Get Seating and Safety Restraints Guide for Tesla Model-Y SUV 2023

Front and Rear Seats

Correct Driving Position

Adjusting the Front Seats

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 Y seats include integrated head supports in the

front that cannot be adjusted or removed.

1. Move seat forward/backward and adjust the seat’s

height and tilt angle up/down.

2. Adjust backrest.

3. Adjust lumbar support (if equipped).

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.

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Front and Rear Seats

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.

Use the adjustment handles on the side shield of each

outboard seating position to adjust the corresponding

second row seat backs. While pulling and holding the

handle, move the seat back to the desired position, and

then release the handle. Ensure the seat back is securely

latched into position by pushing it forward and

rearward.

Calibrating Seats

(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.

Adjusting Second Row Seat Backs

Model Y provides seating for up to three passengers in

the second row. The seat back is split 60/40 so

adjusting the left seat back moves the seat backs for

both the left and center seating positions, whereas

adjusting the right seat back moves only the rightmost

seat back.

For vehicles with 5 seats:

Use the adjustment handles on the outside corner of

each second row outboard seat back to adjust the

corresponding seat back. While pulling and holding the

handle, move the seat back to the desired position, and

then release the handle. Ensure the seat back is securely

latched into position by pushing it forward and

rearward.

Folding Second Row Seat Backs

To maximize cargo space, each second row seat back

can be folded fully forward to lay ﬂat. While pulling and

holding the handle, push the corresponding seat back

fully forward.

NOTE: Before folding seats fully forward, remove any

items from the seats and the rear footwell. To allow the

seat backs to fold completely ﬂat, you may need to

move the front seats forward.

For vehicles with 7 seats:

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Front and Rear Seats

NOTE: Driving with second row seats folded forward

may increase perceivable noise and/or vibration coming

from the rear of the vehicle (trunk, suspension, etc.).

To allow you to carry long items (such as skis) in the rear

of Model Y, the center seat back can also be

independently folded forward. Pull the handle on the

rear of the seat back to unlatch it, then pull it forward.

To return the seat backs to their upright position, pull it

upwards until it locks into place. To conﬁrm that the seat

back is locked in the upright position, try pulling it

forward.

NOTE: Before raising a second row seat back, make sure

that the seat belts are not trapped behind the backrest.

WARNING: Always ensure the seat backs are

locked in their upright position by pushing it

forward or rearward. Failure to do so increases the

risk of injury.

Moving Second Row Seats (7-seater

only)

Lift the bar located beneath each outboard seating

position to unlock and move the second row seats

forward or rearward. The bench seats have a 60/40

split. Therefore, the bar on the left side moves the seat

for the left and center seats, whereas the bar on the

right side moves only the rightmost seat. Pull up and

hold the bar while moving the seat forward or rearward.

Release the lever when the seat is at the desired

location. Push the seat rearward and forward to ensure

the seat(s) are locked into position.

You can also fold the second row seat backs fully

forward by pressing the corresponding switch located

on the left side of the rear trunk. Pressing the switch

causes the seat back to swing forward. You can then

push it downward so it lays fully ﬂat.

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Front and Rear Seats

To relock the seats, ﬁrst push the seat rearward. You will

hear the seat tracks lock. Then push the seat downward

to engage the rear latches onto the ﬂoor strikes. You will

hear the latches lock. If the seat does not latch onto the

ﬂoor, the touchscreen displays a warning indicating that

the seat is not properly locked into position.

Accessing Third Row Seats (7-

seater only)

A third row ingress button is located on the backrest of

each second row outside seat. This button makes it easy

for passengers to access the third row seating positions.

To access a third row seat:

WARNING: Do not use the button when a child is

seated in a seat that will move. Using the button

moves the combined left and center seats forward

and can squeeze the occupant. Use this button

only when the second row seat is unoccupied.

Before driving, ensure the seat and the seat back

are securely latched into position.

1. Press the button on the associated second row

backrest.

NOTE: If you press the button and do not move the

seats, the seats relock.

