Tesla Motors Inc 1048598 Manuel D’Utilisation

Passenger Front Airbag

Model X has an occupancy sensor in the front
passenger seat that controls the status of the
airbags based on the weight of the occupant.
Passenger airbag status displays in the top
right corner of the touchscreen to indicate

whether the airbag will inflate (on) or not

inflate (off) if a collision occurs.

Note: The occupancy sensor system meets the

regulatory requirement of FMVSS 208 and

automatically detects when inflating the

passenger front airbags would be unnecessary

or potentially harmful.

Front passenger seat
occupancy*

Passenger airbag
status

Empty

OFF

Infant in child safety
seat (up to 20 lbs/
9kg)

OFF

Child or small
occupant

(20-100 lbs/9-45 kg)

ON or OFF

Heavy object/
occupant

ON

*Values are approximate. Occupants whose
weight is close to the low weight threshold

can cause the status to occasionally turn on
and off depending on seating position and
physique.

Note: It takes approximately six seconds after
you power on Model X for the occupancy
sensor to report accurate status of the front
passenger airbag. As a result, when you first
power on Model X, the status defaults to PASS
AIRBAG ON, even in situations when it should
be OFF because the seat is either empty or
carrying a weight of 20 lbs (9 kg) or less.
However, after the six second initialization, the
status should display as PASS AIRBAG OFF. If

it fails to do so, contact Tesla service
immediately and seat passengers in the rear
seating positions only.

If the status shows the airbag as permanently

on, even when the seat is empty and the seat
belt is unbuckled, 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 affects the operation of the passenger

front and side airbags only. The other

passenger airbags are not affected.

Warning: Never seat a child on the front
passenger seat, even if the passenger
airbag is off. All occupants age 12 and
under must ride in the second and rear
row seats (see 

23).

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 X. Doing so could restrict
deployment of the side air bags if an
accident occurs. It can also reduce the
accuracy of the occupant detection
system.

Inflation Effects

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 effect for the occupants
and to ensure the driver’s forward vision is not
obscured.

Airbags

32

Model X Owner's Manual