Emergencies can strike when least expected, and in such situations, knowing how to swiftly release the doors of your Tesla can be a crucial lifesaving skill.
Tesla’s unique door mechanisms may not always rely on conventional methods, making it essential for Tesla owners to understand the specific steps for emergency door release.
In this article, we will guide you through the necessary procedures for releasing Tesla doors from both the inside and outside, equipping you with the knowledge to act decisively in critical situations.
Whether you are a seasoned Tesla owner or a recent one, this information is indispensable for ensuring safety during unexpected emergencies. Let’s explore the intricacies of Tesla’s door release mechanisms and the precise steps to follow in emergency scenarios.
Emergency Door Release From Inside
The emergency release mechanisms on Tesla doors are different from model to model. But fear not, we will share with you all the processes-
Tesla Model S
Old and recent versions of Model S have different processes.
Tesla Model S (2021 – Present)
Opening Front and Rear Doors with Power
If your vehicle has power, then all you need to open the door from inside is press the button located on the door panel as shown in the image below.
Opening Front Doors without Power
If your vehicle has no power or the button is not working in an emergency situation, you can use the mechanical release handle located on the door as shown in the image below.
Opening Rear Doors without Power
There are mechanical release cables on your Model S for opening the rear doors without power. The cables are located under back seats carpet. Fold back the carpet to find them and pull the cables towards center of your car for the door lock to release.
Tesla Model S (2016 – 2021)
If you have an older Tesla Model S (pre 2021 version), then the process for you to open the door in an emergency is different. Follow the guide-
Opening Doors with Power
If your vehicle has power, then all you need is to pull the door handle towards you to open the door.
It should unlock all the doors of your car unless the Child Lock is enabled for the rear doors. In that case, you will need to disable Child Lock and then try the process for the rear doors to open.
Opening Doors without Power
If the car is without power or for any other reason, the above-mentioned method did not work, you can try the emergency door release cables for the rear doors. They are found under your car seat hidden by the carpet.
Fold the carpet and pull the cables towards the center of your car and you should have your doors opened.
Tesla Model X
Opening the Front Doors
It is easy to open the front door in an emergency. Just pull the mechanical release handle located in the door. Whether your car have power or not, this is the way to go for the front doors on Model X.
Opening the Falcon Wing Doors
If your car has power, use the button on the B-pillar to release the door.
However, if the car does not have power, you need to use the release cable located inside the speaker grill on the Falcon Wing Doors. To access the release cable, remove the speaker grill. Now, pull the cable towards the front of the car. After that, you will need to life the falcon wing door manually with your hand.
Tesla Model 3 & Model Y
If your Tesla Model 3 or Model Y has power, then you can simply use the button on the door panel to release the door in an emergency.
However, if there is no power to work with, you need to use the mechanical release handle on the front door to get out of the car.
There is no manual way to open the rear doors on Tesla Model 3 or Model Y.
Important Note Regarding Emergency Door Release
The manual emergency door release available on each of the Tesla Models are for using in emergency situations. Using the emergency release may cause damage to the door and the window trim. So, I would recommend you to not engage emergency release unless it is really an emergency.
Emergency Door Release from Outside
Tesla Model S and Model X
To open the doors from outside, you can press the handle of the door located outside.
Tesla Model 3 and Model Y
For opening doors from outside, you will need to press the wide of the door handle inwards and then pull the handle to open the door.
NOTE: There is no way to open the doors from outside if the vehicle has no power in any of the Tesla Models.