the mobile app, as this
automatically wakes up your vehicle and starts
normal energy consumption.
Note: See Wipers on page 83 and Mirrors on
page 83 for more information on preventing
ice buildup when parking your vehicle.
84Model S Owner's Manual
Page 86
About Autopilot
Autopilot
About Autopilot
How It Works
Your Model S includes the following Autopilot 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.
Model S is also equipped with high precision electronically-assisted braking and steering systems.
Autopilot85
Page 87
About Autopilot
Features
These safety features are available on all
Model S equipped with Autopilot components:
•Lane Assist (see Lane Assist on page
110).
•Collision Avoidance Assist (see Collision
Avoidance Assist on page 113).
•Speed Assist (see Speed Assist on page
116).
•Auto High Beam (see High Beam
Headlights on page 56).
These Autopilot convenience features are
designed to reduce driver workload:
•Trac-Aware Cruise Control (see Trac-
Aware Cruise Control on page 88)
•Autosteer (see Autosteer on page 95)
•Auto Lane Change (see Auto Lane
Change on page 97)
•Autopark (see Autopark on page 102)
•Summon (see Summon on page 104)
•Smart Summon (Smart Summon on page
107)
•Navigate on Autopilot (see Navigate on
Autopilot on page 98)
•Stop Light and Stop Sign Warning (see
Stop Light and Stop Sign Warning (U.S.
only) on page 98
Note: Depending on market region, options
purchased, and software version, your vehicle
may not be equipped with all Autopilot
features.
You can enable/disable some of these features
and in some cases, control how they work. To
access settings, touch Controls > Autopilot.
Drive to Calibrate Cameras
Model S must maneuver with a great deal of
precision when Autopilot features are being
used. Therefore, before some features (for
example, Trac-Aware Cruise Control or
Autosteer) can be used for the first time or
after certain Service repairs, the cameras must
complete a self-calibration process. For your
convenience, a progress indicator is displayed
on the instrument panel.
86Model S Owner's Manual
Calibration typically completes after driving
20-25 miles (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 Autopilot features are available
for use. Contact Tesla only if your Model S has
not completed the calibration process after
driving 100 miles (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 must repeat the calibration
process if the cameras are serviced by Tesla,
and in some cases, after a software update.
Note: The self-calibration drive process is only
applicable to Model S vehicles built after
approximately October 12, 2016.
Limitations
Many factors can impact the performance of
Autopilot 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: T
represent an exhaustive list of situations
that may interfere with proper operation
of Autopilot 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 r
needed, take your vehicle to Tesla
he list above does not
eplacement is
Page 88
Service. This will ensure appropriate
handling and mounting of the camera(s).
Failure to do so can cause one or more
Autopilot features to malfunction.
Cleaning Cameras and Sensors
To ensure the various Autopilot 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.
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 Autopilot
Autopilot87
Page 89
Trac-Aware Cruise Control
Trac-Aware Cruise Control
Note: Trac-Aware Cruise Control is a BETA
feature.
Note: If your vehicle is not equipped with an
optional Autopilot package, refer to the
owner's manual on your vehicle's touchscreen
for instructions on how to use Cruise Control.
Trac-Aware Cruise Control (if equipped)
uses the forward looking cameras and the
radar sensor 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, Trac-Aware
Cruise Control maintains a set driving speed.
When a vehicle is detected, Trac-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. Trac-Aware Cruise
Control does not eliminate the need to watch
the road in front of you and to manually apply
the brakes when needed.
Trac-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: Trac-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 Trac-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 Trac-Aware Cruise
Control is capable of detecting
pedestrians and cyclists, never depend on
Trac-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 Trac-Aware Cruise
Control on city streets or on roads where
trac conditions are constantly changing.
Warning: Do not use Trac-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. Trac-Aware Cruise Control does
not adapt driving speed based on road
and driving conditions.
To Use Trac-Aware Cruise Control
To use Trac-Aware Cruise Control, you must
be driving at least 18 mph (30 km/h), unless a
vehicle is detected ahead of you. If a vehicle is
detected ahead of you, you can use Trac-Aware Cruise Control at any speed, even when
stationary, provided Model S is at least 5 feet
(150 cm) behind the detected vehicle.
