2016 Tesla Model S

large luxury car / 4-door hatchback

Fully electric
2016 Tesla Model S 4-door hatchback

Crashworthiness

Rating overview
Small overlap front: driver-side
Moderate overlap front: original test
Side: original test
Roof strength
Head restraints & seats

Crash avoidance & mitigation

Headlights (varies by trim/option)
Front crash prevention: vehicle-to-vehicle
Standard system (built after October 2016)
Superior

Seat belts & child restraints

LATCH ease of use

Other available safety features

  • Optional blind spot detection
  • Optional lane departure warning
  • Optional lane departure prevention

Key

  • G
    Good
  • A
    Acceptable
  • M
    Marginal
  • P
    Poor
  • Superior
  • Advanced
  • Basic

Some ratings use a scale of Poor to Good. Others range from Basic to Superior.

Small overlap front: driver-side

Rating applies to 2016-17 models built after September 2016 and before February 2017

Tested vehicle: 2016 Tesla Model S 60 4-door

The Tesla Model S was introduced in the 2012 model year. The car is a plug-in battery-electric vehicle with no gasoline or diesel engine to help power the car.

Beginning with 2016 models built after September 2016, the side curtain airbags were lengthened to improve occupant protection in small overlap frontal crashes. Later, beginning with 2017 models built after January 2017, the driver seat belt was modified with the intent of reducing driver forward movement in a frontal crash. (Information about when a specific vehicle was manufactured is on the certification label typically affixed to the car on the driver door or adjacent B-pillar.)

Two tests of the Model S were conducted by the Institute on cars built before and after the driver seat belt modification. Because there were no structural changes, the structure rating is based on the tests of both cars, the first a 2016 model and the second a 2017 model.

The small overlap frontal rating of the Model S applies to the 75 and tested 60 variants, but does not apply to higher-performance variants, including the 100 and since-discontinued 90, which have larger batteries.

Overall evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Chest
Hip/thigh
Lower leg/foot
Driver restraints and dummy kinematics
In the first test, the dummy’s head contacted the frontal airbag but started to slide off the left side because the seat belt allowed excessive forward excursion of the head and torso. The side curtain airbag deployed and has sufficient forward coverage to protect the head from contact with side structure and outside objects. The side torso airbag also deployed. Dummy head movement and airbag interaction was similar in the second test.

Action shot taken during first of two small overlap frontal crash tests.

The dummy's position in relation to the door frame, steering wheel, and instrument panel after the first crash test indicates that the driver's survival space was maintained well.

In both tests, the seat belt allowed far too much forward movement of the dummy to the extent that its head hit the steering wheel hard through the airbag (first test shown).

In the first test, forces on the right lower leg were just high enough to indicate a moderate risk of injury (the knee airbag has been pulled upward to make both dummy's legs visible).

Technical measurements for this test

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side

Test ID CEN1630 CEN1708
Lower occupant compartment
Lower hinge pillar max (cm) 4 28
Footrest (cm) 1 22
Left toepan (cm) 1 10
Brake pedal (cm) 1 6
Parking brake (cm)
Rocker panel lateral average (cm) 0 1
Upper occupant compartment
Steering column 0 0
Upper hinge pillar max (cm) 4 2
Upper dash (cm) 4 9
Lower instrument panel (cm) 4 12

Driver injury measures

Test ID CEN1630
Head
HIC-15 262
Peak gs at hard contact 77
Neck
Tension (kN) 1.4
Extension bending moment (Nm) 5
Maximum Nij 0.29
Chest maximum compression (mm) 19
Femur (kN)
Left 1.0
Right 0.6
Knee displacement (mm)
Left 0
Right 1
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left 0
Right 0
Maximum tibia index
Left 0.53
Right 0.49
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left 2.8
Right 4.1
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 68
Right 100

About the small overlap front test

Moderate overlap front: original test

Rating applies to 2016-17 models built after October 2016

Tested vehicle: 2016 Tesla Model S 60 4-door

The Tesla Model S was introduced in the 2012 model year. The car is a plug-in battery-electric vehicle with no gasoline or diesel engine to help power the car.

