Child Safety Seats

Passenger Front Airbag Must Be OFF

Warning

If seating a child on the front passenger seat is permissible in your market region, never seat a child on the front passenger seat when the passenger front airbag is active. Always ensure this airbag is OFF (see Airbag Status Indicator).

Refer to the following label fitted to the sun visors:

Airbag warning label located on the sun visor with 1) a child seat depicted in front seat with a red circle-backslash 2) a deployed airbag with a rear-facing child seat and child 3) a hand pointing to an open book with an "I"

When an infant or child is seated in the front passenger seat (even when the child is seated in a suitable child restraint system or booster seat), you must disable the passenger front airbag. Tesla strongly recommends toggling the airbag switch OFF before placing a child seat in the front passenger seat. If a collision occurs, the inflation of the airbag can cause serious injury or death, especially when using a rear-facing child restraint system.

How to Enable/Disable the Passenger Front Airbag

To disable the passenger front airbag, first ensure the vehicle is in Park. Then touch Controls > Safety > Passenger Front Airbag (see Controlling the Passenger Front Airbag).

Warning

When you disable the passenger front airbag, remember to subsequently enable it when an adult occupant is seated in the front passenger seat.

The status of the passenger front airbag displays in the top corner of the touchscreen. You can also touch this status icon to disable and enable the passenger front airbag:

Icon of passenger with airbag and text: Passenger airbag OFF

Before driving with a child seat on the front passenger seat, always double-check the status of the passenger front airbag to confirm that it is OFF.

Icon of child in child seat with circle-backslash and text: Passenger airbag on

To protect an adult subsequently occupying the front passenger seat, remember to turn the passenger front airbag back ON.

Warning

It is the driver's responsibility to confirm that the passenger front airbag is OFF when a child is seated in the front passenger seat.

Warning

If the passenger front airbag is ON, even if you have turned it OFF (or vice versa), contact Tesla immediately.

Suitability and Fitting of Child Restraint Systems

All Model 3 seat belts are designed for adults. When seating infants and children, you must:

Use a child restraint system appropriate for the child’s age, weight, or size (see Recommended Child Restraint Systems Based on Weight).
Use a child restraint system that is appropriate for the specific seating position in Model 3. Each passenger seat in Model 3 supports a broad range of options. For details on what type of child restraint system can be used in each passenger seat, see Front Passenger Seat and Rear Seats.
Properly install the child restraint system by following the manufacturer's instructions (see Installing Belt-based Child Restraint Systems and Installing ISOFIX/i-Size Child Restraint Systems for general guidelines).

Note

When installing a child restraint system, you must also buckle the seat belt to silence the seat belt warning chime.

Recommended Child Restraint Systems Based on Weight

Tesla provides recommended child restraint systems based a child's weight group (as defined in ECE R44 “Uniform Provisions Concerning Restraining Devices for Child Occupants"). Although all weight groups can occupy any passenger seat in Model 3, the type of child restraint system that can be used in each seat can vary. For example, only belt-based child restraint systems can be used in the rear center passenger seat.


Stature*	Weight Group**	Child Weight	Tesla Recommended
-	Group 0+	Up to 13 kg (12 – 18 months)	Maxi-Cosi CabrioFix & Familyfix 3, Cabriofix i-Size Base
45-105 cm	-	-	Maxi-Cosi Pearl 360 with Familyfix 360
100-150 cm	-	-	Britax Römer KIDFIX I-Size
-	Group III (Booster)	22 - 36 kg	Peg Perego Viaggio 2-3 Shuttle base
* per R129 CRS maker's rating ** per R44 CRS

Seating Larger Children

If a child is too large to fit into a child restraint system, but too small to be safely secured using the vehicle's seat belts, use a booster seat appropriate for the child’s age and size. For children needing a booster seat, Tesla recommends using the base of the Peg Perego Viaggio 2-3 Shuttle. When using and installing a booster seat, carefully follow the instructions provided by the manufacturer.

Two Installation Methods

Note

Always install child restraint systems by following the instructions provided by the manufacturer of the child restraint system.

Among many other variants, there are two general types of child restraint systems based on how they are secured in the seat:

Belt-based - secured using the vehicle’s seat belts (see Installing Belt-based Child Restraint Systems).
ISOFIX/i-Size - secured to anchor bars built into the vehicle's seats (see Installing ISOFIX/i-Size Child Restraint Systems).

Some child restraint systems can be installed using either method. Refer to the instructions provided by the manufacturer of the child restraint system to determine which installation method to use and for detailed installation instructions.

