By: Otaiba Ahsan
In most gas-powered vehicles, you’ll notice that there’s either a manual lever, switch, or button to engage the parking brake. Typically, it’s visibly obvious, as it’s a key component of any car. Unfortunately, the parking brake is not as easy to find in a Tesla. Continue reading for steps on how to engage the parking brake in a Tesla Model S and Model X.
Engaging the Parking Brake
To engage the parking brake when in your car, tap Controls > Safety > Parking Brake and follow the onscreen instructions. Alternatively, you can put the car in Park by either using the drive stalk or touchscreen, depending on what year your car was manufactured.
When you manually apply the parking brake using the touchscreen or by putting the car in Park, a red parking brake indicator will light up on the touchscreen. Also, if for some reason the parking brake experiences an electrical issue, then an amber parking brake indicator is shown, and a fault message is displayed on the touchscreen. Tesla has created a useful visual for both indicator icons.
NOTE: Tesla’s Park Assist can make your life easier when parking. See our guide on how Park Assist works for your Tesla.
Disengaging the Parking Brake
To manually release the parking brake, tap Controls > Safety and then press the brake pedal with your foot. Lastly, touch Parking Brake onscreen and your Model S or X should shift into Neutral if it was previously in Park. Alternatively, if you shift the car into Drive after being parked, the car should automatically release the parking brake.
NOTE: In the unlikely scenario where your Tesla loses electrical power, you won’t be able to access the touchscreen. As a result, there’s no way to release the parking brake until the car is jump-started. Also, the car may display an alert if the road is too steep to safely park on, or if the parking brakes aren’t engaged correctly.
The Bottom Line
The steps on how to engage the parking brake in a Tesla Model S and Model X are straightforward. When in your car, tap Controls > Safety > Parking Brake and follow onscreen instructions. However, the easiest way is to put your car in Park. Lastly, to disengage the parking brake, ensure your foot is on the brake pedal and tap Controls > Safety > Parking Brake and your car should shift into Neutral if it was previously in Park.