Beginning with 2016 models built after October 2016, a structural brace between the frame and rocker panel was reinforced and deployment guides were added to the side curtain airbags to improve occupant protection in moderate overlap frontal crashes. (Information about when a specific vehicle was manufactured is on the certification label typically affixed to the car on the driver door or adjacent B-pillar.)

Overall evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Chest
Leg/foot, left
Leg/foot, right
Driver restraints and dummy kinematics

Action shot taken during the moderate overlap frontal crash test.

The dummy's position in relation to the steering wheel and instrument panel after the crash test indicates that the driver's survival space was maintained very well.

Smeared greasepaint indicates where the dummy's head contacted the side curtain airbag during rebound.

Intrusion into the driver's space was minimal, and all leg and foot injury measures were low.

Technical measurements for this test

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side

Test ID CEF1611
Footwell intrusion
Footrest (cm) 1
Left (cm) 2
Center (cm) 2
Right (cm) 2
Brake pedal (cm) 2
Instrument panel rearward movement
Left (cm) 1
Right (cm) 2
Steering column movement
Upward (cm) -2
Rearward (cm) -6
A-pillar rearward movement (cm) 0

Driver injury measures

Test ID CEF1611
Head
HIC-15 323
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 1.4
Extension bending moment (Nm) 15
Maximum Nij 0.28
Chest maximum compression (mm) 23
Legs
Femur force - left (kN) 1.0
Femur force - right (kN) 0.7
Knee displacement - left (mm) 0
Knee displacement - right (mm) 1
Maximum tibia index - left 0.27
Maximum tibia index - right 0.28
Tibia axial force - left (kN) 2.4
Tibia axial force - right (kN) 3.3
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 46
Right 71

About the original moderate overlap front test

Side: original test

Rating applies to 2016-17 models built after October 2016

Tested vehicle: 2016 Tesla Model S 60 4-door

The Tesla Model S was introduced in the 2012 model year. The car is a plug-in battery-electric vehicle with no gasoline or diesel engine to help power the car.

Beginning with 2016 models built after October 2016, the B-pillars and roof rails were reinforced and deployment guides were added to the side curtain airbags to improve occupant protection in side impact crashes. (Information about when a specific vehicle was manufactured is on the certification label typically affixed to the car on the driver door or adjacent B-pillar.)

Overall evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Torso
Pelvis/leg
Driver head protection
Rear passenger injury measures
Head/neck
Torso
Pelvis/leg
Rear passenger head protection

View of the vehicle and barrier just after the crash test.

View of the vehicle after the crash with doors removed, showing the side airbags and damage to the occupant compartment.

Smeared greasepaint shows where the driver dummy's head was protected from being hit by hard structures by the side curtain airbag.

Smeared greasepaint shows where the rear passenger dummy’s head was protected by the side airbag.

Technical measurements for this test

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side

Test ID CES1613
B-pillar to longitudinal centerline of driver's seat (cm) -20.5
Negative numbers indicate the amount by which the crush stopped short of the seat centerline.

Driver injury measures

Test ID CES1613
Head HIC-15 192
Neck
Tension (kN) 0.9
Compression (kN) 0.2
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm) 45
Lateral force (kN) 1.7
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm) 36
Average deflection (mm) 34
Maximum deflection rate (m/s) 3.80
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) 0.44
Pelvis
Iliac force (kN) 1.4
Acetabulum force (kN) 0.6
Combined force (kN) 1.9
Left femur
L-M force (kN) 0.4
L-M moment (Nm) 188
A-P moment (Nm) 55

Passenger injury measures

Test ID CES1613
Head HIC-15 212
Neck
Tension (kN) 0.3
Compression (kN) 1.0
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm) 30
Lateral force (kN) 1.4
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm) 33
Average deflection (mm) 21
Maximum deflection rate (m/s) 2.53
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) 0.45
Pelvis
Iliac force (kN) 0.5
Acetabulum force (kN) 0.9
Combined force (kN) 1.3
Left femur
L-M force (kN) 0.3
L-M moment (Nm) 49
A-P moment (Nm) -34

About the original side crash test

Roof strength

Rating applies to 2016-18 models built after October 2016

Tested vehicle: 2016 Tesla Model S 60 4-door

Rating does not apply to Model S P100D. Rating of this model is Acceptable.

