2012 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA SPORTWAGEN ECU

WARNING
Unsecured or incorrectly stowed items can fly through the vehicle, causing serious personal
injury during hard braking or sharp steering or in an accident. Loose items can also be struck
and thrown through the passenger compartment by the front airbags if they inflate. To help
reduce the risk of serious personal injury:
x Always stow all objects securely in the vehicle. Always put luggage and heavy items in the
luggage compartment.
x Always secure objects in the passenger compartment properly with suitable straps so that
they cannot move into the deployment zone of a side or front airbag during sudden braking,
in a sudden maneuver, or in a collision.
x Always keep storage compartments closed while driving.
x Never stow hard, heavy, or sharp objects in the vehicle's open storage compartments, on
the luggage compartment cover, or on the top of the instrument panel.
x Always remove hard, heavy, or sharp objects from clothing and bags in the vehicle
interior and stow them securely in the luggage compartment.
WARNING
Transporting heavy objects causes the handling characteristics of the vehicle to change and
increases braking distances. Heavy loads which are not properly stowed or secured in the
vehicle can lead to a loss of vehicle control and cause serious personal injury.
x Transporting heavy items causes the handling characteristics of the vehicle to change by
shifting the vehicle's center of gravity.
x Always distribute luggage evenly and as low as possible within the vehicle. The vehicle
capacity weight figures apply when the load is distributed evenly in the vehicle (passengers
and luggage).
x Always stow luggage and heavy items in the luggage compartment as far forward of the
rear axle as possible and secure them with appropriate straps to the tie-downs provided.
x Never exceed the vehicle's Gross Vehicle Weight Rating or Gross Axle Weight Ratings,
which are printed on the Safety Compliance Certification Label located on the door jamb of
the driver door. Exceeding the permissible weight can cause the vehicle to skid and behave
differently.
x Always adapt your speed and driving style to accommodate your payload and its weight
distribution within your vehicle.
x Be especially cautious and gentle when stepping on the accelerator pedal and avoid
sudden braking and other maneuvers.
x Brake earlier than you would if you were not driving a loaded vehicle.
NOTICE
The defroster heating wires, the antenna in the rear window, and the antennas in the side
windows can be damaged by objects that rub against them.
The ventilation slots beneath the side windows in the luggage area must not be blocked so that
stale air can escape from the vehicle.

x Reinstall the head restraints
WARNING
Improper folding and improper latching of the rear seat backrest can cause serious personal
injury.
x Always make sure there are no people or animals in the area around the rear seat backrest
when folding it forward.
x Never fold the rear seat backrest or the rear seat bench up or down while the vehicle is
moving.
x When folding the rear seat backrest or the rear seat bench back up, make sure that the
safety belt does not get caught or damaged.
x Keep hands, fingers, feet and other body parts out of the way when folding the rear seat
backrest or the rear seat bench up and down.
x Each rear seat backrest must be securely latched in the upright position so that the safety
belts on the rear seats can provide protection. This is particularly the case for the middle seat
on the rear seat bench.
x If a seat is used with an unsecured backrest, the passenger will move forward together
with the rear seat backrest during sudden braking, driving maneuvers, or in a collision.
x If the red marking on the button A, (2) is visible, this indicates that the backrest is not
latched into place. Always check to make sure that the red marking is not visible whenever
the rear seat backrest is in the upright position.
x No one, including children, may ride on the rear seats if the rear seat backrest or the rear
seat bench is folded down or not correctly latched.
NOTICE
Before folding the rear seat backrest forward, adjust the front seats so that the rear seat's head
restraint or backrest cushion will not touch the front seats.
Luggage compartment cover

Fig. 98 In the luggage compartment: Closing the luggage compartment cover.

