WARNING:
Never place anything
between you and the seat belt to
cushion the impact in the event of a
collision.
Seat Belt Pre-tensioners
The front seat belts are equipped with
pre
‑
tensioners that work in conjunction with
the airbags in a severe frontal collision. The
pre
‑
tensioners automatically retract both the
seat belt anchor and the seat belt webbing,
reducing slack in both the lap and diagonal
portions of the belts, resulting in reduced
forward movement of the occupant.
The outboard seats are equipped with
shoulder pre-tensioners to retract the seat
belt webbing to reduce forward movement of
the occupant.
If the pre-tensioners and airbags did not
activate in an impact, this does not mean they
malfunctioned. It usually means that the
strength or type of force needed to activate
them was not present.
WARNING:
Once the seat belt pre-
tensioners have been activated, they
must be replaced. After any collision,
have the airbags, seat belt pre-
tensioners and any associated
components checked and, if
necessary, replaced.
Testing Seat Belts
To confirm that seat belts are operating
correctly, perform these three simple checks
on each seat belt.
1. With the seat belt fastened, give the
webbing nearest the buckle a quick pull.
The buckle should remain securely locked.
2. With the belt unfastened, unreel the
webbing to its limit. Check that unreeling
is free from snags, and visually check the
webbing for wear. Allow the webbing to
retract, checking that retraction is smooth
and complete.
3. With the webbing half unreeled, hold the
tongue plate and pull forward quickly. The
mechanism should lock automatically and
prevent further unreeling.
If a seat belt fails any of these tests, contact
Tesla immediately.
For information about cleaning seat belts, see
Seat Belt Warnings
WARNING:
Seat belts should be worn
by all occupants at all times, even if
driving for a very short distance.
Failure to do so increases the risk of
injury or death if a collision occurs.
WARNING:
Secure small children in a
suitable child safety seat as described
in the Child Safety Seat topic. Always
follow the child safety seat
manufacturer's instructions when
installing.
Seat Belts
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MODEL S OWNER'S MANUAL