Overall evaluation
Curb weight4,452 lbs
Peak force19,271 lbs
Strength-to-weight ratio4.33

About the roof strength test

Head restraints & seats

Seat type: Power leather seat

Overall evaluation
Dynamic rating
Seat/head restraint geometry
Technical measurements for this test
Seat type Power leather seat
Geometry
Backset (mm) 10
Distance below top of head (mm) 5
Seat design parameters
Pass/fail Pass
Max T1 acceleration (g) 13.2
Head contact time (ms) 58
Force rating 1
Neck forces
Max neck shear force (N) 0
Max neck tension (N) 279

About the head restraint & seat test
Currently, IIHS tests apply only to front seats.

Headlights

Ratings are given for 3 different headlight variations available on this vehicle.

Trim level(s)

  • All trims; built after August 2016
Low-beam headlight typeLED reflector
High-beam headlight typeLED reflector
Curve-adaptive?Yes
High-beam assist?Yes
Overall rating
Distance at which headlights provide at least 5 lux illumination:
car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler 0 ft 100 ft 200 ft 300 ft 400 ft 500 ft 600 ft Low beams Optimal low-beam illumination High beams Optimal high-beam illumination High-beam assist credit

Low beams
On the straightaway, visibility was fair on the left side of the road and inadequate on the right side. On curves, visibility was inadequate in all 4 tests.

The low beams never exceeded glare limits.

High beams
On the straightaway, visibility was good on the right side of the road and inadequate on the left side. On curves, visibility was inadequate in all 4 tests.

High-beam assist compensates for some limitations of this vehicle's low beams on the straightaway and all 4 curves.

Technical measurements for this test
Trim level(s)
  • All trims
Low-beam headlight type LED reflector
High-beam headlight type LED reflector
Curve-adaptive? Yes
High-beam assist? Yes
Overall rating
Applies to 2016 models built after August 2016
LOW BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)		 Amount glare
exceeded threshold
Straightaway right edge 63.4 m None
Straightaway left edge 52.2 m None
250m radius right curve, right edge 37.6 m None
250m radius left curve, left edge 41.0 m None
150m radius right curve, right edge 31.2 m None
150m radius left curve, left edge 34.5 m None
HIGH BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)
Straightaway right edge 150.8 m
Straightaway left edge 127.4 m
250m radius right curve, right edge 60.7 m
250m radius left curve, left edge 58.9 m
150m radius right curve, right edge 45.7 m
150m radius left curve, left edge 47.6 m

Trim level(s)

  • 60 trim equipped with Autopilot package; built after August 2016
  • 60D trim equipped with Autopilot package; built after August 2016
  • 75 trim equipped with Autopilot package; built after August 2016
  • 75D trim equipped with Autopilot package; built after August 2016
  • 90D trim equipped with Autopilot package; built after August 2016
  • P100D trim equipped with Autopilot package; built after August 2016
Low-beam headlight typeLED reflector
High-beam headlight typeLED reflector
Curve-adaptive?No
High-beam assist?Yes
Overall rating
Distance at which headlights provide at least 5 lux illumination:
car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler 0 ft 100 ft 200 ft 300 ft 400 ft 500 ft 600 ft Low beams Optimal low-beam illumination High beams Optimal high-beam illumination High-beam assist credit

Low beams
On the straightaway, visibility was inadequate on both sides of the road. On curves, visibility was inadequate in all 4 tests.

The low beams never exceeded glare limits.

High beams
On the straightaway, visibility was fair on the right side of the road and inadequate on the left side. On curves, visibility was inadequate in all 4 tests.

High-beam assist compensates for some limitations of this vehicle's low beams on the straightaway and all 4 curves.

