2014 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA SPORTWAGEN Owners Manual

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.

Folding the rear seat and backrest forward and back into place

Fig. 95 Rear seat bench: folding up seat cushion.

Fig. 96 A Rear seat bench: release button 1, red mark 2. B Seat backrest folded forward.

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. 97 In the luggage compartment: Closing the luggage compartment cover.

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

NOTICE
To help prevent damage to the luggage compartment cover, the luggage compartment may only be loaded to a height at which the luggage compartment cover will not press on the cargo when the rear hatch is closed.
x Things on the luggage compartment cover can damage it.
x The defroster heating wires or antenna in the rear window 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.
Luggage compartment pass-through

Fig. 99 In the rear seat backrest: Opening the luggage compartment pass-through.

Fig. 100 In the luggage compartment: Opening the pass-through.

If the center armrest is folded down, no one can sit on the middle seat of the rear bench.
Opening the pass-through
x Fold down the rear center armrest
x Pull the release lever ⇒ fig. 99 (1) and fold the pass-through cover all the way forward.
x Open the rear hatch.
x Slide long objects from the luggage compartment through the pass-through.
x Secure objects with the safety belt.
x Close the rear hatch.
Closing the pass-through
x Fold the pass-through cover back until it engages securely. The red marking on the luggage
compartment side ⇒ fig. 100 should not be visible.
x Close the rear hatch.
x If necessary, fold the center armrest up.
The pass-through can also be opened from the luggage compartment. Press the release lever down and push the cover forward.
Tie-downs

Fig. 101 In the luggage compartment: Tie-downs.

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.

Shopping bag hooks

Fig. 102 In the luggage compartment: Shopping bag hooks.