Model 3

2021 Tesla Model 3 Lights Owners Manual

Contents hide

1 2021 Tesla Model 3 Lights

2 Controlling Lights

3 High Beam Headlights

4 Headlights After Exit

5 Headlight Adjustments

6 Turn Signals

7 Hazard Warning Flashers

2021 Tesla Model 3 Lights

Controlling Lights

Touch Controls > Lights on the touchscreen to access all light controls, both interior and exterior. You can also pull the turn signal stalk toward you to display a popup that provides quick access to exterior lights. For example, you can turn the headlights on or off continuously (overriding the default Auto High Beam setting). The lights popup allows you to adjust all exterior light settings, including parking lights, fog lights (if equipped), etc. The setting you choose is retained for the current drive only.

Note

If the touchscreen is already displaying the full Controls screen for lights, pulling the turn signal stalk does not display the quick access popup. In addition to the lights you can control from the touchscreen, Model 3 has convenience lights that operate automatically based on what you are doing. For example, in low ambient lighting conditions, the interior lights, marker lights, tail lights, and puddle lights turn on when you unlock Model 3, when you open a door, and when you shift into Park. They turn off after a minute or two, when you shift or lock Model 3. Use these settings to control your vehicle’s interior and exterior lights:

Headlights

Exterior lights (headlights, tail lights, side marker lights, parking lights, and license plate lights) are set to AUTO each time you start Model 3. When set to AUTO, exterior lights automatically turn on when driving in low lighting conditions. If you change to a different setting, lights always revert to AUTO on your next drive. Touch one of these options to temporarily change the exterior light setting:

OFF: Exterior lights turn off until you manually turn them back on or until the next time you drive.
PARKING: Only the exterior side marker lights, parking lights, tail lights and license plate lights turn on.
ON: Exterior lights turn on.

Note

Any exterior lights (for example, daytime running lights) that are required to remain on in your market region will turn on as appropriate when driving, when parked on specific types of roads, etc. Model 3 has a series of LED lights along the rim of the headlights, also referred to as “signature” lights. These lights automatically turn on whenever Model 3 is powered on and a drive mode (Drive or Reverse) is engaged.

CAUTION

The rear tail lights are off when daytime running lights are on. Be sure the rear lights are on during low rear visibility conditions (for example, when it is dark, foggy, snowy, or the road is wet, etc.). Failure to do so can cause damage or serious injury. Always ensure that headlights are on during low visibility conditions. Failure to do so may result in a collision.

Fog Lights

A separate control is available to turn on fog lights (if equipped). When on, fog lights operate whenever low beam headlights are on. When headlights are turned off, fog lights also turn off.

Dome Lights

Turn the interior dome (map) lights on or off. If set to AUTO, all interior dome lights turn on when you unlock Model 3, open a door upon exiting, or shift into Park.

You can also manually turn an individual dome light on or off by pressing its lens. If you manually turn a dome light on, it turns off when Model 3 powers off. If Model 3 was already powered off when you manually turned the light on, it turns off after 60 minutes.

Note

To control the backlighting on the steering wheel buttons, touch Controls > Lights > Steering Wheel Lights. If on, they turn on whenever headlights are on.

Ambient Lights
When enabled, interior ambient lights turn on whenever the headlights are on.

Steering Wheel Lights
If you turn on Steering Wheel Lights, the arrows associated with the scroll buttons are backlit in low ambient lighting conditions.

High Beam Headlights

By default, Auto High Beam is enabled to allow high beam headlights to automatically switch to low beam when there is light detected in front of Model 3 (for example, from an oncoming vehicle). To control this feature, touch Controls > Lights > Auto High Beam or touch Auto on the lights popup that displays on the touchscreen when you pull the turn signal stalk toward you.

Note

Auto High Beam is automatically enabled when Autosteer is engaged for vehicles manufactured after approximately April 27, 2021. To switch to low beam headlights, push the turn signal stalk forward and release. Auto High Beam is re-enabled every time Autosteer is activated. In situations where high beam headlights are off (for example, lights are turned off, or Auto High Beam is active and light is detected in front of Model 3) or you are driving in daylight, you can temporarily turn on high beams by pulling the turn signal stalk toward you. When you release, high beam headlights turn off (unless of course, Auto High Beam is engaged and light is not detected in front of you). To briefly flash the high beam headlights, pull the turn signal stalk towards you and immediately release.

Note

Your chosen setting is retained until you manually change it.

The following indicator lights are visible on the touchscreen to show the status of the headlights:

Low beam headlights are on.

High beam headlights are on and Auto High Beam is disabled or currently unavailable.

Auto High Beam is enabled and high beams are on. Model 3 is ready to turn off the high beams if light is detected.

Auto High Beam is enabled but high beams are not on because light is detected in front of Model 3. When light is no longer detected, high beams automatically turn back on.

Warning

Auto High Beam is an aid only and is subject to limitations. It is the driver’s responsibility to make sure that the headlights are appropriately adjusted for weather conditions and driving circumstances.

Headlights After Exit

When Headlights after Exit is on, the exterior headlights remain on when you stop driving and park Model 3 in low lighting conditions. They automatically turn off after one minute or when Model 3 locks. When off, headlights turn off when you engage Park and open a door. To turn this feature on or off, touch Controls > Lights > Headlights after Exit.

Headlight Adjustments

To adjust the angle of the headlights, touch Controls > Service > Adjust Headlights, then follow the onscreen instructions. You can choose which headlight you would like to adjust by selecting it on the touchscreen.

Note

Headlights do not require adjustments when temporarily driving into a region where the traffic direction is different (for example, driving in right-hand traffic region, and then driving into a region with left-hand traffic).

Warning

Proceed with caution when adjusting headlights. Tesla has carefully calibrated the position of the headlights to be in an optimum position for most driving scenarios. Tesla recommends that you do not adjust headlights unless you are familiar with how headlights should be adjusted. Once adjusted, you will be unable to automatically restore them to their originally calibrated position. Contact Tesla for assistance when adjusting headlights.

Turn Signals

The turn signals flash three times or continuously, depending on how far up or down you move the stalk. Lightly push the turn signal stalk up or down for a three-flash sequence. For a continuous signal, push the stalk fully up or down.

The turn signals stop operating when canceled by the steering wheel, by moving the stalk in the opposite direction, or lightly pushing the stalk in the same direction once more.

The corresponding turn signal indicator lights up on the touchscreen when a turn signal is operating. Model 3 also emits a clicking sound.

Warning

When actively using Traffic-Aware Cruise Control, engaging a turn signal can cause Model 3 to accelerate in specific situations (see Overtake Acceleration). When actively using Autosteer, engaging a turn signal can cause Model 3 to change lanes (see Auto Lane Change).

Hazard Warning Flashers

To turn on the hazard warning flashers, press the button located above the rear view mirror. All turn signals flash. Press the button again to turn off the hazard warning flashers.

Note

Hazard warning flashers operate even when Model 3 cannot detect a key.

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