2013 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT media

NOTICE
Broken glass in the auto-dimming mirrors can cause electrolyte fluid leakage. Liquid electro-
lyte leaked from a broken mirror glass will damage any plastic surfaces it comes in contact
with. Clean up spilled electrolyte fluid immediately with clear water and a sponge.
Inside mirror

Fig. 106 Manually adjustable inside mirror.

Fig. 107 Auto-dimming inside mirror.

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 gravi-
ty.
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 ex-
ceptional 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
Improper trailer towing can cause loss of vehicle control and serious personal injury.
x Driving with a trailer and carrying heavy or bulky items changes the way the vehicle han-
dles and increases the distance it needs to stop safely.
x Always watch what is happening up ahead and around you. Brake earlier than you would
if you were not towing a trailer.
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 Drive especially carefully and accelerate gently. Always avoid sudden maneuvers and
hard braking.
x Be especially careful when passing other vehicles.
x Reduce speed immediately if the trailer shows even the slightest sign of swaying.
x Never try to stop the swaying by accelerating.
x Always obey speed limits. In some areas speed limits for vehicles towing trailers are lower
than for vehicles without trailers.
Ball mount

Fig. 115 Dimensions of the ball mount support.

WARNING
The center armrest can restrict the driver's arm movement and cause crashes and serious
personal injury.
x Always keep storage compartments in the center armrest closed while driving.
WARNING
Never let a passenger, especially a child, ride on the center armrest.
There may be a 12 Volt socket, an AUX-IN jack, USB port, or a multimedia jack (MEDIA-IN) in
the center armrest storage compartment ⇒ Booklet Radio or ⇒ Booklet Navigation system.
Applicable only in the United States, Canada, Mexico, and the AGCC
Glove compartment

Fig. 122 On the passenger side: Glove compartment.

Fig. 123 Inside the glove compartment.

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.
WARNING
Driving with bad brakes can cause a collision and serious personal injury.
x If the brake warning light "2!+% or H does not go out, or comes on when driving, either the
brake fluid level in the reservoir is too low or there is a fault in the brake system. Stop the
vehicle as soon as you can do so safely and get expert assistance.
x If the brake warning light "2!+% or H comes on at the same time as the ABS warning
light !"3 or J, the ABS may not be working properly. This could cause the rear wheels to lock
up relatively quickly during braking. Rear wheel brake lock-up can cause loss of vehicle
control.
x If you believe the vehicle is safe to drive, drive slowly and very carefully to the nearest
authorized Volkswagen dealer, authorized Volkswagen Service Facility, or other qualified
workshop and have the brake system inspected. Avoid sudden hard braking and steering.
x If the ABS indicator light !"3 or J does not go out, or if it comes on while driving, the ABS
system is not working properly. The vehicle can then be stopped only with the standard
brakes (without ABS). You will not have the protection ABS provides. Contact your
authorized Volkswagen dealer or an authorized Volkswagen Service Facility as soon as
possible.
x If the symbol "2!+% 7%!2or I lights up in the instrument cluster display, whether alone or
together with a text message, immediately contact an authorized Volkswagen dealer or
authorized Volkswagen Service Facility to have the brake pads checked and, if necessary,
replaced.
NOTICE
Failure to heed warning lights or text WARNINGS can result in vehicle damage.
Parking brake

Fig. 145 Between the front seats: Parking brake.

