Child Safety Seats

Never Seat a Child in the Front Passenger Seat

Warning

Do not seat an infant or a child on the front passenger seat, even if using a child safety seat or booster seat and the front passenger airbag is turned off. The front passenger seat may inflate when a collision occurs causing DEATH or SERIOUS INJURY to the child. Children must ride in the rear seats only.

Refer to the following label fitted to the sun visor.

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

Tesla strongly recommends toggling the airbag switch OFF before placing a child seat in the front passenger seat.

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

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 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 rear 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	Group I	9-18 kg	Maxi-Cosi Mica Pro Eco i-Size
100-150 cm	Group II	15-25 kg	Britax Römer KIDFIX i-Size
-	Group III	22 to 36 kg	Britax Romer Kidfix i-Size
-	Booster		Britax Romer Kidfix i-Size (backless booster only)
* per R129 CRS maker's rating ** per R44 CRS

Britax Romer KIDFIX i-Size

When using the Britax Romer KidFix-Size child restraint system as recommended by Tesla for children in group II and group III, you must also use the Britax SecureGuard. When using the Britax SecureGuard, keep the lap belt flat across the child’s hips. Do not put the sash belt under the SecureGuard. For details, refer to the instructions provided by Britax.

The Side Impact Cushion Technology (SICT)™ should be extended when the child seat is installed on the outboard seating positions. Only the SICT closer to the side door needs to be extended. Further the XP-PAD on the child seat should never be removed. Please see the child seat owners manual for further details.

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 Britax Romer Kidfix I-Size backless booster with SecureGuard removed. 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.

Rear Seats

10 images of the rear outboard seats. 1) Green checks in outboard seats with blue arrows pointing to ISOFIX latches and a blue arrow pointing to strap location, 2) Rear-facing child seat and arrows pointing forward and upwards on the front seat. The following 8 images have green checks 3) forward-facing child seat, 4) rear-facing child seat, 5) booster seat, 6) forward-facing child seat with safety leg using ISOFIX anchor bars, 7) rear-facing child seat with safety leg using ISOFIX anchor bars, 8) close-up of safety leg, 9) forward-facing child seat using ISOFIX anchor bars and callouts A, B, B1, 10) rear-facing child seat using ISOFIX anchor bars and callouts C, D, E

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.

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 ISOFIX/iSize 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.

Note

The rear headrests do not move.

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

Technical Information

ECE 16-07 Annex 17, Appendix 3, Table 1


	Seat Position Number (see below)
	1 and 3 Pass Airbag OFF	1 and 3 Pass Airbag ON	4	5	6
Weight Groups Allowed	n/a	n/a	0, 0+, I, II, III	0, 0+, I, II, III	0, 0+, I, II, III
Suitable for universal belted?	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
Suitable for i-Size?	No	No	Yes	No	Yes
Suitable for lateral (L1/L2)?	No	No	No	No	No
Largest suitable rearward-facing ISOFIX/i-Size (R1/R2X/R2/R3).	No	No	R3¹	No	R3 ¹
Largest suitable forward-facing ISOFIX/i-Size (F1/F2X/F2/F3).	No	No	F3	No	F3
Largest suitable booster seat (B2/B3).	No	No	B3	B3	B3
Suitable for safety leg	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
¹ To accommodate large 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 (3 cm from its lowest position), and angle the seat back to 15 degrees (or 10 degrees rearward from its forward-most position).

Summary of Seat Position Numbers


Seat Position	Location in Vehicle
1	Front Left (RHD vehicles only)
2	Front Center - not applicable to Model 3
3	Front Right (LHD vehicles only)
4	Rear Row Left
5	Rear Row Center
6	Rear Row Right

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.