Owner's Guide

Passenger Front Airbag
Model 3 has an occupancy sensor in the front
passenger seat that controls the status of the
airbags based on the weight of the occupant.
If the passenger airbag is OFF, it will not
inflate when a collision occurs, and the
passenger airbag o indicator displays in the
top right corner of the touchscreen. If the
passenger airbag is ON, it will inflate when a
collision occurs, and its status does not
display in the top right corner of the
touchscreen.
The Passenger Airbag O
indicator displays in the top right
corner of the touchscreen only
when the front passenger airbag
is turned o.
Note: The occupancy sensor system meets the
regulatory requirement of FMVSS 208 and
automatically detects when inflating the
passenger front airbag would be unnecessary
or potentially harmful.
Weight in front
passenger seat
Passenger airbag
status
Empty OFF
Up to 20 lbs/9 kg OFF
20-100 lbs/9-45 kg* OFF* or ON**
Over 100 lbs/45 kg ON**
*Values are approximate. A weight detected
near the threshold can cause the airbag
status to occasionally turn on and o
depending on seating position and
physique.
**The absence of the passenger airbag o
indicator in the top right corner of the
touchscreen indicates that the passenger
airbag is ON and will inflate in the event of a
collision.
Note:
It takes approximately six seconds after
you power on Model 3 for the occupancy
sensor to report accurate status of the front
passenger airbag. As a result, when you first
power on Model 3, even in situations when it
should be OFF because the passenger seat is
either empty or carrying a weight of 20 lbs (9
kg) or less, the touchscreen can take up to six
seconds to display the passenger airbag o
indicator. If it fails to do so, contact Tesla
service immediately and seat passengers in
the rear seating positions only.
If the passenger airbag is permanently on,
even when the seat is empty, contact Tesla
immediately.
To make sure the sensing system can correctly
detect occupancy status, eliminate the
following:
• Objects lodged under the seat.
• Heavy objects sitting on the seat
(briefcase, large purse).
• Objects wedged between the seat back
and seat cushion.
• Cargo interfering with the seat.
• After market items attached to, or sitting
on, the seat (covers, mats, blankets, etc.).
These conditions can interfere with the
occupancy sensor. If you have eliminated the
above possibilities, and the airbag status is still
incorrect, ask passengers to ride in the rear
seats and contact Tesla to have the airbag
system checked.
Note: The front passenger seat’s sensing
system aects the operation of the passenger
front and side airbags only. The other
passenger airbags are not aected.
Warning: Never seat a child on the front
passenger seat, even if the passenger
airbag is o. All occupants age 12 and
under must ride in the rear seats (see
Child Safety Seats).
Warning: To ensure accuracy of the
occupant detection system, do not make
any modifications to the front passenger
seat.
Warning: Do not use seat covers on
Model 3. Doing so could restrict
deployment of the seat-mounted side air
bags if a collision occurs. It can also
reduce the accuracy of the occupant
detection system, if equipped.
Inflation Eects
Warning:
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 eect for the occupants
and to ensure the driver’s forward vision is not
obscured.
Airbags
38 Model 3 Owner's Manual