2013 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT tow

Turn the rotary knob to the desired position:
# Fold the outside mirror in toward the vehicle body ⇒ .
?_ Switch on outside mirror heating. Heats only at outside air
temperatures below +68 °F (+20 °C).
, Adjust the left outside mirror by pressing the knob to left/right
and up/down.
2 Adjust the right outside mirror by pressing the knob to left/right
and up/down.
 Neutral position. Outside mirror folded out, no heating or
adjustment possible.

Synchronous mirror adjustment
x In the Settings - Convenience menu, select Mirror adjust - Both mirrors for syn-
chronous outside mirror adjustment.
x Turn the adjusting knob to the L position.
x Adjust the left outside mirror. The right (passenger) outside mirror will automatically adjust at the
same time.
x If needed, correct the position of the right mirror by turning the adjusting knob to the R position.
Auto-dimming outside mirror on the driver side
The auto-dimming outside mirror is controlled together with the auto-dimming inside mirror.
Memory for front passenger side mirror (when backing up)
x Choose the remote control vehicle key that will be used with the settings about to be made.
x Unlock the vehicle with that remote control vehicle key.
x Set the parking brake.
x Switch on the ignition.
x Activate the function Mirror down in the Settings - Convenience menu.
x Shift the transmission into reverse.
x Adjust the passenger outside mirror for a clear view of the curb, for example.
x The adjusted mirror position is automatically stored and assigned to the vehicle key used to unlock
the vehicle. The preselected position will be recalled when the key assigned to that mirror adjustment
position is used again.
Recalling passenger side mirror settings
x Turn the adjusting knob for the side mirrors to the R position.
x Shift the transmission into reverse gear with the ignition switched on.
x The mirror moves back to the regular position when the vehicle moves forwards faster than about
10 mph (15 km/h) or the adjusting knob is turned to the O or L position.
WARNING
Improper use of the folding outside mirrors can cause personal injury.
x Always make sure that nobody is in the way when folding the mirrors in or out.
x Make sure that you do not get your finger caught between the mirror and the mirror base
when moving the mirrors.

WARNING
Heavy loads will influence the way your vehicle handles and increase stopping distances.
Heavy loads that are not properly stowed or secured can cause loss of control and serious
injury.
x Secure the load properly to keep it from shifting.
x Always remember when transporting heavy objects that a change in the center of gravity
also changes the way your vehicle handles:
– Always distribute the load as evenly as possible.
– Secure heavy objects properly as far forward in the luggage compartment as possible.
– Always tie down heavy items securely with suitable straps using the tie-downs in the
luggage compartment.
x Securely latch the rear seat backrest in the upright position.
x Never exceed the Gross Axle Weight Rating or the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating on the
safety compliance sticker on the left door jamb. Exceeding permissible weight can cause the
vehicle to skid and handle differently.
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 Always accelerate gently and avoid sudden braking and driving maneuvers.
x Always brake earlier than you would if you were not driving a loaded vehicle.
Stowing luggage

Driving with an open luggage compartment lid can lead to serious personal injury. If you have to drive
with an open luggage compartment lid, make sure that all objects and the lid itself are properly se-
cured and take appropriate measures to keep toxic exhaust fumes from entering the vehicle.
WARNING
Driving with an unlatched or open luggage compartment lid can lead to serious personal
injury.
x Never transport objects larger than those that fit completely in the luggage compartment,
because the luggage compartment lid cannot be fully closed properly.
x After closing the lid, always pull up on it to make sure that it is properly closed and cannot
open suddenly when the vehicle is moving.
x Always stow all objects securely in the luggage compartment. Loose objects can fall out
of the luggage compartment and injure others on the road behind you.
x Drive carefully; anticipate what other drivers will do.
x Avoid abrupt or sudden acceleration, steering, or braking, because the unlatched luggage
compartment lid can move suddenly.
x Always mark objects sticking out from the luggage compartment clearly for others to see.
Obey all applicable legal requirements.
x Never use the luggage compartment lid to “clamp” or “hold” objects that stick out of the
luggage compartment.
x Always remove any luggage rack or other rack mounted on the luggage compartment lid
(along with any luggage on the rack) before driving with an open luggage compartment lid.
WARNING
Driving with an open luggage compartment lid can cause poisonous carbon monoxide in the
engine exhaust to get into the passenger compartment.
x Carbon monoxide causes drowsiness, inattentiveness, poisoning, and loss of conscious-
ness. It can lead to accidents and severe personal injuries.
x Always keep the luggage compartment lid closed while driving to help keep poisonous
exhaust fumes from being drawn into the vehicle.
x Never transport objects that are too large to fit completely into the luggage area, because
then the luggage compartment lid cannot be fully closed.
x If you absolutely must drive with an open luggage compartment lid, do the following to
reduce the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning:
– Close all windows and the power sunroof.
– Switch off the climate control system's air recirculation feature.
– Open all air vents in the instrument panel.
– Set the fresh air fan to the highest speed.
NOTICE
The open luggage compartment lid changes the vehicle height.
Driving a loaded vehicle

For good handling when driving a loaded vehicle, please observe the following:
x Securely stow all luggage.
x Drive especially carefully and accelerate gently.
x Avoid sudden braking and driving maneuvers.
x Brake earlier than you would if you were not driving a loaded vehicle.
x If applicable, observe information about driving with a trailer.
WARNING
Heavy loads can change the way your vehicle handles and increase stopping distances.
Heavy loads that are not properly stowed or secured can shift suddenly, causing loss of con-
trol and serious injury.
x Secure the load properly to keep it from shifting.
x Always remember when transporting heavy objects that they change the vehicle's center
of gravity and also the way it handles.
– Always distribute the load as evenly as possible.
– Secure heavy objects as far forward in the luggage compartment as possible.
– Use your vehicle's luggage compartment tie-downs with suitable straps.
x Always tie down heavy items securely with suitable straps.
x Securely latch the rear seat backrest in the upright position.
x Never exceed the Gross Axle Weight Rating or the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating on the
safety compliance sticker on the left door jamb. Exceeding permissible weight can cause the
vehicle to skid and handle differently.
x Always adapt speed and driving to the heavier load and the weight distribution in the ve-
hicle. Take road, weather, traffic, and visibility conditions into account as well.
x Always accelerate gently and avoid sudden braking and driving maneuvers.
x Always brake earlier than you would if you were not driving a loaded vehicle.
Applicable only in the United States and Canada
Weights and axle weights

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 shelf behind the rear seat bench, or on the top of the instrument panel.
x Always remove hard, heavy, or sharp objects from clothing and bags in the vehicle interi-
or 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 sud-
den braking and other maneuvers.
x Brake earlier than you would if you were not driving a loaded vehicle.
NOTICE
The defroster heating wires or antenna in the rear window can be damaged by objects that rub
against them.
The ventilation slots between the rear window and the luggage compartment cover must not be
blocked so that stale air can escape from the vehicle.

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 lug-
gage compartment and then to the tie-down hooks 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 785 lbs. (356 kg).
For suitable straps and luggage stowage systems, please see an authorized Volkswagen dealer
or authorized Volkswagen Service Facility.

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 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.