Technical measurements for this test
Trim level(s)
  • 60 trim equipped with Autopilot package
  • 60D trim equipped with Autopilot package
  • 75 trim equipped with Autopilot package
  • 75D trim equipped with Autopilot package
  • 90D trim equipped with Autopilot package
  • P100D trim equipped with Autopilot package
Low-beam headlight type LED reflector
High-beam headlight type LED reflector
Curve-adaptive? No
High-beam assist? Yes
Overall rating
Applies to 2016 models built after August 2016
LOW BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)		 Amount glare
exceeded threshold
Straightaway right edge 71.0 m None
Straightaway left edge 27.6 m None
250m radius right curve, right edge 36.3 m None
250m radius left curve, left edge 32.1 m None
150m radius right curve, right edge 29.0 m None
150m radius left curve, left edge 29.1 m None
HIGH BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)
Straightaway right edge 139.0 m
Straightaway left edge 120.8 m
250m radius right curve, right edge 55.6 m
250m radius left curve, left edge 57.6 m
150m radius right curve, right edge 41.3 m
150m radius left curve, left edge 47.2 m

Trim level(s)

  • All trims; built before September 2016
Low-beam headlight typeLED reflector
High-beam headlight typeLED reflector
Curve-adaptive?Yes
High-beam assist?Yes
Overall rating
Distance at which headlights provide at least 5 lux illumination:
car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler 0 ft 100 ft 200 ft 300 ft 400 ft 500 ft 600 ft Low beams Optimal low-beam illumination High beams Optimal high-beam illumination High-beam assist credit

Low beams
On the straightaway, visibility was inadequate on both sides of the road. On curves, visibility was inadequate in all 4 tests.

The low beams never exceeded glare limits.

High beams
On the straightaway, visibility was fair on the right side of the road and inadequate on the left side. On curves, visibility was inadequate in all 4 tests.

High-beam assist compensates for some limitations of this vehicle's low beams on the straightaway and all 4 curves.

Technical measurements for this test
Trim level(s)
  • All trims
Low-beam headlight type LED reflector
High-beam headlight type LED reflector
Curve-adaptive? Yes
High-beam assist? Yes
Overall rating
Applies to 2016 models built before September 2016
LOW BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)		 Amount glare
exceeded threshold
Straightaway right edge 53.4 m None
Straightaway left edge 23.7 m None
250m radius right curve, right edge 33.8 m None
250m radius left curve, left edge 31.4 m None
150m radius right curve, right edge 26.7 m None
150m radius left curve, left edge 27.9 m None
HIGH BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)
Straightaway right edge 141.7 m
Straightaway left edge 114.6 m
250m radius right curve, right edge 52.9 m
250m radius left curve, left edge 61.1 m
150m radius right curve, right edge 39.9 m
150m radius left curve, left edge 48.6 m

About the headlight evaluation

Front crash prevention: vehicle-to-vehicle

Ratings are given for 2 different trim variations available on this vehicle.

System details

  • Standard Automatic Emergency Braking

Overall evaluation

Applies to 2016-21 models built after October 2016

Superior
Superior
  • This system meets the requirements for forward collision warning.
  • In the 12 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.
  • In the 25 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.

System details

  • Standard Automatic Emergency Braking

Overall evaluation

Applies to 2016 models built before November 2016

Superior
Superior
  • This system meets the requirements for forward collision warning.
  • In the 12 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.
  • In the 25 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.

About the original front crash prevention test

Child seat anchors

Rating applies to 2016 models

Overall evaluation
Vehicle trim90D
Seat type leather

This vehicle has 2 rear seating positions with complete child seat attachment (LATCH) hardware.

It has 1 additional seating position with a tether anchor only.

Overall evaluation
Vehicle trim90D
Seat type leather
1 2 3
GGood
AAcceptable
MMarginal
PPoor
Seating positions that rely on borrowed lower anchors or have only a tether anchor available are not rated.
thether anchor symbol
Tether anchor
lower anchor symbol
Lower anchors
shared lower achors symbol
Lower anchor(s) can be borrowed from adjacent positions(s)
No hardware available

