2013 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN steering wheel

WARNING
Inadequate experience and knowledge of the demands of off-road driving can lead to critical
situations and cause serious personal injury.
x Never take routes or risks that could put you or your passengers in danger. If you cannot
go on, or have doubts about the safety of your route, turn back and take a new route.
x The intelligent technology of the vehicle cannot change the laws of physics. Despite the
ABS, adverse terrain can cause instability through blocked wheels – for example, if you brake
hard when driving on a loose gravel road. Difficult terrain may also prevent the ESC from
doing its job.
x Never operate the vehicle at the limit of its performance ability. Always leave a good safety
margin.
x To reduce the risk of loss of control and serious personal injury, never use the cruise
control when driving off-road.
x Even terrain that looks easy can be difficult and dangerous, putting you and your
passengers in a critical situation. It is often best to check an area out on foot first.
x Drive with special care and think ahead in off-road terrain. If you drive too fast, or fail to
maneuver the vehicle properly, you could cause personal injury and damage the vehicle.
x Never drive faster than is appropriate for the prevailing terrain and the road, traffic, and
weather conditions.
x Never drive too fast across embankments, ramps, or slopes. The vehicle could become
airborne. If that happens, you will not be able to steer and can lose control.
x If your vehicle becomes airborne, always keep the front wheels pointing straight ahead. If
the wheels are not pointing straight ahead when the vehicle lands, it could roll over.
x Never allow people to stand in front of or behind the vehicle if you have put items such as
stones or pieces of wood under the wheels to improve traction on slippery ground. Spinning
wheels can turn these items into dangerous flying objects causing serious personal injury.
x Even areas that look harmless can be dangerous. Potholes, ditches, trenches, drop-offs,
different kinds of obstacles, and soft or swampy ground often cannot be seen and can be
partially or fully covered by water, grass, branches, or other things. Driving over such terrain
can cause accidents and severe injuries. Before crossing an unknown area, carefully explore
the route you plan to take on foot.
WARNING
Never drive off-road if you are low on fuel. Too little fuel in the tank can cause an accident
and serious injuries. You can also run out of fuel in a remote area where getting help is
difficult or impossible.
x When the fuel tank is almost empty, fuel supply to the engine can be interrupted,
especially when driving over bumps, across slopes, and up and down hills. The interruption
in fuel flow could stall the engine during a maneuver in difficult terrain and make you lose
control of the vehicle.
x Steering and braking assistance as well as ESC and related systems will not work if the
engine “sputters” or stalls due to lack of fuel. This can cause loss of vehicle control,
especially in difficult terrain.
x Always refuel when the tank is 1/4 full to reduce the risk of running out of fuel.
NOTICE
If the power sunroof or the windows are open when it rains or snows, the interior of the vehicle
will get wet and the vehicle may be damaged. Always keep the windows and the power sunroof
closed when driving off-road.

WARNING
Not wearing safety belts, or wearing them improperly will increase the risk of serious injuries
when driving off-road. Holding the steering wheel improperly will reduce your ability to
control the vehicle and can also increase the risk of injury when driving off-road.
x Properly worn safety belts are the single most effective means of reducing the risk of
serious injury and death during sudden braking or driving maneuvers and in automobile
accidents. For this reason, always wear your safety belt properly and make sure all
passengers wear their safety belts properly as well whenever the vehicle is moving.
x Never wrap your thumbs around the steering wheel rim. When driving off-road, obstacles
in front of the wheels can make the steering wheel jerk suddenly in your hands and cause
personal injury. Rest your thumbs pointing up on the on the surface of the steering wheel at
the 3 and 9 o'clock positions.

WARNING
A cell phone on the seat, instrument panel or in other places can be thrown around the inside
of the vehicle during a sudden braking maneuver, a crash or other accident and injure vehicle
occupants.
x Never place or attach accessories or other objects (such as cup holders, telephone
brackets, notepads, navigation systems, large, heavy or bulky objects) on the doors, on the
windshield, over or near the area marked “AIRBAG” on the steering wheel, instrument panel,
backrests or between these areas and the occupant. Such objects could cause serious injury
in a collision, especially if an airbag inflates.
WARNING
Using a cell phone or CB radio inside the vehicle without a properly installed and separate
outside antenna can be dangerous to your health and that of your passengers because the
electromagnetic radiation energy that cell phones and CB radios emit may be above
established limits. This also applies if the outside antenna is not installed properly.
x Always keep the cell phone antenna at least 8 in (20 cm) away from pacemakers. Heart
specialists advise that cell phones can adversely affect the way of pacemakers work.
x Never carry a cell phone that is switched on in the breast pocket directly over a
pacemaker.
x If you suspect there may be interference with a pacemaker or other medical device, switch
the cell phone off immediately.
Consumer information