x To open the luggage compartment floor, lift it by the loop ⇒ fig. 100 (A) (1). Hold the luggage
compartment floor in this position.
x To close, fold the luggage compartment floor back down.
x Close the rear hatch.
Rear storage space under the luggage compartment floor
x Open the rear hatch.
x Lift up the luggage compartment floor handle (B) (2) in the direction of the arrow.
x To open, use the grip (B) (2) to fold the luggage compartment floor forwards.
x To close, fold the luggage compartment floor back down.
x Close the rear hatch.
Upright position of the luggage compartment floor
x Open the rear hatch.
x Lift up the luggage compartment floor handle (B) (2) in the direction of the arrow.
x Use the handle to put the luggage compartment floor in a upright position and fit its sides into the
slots ⇒ fig. 101 (inset).
WARNING
During hard braking or an accident, loose objects can fly through the passenger
compartment and cause serious or even fatal injuries.
x Even if the luggage compartment floor panel is properly raised, it is still necessary to
secure all objects.
x Objects stowed between the rear seat bench and the luggage compartment floor panel
must never be higher than 2/3 the height of the raised floor panel.
x Objects stowed between the rear seat bench and the raised luggage compartment floor
panel must never weigh more than about 16.5 lbs. (7.5 kg).
NOTICE
Do not let the luggage compartment floor fall freely when closing it. Always guide it down into
place. The trim or the luggage compartment floor could be damaged.

WARNING
Unsuitable, worn, or damaged tie-down straps (elastic or non-elastic) can snap or come loose
during braking or other maneuvers or in a collision. Objects secured with these straps can
then come loose and fly through the passenger compartment, causing severe personal
injuries or death.
x To help prevent baggage or other items from coming loose and flying around, always use
suitable undamaged tie-down straps.
x Securely fasten the tie-down straps to the tie-downs.
x Loose or improperly secured objects in the luggage compartment can slide about
suddenly and change the vehicle's handling.
x Secure even small and light objects. Loose objects in the luggage or passenger
compartment can fly about during sudden braking maneuvers or in the event of an accident
and injure occupants.
x Never exceed the maximum allowable load on the tie-downs when securing objects.
x Never secure a child seat to the tie-downs.
WARNING
Elastic straps have to be stretched when being attached to the tie-downs in the luggage
compartment. Hooks on these straps can cause serious personal injury if not handled
properly and attached securely.
x Always protect eyes and face from injury from the hooks when attaching them to the tie-
downs in the luggage compartment.
x Always hold the hooks on elastic straps firmly when attaching to the vehicle and do not let
them snap back and hit you.
x First attach the hooks on the straps to the tie-downs at the rear seat backrest in the
luggage compartment and then to the tie-downs near the loading edge of the luggage
compartment. This way, if one of the hooks on the elastic straps snaps back, it will move
away from you, decreasing the risk of personal injury.
The maximum load for the tie-downs is about 380 lbs. (172 kg).
For suitable straps and luggage stowage systems, please see an authorized Volkswagen dealer
or authorized Volkswagen Service Facility.

If a roof rack is installed, fuel consumption increases due to increased air resistance.
Securing a load on the roof rack

