Model X (2016-2021)

1. 1

   Primary
   Cut the FRONT-TRUNK FIRST RESPONDER LOOP and double-cut it to remove an entire section (prevents accidental reconnection). This shuts down the HV system OUTSIDE the HV battery and disables the SRS / airbag components.

   Front trunk (frunk), under the access panel. OEM steps: (1) open the hood; (2) remove the access panel by pulling it upwards to release the clips that hold it in place; (3) double cut the first responder loop. NOTE: the OEM ERG does NOT specify which side of the frunk the loop is on; verify on-vehicle.

Note
Per the OEM Tesla Model X Emergency Response Guide (2016-2021 falcon-wing gen): - The OEM ERG documents ONLY ONE first responder loop (the Front Trunk First Responder Cut Loop). There is NO secondary / B-pillar backup loop on this generation. (Single-loop design is what the guide shows; the guide does not print a literal "there is only one loop" sentence.) - PROCEDURE (OEM verbatim steps): 1) Open the hood. 2) Remove the access panel by pulling it upwards to release the clips that hold it in place. 3) Double cut the first responder loop (remove an entire section to prevent the wires from accidentally reconnecting). The OEM ERG does NOT state which side of the frunk the loop is on — do not assume driver's side; verify on-vehicle. - After deactivation the HV circuit requires 2 MINUTES to de-energize — wait before touching HV components. - The 12V battery is ALSO under the hood (separate plastic access panel). The 12V battery supplies power to the HV contactors, so it is part of the HV control path — see the 12V section. - ALWAYS ASSUME ALL HV COMPONENTS ARE ENERGIZED regardless of the procedure used. Cutting the loop opens HV contactors OUTSIDE the pack; the pack itself still holds stored energy. Never cut into or breach the HV battery.

12V location: Under the hood (front), behind a plastic access panel. OEM-text: "The 12 volt battery, outlined in red, is located under the hood and the plastic access panel."

OEM: the 12V battery operates the SRS, airbags, windows, door locks, touchscreen, and lights, is charged by the DC-DC converter, and "supplies power to the high voltage contactors, allowing high voltage current to flow into and out of the high voltage battery." It is under the hood (front) — same general area as the first responder loop but a separate access panel.

SRS discharge: wait 10s after airbag deployment before touching SRS components.

Pack location: Floor-mounted under the vehicle (full underbody). OEM-text: "floor-mounted 400 volt lithium-ion high voltage battery"; the floor pan covers the pack — pushing on the floor pan can compromise it.

Pack chemistry: Lithium-ion (OEM-text: "400 volt lithium-ion high voltage battery"; OEM also: cells are dry cells, fluid is clear). The specific cell chemistry (NCA / nickel-cobalt-aluminum, Panasonic 18650) is NOT stated in the Tesla ERG and has NO OEM/authority source — it is widely-reported general industry knowledge (EV press / spec sites only), so treat it as UNVERIFIED for this card. Not safety-critical: handle the pack the same regardless of cathode chemistry.Verify

HV cable color:Orange

Do not cut:

• High voltage battery / pack (floor-mounted, full underbody — OEM: never breach the HV battery; do not push on the floor pan)
• Orange high-voltage cables (entire routing)
• ERG "No-Cut Zones" / red-outlined areas (HV cables and components — do not cut in the areas shown in red)
• DC-DC converter and front junction box (HV present, outlined in red — caution during dash lift/roll)
• Charger (left-hand quarter panel — contains integrated HV junction box)
• Airbag inflation cylinders (OEM: in the A-PILLARS and in the FALCON-WING DOORS)
• Seat-belt pre-tensioners (OEM: at the bottom of the B-pillars; may not have deployed)
• Frontal, knee, curtain, seat-mounted side, and door-mounted airbags / SRS components
• High-tension falcon-wing door springs (NEVER cut — door can rise rapidly and cause injury/death)
• ERG "no-cut zones" shown in PINK (HV, gas struts, SRS components, other hazards)

Reinforcement (UHSS):

• A-pillars and B-pillars — boron steel (OEM-text)
• B-pillar additionally reinforced with a dual-phase 980 steel pipe running from the roof rail to just below the latch striker (OEM-text)
• Rocker panels / sills and floor structure around the battery enclosure (general EV structure)

Pack piercing risk: The HV battery is floor-mounted across the underbody; the floor pan covers it. OEM warnings (verbatim): "Never breach the high voltage battery when lifting from under the vehicle"; "pay special attention to ensure that you do not breach the floor pan"; "Never push on the floor pan inside Model X. Doing so can breach the high voltage battery, which can cause serious injury or death." Any tool that breaches the floor pan or enclosure can short cells and trigger thermal runaway. The pack holds stored energy after the loop is cut. OEM: "A damaged high voltage battery can create rapid heating of the battery cells." (This ERG does NOT state a "several days to discharge" figure — do not quote one as OEM-text for this guide.)

Isolate damaged vehicle 50 ft from exposures.

Live from NHTSA. Cross-check the VIN against nhtsa.gov/recalls before work.

Lift ONLY in the designated lift areas shown in the ERG. OEM-text: "When lifting or stabilizing Model X, only use the designated lift areas, as shown in green"; "DO NOT USE THE HIGH VOLTAGE BATTERY TO LIFT OR STABILIZE MODEL X"; and "Never breach the high voltage battery when lifting from under the vehicle." (The earlier quote "do not lift the vehicle near or on the high voltage battery or high voltage cables" does NOT appear in this ERG and was removed.)

Coolant: Blue glycol-based automotive coolant (OEM-text)

Electrolyte color: Clear — OEM-text: "Lithium-ion battery fluid is clear in color." Cells are dry cells; if damaged only a small amount of fluid can leak.

If burning, toxic vapors:

• Volatile organic compounds (OEM-named)
• Hydrogen gas (OEM-named)
• Carbon dioxide (OEM-named)
• Carbon monoxide (OEM-named)
• Soot / particulates (OEM-named)
• Oxides of nickel, aluminum, lithium, copper, cobalt (OEM-named)
• Hydrogen fluoride (HF) (OEM-named)

Tesla Model X Emergency Response Guide (PDF) →

Last verified 2026-05-31 · mirror

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