WARNING: Do not use a second row seating

position when the seat is not securely latched into

position,

2. Push the second row backrest forward. The seat then

releases and pitches upward.

3. Push the seat fully forward.

WARNING: After using the button to access the

third row, push the second row seat backs into

their upright position, ensuring that the seat backs

are securely latched and "clicked" into position by

trying to move them forward and rearward. Failure

to do so increases the risk of injury.

WARNING: Keep the area on the underside of the

second row seats free of debris to ensure reliable

locking of the ﬂoor latches.

WARNING: If an occupant is seated in the the third

row when pushing down on the second row seat to

engage the ﬂoor latches, ensure that the

occupant's feet are not located under the second

row seat.

Folding Third Row Seat Backs (7-

seater only)

To fold a third row seat, ﬁrst ensure that the head

support is fully down as shown (see Head Supports on

page 31). Then press the button located in the top

corner of the seat back and fold the backrest downward.

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Front and Rear Seats

The second row center seat, and both third row seats (if

equipped), are equipped with the option to raise a head

support. Initially stowed into the seat's back rest, you

can access the head support by pulling it upward.

WARNING: When installing a child safety seat in a

second row seating position, or in the third row (if

equipped), you must lower the head support. The

headrest must be raised and locked in place when

sitting in the rear middle seat.

NOTE: To return the seat backs to the upright position,

pull the seat back upward until it latches into place. Try

pulling the backrest forward to conﬁrm that it is securely

latched in the upright position.

To stow the head support in the second row center seat,

press and hold the button on the base of the post while

pushing the head support fully downward.

NOTE: Before folding the seat backs, remove any items

from the seats and the footwell. To allow the backrests

to fold completely ﬂat, you may need to move the

second row seats forward.

NOTE: Driving with the third row backrests folded

forward may result in increased perceivable noise and/or

vibration coming from the rear of the vehicle (trunk,

suspension, etc.).

WARNING: Always ensure the seat backrests are

locked in their upright position before travel.

Failure to do so increases the risk of injury.

Head Supports

The front seats include integrated head supports that

you can not adjust.

The second row outboard seats include an adjustable

head support that you can raise, lower, or remove. When

either of these seats is occupied by a passenger that is

not in a child safety seat, the corresponding head

support should be adjusted (align the center of the head

support with the center of the occupant's head) and

locked into position. To raise a head support on a

second row outboard seat, pull it upward to the desired

position. To lower it, press and hold the button on the

base of the outer post while pushing it downward.

To lower a head support in the third row, press and hold

the button on the base of the post while pushing the

head support fully downward.

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Front and Rear Seats

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 second row 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 127.

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.

WARNING: To minimize the risk of severe injury or

death in the event of a collision, ensure that head

supports are positioned correctly before driving.

Seat Covers

Removing/Installing a Head Support

WARNING: Do not use seat covers in Model Y.

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.

All head supports in the second and third row (if

equipped) seating positions can be removed. To remove

a head support:

1. Fully raise the head support by pulling it upward.

2. Press and hold the button located at the base of one

of the posts.

3. Insert a short, ﬂat object (such as a small ﬂat-head

screwdriver) into the opening in the base of the

opposite 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 downward on the head support until it clicks

into place.

3. Pull upward on the head support to ensure that it is

secure.

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Seat Belts

3. Insert the latch plate into the buckle and press

together until you hear a click indicating it is locked

in place.

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.

4. Pull the belt to check that it is securely fastened.

The seat belt reel automatically locks to prevent

movement of occupants if Model Y experiences a force

associated with hard acceleration, braking, cornering, or

an impact in a collision.

5. Pull the diagonal part of the belt toward the reel to

remove excess slack.

To Adjust the Shoulder Anchor

Height

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.

Model Y 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

27). 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.

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

3. Release the button on the shoulder anchor so that it

locks into position.

1. Ensure correct positioning of the seat (see Correct

Driving Position on page 27).

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.

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.

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Seat Belts

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.

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.

