(If equipped) You can calibrate the driver seat. This is useful if you find your seat range limited or your driver profile
does not automatically adjust the seat for you. Navigate to Controls > Service > Driver Seat, Steering & Mirrors
Calibration and follow the instructions on the touchscreen.
WARNING: Ensure nothing is behind or underneath the driver seat during calibration. Failure to do so may
cause serious injury.
Folding Rear Seats
Model 3 has a split rear seat that can fold forward.
NOTE: Driving with the rear seats folded forward can increase the amount of perceived 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.

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Raising Rear Seats
Before raising a rear seat, make sure that the seat belts are not trapped behind the backrest.
Pull the seat back upward until it locks into place.
To confirm that the seat back is locked in the upright position, try pulling it forward.
WARNING: Always ensure the seat backs are locked in their upright position by pushing it forward or rearward.
Failure to do so increases the risk of injury.
Head Supports
The front seats and the second row outboard seats include integrated head supports that are not adjustable.
The rear center seat includes an adjustable head support that can be raised, lowered, or removed. When occupied by
a passenger that is not seated in a child safety seat, the head support should always be raised and locked into
position (so that the center is aligned with the center of the occupant's head).

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WARNING: To minimize the risk of severe injury or death in the event of a collision, ensure that head supports
are positioned correctly before sitting in, or operating, Model 3.
WARNING: When installing a seat belt retained child safety seat in the center seating position in the second
row, you must lower the associated head support (described next).
Raising/Lowering the Rear Center Head Support

To raise the head support, lift it until you hear it click into place. Push down on the head support to ensure that it is
secure.
To lower the head support, press and hold the button on the outer base of the right post and press the head support
down.

Removing/Installing a Head Support

To remove the head support:
1. Raise the head support as described above.
2. Press and hold the button on the outer base of the right post.

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3. Insert a short, flat object (such as a small flat-head screwdriver) into the opening on the inside base of the left
post and pull the head support upward.

To re-install the head support:
1. With the front of the head support facing forward, insert both posts into the corresponding holes on the seat
back.
2. Press down on the head support until it clicks into place.
3. Pull up on the head support to ensure that it is secure.
WARNING: Ensure that the head support is correctly installed before seating an occupant. Failure to do so
increases the risk of injury or death if a collision occurs.
Seat Heaters
The front and rear seats contain heating pads that operate at three levels from 3 (highest) to 1 (lowest). To operate
the seat heaters, see Operating Climate Controls on page 176.
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 3. 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.

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Seat Belts
Wearing Seat Belts
Using seat belts and child safety seats is the most effective 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) feature
that, by fully extracting 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 3 experiences a force associated
with hard acceleration, braking, cornering, or an impact in a collision.
Seat Belt Reminders
The seat belt reminder on the touchscreen alerts you if a seat belt for an occupied driver or passenger
seat is unbuckled. 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.

You can temporarily disable a seat belt reminder associated with a rear seating position. This is useful when you are
carrying an object in a rear seat that triggers the seat belt reminder alert. To disable the reminder, touch the
associated seat on the seat belt reminder popup message that displays on the touchscreen when a seat belt
reminder is active. When a reminder is disabled, the seat belt reminder icon is replaced by a seat icon, for the current
drive only. Touch the seat again to re-enable the reminder.
WARNING: Seat belts must be worn by passengers in all seating positions. Do not disable a seat belt reminder
when the seating position is occupied by a passenger.
To Fasten a Belt
1. Ensure correct positioning of the seat (see Correct Driving Position on page 48).
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.
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.

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To Adjust the Shoulder Anchor Height
Model 3 is equipped with an adjustable shoulder anchor for each front seat to ensure that the seat belt is positioned
correctly. The seat belt should lay flat across the mid-point of your collar bone while in the correct driving position
(see Correct Driving Position on page 48). Adjust the height of the shoulder anchor if the seat belt is not positioned
correctly:
1. Press and hold the button on the shoulder anchor to release the locking mechanism.
2. While holding the button, move the shoulder anchor up or down, as necessary, to correctly position the seat belt.

