By: Otaiba Ahsan

Picture this: you’re on a trip and about to do a fun activity. When getting ready, the staff walks you through all the different emergency situations. While it’s easy to get distracted and laugh about how unlikely those scenarios are, if the time ever comes, you’ll wish you paid attention. When in your Tesla, it’s unlikely that you’ll ever need to manually open the trunk from within your car, but it’s not impossible. Continue reading for details on where to find the interior emergency trunk release in the Tesla Model S and Model X.

Interior Emergency Trunk Release

While unlikely, if there’s a situation where your Model S or X loses power, then mechanisms like the automatic trunk will no longer work. If you absolutely need to open the liftgate in this type of scenario, it’s possible to do so in a few short steps:

1. Access the Trunk: Firstly, you’ll need to access the trunk. If you’re in Model S then fold the rear seats which will allow you to crawl through to get to the back of your car. For the Model X, simply jump into the trunk from the backseats, or if you want to make it easier you can fold the seats as well.
2. Mechanical Release: Look for an illuminated mechanical release. Remove the cover by pulling its lower edge firmly toward you, then pull the cable to release the latch.
3. Open the Trunk: Lastly, push the rear trunk open. Note that the button will glow for several hours after a brief exposure to ambient light.

Opening the Liftgate Normally

While it’s good to know what to do in emergency situations, let’s quickly go over how to open the trunk in normal circumstances. There are several ways to do so:

1. Touch the Open button on the touchscreen inside your Tesla when the car is in park.
2. Tap the rear trunk button in the Tesla app.
3. Double-click the rear trunk button on the Tesla Key Fob.

Lastly, you can press the switch located under the liftgate’s exterior handle to open the trunk. A valid key must be detected for this option to work.

Trunk Accessories

Tesloid offers several accessories for the rear trunk of the Model 3, Y and S. You can find a broad list by searching “trunk” on the site. Here are some that I’d like to highlight:

1. Trunk Mat (Available for Model 3, Y and S): Getting a mat for your rear and front trunks will help protect the interior of your car. They can withstand any dirt, debris, spills, or snow that may come in contact with your trunk. This is especially handy if you’re frequently loading cargo that can leave a mess like food or garden supplies. All the Tesloid Trunk Mats are made to fit each Model they’re available for and match the minimalistic look of Tesla.
2. Lights (Available for Model 3, Y and S): Tesloid has three different products that help add light to the trunk, a unique one for each of the Model 3, Y and S. This includes the Model 3 Trunk Puddle Lights, Model Y Trunk LED Strip, and the Model S Trunk Puddle Lights. All three serve the same purpose – lighting up the trunk and frunk. They are 9 to 10 times brighter than the OEM trunk light and can be useful for those who struggle to see in the dark.

The Bottom Line

The steps on where to find the interior emergency trunk release in the Tesla Model S and Model X are simple. When in your trunk, look for an illuminated mechanical release, then firmly press and hold the illuminated button in the direction of the arrow to release the latch. Lastly, while pressing the button, push the rear trunk open. It’s a simple process, and it never hurts to be emergency prepared.