Submerged Vehicle Guidance

Vehicle submersion can be caused by a flood or other extreme weather conditions. Tesla wants to ensure you have the information you need should there be a risk of vehicle submersion or if your vehicle experiences submersion in water.

Review the following recommendations to help prepare for a potential vehicle submersion, know how to handle a submerged vehicle and find available resources.

If a submersion event is in the forecast and it is safe for you to preemptively move your vehicle, Tesla recommends you attempt to move your vehicle to a location that is not at risk or to higher ground. Keep in mind that charging infrastructure may be impacted, so Tesla recommends charging to 100 percent ahead of time.

However, if you are unable to move your vehicle to an area that is not at risk of flooding, consider the following best practices which may help prevent damage:

• Make sure to unplug the charger from your vehicle.
• Reduce the state of charge. This can be done by driving the vehicle ahead of time and leaving it unplugged, or by turning on the climate control or enabling ‘Keep Climate On’ using your vehicle touchscreen or the Tesla app. The intention is to have the charge level as low as possible if the vehicle becomes submerged.
• Change air suspension (if equipped) and raise the vehicle to ‘High’ or ‘Very High’ prior to leaving the vehicle.
• Lift the vehicle so that the high voltage battery is above a potential flood line by raising it on jack stands, cinder blocks, ramps, etc. Remember to enable Jack Mode with air suspension (if equipped) to avoid damage from self-leveling.
• Leave your vehicle in a water-tight car cover, or similar product, specifically designed to protect vehicles from flooding.

Know what to do if your vehicle, whether it’s an electric vehicle or an internal combustion engine vehicle, has been exposed to prolonged submersion.

Note: If you notice fire, smoke, audible popping/hissing or heating coming from your vehicle, step away and immediately contact your local first responders.

Follow these steps once the vehicle is no longer submerged and is safe to access:

1. Treat your vehicle as if it has been in an accident and contact your insurance company.
2. Do not attempt to operate the vehicle until an authorized shop has inspected it. If you are a Tesla vehicle owner, you can schedule your inspection with Tesla Service.
3. Safely tow the vehicle at least 50 ft (15 m) from structures or other combustible materials such as other cars and personal property.
   1. Tesla owners can request towing assistance from Tesla. View how to request Tesla Roadside Assistance.
   2. For information on how to safely tow or move your vehicle, review your vehicle manufacturer’s guidance. Tesla owners can view the ‘Instructions for Transporter’ section in your Owner’s Manual.