To Release a Belt

The second row outboard seats are equipped with

shoulder pre-tensioners to retract the seat belt webbing

to reduce forward movement of the occupant.

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.

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.

WARNING: Never place anything between you and

the seat belt to cushion the impact in the event of

a collision.

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.

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Seat Belts

WARNING: Do not use after market comfort and

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.

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.

3. With the webbing half unreeled, hold the tongue

plate and pull forward quickly. The mechanism should

lock automatically and prevent further unreeling.

WARNING: The seat belt system has no user

serviceable parts and may contain pyrotechnics.

Do not disassemble, remove, or replace

components.

If a seat belt fails any of these tests, contact Tesla

immediately.

For information about cleaning seat belts, see Seat Belts

on page 193.

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.

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.

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Child Safety Seats

Guidelines for Seating Children

Your Model Y seat belts are designed for adults and larger children. You must restrain infants and small children in a

rear seating position 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 rear-facing child seat with an ACTIVE AIRBAG in front of it. DEATH or

SERIOUS INJURY to the child can occur. See Airbag Status Indicator on page 44.

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.

WARNING: Always ensure that all Model Y seats are locked in position before traveling. Failure to do so

increases the risk of injury. Pay attention to all warnings displayed on the touchscreen.

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 Y to recognize or accommodate a child

seated in the second row while using this setting (see Driver Proﬁles on page 50).

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.

Model Y has an occupancy sensor in the front passenger seat that controls the status of the passenger front airbag

(see Airbags on page 43).

When driving with a child seat on the front passenger seat, always double-check the status of the

passenger front airbag to conﬁrm that it is OFF.

To protect an adult subsequently occupying the front passenger seat, check to verify that the

passenger front airbag is ON.

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Child Safety Seats

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).

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) Over 40 lbs (18 kg)

and up to 40 lbs (18 kg)*

Type of child safety seat

Seat position

Rear-facing (or convertible) Forward-facing (or

convertible)*

Seat belt retained

booster seat

Rear-facing only*

Forward-facing*

Forward-facing

Recommended attachment If combined weight of child

If combined weight of child

and safety seat is up to 65 lbs using the seat belt

(29.5 kg), attach using either

LATCH** (both lower anchors

Attach booster seats

method

and safety seat is up to 65

lbs (29.5 kg), attach using

either LATCH** (lower

only.

anchor only) or the seat belt and top tether anchor), or the

only.*** If combined weight

of child and safety seat is

seat belt and upper tether

strap.*** If combined weight of

over 65 lbs (29.5 kg), attach child and safety seat is over

using the seat belt only.***

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 Y 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 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: Do not use Easy Entry (as described in Driver Proﬁles on page 50) to automatically move the

driver's seat to the full rearward position if a child safety seat is installed in the second row 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.

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Child Safety Seats

1. Place the child safety seat in Model Y, and fully

extend the seat belt. Route and buckle the seat belt

in accordance with the child safety seat

manufacturer’s instructions.

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 second row 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.

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 Y seat.

Installing Seat Belt Retained Child

Seats

3. If the seat belt retained child safety seat has an upper

tether, attach it to the back of the seat (see Attaching

Upper T e ther Straps on page 39).

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.

Installing LATCH (ISOFIX) Child

Seats

Adjust harnesses for every child, every trip.

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, near the associated anchor.

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.

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Child Safety Seats

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.

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.

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.

Attaching Upper Tether Straps

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.

If an upper tether strap is provided, attach its hook to

the anchor point located behind the seat.

NOTE: The location of anchor points may not be readily

visible but can be found by identifying a slice in the

seat's material.

WARNING: Tighten upper tether straps according

to the instructions provided by the manufacturer

of the child safety seat.

WARNING: USE ONLY SEAT BELT RETAINED

CHILD SAFETY SEATS IN THE CENTER SEATING

POSITION.

NOTE: If Model Y is equipped with seven seats, the third

row seating positions are not equipped with LATCH

anchors. Use only seat belt retained child safety seats in

a third row seating position.

