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

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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MODEL Y Owner's Manual  
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  
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.  
Seating and Safety Restraints  
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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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MODEL Y Owner's Manual  
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.  
Seating and Safety Restraints  
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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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MODEL Y Owner's Manual  
 
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.  
Seating and Safety Restraints  
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