3. Release the button on the shoulder anchor so that it locks into position.
4. Without pressing the button, pull on the seat belt webbing and attempt to move the shoulder anchor downward
to check that it is locked into position.
WARNING: Ensure that the seat belt is positioned correctly and that the shoulder anchor is locked into position
before driving. Riding in a moving vehicle with the seat belt positioned incorrectly or with the shoulder anchor
not locked into position can reduce the effectiveness of the seat belt in a collision.
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.

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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 lower anchor and the upper shoulder webbing,
reducing slack in both the lap and diagonal portions of the belts, resulting in reduced forward movement of the
occupant.
The rear outboard seats are equipped with shoulder pre-tensioners to retract the seat belt webbing to reduce
forward movement of the occupant.

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If the pre-tensioners and airbags did not activate in an impact, this does not mean they malfunctioned. It usually
means that the strength or type of force needed to activate them was not present.
WARNING: Once the seat belt pre-tensioners have been activated, they must be replaced. After any collision,
have the airbags, seat belt pre-tensioners and any associated components checked and, if necessary, replaced.
Testing Seat Belts
To confirm that seat belts are operating correctly, perform these three simple checks on each seat belt.
1. With the seat belt fastened, give the webbing nearest the buckle a quick pull. The buckle should remain securely
locked.
2. With the belt unfastened, unreel the webbing to its limit. Check that unreeling is free from snags, and visually
check the webbing for wear. Allow the webbing to retract, checking that retraction is smooth and complete.
3. With the webbing half unreeled, hold the tongue plate and pull forward quickly. The mechanism should lock
automatically and prevent further unreeling.
If a seat belt fails any of these tests, contact Tesla immediately.
For information about cleaning seat belts, see Seat Belts on page 245.
Seat Belt Warnings
WARNING: Seat belts should be worn by all occupants at all times, even if driving for a very short distance.
Failure to do so increases the risk of injury or death if a collision occurs.
WARNING: Secure small children in a suitable child safety seat 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.
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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 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: Do not use after market comfort and convenience products that attach to the seat belts.
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.
WARNING: The seat belt system has no user serviceable parts and may contain pyrotechnics. Do not
disassemble, remove, or replace components.

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Child Safety Seats
Guidelines for Seating Children
Your Model 3 seat belts are designed for adults and larger children. You must restrain infants and small children in
the second row seats only, and you must use a suitable child safety seat appropriate for the child’s age, weight, and
size.
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. See Airbag Status Indicator on page 69.
WARNING: Do not associate the Easy Entry setting with the driver's profile when a child is seated in the
second row. Doing so can cause the driver's seat to push against the child, especially when a child is seated in
a forward-facing child seat or booster seat. Do not rely on Model 3 to recognize or accommodate a child
seated in the second row while using this setting (see Driver Profiles on page 117).
Refer to the following label located on the sun visors.
NOTE: The image shown below is representative only and may not be identical to the label(s) in your vehicle.

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Choosing a Child Safety Seat
All children age 12 and under should ride in the second and third 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 the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in the United States (for more information, go to
www.nhtsa.gov/ChildSafety/Guidance).
Category

Infants

Toddlers

Young children

Age

Birth to 1 year*

Over 1 year*

4 years and older, and
less than 57 in.
(145 cm) tall

Weight

Up to at least 20 lbs (9 kg)** Over 20 lbs (9 kg) (minimum)
and up to 40 lbs (18 kg)*

Over 40 lbs (18 kg)

Type of child safety seat

Rear facing (or convertible)

Forward facing (or
convertible)*

Seat belt retained
booster seat

Seat position

Rear facing only*

Forward facing*

Forward facing

Recommended attachment If combined weight of child
method
and safety seat is up to 65
lbs (29.5 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 (29.5 kg), attach
using the seat belt only.***

If combined weight of child
Attach booster seats
and safety seat is up to 65 lbs using the seat belt
(29.5 kg), attach using either
only.
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 (29.5 kg), attach using the
seat belt and upper tether
strap.***

* 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
** ISOFIX is the international standard for attachment points for child safety seats in passenger cars. The system
has other regional names including LATCH ("Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children") in the United States and
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.
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 3 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.
WARNING: Do not use LATCH/Isofix/i-Size anchors with child restraint system or booster seats that have an
integral safety belt where the combined weight of the child plus the child restraint system exceeds 65 lbs
(29.5 kg).

