2021 Tesla Model Y Lights Owners Manual

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.

In addition to the lights you can control from the touchscreen, Model Y 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 Y, 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 Y. 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 Y. 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.

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 Y, 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 Y powers off. If Model Y was already powered off when you manually turned the light on, it turns off after 60 minutes.

Ambient Lights

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

Auto High Beam

If you turn on Auto High Beam, your vehicle automatically switches from high beam headlights to low beam headlights when light is detected in front of Model Y. See High Beam Headlights.

Headlights After Exit

If you turn on Headlights after Exit, the exterior lights remain on for a short period of time after you stop driving and park Model Y in low lighting conditions. See Headlights After Exit.

Steering Wheel Lights

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

There are two reading lights in the second-row seating area, both above the door and next to the coat hangers (see Coat Hangers). Turn an individual reading light on or off by pressing its lens. The reading light will automatically turn off when Model Y powers off.

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 Y (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.

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 Y) 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.

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

When Headlights after Exit is on, the exterior headlights remain on when you stop driving and park Model Y in low lighting conditions. They automatically turn off after one minute or when Model Y 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.

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.

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.

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.