WARNING
Improper use of the trailer hitch can cause accidents and injuries. An improperly installed,
incorrect, or damaged trailer hitch can cause the trailer to separate from the towing vehicle
and cause serious personal injuries.
x Only use an undamaged, properly mounted trailer hitch.
x Never repair or modify the trailer hitch.
x To reduce the risk of injury in rear-end collisions, and the risk to pedestrians and cyclists
when the vehicle is parked, always remove the ball mount when you are not towing a trailer.
x Never install a “weight distributing” or “load equalizing” trailer hitch on your vehicle. The
vehicle was not designed for these kinds of trailer hitches. The trailer hitch attachment can
fail, causing the trailer to tear loose from the vehicle.
WARNING
Improper trailer towing can cause loss of vehicle control and serious personal injury.
x Driving with a trailer and carrying heavy or large things can change the way the vehicle
handles, increase the distance it needs to stop safely, and cause accidents.
x Always secure the load properly with suitable and undamaged straps so that the load will
not shift.
x Always adapt your speed and driving to the heavier load and the weight distribution in the
vehicle. Take road, weather, traffic, and visibility conditions into account as well.
x Reduce your speed even more than you otherwise would when going downhill and under
unfavorable load, weather, or wind conditions.
x Trailers with a high center of gravity tip more easily than trailers with a low center of
gravity.
x Always avoid sudden maneuvers and hard braking.
x Be especially careful when passing other vehicles.
x Reduce speed immediately if the trailer shows the slightest sign of swaying.
x Never try to stop the swaying by accelerating.
x Always obey speed limits. In some areas, the speed limits for vehicles towing trailers are
lower than for vehicles without trailers. Never drive faster than 50 mph (80 km/h); under
exceptional circumstances 60 mph (100 km/h), when towing a trailer. This applies even if the
local speed limit is higher.
If you are driving a new vehicle or a vehicle with a new or rebuilt engine, do not tow a trailer
during the break-in period, about 600 miles (1000 km) .
If you tow a trailer, your vehicle may need maintenance more often because of the extra load it
has to move.
When you are not towing, remove the trailer hitch ball. This helps keep the trailer hitch from
causing damage to your vehicle and to others if your vehicle is hit from behind.
Some models need a trailer hitch to tow or tow-start other vehicles. You may want to always
carry the ball mount in the vehicle after it has been removed. Be sure to stow it securely.

WARNING
Exceeding the gross weight ratings for axle, tongue, vehicle, trailer or combined weight can
cause accidents and serious personal injury.
x Never exceed the specified values.
x Never let the actual weights at the front and rear axles exceed the Gross Axle Weight
Rating. Never let the combined front and rear weights exceed the Gross Vehicle Weight
Rating.
WARNING
Trailer loads that are not properly secured can shift when the vehicle is moving or braking
and suddenly change the way the vehicle handles, causing accidents and severe injuries.
x Always load the trailer properly.
x Always secure the load properly with suitable, undamaged straps that can be tightened so
that the load cannot shift.
Driving with a trailer

These dimensions are important because they help determine the way that the forces that arise during
towing are applied to the receiver and its attachments to the vehicle. If you buy a ball mount and ball,
make sure that they meet the following specifications.
Ball mount dimensions
x The drop height (A) from the center of the ball to the center of the hole for the securing pin on the
ball mount must be at least 1 inch (25.4 mm) and at most 27/8 inches (73 mm).
x The pin-to-ball distance (B) from the center of the ball to the center of the hole for the securing pin
on the ball mount must be no more than 7 inches (178 mm).
x The ball diameter must be no more than 11/4 inches (32 mm).
A ball mount and ball combination that does not meet these specifications can damage your vehicle
and may even fail in use ⇒ .
Never install a “weight distributing” or “load equalizing” trailer hitch on your vehicle. The vehicle is not
designed for this kind of trailer hitch ⇒ .
WARNING
An improperly installed or unsuitable trailer hitch can cause the trailer to separate from the
towing vehicle and result in a major accident with serious personal injuries.
x Have any trailer hitch retrofit or other work on a trailer hitch done by a qualified workshop.
CAUTION
The ball mount sticks out behind the rear bumper and can cause injury to pedestrians and
cyclists.
x To reduce the risk of injury in rear-end collisions, and the risk to pedestrians and cyclists
when the vehicle is parked, always remove the ball carrier when you are not towing a trailer.
NOTICE
x Never use a ball larger than 11/4 inches (32 mm) on your vehicle. The vehicle was not
designed to tow heavier trailers with a receiver larger than the specified ball. The increased
loads can damage the attachment points for the trailer hitch.
x Never use an adapter to increase the size of the trailer hitch receiver from 11/4 inches
(32 mm) to 2 inches (50.8 mm) or more to tow a trailer that is heavier than the maximum
permissible trailer weight that your vehicle can tow.
x You can use an adapter if required for the proper installation of a bicycle rack or other
similar carrier as long as the maximum weight limits are observed. When using bicycle racks
or similar carriers, make sure that the rear lights are not blocked.
x Only use trailer hitches that are approved by the hitch manufacturer for your vehicle and
model.