Make sure the hook is fully seated on the anchor point.

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Child Safety Seats

For dual-strap tethers, position a strap on each side of

the head support.

WARNING: Before running a tether strap OVER a

head support, you MUST LOWER the head support

(see Head Supports on page 31).

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).

For dual-strap tethers in the third row (if equipped),

position both straps over the head support.

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

#unique_133 on page ) and run the strap under the

head support.

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Child Safety Seats

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 Y

detects a lightweight passenger, do not rely on

technology to protect your child.

WARNING: Seat belt retained child safety seats are

designed to be secured in the vehicle using lap

seat belts or the lap belt portion of a lap-shoulder

seat belt. Children could be endangered in a crash

if their child safety seat is not properly secured.

WARNING: According to collision statistics,

children are safer when properly restrained in the

second row seating positions than in the front

passenger seat.

For a single-strap tether in the third row (if equipped),

position the strap over the head support.

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.

Testing a Child Safety Seat

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.

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.

WARNING: Always check harnesses and tether

straps for damage and wear.

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Child Safety Seats

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 Y 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

NOTE: The following vehicles are equipped with a seat-mounted airbag on the inside portion of the driver's seat:

◦ Vehicles manufactured at Gigafactory Berlin after approximately January 2022.

◦ Vehicles manufactured at Gigafactory Shanghai after approximately the end of June 2022.

◦ Vehicles manufactured at Gigafactory Austin after approximately the end of October 2022.

◦ Vehicles manufactured in Fremont after approximately the end of February 2023.

4. Curtain airbags

Opening and Closing

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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). 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 Y 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 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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Airbags

Front Passenger Occupant Detection

Model Y 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

Object

OFF

PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF

OFF or ON

Depends on material/

or PASSENGER AIRBAG ON 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

20-100 lbs (9-45 kg)*

Child in a booster seat

OFF or ON

PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF

or PASSENGER AIRBAG ON

Large child

OFF or ON

ON

PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF

or PASSENGER AIRBAG ON

5th percentile female or

larger (by weight)

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 Y for the occupant classiﬁcation system (OCS)

to report accurate status of the front passenger airbag. As a result, when you ﬁrst power on Model Y, 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).

• Objects wedged between the seat back and seat cushion.

• Cargo interfering with the seat.

• Aftermarket items attached to, or sitting on or between, the seat and occupant including but not limited to

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 aﬀects the operation of the passenger front airbags only. The side

airbags are not aﬀected.

WARNING: If the front passenger airbag is not turning on or oﬀ as expected based on the weight thresholds

previously described, contact Tesla immediately.

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Airbags

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 a rear facing safety

seat in the front passenger seat with an active airbag. DEATH or SERIOUS INJURY to the child can occur. Per

recommendations by the National Highway Traﬃc Safety Administration, all occupants age 12 and under must

ride in the rear seats.

WARNING: Do not use seat covers on Model Y. 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.

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Airbags

Ensuring Accurate Occupant Detection

To help ensure an occupant in the front passenger seat can be accurately classiﬁed, the passenger must:

• Wear a seat belt.

• Sit upright on the center of the seat cushion, with shoulders resting against the seat back and legs extended

comfortably in front with feet on the ﬂoor. See Examples of Correct and Incorrect Seating Positions on page 48.

• Remain positioned on the seat cushion and not lift their weight oﬀ the seat (for example, by pushing their feet

against the ﬂoor or pressing on the center console or armrest to lift up).

• Never wear thick, wet, or bulky clothing (such as ski wear or padded clothing).

In addition to the items listed above, the following situations can interfere with the accuracy of the occupant

classiﬁcation system:

• Placing a radio transmitter (for example, a hunting radio or walkie-talkie) on the front passenger seat.

• Placing an AC/DC inverter, or a device that is being powered by the inverter (for example, a cell phone, tablet, or

computer) on the front passenger seat cushion.

• Placing liquid (such as a bottled drink) or food containers on a car seat when a child restraint system is present.