When Trac-Aware Cruise
Control is available but is not
actively cruising at a
specified set speed, the
instrument panel displays a
gray speedometer icon on
the left side of your current
driving speed. The number
shown in gray is the speed
limit that is being
determined by Speed Assist
(see Controlling Speed Assist
on page 116).
Note:
On roads where the map data
determines that a conditional speed limit
exists (for example, a speed limit based on
time of day or weather conditions), a second
speed limit displays below the first speed limit.
It is the driver's responsibility to determine
whether the conditional speed limit is
currently in eect and adjust the driving
speed accordingly.
Set the Cruising Speed
You can set the cruising speed to either:
•Your current driving speed. The minimum
speed you can set is 18 mph (30 km/h)
and the maximum is 90 mph (150 km/h).
It is the driver's responsibility to cruise at
a safe speed based on road conditions
and speed limits.
•The speed limit, plus any oset you have
specified (see Speed Assist on page 116).
To set the cruising speed to your current
driving speed, move the cruise control lever
up or down.
88Model S Owner's Manual
Page 90
Trac-Aware Cruise Control
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 90).
Warning: Do not rely on Trac-Aware
Cruise Control or Speed Assist to
determine an accurate or appropriate
cruising speed. Always cruise at a safe
speed based on road conditions and
applicable speed limits.
Cruising at the Set Speed
To set the cruising speed to the speed limit
plus any oset you've specified using Speed
Assist, pull the cruise control lever toward you.
If you are already driving faster than the speed
limit, the set speed does not adjust to the
speed limit—it adjusts to your current driving
speed. If you move the cruise control level up
or down after setting Trac-Aware Cruise
Control to cruise at the speed limit, your set
speed becomes your current driving speed.
After setting the cruising speed, release the
accelerator pedal to allow Trac-Aware Cruise
Control to maintain your set speed.
When the cruising speed is
set, the speedometer icon on
the instrument panel turns
blue and displays the set
speed.
Note: Double-pulling the cruise control lever
toward you engages Autosteer (assuming it
has been enabled as described in Autosteer
on page 95). In this case, if you are not
already cruising at a set speed, the cruising
speed is set to either your current driving
speed or the speed limit (plus any specifiedoset), whichever is greater.
Warning:
speed based on the speed limit, the set
speed does not change when the speed
limit changes. You must pull the cruise
Autopilot89
When you adjust the cruising
Trac-Aware Cruise Control maintains your
set cruising speed whenever a vehicle is not
detected in front of Model S. When cruising
behind a detected vehicle, Trac-Aware
Cruise Control accelerates and decelerates
Model S as needed to maintain a chosen
following distance (see Adjust the Following
Distance on page 91), up to the set speed.
Trac-Aware Cruise Control also adjusts the
cruising speed when entering and exiting
curves.
You can manually accelerate at any time when
cruising at a set speed, but when you release
the accelerator, Trac-Aware Cruise Control
resumes cruising at the set speed.
Note: When Trac-Aware Cruise Control is
actively slowing down Model S to maintain the
selected distance from the vehicle ahead,
brake lights turn on to alert other road users
that you are slowing down. You may notice
slight movement of the brake pedal. However,
when Trac-Aware Cruise Control is
accelerating Model S, the accelerator pedal
does not move.
Warning:
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.
Warning: Due to limitations inherent in
the onboard GPS (Global Positioning
System), you may experience situations in
which Trac-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: Trac-Aware Cruise Control
cannot detect all objects and, especially
in situations when you are driving over
50 mph (80 km/h), may not brake/
Trac-Aware Cruise Control
Page 91
Trac-Aware Cruise Control
decelerate when a vehicle or object is
only partially in the driving lane or when a
vehicle you are following moves out of
your driving path and a stationary or
slow-moving vehicle or object is in front
of you. Always pay attention to the road
ahead and stay prepared to take
immediate corrective action. Depending
on Trac-Aware Cruise Control to avoid a
collision can result in serious injury or
death. In addition, Trac-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: Trac-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 Trac-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 Trac-Aware
Cruise Control to slow the vehicle down
enough to prevent a collision can result in
serious injury or death.
