Tesla has added a new safety feature called “Child Left Alone Detection/ Child Presence Detection” in version 4.44.0 of its mobile app. It’s made to lower the risk of children or pets being left in hot cars. The system uses in-cabin 4D radar to detect people inside after the driver leaves.
Every year, around 37 children in the U.S. die from being left in hot vehicles. This often happens by accident when a child is forgotten in the back seat. Tesla’s update is meant to stop that from happening.
How the radar works
Tesla’s system uses 4D radar inside the car. It sends out radio waves to sense movement and presence. This radar can pick up tiny motions, like a heartbeat or breathing. That’s how it tells the difference between people, pets, or objects.
When the system notices someone inside after the car is parked, it can do a few things:
- Send an alert to the Tesla app
- Turn on the air conditioning or heat to keep the car at a safe temperature
- Lower the windows to let in air
- Call 911 in urgent cases
Tesla’s engineers have said the radar is smart enough to tell apart an adult, a child, or a pet. This helps make other systems safer too, like airbags.
The history behind it
Tesla has worked on this radar tech for a while. Back in 2020, it asked the FCC for permission to use radar for detecting children and stopping theft. In 2021, the FCC gave the green light to use stronger radar bands.
The radar first appeared in some 2022 Model Y vehicles. Since then, Tesla has improved it through updates. In February 2025, the company rolled out a software update (2025.2.6) called the “First-Row Cabin Sensing Update.” That one helped with detecting passengers in the front seats. The new child detection feature builds on that.
Which cars support it
This system only works in vehicles that have the 4D in-cabin radar. That includes the updated Model Y, the newer Model 3, and the Cybertruck. Here’s a quick look at the current status:
| Model | 4D Radar | Child Detection | Rear-Seat Sensing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Refreshed Model Y | Yes | Testing Phase | Coming Q3 2025 |
| Model 3 (2024+) | Yes | Testing Phase | TBD |
| Cybertruck | Yes | Testing Phase | TBD |
| Model S/X | Partial (older radar) | May need upgrade | Unknown |
| Older Model Y (2022-23) | Partial (older radar) | May need upgrade | Unknown |
Even though the feature is in testing, its appearance in the app shows that Tesla is getting ready for a bigger rollout. It could be released publicly as soon as June 2025. Early testing is likely happening with Tesla staff and selected users.
Tesla wants to expand the system to detect people in the back seats too. That should start with the new Model Y in the third quarter of this year. Some vehicles with older radar might need a hardware upgrade. Tesla has already offered free radar replacements for some of them as part of a Spring 2025 update.
Regulations and safety rules
Some governments are also starting to mandate systems like this. That may have pushed Tesla to work faster on this project.
This feature adds to the list of safety tools that Tesla includes through software updates. So, Tesla vehicles keep getting new functions without needing to visit a service center. The “Child Left Alone Detection/ Child Presence Detection” feature shows how that can make a real difference.
It’s built to protect people who might not be able to protect themselves. And if it works as planned, it could help save lives.
People noticed signs of the new feature in the app’s code, thanks to a post by @Tesla_App_iOS on X. However, the feature isn’t out for everyone yet, but it looks like testing has started.
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