In Model 3, belt-based child restraints can be installed in any passenger seat and ISOFIX/i-Size systems can be installed in either of the rear outboard seats. Specific details about the type of child restraint system that can be used in each seat is provided next.

Note

ISOFIX and i-Size are international standards for integrated anchors used in passenger vehicles to attach child safety seats.

Warning

Do not use ISOFIX/i-Size anchors with child restraint system or booster seats that have an integral safety belt where the combined weight of the child plus the child restraint system exceeds 33 kg.

Front Passenger Seat

Warning

Never seat a child on the front passenger seat when the passenger front airbag is active. Doing so can cause serious injury or death. See Airbags.

Warning

To accommodate a belt-based child restraint system in the front seat, you must raise the seat upward to the mid-height position (approximately 3 cm).

10 images of the front passenger seat. 1) Green check with "Passenger Airbag OFF", 2) Rear-facing child seat with blue arrows pointing backwards and upwards. The following 4 images have green checks 3) forward-facing child seat, 4) rear-facing child seat, 5) booster seat, 6) rear-facing seat with safety leg and the following 4 images using ISOFIX anchor bars have red Xs: 7) forward-facing, callouts A, B, B1, 8) rear-facing, sizes C, D, E, 9) forward-facing with safety leg 10) rear-facing with safety leg

When the passenger front airbag is disabled and the seat bottom is raised half way up, infants and children can occupy the front passenger seat using the following types of belt-based child restraint systems:

Forward-facing, Universal.
Rear-facing, Universal.

Note

The front passenger seat is not equipped with lower anchor bars to support the installation of ISOFIX/i-Size child restraint systems.


Weight Group	Child Weight	Passenger Front Airbag ON	Passenger Front Airbag OFF
Group 0	Up to 10 kg	Not Allowed	Allowed
Group 0+	Up to 13 kg	Not Allowed	Allowed
Group I	9 to 18 kg	Not Allowed	Allowed
Group II	15 to 25 kg	Not Allowed	Allowed
Group III	22 to 36 kg	Not Allowed	Allowed

Rear Seats

Rear Outboard Seats

Infants and children can occupy a rear outboard seat using either belt-based, or ISOFIX (IU)//i-Size (i-U) child restraint systems.

Note

The rear seats support the use of upper tether straps (see Attaching Upper Tether Straps).

Larger children can also occupy a rear outboard seat using a booster seat, either attached to the lower anchor bars or belted, as described in the instructions provided by the child restraint system manufacturer.

The rear outboard seats support the use of the following ISOFIX/i-Size size classes:

Size class A, B, and B1 forward-facing.
Size class C, D and E rear-facing.

Note

To accommodate large rear-facing ISOFIX/i-Size child restraint systems (size class C), you may need to move the corresponding front seat forward to the mid-track position (up to 13 cm forward of the rearmost position), raise the seat upward (2 cm from its lowest position), and angle the seat back as needed.

Warning

Do not use Easy Entry(as described in Driver Profiles) to automatically move the driver's seat to the full rearward position if a child safety seat is installed on a rear seat behind the driver's seat. With reduced clearance, the movement of the seat may impact a child's legs, cause injury, or dislodge the seat.

Rear Center Seat

Infants can occupy the rear center seat using a rear-facing belt-based child restraint system. Children can occupy the rear center seat using either a rear-facing or a forward-facing belt-based child restraint system.

Note

The rear center seat is not equipped with lower anchor bars to support the installation of ISOFIX/i-Size child restraint systems.

Larger children can also occupy a rear center seat using a booster seat, installed as described in the instructions provided by the manufacturer of the child restraint system.

Installing Belt-based Child Restraint Systems

Always follow the detailed instructions provided by the manufacturer of the child restraint system. Follow these general guidelines for belt-based child restraint systems:

Ensure that the child restraint system is appropriate for the weight, height, and age of the child.
Avoid dressing the child in bulky clothing.
Do not place any objects between the child and the child restraint system.
Adjust the child restraint system's harnesses for every child, every trip.

Place the child restraint system in the appropriate seat and fully extend the seat belt. Route and buckle the seat belt in accordance with the instructions provided by the manufacturer of the child restraint system.
Allow the seat belt to retract, and remove all slack in the seat belt while firmly pushing the child restraint system into the vehicle's seat.
Attach the upper tether strap(s), as required by the manufacturer of the child restraint system (see Attaching Upper Tether Straps).

Installing ISOFIX/i-Size Child Restraint Systems

Model 3's rear outboard seating positions are equipped with ISOFIX/i-Size anchor bars. These anchor bars are located between the seat's cushion and back rest. The exact location of each anchor bar is identified by a marking (illustrated below) located on the seat back, directly above its associated anchor bars.