Changing the Set Speed
To change the set speed while using Trac-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 mph (1
km/h), move the lever up or down to the first
position and release. To increase/decrease
speed to the closest 5 mph (5 km/h)
increment, move the lever up/down to the
second position and release. For example, if
you are traveling at 57 mph and you move the
lever up to the second position and release,
the speed increases to 60 mph. 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.
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.
90Model S Owner's Manual
Page 92
Trac-Aware Cruise Control
HOLD State
When following a vehicle, Trac-Aware Cruise
Control remains active at low speeds, even
when Model S comes to a full stop. When the
vehicle is moving again, Trac-Aware Cruise
Control resumes operating at the set speed.
However, under the following circumstances,
Trac-Aware Cruise Control goes into a HOLD
state, in which case, you need to briefly press
the accelerator pedal or pull the cruise control
lever toward you (see Canceling and
Resuming on page 92) to resume cruising.
When the HOLD status is active, the
instrument panel displays the HOLD icon and
a message that indicates that you need to
resume cruise control. The following
circumstances can cause Trac-Aware Cruise
Control to go into the HOLD state:
•Model S has been at a standstill for 5
minutes.
•Model S detects a pedestrian (the HOLD
state may clear when the pedestrian is no
longer detected).
•Model S suddenly loses visibility of the
vehicle in front of you.
•The ultrasonic sensors detect an obstacle
in front of Model S.
Cruising Near or On Freeway Exits
When cruising near an exit on a controlled
access road (such as a highway or freeway)
and engaging the turn signal toward the exit,
Trac-Aware Cruise Control assumes you are
exiting and begins to slow down the vehicle. If
you do not drive onto the exit, Trac-Aware
Cruise Control resumes cruising at the set
speed. In a region with right hand trac, this
occurs only when you engage the right turn
signal when driving in the right-most lane
within 164 feet (50 meters) of an exit. Likewise
in regions with left hand trac; when
engaging the left turn signal when driving in
the left-most lane within 164 feet (50 meters)
of an exit.
Note: The onboard Global Positioning System
(GPS) determines if you are driving in a region
with right or left hand trac. In situations
where GPS data is unavailable (for example, if
there is inadequate signal), engaging the turn
signal near an exit does not cause Trac-Aware Cruise Control to slow down Model S.
When enabled while on a highway interchange
or o-ramp,Trac-Aware Cruise Control may
reduce your set speed in 5 mph (5 km/h)
increments – to as slow as 25 mph (40 km/h)
– to better match the reported speeds of
other Tesla vehicles that have driven at that
specific location. To override this and continue
cruising at your set speed, tap the accelerator
pedal or move the cruise stalk. The new set
speed is maintained for the duration of the
interchange or o-ramp (unless you override it
or cancel Trac-Aware Cruise Control). After
the interchange or o-ramp, the set speed
may revert or change as necessary based on
the new location. For example, if you merged
onto a dierent highway, the set speed reverts
back to the set speed that was in use before
driving on the interchange.
Warning: In some cases (such as ha
insucient data), Trac-Aware Cruise
Control may not automatically reduce the
set speed on the highway interchange or
o-ramp. Do not rely on Trac-Aware
Cruise Control to determine an
appropriate driving speed. Tesla
recommends driving at a speed that is
safe for road conditions and within
posted speed limits.
ving
Adjust the Following Distance
To adjust the following distance you want to
maintain between 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
ins
trument panel displays the current setting.
Release the lever when the desired setting is
displayed.
Autopilot91
Page 93
Trac-Aware Cruise Control
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
Trac-Aware Cruise Control to maintain
an accurate or appropriate following
distance.
Warning: Never depend on Trac-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.
Overtake Acceleration
When following a vehicle with Trac-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 causes acceleration only when all of the
following conditions are met:
•Trac-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 45 mph (72 km/h).
Overtake Acceleration is intended as an aid
when passing a vehicle ahead of you. When
the turn signal is engaged, Trac-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 one of the
conditions happen:
•You reach your set cruising speed.
•Changing lanes takes too long.
•Model S gets too close to the vehicle
ahead.
OR
•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
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 Trac-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 Trac-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 Trac-Aware
Cruise Control is no longer active.
To resume cruising at the previously set
speed, briefly pull the cruise control lever
toward you.
92Model S Owner's Manual
Page 94
To resume cruising at the current driving
speed, move the cruise control lever up or
down, then release.
Note: When Trac-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 Trac-Aware Cruise Control (see Regenerative
Braking on page 67).
Warning:
cancels, or may not be available, in the
following situations:
•You press the brake pedal.
•Your driving speed exceeds the
•You shift Model S into a dierent
•A door is opened.
•The view from the radar sensor or
•The traction control setting is
•The wheels are spinning while at a
Trac-Aware Cruise Control
maximum cruising speed of 90 mph
(150 km/h).
gear.
camera(s) is obstructed. This could
be caused by dirt, mud, ice, snow, fog,
etc.
manually disabled or is repeatedly
engaging to prevent wheels from
slipping.
standstill.
Trac-Aware Cruise Control
•The Trac-Aware Cruise Control
system is failing or requires service.
When Trac-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: Trac-Aware Cruise Control can
cancel unexpectedly at any time for
unforeseen reasons. 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.
Summary of Cruise Indicators
Trac-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 116).
Trac-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
Trac-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:
represent an exhaustive list of situations
The list above does not
Autopilot93
Page 95
Trac-Aware Cruise Control
that may interfere with proper operation
of Trac-Aware Cruise Control.
94Model S Owner's Manual
Page 96
Autosteer
Note: Autosteer is a BETA feature.
Autosteer builds upon Trac-Aware Cruise
Control (see Trac-Aware Cruise Control on
page 88), intelligently keeping Model S in its
driving lane when cruising at a set speed.
Autosteer also allows you to use the turn
signals to move Model S into an adjacent lane
(see Auto Lane Change on page 97). Using
the vehicle's camera(s), the radar sensor, and
the ultrasonic sensors, Autosteer detects lane
markings and the presence of vehicles and
objects to steer Model S.
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 trac. 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.
Autosteer
Autosteer briefly displays a message on the
instrument panel reminding you to pay
attention to the road and be ready to take
over at any time. To indicate that Autosteer is
now actively 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.
Operating Autosteer
Before you can operate Autosteer, you must
enable it by touching Controls > Autopilot >
Autosteer (Beta).
To indicate that Autosteer is
available (but not actively
steering Model S), the
instrument panel displays a
gray Autosteer icon on the
right side of the driving
speed.
To initiate Autosteer, pull the cruise control
lever toward you twice in quick succession.
Autopilot95
Note: To initiate Autosteer when there is no
vehicle in front of you, you must be driving at
least 18 mph (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 under 90 mph (150 km/h), even when
stationary (if you are at least 5 feet (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.
Page 97
Autosteer
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
oset 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 and the instrument panel
displays a message indicating that speed is
restricted. The restricted speed can vary
depending on whether or not you've specified
a speed limit oset. Although you will be
unable to increase the cruising speed, you can
select a more restrictive cruising speed by
reducing the speed limit oset, if applicable,
(see Controlling Speed Assist on page 116) or
by manually reducing the set cruising speed
(see Changing the Set Speed on page 90).
In situations where the speed limit cannot be
detected when Autosteer is engaged,
Autosteer reduces your driving speed and
limits the set speed to 45 mph (70 km/h).
Although you can manually accelerate to
exceed the limited speed, Model S may not
brake for detected obstacles. Autosteer slows
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
steer 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
along the top of 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 (without enough force to retake
control). Autosteer also qualifies your hands
as being detected if you engage a turn signal,
use the cruise control lever to adjust the
cruising speed or following distance, or use a
button or scroll wheel on the steering wheel.
Note: 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 Autosteer's prompts
for having your hands on the steering wheel,
Autosteer disables for the rest of the drive and
displays the following message. 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 on your
next drive (after you stop and shift Model S
into Park).
Take Over Immediately
In situations where Autosteer is unable to
steer Model S, Autosteer sounds a warning
chime and displays the following message on
the instrument panel:
96Model S Owner's Manual
Page 98
Autosteer
driving path. Drive attentively by
watching the road and trac ahead of
you, checking the surrounding area, and
monitoring the instrument panel for
warnings. Always be prepared to take
When you see this message, TAKE OVER
STEERING IMMEDIATELY.