Brake disc corrosion (rust) and dirt build-up on the brake pads are more likely to occur if the vehicle
is not driven much or is driven only for short distances with little braking. If the brakes have not been
used and there is some rust on the discs, clean the brake discs and pads once in a while by carefully
braking a couple of times while driving at relatively high speed to help clean the brake discs and pads.
Make sure nobody is behind you and that you do not endanger yourself or others ⇒ .
Brake system malfunction
If you brake and find that vehicle doesn't brake nearly as well as it used to (sudden increase in
stopping distance), a brake circuit may have failed. The brake warning light H or "2!+% will come on
and a message may appear in the instrument cluster display. If you believe the vehicle is safe to drive,
immediately take it to the nearest authorized Volkswagen dealer or authorized Volkswagen Service
Facility for repair. Drive slowly and very carefully, allow for the longer stopping distance, and be ready
to push longer and harder on the brake pedal to slow the vehicle down.
Brake booster
The brake booster works only when the engine is running. It increases the force on the brakes above
and beyond the pressure put on the brake pedal by the driver.
If the brake booster is not working, or if the vehicle has to be towed, you will have to push the brake
pedal harder to make up for the lack of booster assistance and the resulting longer stopping distance
⇒ .
WARNING
New brake pads do not provide maximum braking performance.
x New brake pads do not have the best stopping power for the first 200 miles (320 km) and
must be “broken in.” You can compensate for the slightly reduced braking force by putting
more pressure on the brake pedal.
x Drive with extra care while the new brake pads are being broken in. This reduces the risk
of collisions and serious personal injuries due to a loss of control over the vehicle.
x Never follow other vehicles too closely or put yourself into other situations that might
require sudden, hard braking, especially when the brake pads have not been broken in.
WARNING
Overheated brakes will reduce the vehicle's stopping power and increase stopping distances
considerably.
x When driving downhill, the brakes have to work especially hard and heat up quickly.
x Before driving downhill, especially on hills that are long or steep, always reduce speed
and shift into lower gear (manual or automatic transmission). This will let the vehicle use
engine braking and reduce the load on the brakes. Otherwise, the brake system could
overheat and possibly fail. Only use the brakes when you need them to slow the vehicle down
more or to stop.
x A damaged front spoiler or a non-standard spoiler can reduce airflow to the brakes and
make them overheat.

On some vehicles, engine components block the view of the brake fluid reservoir and make it
impossible to see the brake fluid level. If you cannot clearly see the brake fluid level in the brake fluid
reservoir, please see an authorized Volkswagen dealer or authorized Volkswagen Service Facility.
The brake fluid level drops slightly when the vehicle is being used as the brake pads wear and the
brakes are automatically adjusted.
Changing brake fluid
Brake fluid must be changed according to the service schedule in your ⇒ Booklet Warranty and
Maintenance. Have the brake fluid checked by an authorized Volkswagen dealer or an authorized
Volkswagen Service Facility. Refill only with new brake fluid that meets the standards listed above.
WARNING
Brake failure and reduced brake performance can be caused by not having enough brake
fluid in the reservoir or by old or incorrect brake fluid.
x Check the brake system and brake fluid level regularly.
x Always change the brake fluid according to the service schedule in your
⇒ Booklet Warranty and Maintenance.
x Hard braking with old brake fluid may cause vapor lock. Vapor lock reduces braking
performance, increases stopping distances and can even cause total brake failure.
x Always make sure that only the correct brake fluid is used. Only use brake fluid that
expressly conforms to VW standard 501 14 or if it is not available, only use a high-quality
brake fluid that conforms to U.S. Standard FMVSS 116 DOT 4 requirements.
x Using another brake fluid, or one that is not of high quality, can impair the function of the
brake system and reduce its effectiveness. If the container does not say that the brake fluid
complies with VW Standard 501 14, or U.S. Standard FMVSS 116 DOT 4, do not use it.
x The brake fluid must be new.
WARNING
Brake fluid is poisonous.
x To reduce the risk of poisoning, never use food, beverage or other non-original containers
to store brake fluid. Someone might be misled by the original label on the container, or by the
shape of the container, and drink the brake fluid. This could occur even if you relabel the
container as “brake fluid.”
x Only store brake fluid in the closed, original container and keep it out of the reach of
children.
NOTICE
Brake fluid will damage vehicle paint, plastic parts and tires. Wipe any brake fluid off vehicle
paint and other vehicle parts immediately.
Brake fluid can pollute the environment. Brake fluid that has leaked out must be collected and
disposed of properly, following all applicable environmental regulations.

Lights
up Possible cause Proper response
D
Power steering assist is reduced.
Stop, restart the engine, and drive a short
distance. If the yellow warning light does not
come on again, you do not need to have the
steering system checked.
Otherwise, have the steering checked
immediately by an authorized Volkswagen
dealer or an authorized Volkswagen Service
Facility.
Vehicle battery was disconnected and
has been reconnected.
Drive a short distance at about 10–12 mph
(15–20 km/h).


Flashes Possible cause Proper response
D Electronic steering column lock
malfunction.