TESLA MODEL 3 2021 Owner´s Manual

Center Console
In addition to housing an RFID transmitter that reads key fobs and key cards (see
Key Card on page 7), the center
console includes cup holders, two storage
compartments, and
a wireless phone charger.
To open the main storage compartment, pull its cover upward. Open the front storage compartment by sliding its cover forward.
Second Row Console
Your Model 3 has a rear console integrated in the center
of the second row seat back. Pull the console down to
access the rear cup holders, or use it as an armrest.
Glovebox
To open the glovebox, touch Controls > Glovebox on the
bottom corner of the touchscreen. The glovebox automatically opens and its light turns on.
To close the glovebox, push it upward until it clicks into its closed position.
For additional glovebox security, touch Controls >
Safety & Security > Glovebox PIN to set a 4-digit PIN
(see
Glovebox PIN on page 140).
NOTE: If you leave the glovebox open, its light
eventually turns
off.
NOTE: The glovebox locks whenever closed and you
lock
Model 3 using the mobile app, key card, you leave
Model 3 carrying your phone key (if Walk-Away Door
Lock is turned on), or if Valet mode is active (see
Valet
Mode on page 43). It does not lock when Model 3 is
locked by touching the lock icon on the touchscreen.
WARNING: When driving, keep the glovebox
closed to prevent injury to a passenger if a
collision or sudden stop occurs.
USB Ports
Model 3 has two USB ports located in the front
compartment of the center console. These ports can be used to:

A USB port is also located at the rear of the glovebox.
This USB-A port is equipped with a pre-formatted
flash

drive, ready to save videos when using features such as
Sentry Mode and Dashcam. Although not its primary
purpose, this port can also communicate with the
vehicle and can be used to charge a USB-connected device.
Two additional USB ports are located in the rear of the center console (on vehicles manufactured since approximately June 2020, these ports are USB-C). These
ports charge USB-connected devices but do not communicate with the vehicle.
NOTE: Power is available whenever the vehicle is
considered "awake". The vehicle may be awake for many
reasons. For example, when using features such as
Summon, or when features such as Preconditioning,
Keep Climate On, Dog Mode, Camp Mode,
Sentry Mode,
etc. are enabled. The vehicle is also awake whenever the 12V battery is being charged or is in use, during HV charging, when the vehicle is communicating with the mobile app, etc. Leaving an accessory plugged in does not deplete the 12V battery.
NOTE: Use USB 3.0 compliant cables to connect a
device to a USB port. Using non-compliant cables can result in slower charging, potential connection problems or degraded performance.
NOTE: Do not connect multiple devices using a USB
hub. This can prevent connected devices from charging or from being recognized by Media Player
, Sentry Mode,
Dashcam, etc.
Wireless Phone Charger
A wireless phone charger is integrated into the front
console to provide up to 15W of power to charge a Qi- enabled phone. Simply place your phone on the charger. Your device may feel warm while charging, but this is a normal
effect of inductive charging.
When placed on the wireless charger, your phone
charges whenever the vehicle is powered on (the
touchscreen is on and you are in the vehicle). Your phone will not charge after exiting the vehicle
unless a
feature (such as Sentry mode) is enabled and therefore
providing power to the USB ports (see Sentry Mode on
page 140). Model 3 will also not charge a phone if the
vehicle

12V Power Socket
Your Model 3 has a power socket located in the center
console

NOTE: Keep the camera lens clean and free of
obstructions. Remove any buildup of dirt or dust by occasionally wiping the camera lens with a soft damp
cloth.
CAUTION: Do not use chemical-based or abrasive
cleaners. Doing so can damage the surface of the
camera lens.
Interior Storage and Electronics
22MODEL 3 Owner

Correct Driving Position
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 3 seats include integrated head supports that
cannot be adjusted or removed.
Adjusting the Front Seats1.
Move seat forward/backward and adjust the seat

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.
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.
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 ears).
Front and Rear Seats
24MODEL 3 Owner

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.
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 Climate Controls on page
123.
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.
Front and Rear Seats
25Seating and Safety Restraints

Seat CoversWARNING: 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.
Front and Rear Seats
26MODEL 3 Owner

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
the belt remains unbuckled, the reminder
flashes and an intermittent chime sounds.
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 mute a seat belt reminder
associated with a rear seating position. This is useful in situations when you are carrying an object in a rear seat
that triggers the seat belt reminder alert. To mute the reminder, touch the associated seat on the seat belt reminder card that displays on the touchscreen when a seat belt reminder alert is active. When a reminder is muted, the seat belt reminder icon is replaced by a seat icon. Touch the seat again to unmute the reminder. The reminder is disabled for the current drive only.
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 23).
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.
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
23. 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 so that the seat belt is
positioned correctly.
3.
Release the button on the shoulder anchor so that it
locks into position.
Seat Belts
27Seating and Safety Restraints

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 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.
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