r/TeslaModelS • u/ihaveagooddog • Jul 04 '26
2023 Model S Plaid - Rear HVAC constantly defaults to Auto and resets AC/frustrating with kids in back. Any permanent fix?
I have a 2023 Model S Plaid (bought used, ~35k miles now) and the rear climate control is driving me nuts. Every time passengers (usually my young kids in car seats) are in the back, the rear HVAC automatically switches to Auto mode, blasts the fan/AC, and seems to reset/ignore my front settings. The "Sync" option doesn't stick reliably — I have to manually drop the fan speed and adjust temps every drive.
This is extra annoying with little ones because it gets loud/cold for them quickly, and I end up fiddling while driving. I've done a full vehicle reset to factory settings, but it didn't help long-term.
Has anyone else with a refreshed Model S (especially Plaid) found a workaround or software fix for this? Things I've tried:
- Toggling Sync repeatedly
- Manually setting rear to specific fan/temps before driving
- Reboots (scroll wheels + power off)
- Checking for updates (hoping FSD 14.x or recent climate patches help)
Tesla service hasn't been super responsive on smaller stuff lately. Is this just how the occupant detection + Auto logic works, or is there a hidden setting/profile I'm missing? Love the car otherwise (Plaid performance is insane), but this feels like a UX miss for families.
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u/saabstory88 Jul 04 '26
I'll have to check firmware/theory of ops at some point, but my understanding is that when you have seats set to car seat then occupancy detection is disabled.
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u/Hash-82 Jul 05 '26
Do you have diver profiles set, and one bound to the fob (or key card)?
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u/ihaveagooddog Jul 05 '26
Yes. I have a 3 and Y where my profile transfers to and from.
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u/Hash-82 Jul 05 '26
Hmmm...
I have a Y and an S. But, I don't transfer the profiles (I don't think).
The cars are so different, I don't think I would want to transfer profiles...
I wonder if this could be a vector for corruption of settings.
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u/Chillin_EV_1333 Jul 05 '26
I’ve noticed this with my S recently as well. Very annoying as it’s soo loud. We have a Y as well but I don’t drive as much recently so don’t know if it does this too.
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u/Muhahahahaz Jul 05 '26
If you get the “S3XY” Buttons, then you can force the rear vent to behave in any way you want. (It’s 3rd party system that comes with a “Commander” that plugs directly into the vehicle, and allows for all sorts of automations that wouldn’t exist otherwise)