2013 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA trailer

d P r o p e r l y a d j u s t f r o n t s e a t s , a l l h e a d r e s t r a i n t s a n d m i r r o r s t o t h e c o r r e c t h e i g h t
d W e a r s h o e s t h a t g i v e y o u r f e e t a g o o d g r i p , a n d t h a t g i v e y o u a f e e l f o r t h e p e d a l s .
d M a k e s u r e t h a t t h e f l o o r m a t o n t h e d r i v e r s i d e i s p r o p e r l y f a s t e n e d a n d c a n n o t i n t e rfere with the
pedals.
d A s s u m e a p r o p e r s e a t i n g p o s i t i o n b e f o r e t h e v e h i c l e s t a r t s t o m o v e a n d k e e p t h i s p o s i t i o n w h i l e
driving. Make sure that all passengers do the same
d P r o p e r l y f a s t e n y o u r s a f e t y b e l t b e f o r e d r i v i n g t h e v e h i c l e a n d w e a r y o u r safety belt properly at all
times while driving. Make sure that all passengers do the same
d O n l y t r a n s p o r t a s m a n y p a s s e n g e r s a s t h e r e a r e s e a t s a n d s a f e t y b e l t s a v a i l a b l e .
d N e v e r d r i v e i f y o u r d r i v i n g a b i l i t y h a s b e e n i m p a i r e d , f o r e x a m p l e b y m e d i c a t i o n , a l c o h o l o r i l l e g a l
drugs.
d N e v e r l e t p a s s e n g e r s o r p h o n e c a l l s d i s t r a c t y o u w h i l e d r i v i n g , a n d n e v e r t a k e y o u r a t t e n t ion off the
road while using vehicle software or adjusting vehicle equipment or accessories.
d A l w a y s a d a p t y o u r s p e e d a n d d r i v i n g s t y l e t o v isibility, weather, road, and traffic conditions.
d A l w a y s o b e y t r a f f i c l a w s a n d s p e e d l i m i t s .
d O n l o n g t r i p s m a k e f r e q u e n t r e s t s t o p s – a t l e a s t o n c e e v e r y 2 h o u r s .
d S e c u r e a n i m a l s i n t h e v e h i c l e w i t h a s y s t e m t h a t c o r r e s p o n d s t o w e i g h t a n d s i z e .

WARNING
Always observe traffic rules and posted speed limits and use common sense. Your good
judgment can mean the difference between arriving safely at your destination and being
seriously injured in a crash or other kind of accident.
Regular service and maintenance of your vehicle is important both for operational and driving
safety and to help prolong your vehicle's service life. Always follow the scheduled maintenance inter-
vals in the ⇒Booklet Warranty and Maintenance, especially for changing the brake fluid. Hard use,
frequent stop-and-go driving, driving in very dusty areas, trailer towing, and other factors may make it
necessary to have the vehicle serviced more frequently. Ask an authorized Volkswagen dealer or an
authorized Volkswagen Service Facility for more information.
Driving in other countries

Lights
up Possible cause Proper response
 One or more driving lights not working.
Replace burned out bulb , or
If all light bulbs are OK, see an authorized
Volkswagen dealer or authorized
Volkswagen Service Facility.

Fog lights switched on (indicator light on
the headlight switch or the instrument
cluster).
⇒page 145.



Left or right turn signal.
The indicator light blinks twice as fast if a
turn signal is not working on the vehicle or
the trailer.
Check the turn signals on the vehicle and
the trailer.

Daytime running lights (DRL) on. ⇒page 146,
$2,
 High beams switched on or headlight
flashers in use. ⇒page 144.

When the ignition is switched on, several warning and indicator lights come on briefly for a function
check. They go out after a few seconds.
WARNING
Failure to heed warning lights and instrument cluster text messages can cause the vehicle to
break down in traffic and result in a collision and serious personal injury.
x Never ignore warning lights or text WARNINGS.
x Always stop the vehicle as soon as it is safe to do so.
x Whenever stalled or stopped for repair, move the vehicle a safe distance off the road, stop
the engine, turn on the emergency flashers, and use other warning devices to warn
approaching traffic.
x Never park the vehicle in areas where the hot catalytic converter and exhaust system can
come into contact with dry grass, brush, spilled fuel, oil, or other material that can catch fire.
x A broken down vehicle presents a high accident risk for itself and others. Switch on
emergency flashers and set up a warning triangle to warn oncoming traffic.

NOTICE
Failure to heed warning lights or text WARNINGS can result in vehicle damage.

Please review the information on loading a trailer and a roof rack .
Driving with an open luggage compartment lid

Trailer towing

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.
Technical requirements

Electrical load Maximum power
Brake lights total 108 watts
Turn signals per side 54 watts
Side marker lights total 100 watts
Taillights total 54 watts

WARNING
x An improperly installed or incorrect trailer hitch can cause a trailer to separate from the
tow vehicle and cause serious personal injuries.
x If you don't have to tow a trailer any more, remove the entire trailer hitch. Always seal all
bolt holes to prevent water and deadly exhaust fumes from getting into the vehicle.

NOTICE
x If the trailer lights are not connected properly, the vehicle's electronics may be damaged.
x If the trailer uses too much electricity, the vehicle's electronics may be damaged.
x Never connect the electrical system for the trailer directly to the electrical connections for
the rear lights or to any other unsuitable power sources. Use only a suitable connector to
provide power to the trailer.
If you tow a trailer frequently, Volkswagen recommends having the vehicle serviced between the
regular maintenance and inspection intervals because of the extra load it has to pull.
Hitching up and connecting a trailer

WARNING
Improper connections to the vehicle electrical system can cause malfunctions that affect the
entire vehicle electrical system, which can lead to accidents and serious personal injury.
x Have any work on the electrical system done by an authorized Volkswagen dealer or
authorized Volkswagen Service Facility.
x Never connect the electrical system for the trailer directly to the electrical connections for
the rear lights or to any other unsuitable power sources. Use only a suitable connector to
provide power to the trailer.

NOTICE
Never attach a trailer to the vehicle or leave it attached to the vehicle when the trailer is
supported by a trailer jack or blocks. Various things (such as a change in trailer or vehicle load
or a flat tire) can lower or raise the vehicle. This subjects the trailer hitch and the trailer to
strong forces that can damage the vehicle or the trailer.
If the engine is switched off and accessories in the trailer are on and use electricity from the
vehicle, the vehicle battery will be drained as long as the electrical systems of the vehicle and the
trailer are connected.
Loading the trailer