Tesla Model 3: 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 affect the
airbag system, contact Tesla.
Types of Airbags
Model 3 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 effectively.
- Seat-mounted side airbags: A seatmounted
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 offset 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.
Passenger Front Airbag Status
The status of the passenger front airbag displays in the top corner of the
touchscreen:
Before driving with a child seat
on the front passenger seat (if legally
permitted in your market region), always double-check the status of the
passenger front airbag to confirm that it is OFF. When the passenger
front 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 front airbag is ON, it
may inflate when a collision occurs.
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Model 3 has an occupancy sensor in the front passenger seat that controls the
status of the front
airbag.
Note: The occupancy classification system (OCS) meets the
regulatory requirement of FMVS
To help ensure an occupant in the front
passenger seat can be accurately classified,
the passenger must:
Wear a seat belt.
Sit upright on the center of the seat
cushion, with shoulders
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 air
SEE MORE:
Transport Mode keeps the parking brake
disengaged while winching Model 3 onto a
flatbed truck. When active, Transport Mode
displays a message indicating that the vehicle
will remain free-rolling. The following are
required to enable Transport Mode:
12V power is required. You are unable to
Install
Set the front body controller module where it installs into the vehicle,
and then tilt the module forward
Install the ground strap to the lower rear of the front body controller
module, and then install the bolt that attaches the ground strap to the
module.
Torque 9 Nm