Canceling Autosteer
Autosteer cancels when:
•You start steering manually.
•You press the brake pedal.
•You push the cruise control lever away
from you.
•The maximum speed that Autosteer
supports–90 mph (150 km/h)–is
exceeded.
•You shift into a dierent gear.
•A door is opened.
•An Automatic Emergency Braking event
occurs (see Collision Avoidance Assist on
page 113).
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 started
steering manually, Trac-Aware Cruise
Control remains active. Disengage Trac-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 > Autopilot >
Autosteer (Beta).
Auto Lane Change
When Autosteer is active on a vehicle
equipped with Auto Lane Change, you can use
the turn signals to move Model S into an
adjacent lane without moving the steering
wheel (which would cancel Autosteer).
Warning:
determine whether a lane change is safe
and appropriate. 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
Autopilot97
It is the driver's responsibility to
immediate action.
Warning: Do not use Auto Lane Change
on city streets or on roads where trac
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 property
damage, serious injury or death.
Operating Auto Lane Change
Auto Lane Change is available whenever
Autosteer is active. 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. Fully engage the appropriate turn signal.
3. Disengage the turn signal after you are in
the target lane.
Auto Lane Change moves Model S into the
adjacent lane in the direction indicated by the
turn signal, provided the following conditions
are met:
•The turn signal is engaged.
•The ultrasonic sensors and Autopilot
cameras 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.
•Your vehicle does not detect another
vehicle in its blind spot.
•Midway through the lane change, Auto
Lane Change can detect the outside lane
marking of the target lane.
•Driving speed is at least 30 mph
(45 km/h).
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Autosteer
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 92). Midway
through the lane change, Auto Lane Change
must detect the target lane's outside lane
marking. If this lane marking cannot be
detected, the lane change is aborted and
Model S returns to its original driving lane.
Note: Auto Lane Change moves 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.
When using Auto Lane Change, 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.
Stop Light and Stop Sign Warning
(U.S. only)
Depending on market region or vehicle
configuration, Stop Light and/or Stop Sign
Warning may not be available on your vehicle.
While Autosteer is in use, Model S displays a
warning on the instrument panel and sounds a
chime if it detects that you are likely to run
through a red stop light or stop sign. If this
happens, TAKE IMMEDIATE CORRECTIVE
ACTION!
The visual and audible warnings cancel after a
few seconds, or when you press the brake
pedal, whichever comes first.
Note: Touch Controls > Autopilot > Full SelfDriving Visualization Preview to display more
details about the roadway and its
surroundings, such as road markings, stop
signs, stop lights, objects (such as trash cans
and poles), etc.
Caution:
Warning require the vehicle’s map to
know that a particular stop light or stop
sign exists in a certain location. It may be
98Model S Owner's Manual
Stop Light and Stop Sign
unaware of new stop lights or stop signs
that are not captured in the map data.
Therefore, Stop Light and Stop Sign
Warning may not detect all stop lights
and stop signs due to potential map
inaccuracies.
Warning: Stop Light and Stop Sign
Warning do not apply the brakes or
decelerate Model S and may not detect all
stop lights and stop signs. Stop Light and
Stop Sign Warning are designed for
guidance purposes only and are not a
substitute for attentive driving and sound
judgment. Keep your eyes on the road
when driving and never depend on Stop
Light and Stop Sign Warning to warn you
of a stop light or stop sign.
Warning: Stop Light and Stop Sign
Warning are designed to only warn you
when approaching a visible red stop sign,
solid red or later portion of a yellow
trac light; it may not issue warnings at
intersections with flashing lights and does
not warn you of yield signs or temporary
stop and yield signs (such as in
construction areas). Additionally, Stop
Light and Stop Sign Warning will not
warn you of an approaching stop light or
stop sign if you are pressing the
accelerator pedal or brake pedal (which
disables Autosteer).
Navigate on Autopilot
Note: Navigate on Autopilot is a BETA feature
and is not available in all market regions.