• Incorrectly placing a child restraint system so that the entire lower section is not positioned against the seat

cushion.

• Objects lodged under the seat or wedged between the seat back and cushion.

• Heavy objects sitting on the seat (briefcase, large purse).

• Cargo interfering with the seat.

• Aftermarket items attached to or placed between the seat and the occupant, such as 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, instruct passengers to ride in the rear seats and contact Tesla to have the airbag

system checked.

NOTE: Tesla follows NHTSA (National Highway Traﬃc Safety Administration) recommendations that all occupants

age 12 and under must ride in a rear seating position.

NOTE: The front passenger occupancy sensor aﬀects the operation of the passenger front airbags only. The side

airbags are not aﬀected.

WARNING: Failure to follow the above instructions can adversely aﬀect the Occupant Classiﬁcation System

(OCS) which can cause serious injury or death.

WARNING: If the front passenger airbag is not turning on or oﬀ as expected, do not seat a passenger in the

front passenger seat. Contact Tesla Service.

WARNING: To ensure accuracy of the occupant detection system, do not make any modiﬁcations to the front

passenger seat.

WARNING: Do not use seat covers on Model Y. Doing so could restrict deployment of the seat-mounted side

air bags if a collision occurs. It can also reduce the accuracy of the occupant classiﬁcation system.

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Airbags

Examples of Correct and Incorrect

Seating Positions

Correct seating position:

Incorrect seating position - the passenger must not

recline the backrest to a laying down position when the

vehicle is moving:

Incorrect seating position - the passenger's feet must be

on the ﬂoor:

Incorrect seating position - the passenger must not slide

forward on the seat cushion:

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Airbags

WARNING: Do not use seat covers on Model Y.

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.

Inﬂation Eﬀects

WARNING: When airbags inﬂate, a ﬁne powder is

released. This powder can irritate the skin and

should be thoroughly ﬂushed from the eyes and

from any cuts or abrasions.

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 Traﬃc Safety Administration (NHTSA)

recommends a minimum distance of 10" (25 cm)

between an occupant’s chest and an airbag.

After inﬂation, the airbags deﬂate to provide a gradual

cushioning eﬀect 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, your vehicle requires servicing before it will

power up. In addition, your airbags, seat belt pre-

tensioners and any associated components must be

checked, and if necessary, replaced. Contact Tesla

Service immediately.

WARNING: Children should not be seated on the

front passenger seat unless 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 a rear seating position. 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.

In a collision, in addition to the airbags inﬂating:

• Doors unlock.

• Hazard warning lights turn on.

• Interior lights turn on.

• High voltage is disabled.

WARNING: Do not use a rear-facing child restraint

system on a seat with an operational airbag in

front of it. Doing so can cause injury or death if the

airbag inﬂates.

NOTE: Depending on the nature of the impact and the

forces involved, doors may not unlock in a collision

and/or damage may prevent them from opening. In such

cases, the door may need to be opened using the

interior manual release, or other means of extrication

(for example, exiting through another door, breaking the

window, etc.).

WARNING: To ensure correct inﬂation of the side

airbags, maintain an unobstructed gap between an

occupant’s torso and the side of Model Y.

WARNING: Passengers shouldn't lean their heads

against doors. Doing so can cause injury if a

curtain airbag inﬂates.

NOTE: In some collisions, even if airbags did not inﬂate,

high voltage may be disabled and you will be unable to

power up and drive. Contact Tesla Service immediately.

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.

Airbag Warning Indicator

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.

The airbag indicator on the touchscreen

remains lit if the airbag system is

malfunctioning. The only time this indicator

should light up is brieﬂy when Model Y ﬁrst

powers up, in which case it turns oﬀ within

a few seconds. If it remains lit, contact

Tesla immediately and do not drive.

WARNING: Following inﬂation, some airbag

components are hot. Do not touch until they have

cooled.

Airbag Warnings

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.

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Seating and Safety Restraints for Your Tesla Model-Y SUV 2023

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