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 X 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.
Whether or not knee airbags deploy in a
collision is partially dependent on the
track position of the associated seat.
• Seat-mounted side airbags: A seat-
mounted side airbag in the front driver,
front passenger and second row outboard
seats help 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: A curtain airbag on each
side of Model X in the front roof-rail help
protect the head. Curtain airbags on both
the impacted and non-impacted side of
the vehicle will inflate if a severe side
impact occurs, a severe offset frontal
impact occurs, or if the vehicle rolls over.
• Door-mounted airbags: There is an airbag
on each side of Model X mounted in the
trim on the falcon wing doors. These are
the same as the curtain airbags in that
they help protect the head and typically
inflate in the event of a severe side
impact, a severe offset frontal impact, or
if the vehicle rolls over. The door-mounted
airbags on both the impacted and non-
impacted side of the vehicle will inflate.
Passenger Front Airbag Status
The status of the passenger front airbag
displays on the touchscreen:
The Passenger Airbag
Off indicator displays
only when the passenger
front airbag is OFF.
When the passenger
front airbag is OFF, it
does not inflate when a
collision occurs. This
indicator does not
display when the airbag
is ON or 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.
Airbags
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MODEL X Owner's Manual
