Rear Trunk

Opening

To open the rear trunk, ensure Model S is in Park, then do one of the following:

  • Touch Controls > Trunk on the touchscreen.
  • Double-click the rear trunk button on the key fob.
  • Touch the rear trunk button on the mobile app.
  • Press the switch located under the liftgate's exterior handle (a valid key must be detected).
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Note
If Passive Entry is off, you must use a key fob to unlock Model S before you can use the switch to open the liftgate. See Using the Key Fob.
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CAUTION
Before opening the liftgate in an enclosed area (such as a garage), ensure the opening height of the liftgate is properly adjusted to avoid low-hanging ceilings or objects (see Adjusting Liftgate Opening Height).

Model S must be unlocked or detect a key before you can use the switch to open the liftgate.

Rear of vehicle with zoombox showing detail of the switch on the rear trunk exterior handle
Red icon of vehicle with doors open

When a door, trunk or liftgate is open, the instrument panel displays the Door Open indicator light. The image of your Model S on the touchscreen also displays the open trunk.

To stop a liftgate while it is moving, single-click the rear trunk button on the key fob. Then, when you double-click the rear trunk button, it moves again, but in the opposite direction (provided it was not almost entirely open or closed when you stopped it). For example, if you single-click to stop the liftgate while opening, when you double-click, it closes.

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Note
In emergency situations, you can override an open or close command by grasping the liftgate to stop it in place.

To open the liftgate from inside the vehicle in the unlikely situation that Model S has no power, see Interior Emergency Trunk Release.

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Warning
Before opening or closing the liftgate, check the surrounding area (for people and objects). You must proactively monitor the liftgate to ensure that it does not come into contact with a person or object. Failure to do so may result in damage or injury.

Adjusting Liftgate Opening Height

If Model S is equipped with a liftgate, you can adjust its opening height to make it easier to reach or to avoid low-hanging ceilings or objects (for example, a garage door or light):

  1. Open the trunk, then manually lower or raise the liftgate to the desired opening height.
  2. Press and hold the button on the underside of the liftgate for three seconds until you hear a confirmation chime.
    A button on the underside of the liftgate with an image of a car with a its trunk open
  3. Confirm that you have set it to the desired height by closing the liftgate, then reopening it.
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CAUTION
Depending on configuration (such as suspension height or wheel selection), your vehicle's liftgate can open up to approximately 2.3 meters high. Adjust the liftgate height to prevent it from coming into contact with low ceilings or other objects.

Closing

If Model S is not equipped with a liftgate, close the rear trunk by pulling down on the liftgate and pushing firmly until it is fully closed.

To close the liftgate, do one of the following:

  • Touch Controls > Trunk.
  • Double-click the rear trunk button on the key fob.
  • Press the switch located on the underside of the liftgate

If the liftgate senses an obstruction when closing, it stops moving and chimes two times. Remove the obstruction and try closing it again.

If the liftgate loses its calibration when opened, the liftgate chimes three times and does not move. To restore calibration, manually pull the liftgate down to close it.

Interior Release

To open the rear trunk from inside a Model S equipped with the Tesla Built-In Rear Facing Child Seats, press the interior release switch located inside the rear trunk and push the liftgate up. If Model S is locked and is equipped with a liftgate, the first press unlocks the rear trunk and the second press opens it.

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Note
If Model S is not equipped with the Tesla Rear Facing Child Seats, the switch may appear to exist, but it is inactive and pressing it does not release the liftgate.
Interior of rear trunk with a zoombox of liftgate switch on side wall of trunk

If Model S is equipped with the power liftgate, you do not need to push it up. When you press the release switch, it opens, and when you pull the switch, it closes.

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Note
The interior release switch is disabled if child-protection locks are turned on (see Child-Protection Lock), or if Model S is moving.

Accessing the Cargo Area

To access the cargo area inside the rear trunk, pull up the strap at the rear of the cargo cover. You can then fold the cargo cover forward or remove it from Model S.

Secure all cargo before moving Model S, and place heavy cargo in the lower trunk compartment.

Rear trunk with arrow pointing to the cargo cover strap

Rear Trunk Load Limits

Distribute the weight of cargo as evenly as possible between the front and rear trunks.

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CAUTION
Never load more than 80 kgin the upper compartment of the rear trunk or more than 285 lbs (130 kg) in the lower compartment. Doing so can cause damage.
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Warning
When loading cargo, always consider the vehicle's Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) (see Specifications). The GVWR is the maximum allowable total mass of the vehicle including all passengers, fluids, and cargo.

Interior Emergency Trunk Release

An illuminated mechanical release located inside the rear trunk allows you to open the rear trunk from the inside if Model S has no electrical power. This mechanical release also allows a person locked inside to get out.

Latch with icon of car with rear trunk open and a blue arrow pointing up; Same latch open with an arrow pointing out
  1. Remove the cover by pulling its lower edge very firmly toward you.
  2. Pull the cable to release the latch.
  3. Push the rear trunk open.
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Note
The button glows for several hours after a brief exposure to ambient light.
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Warning
Do not allow children to play inside the trunk or become locked inside. An unrestrained child could suffer serious injury or death in a crash. A child could suffer heat exhaustion or death if trapped in the vehicle, especially without climate control on.