How 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 minor impacts with narrow
objects (such as posts or poles). 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 aect the
airbag system, contact Tesla.
Types of Airbags
Model S has the following types of airbags:
• Front airbags: The front airbags are
designed to reduce injuries if larger
children or adults are riding in the front
seats. Follow all warnings and instructions
related to seating a child on the front
passenger seat (if permitted in your
market region).
• Knee airbags: Knee airbags and the front
airbags work together. The knee airbags
limit the forward motion of the front seat
occupants by restricting leg movement,
thereby positioning the occupants so that
the front airbags work more eectively.
• Side airbags: Side airbags protect the
thorax region of the torso and the pelvis.
They inflate only if a severe side impact
occurs. Side airbags on the non-impacted
side of the vehicle do not inflate.
• 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.
Passenger Front Airbag Status
The status of the passenger front airbag
displays in the top corner of the touchscreen:
Before driving with a child
seated on the front passenger
seat (if permitted in your market
region), always double-check the
status of the passenger front
airbag to confirm that it is OFF.
When the passenger airbag is
OFF, it will not inflate when a
collision occurs. This indicator
also displays when the seat is
unoccupied.
To protect an adult occupying
the front passenger seat, ensure
the passenger front airbag is ON.
When the passenger airbag is
ON, it may inflate when a
collision occurs
Warning: If seating a child in the front
passenger seat is legally permissible in
your market region, it is the driver's
responsibility to ensure that the
passenger front airbag is OFF. Never seat
a child in the front passenger seat with an
active airbag, even if using a child safety
Airbags
38 Model S Owner's Manual
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