safety TESLA MODEL 3 2023 Owners Manual

Overview................................................................3
Exterior Overview............................................................................3
Interior Overview.............................................................................4
Touchscreen Overview..................................................................5
Opening and Closing.......................................10
Keys.....................................................................................................10
Doors..................................................................................................14
Windows............................................................................................16
Rear Trunk.........................................................................................17
Front Trunk.......................................................................................19
Interior Storage and Electronics..............................................22
Seating and Safety Restraints.....................25
Front and Rear Seats...................................................................25
Seat Belts.........................................................................................29
Child Safety Seats.........................................................................32
Airbags..............................................................................................38
Driving..................................................................45
Driver Profiles.................................................................................45
Steering Wheel..............................................................................47
Mirrors...............................................................................................49
Starting and Powering Off........................................................50
Shifting...............................................................................................51
Lights.................................................................................................53
Car Status.........................................................................................56
Wipers and Washers....................................................................59
Braking and Stopping.................................................................60
Traction Control.............................................................................64
Park Assist.......................................................................................65
Vehicle Hold....................................................................................67
Acceleration Modes......................................................................68
Track Mode......................................................................................69
Trip Information..............................................................................71
Rear Facing Camera(s)...............................................................72
Pedestrian Warning System......................................................73
Cold Weather Best Practices....................................................74
Autopilot..............................................................77
About Autopilot.............................................................................77
Traffic-Aware Cruise Control....................................................80
Autosteer..........................................................................................85
Navigate on Autopilot................................................................90
Traffic Light and Stop Sign Control.......................................93
Autopark........................................................................................100
Summon..........................................................................................102
Smart Summon............................................................................105
Active Safety Features.................................108
Lane Assist.....................................................................................108
Collision Avoidance Assist..........................................................111
Speed Assist...................................................................................114
Cabin Camera.................................................................................115
Using the Touchscreen..................................116
Climate Controls...........................................................................116
Phone, Calendar, and Web Conferencing...........................122
Voice Commands.........................................................................125
Safety & Security Settings........................................................127
Dashcam.........................................................................................129
Sentry Mode...................................................................................131
USB Drive Requirements for Recording Videos..............133
Smart Garage Connectivity.....................................................134
Connecting to Wi-Fi...................................................................137
Software Updates........................................................................138
Mobile App....................................................................................140
Navigation and Entertainment..................142
Maps and Navigation.................................................................142
Media................................................................................................148
Theater, Arcade, and Toybox....................................................151
Charging and Energy Consumption........154
Electric Vehicle Components..................................................154
High Voltage Battery Information.........................................156
Charging Instructions.................................................................158
Scheduled Charging and Scheduled Departure..............163
Getting Maximum Range..........................................................164
Maintenance......................................................166
Maintenance Service Intervals................................................166
Tire Care and Maintenance......................................................176
Cleaning..........................................................................................183
Windshield Wiper Blades, Jets and Fluid...........................187
Jacking and Lifting.....................................................................189
Parts and Accessories...............................................................190
Do It Yourself Maintenance....................................................204
Specifications..................................................205
Identification Labels..................................................................205
Vehicle Loading..........................................................................206
Dimensions...................................................................................208
Subsystems....................................................................................210
Wheels and Tires..........................................................................213
Roadside Assistance....................................220
Contacting Tesla Roadside Assistance..............................220
Instructions for Transporters...................................................221
Running Out of Range..............................................................224
Jump Starting...............................................................................225
Troubleshooting..............................................227
Troubleshooting Alerts.............................................................227
Consumer Information.................................280
Contents

About this Owner Information..............................................280
Feature Availability Statement...............................................281
Disclaimers....................................................................................282
Reporting Safety Defects........................................................284
Certification Conformity..........................................................285
Index...................................................................287
Contents

WARNING: Always pay attention to road and traffic conditions when driving. To minimize driver distraction and
ensure the safety of vehicle occupants as well as other road users, avoid using the touchscreen to adjust
settings while the vehicle is in motion.
Use the touchscreen to control many features that, in traditional cars, are controlled using physical buttons (for example, adjusting the cabin heating and air conditioning, headlights, etc.). You also use the touchscreen to control
media, navigate, use entertainment features, and customize
Model 3 to suit your preferences. For hands-free access
to common touchscreen controls, use voice commands (see
Voice Commands on page 125).
If the touchscreen is unresponsive or demonstrates unusual behavior, you can restart it (see Restarting the
Touchscreen on page 7).
NOTE: Illustrations are provided to improve conceptual understanding only. Depending on vehicle options, software
version, market region and regional and language settings, the details displayed on the screen will differ.
1.
Status bar: This area on the top of the touchscreen displays the time of day, the outside temperature, and the
following icons:
Touch to lock/unlock all doors and trunks.4:20 pmYour vehicle automatically updates the time. If the time is incorrect, confirm your vehicle has
internet and GPS connectivity with the latest software.
Touchscreen Overview
5Overview

Displays on the touchscreen status bar only when Model 3 detects a programmed HomeLink
within range, and the touchscreen is not already displaying the HomeLink screen or popup. See
Smart Garage Connectivity on page 134.
Displays on the touchscreen status bar only when Model 3 is parked. Add, configure (including
Valet Mode and Use Easy Entry), or quickly switch driver profiles. Driver profiles can also be
accessed from the top of any Controls screen. See
Driver Profiles on page 45.
Available when Model 3 is parked, touch to manually enable or disable Sentry Mode for the
current drive cycle. To automatically turn Sentry Mode on (or
off) every time you leave your
vehicle, enable the setting from
Controls > Safety > Sentry Mode. See Sentry Mode on page 131
for more information.
NOTE: If you turn Sentry Mode on or off from Controls > Sentry Mode, the shortcuts on the
vehicle

Center Console
In addition to housing an RFID transmitter that reads key fobs and key cards (see
Key Card on page 10), 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. 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 > Glovebox PIN to set a 4-digit PIN (see
Glovebox PIN on page 127).
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 46). 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.
Wireless Phone Charger
A wireless phone charger (if equipped), 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 inside the vehicle). Your
phone will not charge after exiting the vehicle
unless a
feature (such as Sentry mode) is enabled and providing
power to the USB ports. Model 3 will also not charge a
phone if the vehicle

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.
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.
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 occupant

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
116.
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
27Seating and Safety Restraints

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 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 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
1.
Ensure correct positioning of the seat (see Correct
Driving Position on page 25).
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
25). 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.
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
downward to check that it is locked into position.
Seat Belts
29Seating and Safety Restraints

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 185.
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