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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 provided in this document to determine which
installation method to use. Some child safety seats can be installed using either method. Always follow the child
safety seat manufacturer’s instructions.
Installing Seat Belt Retained Child Seats
First, make sure that the child safety seat is appropriate for the weight, height, and age of the child.
Avoid dressing the child in bulky clothing and do not place any objects between the child and the restraint system.
Adjust harnesses for every child, every trip.
To securely hold child safety seats, all passenger seating positions are equipped with an automatic locking retractor
(ALR) that, by pulling the seat belt beyond the length needed for a typical adult occupant, locks the belt into place
until the seat belt is unbuckled and the webbing is fully retracted. The ALR mechanism operates as a ratchet,
winding in slack and preventing the seat belt from extending any further until it has been completely rewound. When
installing a child safety seat, engage the belt's automatic locking retractor by pulling the seat belt webbing until it is
fully extended. The ALR system engages only when the seat belt is at its maximum extension point.
NOTE: An automatic locking retractor disengages only when the seat belt is unbuckled and fully retracted. The belt
can then be worn as a normal belt, sliding freely in and out and locking tight only in an emergency. Once
disengaged, the belt must be fully extended to re-engage the locking mechanism whenever you install a child safety
seat.
Always follow the detailed instructions provided by the child safety seat manufacturer. General guidelines are
provided below.
1. Place the child safety seat in Model 3, and fully extend the seat belt. Route and buckle the seat belt in accordance
with the child safety seat manufacturer’s instructions.

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2. Allow the seat belt to retract, and remove all slack in the seat belt while firmly pushing the child safety seat into
the Model 3 seat.
3. If the seat belt retained child safety seat has an upper tether, attach it to the back of the seat (see Attaching
Upper Tether Straps on page 63).
Installing LATCH (ISOFIX) 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.

In the second row, install LATCH child safety seats in the outboard seating positions only. Use only a seat belt
retained seat in the center position.

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To install a LATCH child safety seat, slide the safety seat latches onto the anchor bars until they click into place.
Carefully read and follow the instructions provided by the child safety seat manufacturer.

Once installed, test the security of the installation before seating a child. Attempt to twist the child safety seat from
side to side and try to pull it away from the seat, then check to ensure the anchors remain securely in place.
NOTE: Lower LATCH anchors should not be used with child seats or booster seats that have an integrated safety
belt in situations where the combined weight of the child plus the child restraint is more than 65 lbs (29.5 kg). In
these situations, use the safety belt instead.
Attaching Upper Tether Straps
If an upper tether strap is provided, attach its hook to the anchor point located on the shelf behind the rear seats.
WARNING: Tighten upper tether straps according to the instructions provided by the manufacturer of the child
safety seat.
WARNING: USE ONLY SEAT BELT RETAINED CHILD SAFETY SEATS IN THE CENTER SEATING POSITION.

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To access an anchor point, press down on the back of its cover.

For dual-strap tethers, position a strap on each side of the head support.

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For single-strap tethers at the outboard seating positions, run the strap over the outside-facing side of the head
support (same side of the head support as the seat belt retraction mechanism).

If running the strap over the outside-facing side of the head support is not possible (such as there is not enough
slack in the strap), raise the head support (see Head Supports on page 51) and run the strap under the head support.

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For a single-strap tether in the center seating position, fully lower the head support (see Head Supports on page 51)
and run the strap over the top center of the head support.

