2021 Tesla Model Y Front and Rear Seats
Correct Driving Position
The seat, head support, seat belt and airbags work together to maximize your safety. Using these correctly ensures greater protection.
Position the seat so you can wear the seat belt correctly while being as far away from the front airbag as possible:
- Sit upright with both feet on the floor and the seat back reclined no more than 30 degrees.
- Make sure you can easily reach the pedals and that your arms are slightly bent when holding the steering wheel. Your chest should be at least 10 inches (25 cm) from the center of the airbag cover.
- Place the shoulder section of the seat belt mid-way between your neck and your shoulder. Fit the lap section of the belt tightly across your hips, not across your stomach.
Model Y seats include integrated head supports in the front that cannot be adjusted or removed.
Adjusting the Front Seats
- Move seat forward/backward and adjust the seat’s height and tilt angle up/down.
- Adjust backrest.
- Adjust lumbar support (if equipped).
Adjusting Second Row Seat Backs
Model Y provides seating for up to three passengers in the second row. The seat back is split 60/40 so adjusting the left seat back moves the seat backs for both the left and center seating positions, whereas adjusting the right seat back moves only the rightmost seat back.
For vehicles with 5 seats:
Use the adjustment handles on the outside corner of each second-row outboard seat back to adjust the corresponding seat back. While pulling and holding the handle, move the seat back to the desired position, and then release the handle. Ensure the seat back is securely latched into position by pushing it forward and rearward.
For vehicles with 7 seats:
Use the adjustment handles on the side shield of each outboard seating position to adjust the corresponding second-row seat backs. While pulling and holding the handle, move the seat back to the desired position, and then release the handle. Ensure the seat back is securely latched into position by pushing it forward and rearward.
Folding Second Row Seat Backs
To maximize cargo space, each second-row seat back can be folded fully forward to lay flat. While pulling and holding the handle, push the corresponding seat back fully forward.
To allow you to carry long items (such as skis) in the rear of Model Y, the center seat back can also be independently folded forward. Pull the handle on the rear of the seat back to unlatch it, then pull it forward.
You can also fold the second-row seatbacks fully forward by pressing the corresponding switch located on the left side of the rear trunk. Pressing the switch causes the seat back to swing forward. You can then push it down so it lays fully flat.
To return the seat back to their upright position, pull it upwards until it locks into place. To confirm that the seat back is locked in the upright position, try pulling it forward.
Moving Second Row Seats (7-seater only)
Lift the bar located beneath each outboard seating position to unlock and move the second row seats forward or rearward. The bench seats have a 60/40 split. Therefore, the bar on the left side moves the seat for the left and center seats, whereas the bar on the right side moves only the rightmost seat. Pull up and hold the bar while moving the seat forward or rearward. Release the lever when the seat is at the desired location. Push the seat rearward and forward to ensure the seat(s) are locked into position.
Accessing Third Row Seats (7-seater only)
A third row ingress button is located on the backrest of each second row outside seat. This button makes it easy for passengers to access the third row seating positions. To access a third row seat:
- Press the button on the associated second row backrest.
NoteIf you press the button and do not move the seats, the seats relock.
- Push the second row backrest forward. The seat then releases and pitches upward.
- Push the seat fully forward.
To relock the seats, first push the seat rearward. You will hear the seat tracks lock. Then push the seat downward to engage the rear latches onto the floor strikes. You will hear the latches lock. If the seat does not latch onto the floor, the touchscreen displays a warning indicating that the seat is not properly locked into position.
Folding Third Row Seat Backs (7-seater only)
To fold a third-row seat, first ensure that the head support is fully down as shown (see Head Supports). Then press the button located in the top corner of the seat back and fold the backrest downward.
Head Supports
The front seats include integrated head supports that you can not adjust.
The second-row outboard seats include adjustable head support that you can raise, lower, or remove. When either of these seats is occupied by a passenger that is not in a child safety seat, the corresponding head support should be adjusted (align the center of the head support with the center of the ears) and locked into position. To raise a head support on a second row outboard seat, pull it upward to the desired position. To lower it, press and hold the button on the base of the outer post while pushing it downward.
The second-row center seat, and both third-row seats (if equipped), are equipped with the option to raise a head support. Initially stowed into the seat’s back rest, you can access the head support by pulling it upward.
To stow the head support in the second row center seat, press and hold the button on the base of the post while pushing the head support fully downward.
Removing/Installing a Head Support
All head supports in the second and third-row (if equipped) seating positions can be removed. To remove head support:
- Fully raise the head support by pulling it upward.
- Press and hold the button located at the base of one of the posts.
- Insert a short, flat object (such as a small flat-head screwdriver) into the opening in the base of the opposite post and pull the head support upward.
To re-install the head support:
- With the front of the head support facing forward, insert both posts into the corresponding holes on the seat back.
- Press downward on the head support until it clicks into place.
- Pull upward on the head support to ensure that it is secure.
Seat Heaters
The front and second-row seats contain heating pads that operate at three levels from 3 (highest) to 1 (lowest). To operate the seat heaters, see Climate Controls.