The ISOFIX icon and arrows showing the location of ISOFIX latches.

In the second row, install LATCH/ISOFIX child safety seats in the outboard seating positions only. Use only a seat belt retained seat in the center position.

Two green check marks on outboard second row seats and a red X on the center seat

To install an ISOFIX/i-Size child restraint system, carefully read and follow the instructions provided by the manufacturer of the child restraint system. These instructions describe how to slide the child restraint system onto the seat’s anchor bars until you hear it "click" into place. You may need to push the child restraint system firmly against the seat back to ensure it fits snugly.

A child seat sliding into place with a speech bubble with an exclamation point in it, pointing to the anchor bar

Before seating a child, ensure that the child restraint system is securely installed. Grasp the front of the child restraint system with one hand on each side, and attempt to:

Twist the child restraint system from side to side.
Pull the child restraint system away from the seat.

If the child restraint system rotates or moves away from the seat, both latches are not fully engaged onto the seat's anchor bars. You must reinstall it and try again. It is critical that both latches on the child restraint system are fully engaged.

Warning

Do not use ISOFIX/i-Size anchors with child restraint system or booster seats that have an integral safety belt where the combined weight of the child plus the child restraint system exceeds 33 kg.

Safety Leg

All passenger seats Model 3 support the use of a child restraint system with a safety leg. If the child restraint system is equipped with a leg, extend the leg as described in the instructions provided by the manufacturer of the child restraint system.

Attaching Upper Tether Straps

Model 3's rear seats support the use of upper tether straps. When the instructions provided by the manufacturer of the child restraint system include attaching an upper tether strap, attach its hook to the anchor point located behind the associated seat.

Warning

Tighten upper tether straps according to the instructions provided by the manufacturer of the child restraint system.

The anchor points for tether straps are located on the shelf behind the rear seats.

Location of anchor points behind the rear seats

To access an anchor point, press down on the back of its cover.

1) Anchor point cover 2) Anchor point cover being pushed 3) Tether strap hooking into anchor

For dual-strap tethers, position a strap on each side of the head support.

Straps positioned on either side of the head support

For single-strap tethers at the outboard seating positions, run the strap over the outside-facing side of the head support (same side of the head support as the seat belt retraction mechanism).

Strap running over outside of head support

If running the strap over the outside-facing side of the head support is not possible (such as there is not enough slack in the strap), run the strap under the head support.

Child Restraint System Warnings

Warning

Never seat a child in a child restraint system or a booster seat on the front passenger seat when the passenger front airbag is active. Doing so can cause serious injury or death.

Warning

Never use a rearward facing child restraint system on a seat protected by an active passenger front airbag. Doing so can cause serious injury or death. Refer to the warning label located on the sun visor.

Warning

Some child restraint systems are designed to be secured in vehicle seats by lap belts or the lap belt portion of a lap-shoulder belt. Children could be endangered in a crash if their child restraint systems are not properly secured in the vehicle.

Warning

The seat belt reminder on the touchscreen is not a substitute for checking if a small occupant or a child safety seat is properly secured. The seat occupancy sensors may not identify small occupants or child seats.

Warning

Do not use a forward-facing child restraint system until your child weighs over 9 kg and can sit independently. Up to the age of two, a child's spine and neck are not sufficiently developed to avoid injury in a frontal impact.

Warning

Do not allow a baby or infant to be held on an adult's lap. All children should be restrained in an appropriate child restraint system at all times.

Warning

To ensure children are safely seated, follow all instructions provided in this document and by the manufacturer of the child restraint system.

Warning

Children should ride in a rear-facing child restraint system using the seat’s integrated 5-point harness for as long as possible until they reach the maximum size or weight limit of the rear-facing child restraint system.

Warning

When seating larger children, make sure the child's head is supported and the child’s seat belt is properly adjusted and fastened. The shoulder portion of the belt must be away from the face and neck, and the lap portion must not be over the stomach.

Warning

Never attach two child restraint systems to one anchor point. In a collision, one anchor point may be incapable of securing both seats.

Warning

Child restraint anchor bars are designed to withstand only those loads imposed by correctly fitted child restraints. Under no circumstances are they to be used for adult seat belts, harnesses, or for attaching other items or equipment to the vehicle.

Warning

Always check harnesses and tether straps for damage and wear.

Warning

Never leave a child unattended, even if the child is secured in a child restraint system.

Warning

Never use a child restraint system that has been involved in a collision. Discard the seat and have it replaced as described in the child restraint system manufacturer’s instructions.