impact TESLA MODEL 3 2020 Owner's Manuals

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) that, by
pulling the seat belt beyond the length
needed for a typical adult occupant, locks the
belt into place until the seat belt is unbuckled.
The seat belt reel automatically locks to prevent movement of occupants if Model 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 the belt remains
unbuckled, the reminder

2.While holding the button, move the
shoulder anchor up or down as necessary
so that the seat belt is positioned correctly.
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 downwards 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 possibleacross the hips, not the waist. Position theshoulder portion of the belt between the
breasts and to the side of the abdomen.
Consult your doctor for specific guidance.
Warning:
Never place anything between
you and the seat belt to cushion the
impact in the event of a collision.
Seat Belt Pre-tensioners
The front seat belts are equipped with
pre )tensioners that work in conjunction with
the airbags in a severe frontal collision. The
pre )tensioners automatically retract both the
seat belt anchor and the seat belt webbing,
reducing slack in both the lap and diagonal portions of the belts, resulting in reduced
forward movement of the occupant.
The outboard seats are equipped with
shoulder pre-tensioners to retract the seat
belt webbing to reduce forward movement of
the occupant.
Seat Belts
32Model 3 Owner

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 173.
Seat Belt WarningsWarning: 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

Obstacle-Aware AccelerationObstacle-Aware Acceleration is designed toreduce the impact of a collision by reducing
motor torque if Model 3 detects an object in
its driving path. For example, Model 3, while
parked in front of a closed garage door with
the Drive gear engaged, detects that you have
pressed hard on the accelerator pedal.
Although Model 3 still accelerates and hits the
garage door, the reduced torque may result in
less damage.
Obstacle-Aware Acceleration is designed to operate only when all of these conditions are
simultaneously met:

Driving in Low Temperatures
Tire performance is reduced in low ambient
temperatures, resulting in reduced grip and an
increased susceptibility to damage from
impacts. Performance tires can temporarily
harden when cold, causing you to hear rotational noise for the first few miles
(kilometers) until the tires warm up.
Using Tire Chains
Tesla has tested and approved the following tire chains to increase traction in snowy
conditions. Tire chains should only be installed
on the rear tires.Tire SizeRecommended
Chain18"PEWAG SERVO
SPORT RSS 7619"PEWAG SERVO RS
7720"MAGGI TRAK SP214Caution: If your Model 3 is equipped with
aero covers, you must remove them before installing tire chains (see Removing and Installing Aero Covers on
page 167). Failure to do so can cause
damage not covered by the warranty.
When installing tire chains, follow the
instructions and warnings provided by the tire
chain manufacturer. Mount them evenly and as
tight as possible.
When using tire chains: