warning TESLA MODEL S 2023 Owner's Manual

How It Works
The traction control system constantly monitors the speed of the front and rear wheels. If
Model S
experiences a loss of traction, the system minimizes wheel spin by controlling brake pressure and motor power. By default, the traction control system is on. Under normal conditions, it should remain on to ensure
maximum safety.
This yellow indicator flashes on the
instrument panel whenever the traction
control system is actively controlling brake
pressure and motor power to minimize wheel spin. If the indicator stays on, a fault is detected with the traction control system. Contact Tesla Service.
WARNING: Traction control cannot prevent
collisions caused by driving dangerously or turning
too sharply at high speeds.
Allowing Wheel Slip
To allow the wheels to spin at a limited speed, you can
enable Slip Start.
Slip Start can be enabled only when
Model S is moving 30 mph (48 km/h) or slower. Slip
Start automatically disables when the speed exceeds
50 mph (80 km/h).
Under normal conditions, Slip Start should not be enabled. Enable it only in circumstances where you
deliberately want the wheels to spin, such as:

How Park Assist Works
Model S is designed to detect the presence of objects.
When driving slowly in Drive or Reverse (for example,
when parking), the vehicle alerts you if an object is
detected in close proximity of your
Model S. Objects are
only detected in your chosen direction; front objects in Drive, rear objects in Reverse.
WARNING: You may not be alerted if Model S rolls
freely in the opposite direction (for example, Park
Assist does not display an alert if Model S rolls
backwards down a hill while in Drive).
Park Assist is activated when driving slower than 5 mph
(8 km/h).
WARNING: Never depend on Park Assist to inform
you if an area you are approaching is free of
objects and/or people. Several external factors can
reduce the performance of Park Assist, causing
either no readings or false readings (see
Limitations and False Warnings on page 71).
Therefore, depending on Park Assist to determine
if Model S is approaching an obstruction can result
in damage to the vehicle and/or objects, and can
potentially cause serious injury. Always inspect the
area with your own eyes. When reversing, perform
shoulder checks and use all mirrors. Park assist
does not detect children, pedestrians, bicyclists,
animals, or objects that are moving, protruding,
located too far above or below the sensors (if
equipped) or cameras, or too close or too far from
the sensors or cameras. Park Assist is for guidance
purposes only and is not intended to replace your
own direct visual checks. It is not a substitute for
careful driving.
Visual and Audio Feedback
When you shift to Reverse, the Park Assist view displays on the
left side of the instrument panel, showing objects
that are in close proximity to the front and rear of
Model S. This view closes when you shift into Drive
unless an object is detected close to the front of
Model S, in which case the Park Assist view closes
automatically when your driving speed exceeds
5 mph
(8 km/h). When reversing, visual feedback also displays
on the touchscreen (see
Rear Facing Camera(s) on page
77). You can manually close the park assist view on the
touchscreen by touching the
X.
When driving with the Camera app displayed on the
touchscreen, you can switch to the Park Assist view
when driving at speeds below
5 mph (8 km/h). Touch
the button located in the upper left corner of the Camera app screen. This is useful if you need assistance
with parallel parking.
If chimes are turned on (see Controlling Audible
Feedback on page 71), an audible beep sounds as you
approach an object.
You can temporarily mute the chime
by touching the speaker icon on the bottom corner of
the Park Assist view.
NOTE: If Park Assist is unable to provide feedback, the
instrument panel displays an alert message.
Park Assist
70MODEL S Owner

CAUTION: Keep sensors (if equipped) and
cameras clean from dirt, debris, snow, and ice.
Avoid using a high pressure power washer on the
sensors and cameras, and do not clean a sensor or
camera with a sharp or abrasive object that can
scratch or damage its surface.
CAUTION: Do not install accessories or stickers on
or near the sensors (if equipped) or cameras.
Controlling Audible Feedback
You can use Park Assist with or without audible feedback. To turn chimes on or
off, touch Controls >
Safety > Park Assist Chimes.
To mute the chimes temporarily, touch the speaker icon in the bottom corner of the Park Assist view. The chimes
are muted until you shift or drive over
5 mph (8 km/h).
Limitations and False Warnings
Park Assist may not function correctly in these situations:

Camera Location
Model S is equipped with a rear view camera located
above the rear license plate.
Whenever you shift into Reverse, the touchscreen displays the view from the camera. Lines show your
driving path based on the position of the
steering yoke
(or steering wheel). These lines adjust as you move the
steering yoke (or steering wheel).
Model S also displays images from the side cameras (if
equipped). Simply swipe up or down to hide or show the
side camera views.
NOTE: Visual feedback from Park Assist also appears on
the
instrument panel (see Park Assist on page 70).
To display the view from the rear view
cameras at any time, open the app
launcher and touch the Camera app.
If a black screen appears on the touchscreen instead of the rear view camera feed when in Reverse, use the rear view mirrors and ensure your surroundings are safe before continuing to Reverse. If inoperability of the rear
view camera persists, use the mobile app to schedule a service appointment.
WARNING: Never depend on the cameras to
inform you if the area behind you is free of objects
and/or people. The cameras may not detect
objects or barriers that can potentially cause
damage or injury. In addition, several external
factors can reduce the performance of the
cameras, including a dirty or obstructed lens.
Therefore, depending on the cameras to determine
if Model S is approaching an obstruction can result
in damage to the vehicle and/or objects and can
potentially cause serious injury. Always inspect the
area with your own eyes. When reversing, perform
shoulder checks and use all mirrors. Use the
cameras for guidance purposes only. It is not
intended to replace your own direct visual checks
and is not a substitute for careful driving.
Cleaning a Camera
To ensure a clear picture, the camera lens must be clean
and free of obstructions. Remove any build-up of dirt or debris by spraying water onto the camera lens with a
spray bottle.
CAUTION: Do not attempt to remove dirt or debris
by wiping an exposed lens with your hands or a
cloth. This debris can damage the surface of the
lens when rubbed against it during wiping.
CAUTION: Do not use chemical-based or abrasive
cleaners. Doing so can damage the surface of the
lens.
Rear Facing Camera(s)
77Driving

The Pedestrian Warning System causes Model S to emit
sound when driving below approximately 32 km/h (19 mph), or while driving in reverse. Electric vehicles operate quietly and this sound helps to alert pedestrians of your oncoming vehicle. The sound, which activates whenever
Model S is shifted out of Park, gets louder as
speed increases.
WARNING: If sound cannot be heard, pedestrians
may not be aware of your oncoming vehicle, which
may increase the likelihood of a collision resulting
in serious injury or death. If the Pedestrian
Warning System is not operating, immediately
contact Tesla.
Pedestrian Warning System
78MODEL S Owner

4. To change your speed while using Traffic-Aware
Cruise Control, you can roll the right scroll wheel on
the steering wheel up or down. For more details, see
Changing the Cruising Speed on page 85.
5.
To cancel Traffic-Aware Cruise Control, press the right
scroll wheel, or press the brake pedal. See
Canceling
and Resuming on page 87 for more information.
Set Traffic-Aware Cruise Control
Chime
If you want a chime to sound when you engage or cancel
Traffic-Aware Cruise Control, touch Controls >
Autopilot > Traffic-Aware Cruise Control Chime.
NOTE: Model S must be in Park.
Changing the Cruising Speed
Roll the right scroll wheel up to increase, or down to decrease, the set speed. Slowly rolling the scroll wheel
changes the set speed in
1 mph (1 km/h) increments and
quickly rolling the scroll wheel changes the set speed to the closest
5 mph (5 km/h) increment. For example, if
you are traveling at
57 mph and quickly roll the scroll
wheel, the speed increases to
60 mph.
NOTE: It may take a few seconds for Model S to reach
the new cruising speed, assuming
Model S is not cruising
behind a vehicle that is driving slower than your set
speed.
Cruising at the Set Speed
Traffic-Aware Cruise Control maintains your set cruising
speed whenever a vehicle is not detected in front of
Model S. When cruising behind a detected vehicle,
Traffic-Aware Cruise Control accelerates and decelerates
Model S as needed to maintain a chosen following
distance (see
Adjust the Following Distance on page
86), up to the set speed.
Traffic-Aware Cruise Control also adjusts the cruising
speed when entering and exiting curves.
You can manually accelerate at any time when cruising
at a set speed, but when you release the accelerator,
Traffic-Aware Cruise Control resumes cruising at the set
speed.
NOTE: When Traffic-Aware Cruise Control is actively
slowing down
Model S to maintain the selected distance
from the vehicle ahead, brake lights turn on to alert other road users that you are slowing down. You may
notice slight movement of the brake pedal. However,
when
Traffic-Aware Cruise Control is accelerating
Model S, the accelerator pedal does not move.
WARNING: Traffic-Aware Cruise Control may
occasionally cause Model S to brake when not
required or when you are not expecting it. This can
be caused by closely following a vehicle ahead,
detecting vehicles or objects in adjacent lanes
(especially on curves), etc.
WARNING: Due to limitations inherent in the
onboard GPS (Global Positioning System), you
may experience situations in which Model S slows
down, especially near exits or off-ramps where a
curve is detected and/or you are navigating to a
destination and not following the route.
WARNING: Traffic-Aware Cruise Control may not
detect all objects and, especially when cruising
over 50 mph (80 km/h), may not brake/decelerate
when a vehicle or object is only partially in the
driving lane or when a vehicle you are following
moves out of your driving path and a stationary or
slow-moving vehicle or object is in front of you.
Always pay attention to the road ahead and stay
prepared to take immediate corrective action.
Depending on Traffic-Aware Cruise Control to
avoid a collision can result in serious injury or
death. In addition, Traffic-Aware Cruise Control
may react to vehicles or objects that either do not
exist, or are not in your lane of travel, causing
Model S to slow down unnecessarily or
inappropriately.
WARNING: Traffic-Aware Cruise Control may be
unable to provide adequate speed control because
of limited braking capability and hills. It can also
misjudge the distance from a vehicle ahead.
Driving downhill can increase driving speed,
causing Model S to exceed your set speed (and
potentially the road

NOTE: Depending on market region, vehicle
configuration, options purchased, and software version,
your vehicle may not be equipped with Autosteer, or the
feature may not operate exactly as described.
NOTE: Autosteer is a BETA feature.
Autosteer builds upon Traffic-Aware Cruise Control (see
Traffic-Aware Cruise Control on page 84), intelligently
keeping
Model S in its driving lane when cruising at a set
speed.
Autosteer also allows you to use the turn signals
to move Model S into an adjacent lane (see Auto Lane
Change on page 90). Autosteer detects lane markings
and the presence of vehicles and objects to
steer
Model S.
NOTE: To display more details about the roadway and its
surroundings, such as road markings, stop lights, objects
(such as trash cans and poles), etc., touch
Controls >
Autopilot > Full Self-Driving Visualization Preview (if
equipped).
CAUTION: Ensure all cameras and sensors (if
equipped) are clean. Dirty cameras and sensors, as
well as environmental conditions such as rain and
faded lane markings, affect performance.
WARNING: Autosteer is a hands-on feature. You
must keep your hands on the steering yoke (or
steering wheel) at all times.
WARNING: Autosteer is intended for use on
controlled-access highways with a fully attentive
driver. When using Autosteer, hold the steering
yoke (or steering wheel) and be mindful of road
conditions and surrounding traffic. Do not use
Autosteer in construction zones, or in areas where
bicyclists or pedestrians may be present. Never
depend on Autosteer to determine an appropriate
driving path. Always be prepared to take
immediate action. Failure to follow these
instructions could cause damage, serious injury or
death.
Operating Autosteer
Before you can operate Autosteer, you must enable it by touching
Controls > Autopilot > Autosteer (Beta).
To indicate that Autosteer is available (but
not actively steering
Model S), the
instrument panel displays a gray Autosteer
icon.
Steering yoke option
To initiate Autosteer, press the right scroll wheel.
NOTE: If the setting for Autosteer Activation is set to
Single Click (touch Controls > Autopilot > Autosteer
Activation), Autosteer engages when you single-press
the right scroll wheel. If set to
Double Click, you must
double-press the right scroll wheel to engage Autosteer.
To indicate that Autosteer is now actively
steering
Model S, the instrument panel
displays the Autosteer icon in blue. When
Autosteer is able to detect lane markings,
it also displays the driving lane in blue.
Steering yoke option
Autosteer briefly displays a message on the instrument
panel reminding you to pay attention to the road and be
ready to take over at any time.
The speed at which you can initiate Autosteer can vary depending on various conditions and whether or not a
vehicle is detected ahead of you. When no vehicle is
detected ahead of you, you must be driving at least
18 mph (30 km/h), unless certain vehicle and
environmental conditions are met, in which case, you
may be able to initiate it at lower speeds. When a
vehicle is detected ahead of you, you can initiate
Autosteer at any speed, even when stationary, provided
Model S is at least 5 feet (150 cm) behind the detected
vehicle.
NOTE: Auto High Beam is automatically enabled when
Autosteer is engaged and the maximum cruising speed is
85 mph (140 km/h).
CAUTION: If available in your market region,
Model S detects lights from an emergency vehicle
when using Autosteer at night on a high speed
road, the driving speed is automatically reduced
and the instrument panel displays a message
informing you of the slowdown. You will also hear
a chime and see a reminder to keep your hands on
the steering yoke (or steering wheel). When the
light detections pass by or cease to appear,
Autopilot resumes your cruising speed.
Alternatively, you may tap the accelerator to
resume your cruising speed.
WARNING: Never depend on Autopilot features to
determine the presence of emergency vehicles.
Model S may not detect lights from emergency
vehicles. Keep your eyes on your driving path and
always be prepared to take immediate action.
In situations where Autosteer is temporarily unavailable, the Autosteer icon disappears. For example, your driving speed is not within the speed required for Autosteer to operate. Autosteer may also be unavailable if it is not receiving adequate data from the camera(s).
Autosteer
88MODEL S Owner

NOTE: In low light conditions (dusk or dark), Autosteer
aborts or is unavailable if headlights are set to
Off. For
best results, set headlights to
Auto.
If unable to detect lane markings, Autosteer may determine the driving lane based on a vehicle you are
following.
In most cases, Autosteer attempts to center Model S in
the driving lane. However, there may be situations in which Autosteer may steer
Model S in a driving path
that is
offset from the center of the lane (for example,
detection of guard rails).
WARNING: Autosteer is not designed to, and will
not, steer Model S around objects partially in a
driving lane and in some cases, may not stop for
objects that are completely blocking the driving
lane. Always watch the road in front of you and
stay prepared to take immediate action. It is the
driver

When an automatic lane change is in progress, Overtake Acceleration is activated, allowing
Model S to accelerate
closer to a vehicle in front (see
Overtake Acceleration on
page 86).
NOTE: Auto Lane Change moves Model S one lane at a
time. Moving into an additional lane requires you to
engage the turn signal a second time after the
first lane
change is complete.
When using Auto Lane Change, it is important to monitor its performance by watching the driving path in front of you and the surrounding area. Stay prepared to take over steering at any time. As you are crossing over into the adjacent lane, the
instrument panel displays the
location in the lane that
Model S is moving into.
In situations where Auto Lane Change is unable to operate at optimal performance, or cannot operate due to inadequate data, the
instrument panel displays a
series of warnings. Therefore, when using Auto Lane Change, always pay attention to the
instrument panel
and be prepared to manually steer Model S.
Adjacent Lane Speed
NOTE: Depending on market region, vehicle
configuration, options purchased, and software version,
your vehicle may not be equipped with Adjacent Lane
Speed, or the feature may not operate exactly as
described.
When moving significantly faster than vehicles in
adjacent lanes,
Model S automatically reduces the
driving speed. This is especially helpful in heavy
traffic
situations or when vehicles are constantly merging into
different lanes. When Model S detects other vehicles
driving
significantly slower, the instrument panel
highlights the adjacent lanes with arrows and detected
vehicles in gray, and
Model S reduces the driving speed
as appropriate. To temporarily override this feature, press the accelerator pedal.
WARNING: Never depend on Autopilot to
determine a safe driving speed; you are
responsible for driving safely and according to
traffic laws in your market region.
Stop Light and Stop Sign Warning
NOTE: Depending on market region, vehicle
configuration, options purchased, and software version,
your vehicle may not be equipped with Stop Light and
Stop Sign Warning, or the feature may not operate
exactly as described.
While Autosteer is in use, Model S displays a warning on
the
instrument panel and sounds a chime if it detects
that you are likely to run through a red stop light or stop sign. If this happens,
TAKE IMMEDIATE CORRECTIVE
ACTION!
The visual and audible warnings cancel after a few
seconds, or when you press the brake pedal, whichever
comes
first.
Stop Light and Stop Sign Warning provides warnings
only. It does not slow down or stop
Model S at red traffic
lights, stop signs, road markings, etc. If equipped with
Traffic Light and Stop Sign Control, you can enable this
feature to automatically stop Model S at traffic lights
and stop signs (see Traffic Light and Stop Sign Control
on page 96).
CAUTION: Stop Light and Stop Sign Warning
requires on-board maps to know that a particular
stop light or stop sign exists at a location. In some
cases, map data is inaccurate or outdated and may
not include all stop lights or stop signs. Therefore,
Stop Light and Stop Sign Warning may not detect
all stop lights and stop signs.
WARNING: The Stop Light and Stop Sign Warning
feature does not apply the brakes or decelerate
Model S and may not detect all stop lights and
stop signs. Stop Light and Stop Sign Warning is
designed for guidance purposes only and is not a
substitute for attentive driving and sound
judgment. Keep your eyes on the road when
driving and never depend on Stop Light and Stop
Sign Warning to warn you of a stop light or stop
sign.
WARNING: Stop Light and Stop Sign Warning is
designed to warn you only when approaching a
visible red stop sign, solid red or later portion of a
yellow traffic light. It may not warn you of
intersections with flashing lights and it does not
warn you of yield signs or temporary stop and
yield signs (such as those used in construction
areas). Additionally, Stop Light and Stop Sign
Warning does not warn you of approaching stop
lights or stop signs when you are pressing the
accelerator pedal or brake pedal (which disables
Autosteer).
Limitations
Autosteer and its associated functions are particularly
unlikely to operate as intended when:

NOTE: Depending on market region, vehicle
configuration, options purchased, and software version,
your vehicle may not be equipped with Navigate on
Autopilot, or the feature may not operate exactly as
described.
NOTE: Navigate on Autopilot is a BETA feature.
When using Autosteer on a controlled-access highway (a main highway on which road users enter and exit
using on-ramps and
off-ramps). Navigate on Autopilot
guides
Model S to off-ramps and interchanges based on
your navigation route. Along the highway portion of a navigation route, Navigate on Autopilot also changes
lanes to prepare for exits (route-based lane changes) and to minimize the driving time to your destination (speed-based lane changes).
WARNING: Navigate on Autopilot does not make
driving autonomous. You must pay attention to the
road, keep your hands on the steering yoke (or
steering wheel) at all times, and remain aware of
your navigation route.
WARNING: As is the case with normal driving, be
extra careful around blind corners, interchanges,
and on-ramps and off-ramps - obstacles can
appear quickly and at any time.
WARNING: Navigate on Autopilot may not
recognize or detect oncoming vehicles, stationary
objects, and special-use lanes such as those used
exclusively for bikes, carpools, emergency vehicles,
etc. Remain alert at all times and be prepared to
take immediate action. Failure to do so can cause
damage, injury or death.
Enabling and Customizing Navigate
on Autopilot
To enable Navigate on Autopilot, touch Controls >
Autopilot > Navigate on Autopilot (Beta). Then, to
customize how you want Navigate on Autopilot to operate, touch
Customize Navigate on Autopilot: