8 Reasons Your Tesla Cabin Overheat Protection is Not Working!

Last updated on September 12th, 2023 at 03:50 am

Tesla cars are one of the most technically advanced wheels on the road. This vehicle comes with many innovations to ensure customer satisfaction and comfort.

You get to choose from an array of amazing climate control features. Cabin overheat protection is one of the temperature regulator options on a Tesla.

With this feature, your car’s interior won’t get too uncomfortable while parked. However, some issues can hinder this tool from functioning.

If your cabin overheat protection isn’t working, check whether the battery is up to 20%. A low battery can’t run this climate function. Additionally, you must appropriately park your car before this feature can turn on while you’re away. 

In this article, I’ll discuss the possible reasons why your cabin overheat protection isn’t working.

Also, you’d get to know how this function works and how to turn it on.

Why Is My Tesla Cabin Overheat Protection Not Working?

There are several reasons your cabin overheat protection is not functioning. 

One of these might be why this climate control function isn’t working;

#1. Low Battery

Check your car’s battery whenever you discover the overheating protection system isn’t working. The feature operates only when your battery is above 20%. 

If the battery drops below this percentage, this climate control function won’t work.

#2. Maximum Operating Period 

The Cabin Overheat Protection stops working after 12 hours. If this time elapses, your vehicle’s internal temperature might go beyond 105°F. 

But the climate control system won’t intervene. Therefore you’d have to restart this function by unlocking and locking the car.

#3. Cabin Below 105°F 

You might have learned that the overheating protection system kicks in when the car is hot. But that perception isn’t the right one. 

This sentiment is because 86°F might be hot for you, but this temperature doesn’t activate this feature.

The overheat protection turns on when the cabin reaches a temperature of 105°F.

#4. Software Update 

Some Tesla car owners have reported that their overheat protection system refuses to work after installing a new update. 

Software updates may change your system settings. For this reason, check if your cabin overheats protection is still enabled. 

#5. The Vehicle Is Not In Park

The Cabin Overheat Protection works when the automobile is parked. When you stop the vehicle’s acceleration, it doesn’t often mean that you’ve parked the car. 

So, ensure to appropriately park your vehicle to automatically enable the Overheat Protection during high temperatures.

#6. Feature Is Disabled

Activating other Tesla features simultaneously with overheat protection can deactivate it. For instance, putting your car in sentry mode might disable your overheating protection. 

Sentry mode enables tilt/intrusion detection, which sounds an alarm when it detects noises and movements. 

The overheating protection gets disabled to prevent the fan and compressor from inadvertently sounding the alarm.

#7. Vehicle In Transport Mode

The Cabin Overheat Protection is active on a new Tesla by default. However, before using this feature, your delivery team must make some modifications.

In other words, after the arrival of your car, the vehicle needs to be updated from “transport mode” to “delivered” in Tesla’s system.

#8. A Bad HVAC Fan

It’s one thing for your overheat protection system to give a command and another for the HVAC fan to start operating. 

If your overheat protection is active and it’s not working, the HVAC fan might have developed a problem. 

Fans can stop working due to a breakdown from an electrical short or acquiring debris.

How Does Cabin Overheat Protection Work In a Tesla?

Cabin Overheat Protection is a climate control feature available on all Tesla vehicles. 

When activated, this system automatically turns on if the interior temperature of your car goes above 105°F. 

The vehicle operates the HVAC fan at this temperature to allow cool air into the cabin. You can also let the car’s AC work with the fan to cool down your interior efficiently. 

Although, it is at the expense of your battery for both operations to go on simultaneously.

This temperature protection system works 12 hours after parking your car. 

After this period, you will have to reset the timer for this function to operate again. You reset the feature by unlocking and locking the vehicle. 

That said, be aware that a 20% battery life won’t allow the Overheat Protection to work.

Another thing with this feature is that you can’t adjust the temperature at which it turns on. 