Testing a Child Safety Seat
Before seating a child, always make sure the child safety seat is not loose:
1. Hold the child safety seat by the belt path and try to slide the safety seat from side to side and front to back.
2. If the seat moves more than 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 different 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 3 detects a lightweight
passenger, do not rely on technology to protect your child.

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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 sufficiently developed to avoid injury in a
frontal impact.
WARNING: Do not allow a baby or infant to be held on a lap. All children should be restrained in an appropriate
child safety seat at all times.
WARNING: To ensure children are safely seated, follow all instructions provided in this document and by the
manufacturer of the child safety seat.
WARNING: Children should ride in a rear facing child safety seat using the seat’s integrated 5-point harness for
as long as possible.
WARNING: Do not use seat belt extenders on a seat belt that is being used to install a child safety seat or
booster seat.
WARNING: When seating larger children, make sure the child's head is supported and the child’s seat belt is
properly adjusted and fastened. The shoulder portion of the belt must be away from the face and neck, and the
lap portion must not be over the stomach.
WARNING: Never attach two child safety seats to one anchor point. In a collision, one anchor point may be
incapable of securing both seats.
WARNING: Child restraint anchors are designed to withstand only those loads imposed by correctly fitted child
restraints. Under no circumstances are they to be used for adult seat belts, harnesses, or for attaching other
items or equipment to the vehicle.
WARNING: Always check harnesses and tether straps for damage and wear.
WARNING: Never leave a child unattended, even if the child is secured in a child safety seat.
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.

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Airbags
Location of Airbags
Airbags are located in the approximate areas shown below. Airbag warning information is printed on the sun visors.
Model 3 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. Knee airbag
2. Front airbags
3. Seat-mounted side airbags
4. Curtain airbags

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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). Significant
superficial 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 affect
the airbag system, contact Tesla.
Types of Airbags
Model 3 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). See Child Safety Seats on page 59.
• 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 effectively.
• Seat-mounted side airbags: A seat-mounted side airbag in the front seats helps protect the pelvis and the thorax
region of the torso. The seat-mounted side airbags on both the impacted and non-impacted side of the vehicle
will inflate in the event of severe side impact or severe offset frontal impact.
• 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.

Airbag Status Indicator
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 legally permitted in your market
region), always double-check the status of the passenger front airbag to confirm that it is OFF.
When the passenger front 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 front airbag is ON, it may inflate when a collision occurs.

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Front Passenger Occupant Detection
Model 3 has an occupancy sensor in the front passenger seat that controls the status of the front airbag.
NOTE: The occupancy classification system (OCS) meets the regulatory requirement of FMVSS 208 and
automatically detects when inflating the passenger front airbag would be unnecessary or potentially harmful.
WARNING: Seating an infant in a rear facing child restraint system on a seat equipped with an operational
airbag can cause serious injury or death.
Object Classification

OCS Passenger
Airbag Status*

Indicator status

Notes

Empty

OFF

PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF

Object

OFF or ON

PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF
or PASSENGER AIRBAG ON

Depends on material/
contents.

Rear-facing child restraint
system designed for children
up to a year old

OFF

PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF

20 lbs (9 kg) or less

Forward facing child restraint OFF
system

PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF

35 lbs (16 kg) or less

Child in a booster seat

OFF or ON

PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF
or PASSENGER AIRBAG ON

20-100 lbs (9-45 kg)*

Large child

OFF or ON

PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF
or PASSENGER AIRBAG ON

5th percentile female or
larger (by weight)

ON

PASSENGER AIRBAG ON

Over approximately 100 lbs
(45 kg)

*If the passenger airbag status indicator does not match the situation, do not use the seat. The passenger must
ride in a different seat. Contact Tesla Service.
NOTE: It takes approximately six seconds after you power on Model 3 for the occupant classification system (OCS)
to report accurate status of the front passenger airbag. As a result, when you first power on Model 3, 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 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).