TESLA MODEL Y 2021 Owner´s Manual
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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
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Controlling the Passenger Front Airbag
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 safety seat on a seat equipped with an operational airbag 
can cause serious injury or death.
Object ClassificationOCS Passenger 
Airbag Status*Indicator statusNotesEmptyOFFPASSENGER AIRBAG OFF ObjectOFF or ONPASSENGER AIRBAG OFF or 
PASSENGER AIRBAG ONDepends on material/
contents.Rear facing child seat 
designed for children up to a 
year oldOFFPASSENGER AIRBAG OFF20 lbs (9 kg) or lessForward facing child seatOFFPASSENGER AIRBAG OFF35 lbs (16 kg) or lessChild in a booster seatOFF or ONPASSENGER AIRBAG OFF or 
PASSENGER AIRBAG ON20-100 lbs (9-45 kg)*Large childOFF or ONPASSENGER AIRBAG OFF or 
PASSENGER AIRBAG ON 5th percentile female or 
larger (by weight)ONPASSENGER AIRBAG ONOver 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:
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WARNING: If seating a child in the front passenger seat is legally permissible in your market region, it is the 
driver
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Ensuring Accurate Occupant Classification
To help ensure an occupant in the front passenger seat can be accurately classified, the passenger must:
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Examples of Correct and Incorrect 
Seating Positions
Correct seating position:
Incorrect seating position - the passenger
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Inflation EffectsWARNING: When airbags inflate, a fine powder is 
released. This powder can irritate the skin and 
should be thoroughly flushed from the eyes and 
from any cuts or abrasions.
After inflation, the airbags deflate to provide a gradual 
cushioning 
effect for the occupants and to ensure the 
driver
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Creating a Driver Profile
When you first adjust the driver
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Adjusting Steering Wheel Position
To adjust the steering wheel, touch Controls > Quick 
Controls > Adjustments > Steering Wheel.
Use the left scroll button on the steering wheel to move 
the 
steering wheel to the desired position:
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Steering Wheel
48MODEL Y Owner