Teslas will flash lights and sound off for kids forgotten in the car starting with the Model 3

UPDATE: Tesla clarified that the new Child Left Alone Detection feature in the 2025.14.12 software update is only rolling out to the Model 3 in Europe for now, but will land in its other vehicles, too. Original story continues below...

The new 2026 Tesla Model Y comes with an upgraded "4D" cabin radar, which its engineers said will be used for more detailed occupancy detection when it comes to safety features.

The new radar in the Model Y that is located under the headliner can, according to Tesla's lead engineer Lars Moravy, take size, height, weight, and even heart rate measurements of the vehicle's occupants.

These can be used for more advanced safety features like detecting when pets or kids are left alone in the car without the respective mode being enabled. The radar can be used to sense changes in the breathing pattern and heart rate of the occupants, then send commands to the car computer to open a window or turn the air conditioning on, as well as send a notification to the car owner in the Tesla app on their phone. At some point, the new Model Y may even be able to call 911 if there is no reaction to the alerts.

These occupant safety features are now rolling out to all Tesla cars equipped with a cabin radar. It might not be the fancy 4D radar of the new Model Y, but its predecessor has had one lying dormant behind the rearview mirror headliner since 2022. Ditto for the Model 3 refresh, the Cybertruck, and even the Model S and Model X which have had a cabin radar installed since 2021.

With the latest 2025.14.12 software update, all of those Tesla vehicles will receive the so-called Child Left Alone Detection feature. Tesla may not call the authorities on someone who has forgotten their kid in the car just yet, yet it will flash the hazard lights and beep warning sounds at regular intervals until someone comes and unlocks the vehicle with the child inside.

The notification alert sent to the app may be a welcome twist by Tesla, too, despite that a number of automakers have already implemented the so-called Child Presence Detection (CPD) systems that are increasingly being mandated by regulators. The Euro NCAP crash test program, for instance, which recently awarded a 5-star safety rating to the Model 3, now takes into account the presence of certain CPD features in order to give the highest score.

Tesla, like Hyundai and others, uses in-cabin radar instead of ultrasonic sensors for CPD purposes, as it can go through seats and other obstacles to pick minute physical changes in an occupant's state like breathing. A radar can also tell apart adults from children or pets, even if they are sitting on the back bench.

It remains to be seen if and when Tesla will add the other CPD features that its engineers talked about, such as turning on the A/C or calling 911 if there is no reaction to the hazard lights, audible signals, or app notifications.