Details by seating position

1
Tether anchor
easy-to-find location
no other hardware could be confused for anchor
Lower anchors
too deep in seat
not too much force needed to attach
difficult to maneuver around anchors
2
Tether anchor
easy-to-find location
no other hardware could be confused for anchor
Lower anchors
none available
3
Tether anchor
easy-to-find location
no other hardware could be confused for anchor
Lower anchors
too deep in seat
not too much force needed to attach
difficult to maneuver around anchors
Technical measurements for this test

Seat position 21

3

Lower anchor A
Open access rated No
Depth (cm) 4-6
Force (lbs) 29
Clearance angle (degrees) 40
Lower anchor B
Open access rated No
Depth (cm) 4-6
Force (lbs) 27
Clearance angle (degrees) 46
Tether anchor
Location Middle seatback
Confusing hardware present No
Has contrasting label
within 3 inches of tether anchor		 No
Tether anchors can be accessed
while seatback is properly positioned
for use of LATCH		 Not measured

Seat position 22

2

Lower anchor A
No lower latch for this seat position
Lower anchor B
No lower latch for this seat position
Tether anchor
Location Middle seatback
Confusing hardware present No
Has contrasting label
within 3 inches of tether anchor		 No
Tether anchors can be accessed
while seatback is properly positioned
for use of LATCH		 Not measured

Seat position 23

1

Lower anchor A
Open access rated No
Depth (cm) 4-6
Force (lbs) 36
Clearance angle (degrees) 47
Lower anchor B
Open access rated No
Depth (cm) 4-6
Force (lbs) 36
Clearance angle (degrees) 42
Tether anchor
Location Middle seatback
Confusing hardware present No
Has contrasting label
within 3 inches of tether anchor		 No
Tether anchors can be accessed
while seatback is properly positioned
for use of LATCH		 Not measured

Rating applies to 2016-17 models

Overall evaluation
Vehicle trim60 Base Leather
Seat type leather

This vehicle has 2 rear seating positions with complete child seat attachment (LATCH) hardware.

It has 1 additional seating position with a tether anchor only.

Overall evaluation
Vehicle trim60 Base Leather
Seat type leather
1 2 3
GGood
AAcceptable
MMarginal
PPoor
Seating positions that rely on borrowed lower anchors or have only a tether anchor available are not rated.
thether anchor symbol
Tether anchor
lower anchor symbol
Lower anchors
shared lower achors symbol
Lower anchor(s) can be borrowed from adjacent positions(s)
No hardware available

Details by seating position

1
Tether anchor
easy-to-find location
no other hardware could be confused for anchor
Lower anchors
too deep in seat
not too much force needed to attach
difficult to maneuver around anchors
2
Tether anchor
easy-to-find location
no other hardware could be confused for anchor
Lower anchors
none available
3
Tether anchor
easy-to-find location
no other hardware could be confused for anchor
Lower anchors
too deep in seat
not too much force needed to attach
difficult to maneuver around anchors
Technical measurements for this test

Seat position 21

3

Lower anchor A
Open access rated No
Depth (cm) 4-6
Force (lbs) 29
Clearance angle (degrees) 40
Lower anchor B
Open access rated No
Depth (cm) 4-6
Force (lbs) 27
Clearance angle (degrees) 46
Tether anchor
Location Middle seatback
Confusing hardware present No
Has contrasting label
within 3 inches of tether anchor		 No
Tether anchors can be accessed
while seatback is properly positioned
for use of LATCH		 Not measured

Seat position 22

2

Lower anchor A
No lower latch for this seat position
Lower anchor B
No lower latch for this seat position
Tether anchor
Location Middle seatback
Confusing hardware present No
Has contrasting label
within 3 inches of tether anchor		 No
Tether anchors can be accessed
while seatback is properly positioned
for use of LATCH		 Not measured

Seat position 23

1

Lower anchor A
Open access rated No
Depth (cm) 4-6
Force (lbs) 36
Clearance angle (degrees) 47
Lower anchor B
Open access rated No
Depth (cm) 4-6
Force (lbs) 36
Clearance angle (degrees) 42
Tether anchor
Location Middle seatback
Confusing hardware present No
Has contrasting label
within 3 inches of tether anchor		 No
Tether anchors can be accessed
while seatback is properly positioned
for use of LATCH		 Not measured

About the child seat anchor evaluation