WARNING
Towing a vehicle changes the way it handles and brakes. To help reduce the risk of an
accident and serious personal injury, note the following:
x The driver of the vehicle that is being towed:
– Since the brake booster also does not work when the engine is stopped, you will need
to press harder on the brake pedal to slow down or stop. Always be alert so as not to rear-
end towing vehicle.
– Will have to use considerable more force to turn the steering wheel because the power
steering is not working.
x The driver of the vehicle that is doing the towing:
– Must accelerate gradually and gently and avoid jerking movements.
– Must not brake hard or steer sharply.
– Must brake earlier and more gently than in normal driving.
NOTICE
x Be careful not to damage the paint when installing and removing the towing eye and the
cover for the threaded hole behind the bumper.
x Unburned fuel can get into the catalytic converter during towing and damage it.
NOTICE
The vehicle may be damaged if it is towed with a tow rope or a tow bar.
x Never let the vehicle be towed with a tow rope or a tow bar unless it is absolutely
necessary.
x If the vehicle breaks down, it can only be towed by a special tow truck.
Towing on a commercial tow truck

x Tow the vehicle only with its front wheels off the ground ⇒ .
Special towing instructions for vehicles with all-wheel drive (4MOTION)
x To help prevent unnecessary damage, vehicles with all-wheel drive (4MOTION) must be
transported on a flat-bed truck.
x To load the vehicle on the flat bed, use the towing eye found in the vehicle tool kit and attach it to
the front anchorage
When not to tow your vehicle
If there is little or no oil in the transmission because of damage to your vehicle, it must be moved with
the drive wheels off the ground. The vehicle can only be towed if its ignition is switched on and its
electrical system is operating. In the following situations, the vehicle cannot be towed at all and must
be transported on a flatbed truck or trailer:
x If the front and rear wheels cannot turn.
x If the vehicle battery is dead (because the steering is locked and the electronic parking brake and
the electronic steering column lock cannot be released if engaged).
x If you have to tow an automatic transmission vehicle more than 30 miles (50 km).
WARNING
It is not safe for children or other persons to ride in a vehicle that is being towed.
x Never let children or anyone else remain in the vehicle while it is being towed.
NOTICE
The drive axle rotates while the vehicle is being towed with its rear wheels off the ground. This
can damage the automatic transmission.
x Never tow automatic transmission vehicle with the rear wheels off the ground.
x Tow manual transmission vehicles with the rear wheels off the ground only if it is certain
that no transmission fluid can leak out.
Tips on towing

x Shift the gearshift lever to Neutral
x Do not tow faster than 30 mph (50 km/h).
x Do not tow more than 30 miles (50 km).
Towing automatic transmission vehicles
Check whether your vehicle can be towed at all; see below When not to tow your vehicle.
If yes, note the following for the towed vehicle:
x Put the transmission in Neutral (N).
x Do not tow faster than 30 mph (50 km/h).
x Do not tow more than 30 miles (50 km).
x When a commercial tow truck is being used, the vehicle must only be towed with the front wheels
lifted off the ground.
x Follow the special instructions for towing vehicles with all-wheel drive (4MOTION).
Towing vehicles with all-wheel drive (4MOTION)
Vehicles with all-wheel drive (4MOTION) should be towed with a tow bar or a tow rope. If the vehicle is
towed with the front or rear axles lifted off the ground, the engine must be switched off. Otherwise the
powertrain may be damaged.
When not to tow your vehicle
In the following situations, the vehicle cannot be towed and must be transported on a flatbed truck or
trailer:
x If transmission fluid has leaked out of the transmission.
x If there is little or no oil in the transmission because of damage to your vehicle, it must be moved
with the drive wheels off the ground.
x If the front and rear wheels cannot turn.
x When the vehicle battery is dead, since the steering may remain disabled, and it may not be
possible to release the electronic steering column lock and the electronic parking brake.
x If you have to tow an automatic transmission vehicle more than 30 miles (50 km).
Towing other vehicles
x Obey all legal requirements.
x Read and heed all towing information in the owner’s manual for the other vehicle.
A vehicle can be towed only if the electronic parking brake and the electronic steering column
lock can be released. In case of a power loss or malfunctions of the electrical system, the engine may
have to be jump-started in order to release the electronic parking brake and the electronic steering
column lock.
Driving tips while towing

off as long as the turn signal is blinking. As soon as the turn signal lever returns to its neutral position,
the emergency flashers are automatically activated again.
As driver of the towed vehicle:
x If your vehicle is the one being towed, the ignition switch must be switched on to keep the steering
wheel from locking. Also make sure that the turn signals, horn, windshield wipers, and windshield
washers work properly.
x Since power steering does not work when the engine is switched off, more effort is needed to steer
the vehicle.
x Since the brake booster also does not work when the engine is stopped, you will need to press
harder on the brake pedal to slow down or stop. Do not hit the towing vehicle.
x Read and heed the information and WARNINGS in the towing vehicle's owner's manual.
As driver of the towing vehicle
x Drive especially carefully and accelerate gently. Avoid sudden driving maneuvers.
x Brake earlier than usual and with light pedal pressure.
x Read and heed the information and WARNINGS in the owner's manual of the vehicle being towed.