Tesla 3 - Page 43

How the Airbags Work
Airbags inflate when sensors detect an impact
that exceeds deployment thresholds. These
thresholds are designed to predict the severity
of a crash in time for the airbags to help
protect the vehicle's occupants.
Airbags inflate instantly with considerable
force accompanied by a loud noise. The
inflated bag, together with the seat belts,
limits movement of occupants to reduce the
risk of injury.
Front airbags are not ordinarily designed to
inflate in rear collisions, rollovers, side
collisions and when braking heavily or driving
over bumps and potholes. Likewise, front
airbags may not inflate in all frontal collisions,
such as minor front collisions, underride
collisions, or impacts with narrow objects
(such as poles or trees). Significant superficial
damage can occur to the vehicle without the
airbags inflating and, conversely, a relatively
small amount of structural damage can cause
airbags to inflate. Therefore, the external
appearance of the vehicle after a collision
does not represent whether or not the front
airbags should have inflated.
Warning: Before modifying your vehicle
to accommodate a person with
disabilities in a way that may aect the
airbag system, contact Tesla.
Types of Airbags
Model 3 has the following types of airbags:
• Advanced front airbags: The front airbags
are designed to reduce airbag related
injuries if children or small adults are
riding in the front seats. On the driver’s
side, the front airbag works with a seat
position sensor that adjusts the inflation
level based on the seating position of the
occupant. Follow all warnings related to
seating a child on the front passenger
seat. For safety of infants and small
children, the front passenger airbag must
be disabled.
• Seat-mounted side airbags: A seat-
mounted side airbag in the front seats
helps protect the pelvis and the thorax
region of the torso. The seat-mounted
side airbags on both the impacted and
non-impacted side of the vehicle will
inflate in the event of severe side impact
or severe oset frontal impact.
• Curtain airbags: Curtain airbags help
protect the head. Curtain airbags on both
the impacted and non-impacted side of
the vehicle will inflate only if a severe side
impact occurs, or if the vehicle rolls over.
Airbags
42 Model 3 Owner's Manual