2015 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT Luggage

WARNING
Improper or unsupervised unlocking or opening of the luggage compartment lid can cause severe injuries. Never open the lid when someone is in the way.
x If a bicycle or luggage rack is installed on the luggage compartment lid, it may be hard to see that the luggage compartment lid is unlatched. An unlatched luggage compartment lid may open suddenly when the vehicle is moving.
At temperatures below +32 °F (0 °C), the luggage compartment lid may not open automatically after you unlock it. It will be necessary to lift it by hand.
Closing the luggage compartment lid

Fig. 48 Opened luggage compartment lid: Recessed grips for closing.

WARNING
Improper or unsupervised closing of the luggage compartment lid can cause severe injuries. Never close the lid when someone is in the way.
x Never leave your vehicle unattended or let children play around your vehicle, especially with the luggage compartment lid left open. A child could crawl into the vehicle and pull the luggage compartment lid shut, becoming trapped and unable to get out. A closed vehicle can become very hot or very cold depending on the season. Temperatures can quickly reach levels that can cause unconsciousness or death, particularly to small children.
Make sure that the remote control vehicle key is not in the luggage compartment before closing the luggage compartment lid.

Not wearing or improperly fastening safety belts increases the risk of severe or fatal injuries. Safety belts can work only when they are properly positioned on the body. An improper seating position significantly impairs the protection provided by safety belts. This can cause severe or even fatal inju-ries. Improper seating positions also increase the risk of serious injury or death when an airbag de-ploys and strikes an occupant who is not in the proper seating position. The driver is responsible for all passengers and especially children riding in the vehicle.
The following are only some examples of seating positions that will increase the risk of serious injury or death.
Therefore, whenever the vehicle is moving:
x Never stand up in the vehicle.
x Never stand on the seats.
x Never kneel on the seats.
x Never ride with the seat backrest reclined.
x Never lean up against the instrument panel.
x Never lie down on the rear seat.
x Never sit on the edge of the seat.
x Never sit sideways.
x Never lean out the window.
x Never put your feet out the window.
x Never put feet on the instrument panel.
x Never rest your feet on the seat cushion or back of the seat.
x Never ride in the footwell.
x Never sit on the front or rear center armrest.
x Never ride without your safety belt properly fastened.
x Never ride in the luggage compartment.
WARNING
Contact with parts of the vehicle interior can cause serious personal injury in a crash.
x Always make sure that all vehicle occupants stay in a proper seating position and are properly restrained whenever the vehicle is moving.
x Improper seating positions increase the risk of serious and fatal injury, especially when an airbag deploys and strikes a passenger in an improper seating position.

Coming home Action
Switch on: – Switch off the ignition. The Coming home lighting is switched on when the driver door is open, the headlight switch is set to !54/, and the low-light sensor detects darkness. The delay period starts once the last vehicle door or the luggage compartment lid is closed.
Switch off: – Automatically after delay period is over. – Turn light switch to / position. – Switch the ignition on.


Leaving home Action
Switch on: – Unlock the vehicle if the light switch is in the !54/ position and the low-light sensor registers darkness.
Switch off: – Automatically after preset delay period is over. – Lock the vehicle. – Turn the light switch to the / position. – Switch the ignition on.

The delay period can be adjusted and the function can be switched on and off in the Lights &
Vision menu ⇒  Volkswagen Information System.
If the Coming home feature is switched on and the driver door is opened, no warning chime will sound to alert you that the lights are still on.
Instrument panel lighting

Fig. 103 To the left of the steering wheel: Control for instrument panel lighting.

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

x Total luggage and other cargo.
x Roof load, including the roof rack system if permitted ⇒  Roof rack.
x Factory-installed or retrofitted accessories.
x Hitch weight and tongue weight for trailer towing ⇒  Loading the trailer.
Please refer to the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) and the Gross front and rear Axle Weight Ratings (GAWR) for your vehicle, which are printed on the vehicle's Safety Compliance Certification
Label on the driver door jamb ⇒  Important vehicle labels.
WARNING
Exceeding maximum permissible weight ratings can result in vehicle damage, accidents, and serious personal injury.
x Never let the actual weights at the front and rear axles exceed the permissible Gross Axle Weight Rating. Also, never let the total of these actual weights exceed the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating.
x Always remember that the vehicle's handling and braking will be affected by extra load and the distribution of this load. Adjust your speed accordingly.
NOTICE
x Always distribute the load evenly and as low as possible in the vehicle. The vehicle capacity weight figures apply when the load is distributed evenly in the vehicle (passengers and lug-gage).
x When transporting a heavy load in the luggage compartment, carry the load as close to the rear axle (as far forward) as possible so that the vehicle's handling and braking are affected as little as possible.

Luggage compartment