It only activates at the factory-configured temperature. However, 105°F is still an uncomfortable temperature for some Tesla owners. 

Such owners wouldn’t want to wait for that temperature before the feature starts operating. 

For this reason, Tesla wants to improve the cabin overheat protection system. This update would enable you to adjust the temperature at which this feature turns on. 

Additionally, don’t use the cabin overheat protection when planning to leave people or pets in the car. It is best to activate the camp or dog mode in such instances.

How Do You Turn On the Overheat Protection For Tesla Cabins?

It’s no big deal turning on the overheat protection function. But, before you enable this climate control feature, do the following:

• Deactivate any killer features like the sentry mode.

• Ensure the battery is above 20%.

With that in mind, you can either turn on the protection from the Tesla app or in your car. Follow the step-by-step guide below to activate the cabin overheat protection.

Using the app;

• Open the Tesla app.

• Go to the Climate tab and swipe up the grey bar.

• Find the “Cabin Overheat Protection” feature.

• Select “On” or “No A/C.”

From your car;

• Go to the Tesla touchscreen.

• Tap “Controls.”

• Head to “Safety.”

• Navigate and select cabin overheat protection.

• Select “On” or “No A/C.”

In addition, below are the interpretations of all the cabin overheat protection options.

• Off: Completely disable the feature.

• No A/C: Disables the A/C; only the fan operates while you’re away. This option consumes less energy.

• On: Enable both A/C and the fan when the cabin temperature exceeds 40° C.

Note: Temperatures will often be higher if the A/C is deactivated.

Is the Tesla Cabin Overheat Protection Worth It?

Some owners believe Tesla did a great job equipping the Cabin with Overheat Protection. 

Meanwhile, others think it’s an unnecessary battery-draining feature.

However, if you are worried about your battery, remember there’s a “No A/C” option that uses minimal energy. 

In any case, if you’re fine with the power the function would cost you, then it’s a must-have feature.

Being careful doesn’t always stop accidents from happening. For this reason, the overheating protection system can be a necessary climate control function. 

For instance, overheating protection would prevent the cabin from hitting a dangerous temperature if you forget something delicate in the car. 

Also, it’s important to activate the A/C if temperature concerns you more than a battery drain.

Here are other reasons to enable this feature; 

• It protects your Tesla’s media control unit from harsh temperatures.

• Make the car’s interior comfortable when you return to it.

• Protects food in the vehicle from spoiling and keeps ice cream in shape. 

• It automatically turns on; you don’t have to do anything while away.

Some Tesla owners may have other specific reasons for enabling their Cabin Overheat Protection system. 

However, the general idea is to keep the car’s interior comfortable and protect items from being damaged due to high temperatures.

What Is the Difference Between Cabin Overheat Protection and Dog Mode?

If you’ve ever gone out with your pet, you’d know it’s always a tricky decision to leave them in the car. 

When the vehicle becomes hot, this can make your furry friend uncomfortable, and you wouldn’t want that to happen. 

Also, your pet may go out if you lower the windows. For this reason, Tesla added the dog mode to their vehicles. 

Dog Mode maintains a set temperature to keep your pet comfortable while the windows are closed. 

Although there’re similarities between this feature and Cabin Overheat Protection, some differences still exist.

The table below shows the differences between cabin overheat protection and dog mode.

Overheat Protection	Dog Mode
It only activates the vehicle’s cooling system.	It can activate both the car’s heating or Cooling system.
The temperature point is fixed(at 105°F).	The temperature point is adjustable.
It turns on when the cabin’s temperature exceeds 105°F.	It turns on as you leave the car.

Conclusion 

In conclusion, your Tesla cabin overheat protection isn’t working because;

• The car’s battery is below 20%.

• The vehicle is not in “Park.”

• A killer feature is active.

• An update accidentally turned off the overheat protection.

• A spoiled HVAC fan.

Now that you’ve known what might be causing your overheat protection not to function, you can resolve the issue.