When using Autosteer on a controlled-access
road (such as a highway or freeway), Navigate
on Autopilot automatically exits at o-ramps
and interchanges based on your navigation
route. Along the highway portion of a
navigation route, Navigate on Autopilot also
changes lanes to prepare for exits and to
minimize the driving time to your destination.
Warning:
make driving autonomous. You must pay
attention to the road, keep your hands on
the steering wheel at all times, and
remain aware of your navigation route.
Warning: As is the case with normal
driving, be extra careful around blind
corners, highway interchanges, and exits
because obstacles can appear quickly
and at any time.
Warning: Navigate on Autopilot may not
recognize or detect oncoming vehicles,
Navigate on Autopilot does not
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Autosteer
stationary objects, and special-use lanes
such as those used exclusively for bikes,
carpools, emergency vehicles, etc.
Remain alert at all times and be prepared
to take immediate action. Failure to do so
can cause damage, injury or death.
Enabling and Customizing Navigate on
Autopilot
To enable Navigate on Autopilot, touch
Controls > Autopilot > Navigate on Autopilot
(Beta). Then, to customize how you want
Navigate on Autopilot to operate, touch
CUSTOMIZE NAVIGATE ON AUTOPILOT:
•Enable At Start Of Every Trip: Choose
whether or not you want to automatically
enable Navigate on Autopilot for every
navigation route. When enabled, the
Navigate on Autopilot button on the turnby-turn direction list is already enabled at
the start of every trip.
•Speed Based Lane Changes: Navigate on
Autopilot is designed to perform both
route-based and speed-based lane
changes. Route-based lane changes are
designed to keep you on your navigation
route (for example, moving you into an
adjacent lane to prepare for an upcoming
o-ramp) whereas speed-based lane
changes are designed to maintain a
driving speed (not to exceed your cruising
speed) that allows you to minimize the
time it takes to reach your destination (for
example, moving into an adjacent lane to
pass a vehicle in front of you). Speedbased lanes changes are optional. You can
use this setting to disable speed-based
lane changes or to specify how
aggressively you want Navigate on
Autopilot to change lanes to achieve the
set cruising speed. The MILD setting is
more conservative about lane changes
and may result in a slightly longer driving
time whereas MAD MAX is designed to
allow you to reach your destination in the
shortest driving time possible, but will
only change lanes when safe to do so.
•
Require Lane Change Confirmation: By
default, Navigate on Autopilot requires
your confirmation before proceeding with
a lane change (by pulling the Autopilot
stalk toward you or engaging the
appropriate turn signal). However, if you
want Navigate on Autopilot to change
lanes without requiring this confirmation,
turn this setting o. When you turn the
setting o, you can specify if or how you
want to be notified of lane changes (O,
Chime, Vibrate, or Both).
Warning: If you turn o Require Lane
Change Confirmation, Navigate on
Autopilot notifies you of upcoming
lane changes and o-ramps, but it
remains your responsibility to monitor
the environment and maintain control
of Model S at all times. Lane changes
can occur quickly and suddenly.
Always keep your hands on the wheel
and your eyes on the driving path in
front of you.
Note: In addition to route-based and speedbased lane changes, Navigate on Autopilot
also requests a lane change to the right as a
reminder to stay out of the left-most lane
when you are not passing other vehicles.
Note: The touchscreen displays route-based
lane changes at the top of the map's turn-byturn direction list to notify you that an
upcoming lane change is needed to stay on
the navigation route.
Operating Navigate on Autopilot
Once enabled, the Navigate on Autopilot
button appears on the map’s turn-by-turn
direction list whenever a navigation route is
active and the route includes at least one
controlled-access road. Touch this button to
allow Navigate on Autopilot to assist you on
your journey. When enabled, the Navigate on
Autopilot button is blue and the turn-by-turn
direction displays the Autosteer icon next to
maneuvers (such as freeway exits) that
Navigate on Autopilot will handle.
Navigate on Autopilot activates and
deactivates as appropriate, based on the type
of road you are driving on. For example, if
Autosteer is active and the Navigate on
Autopilot setting is turned on, Navigate on
Autopilot automatically becomes active when
you reach a supported controlled-access
portion of your navigation route.
Autopilot99
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