2015 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN warning

WARNING
Off-road driving can be dangerous, can lead to accidents, vehicle damage, stranding in remote areas, and serious personal injury.
x Never drive too fast or for terrain and weather conditions.
x Always adjust your speed and driving style to road, terrain, traffic, and weather conditions.
x Always avoid sudden, sharp maneuvers that increase the risk of loss of vehicle control or getting stuck.
x When driving off-road look and think ahead, expect the unexpected.
x To reduce the risk of loss of control and serious personal injury, never use the cruise control when driving off-road. Cruise control is designed for highway use. It is completely unsuitable for off-road situations and can even be dangerous when used off-road.
NOTICE
Always make sure the vehicle has enough ground clearance. Severe damage to the underbody can occur if the vehicle bottoms out. The damage could disable the vehicle and leave you stranded.
x While driving off-road do not drag the clutch or rest one foot on the clutch pedal. Otherwise, in bumpy terrain you might press the clutch accidentally, resulting in loss of vehicle control. In addition, the frictional connection between the engine and transmission is lost. Further, driving while dragging the clutch causes fast wear of the clutch lining.
“Tread lightly” is an educational program designed to increase public awareness of land use regulations and responsibilities in our nation's wilderness areas. Volkswagen supports the U.S. Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management in encouraging you to preserve our national forests and other public and private lands by “treading lightly”.
Technical terms explained

Fig. 164 Illustration of A: Ascent angle. B: Lateral gradient.

be lower on hard, firm surfaces if ideal conditions do not exist. As the driver, you are always
responsible for deciding whether your vehicle is able to handle a particular situation ⇒ .

Term Explanation Technical data
Ground clearance This is the vertical distance between the level ground and the lowest part on the vehicle.
Maximum 7.6 in (195 mm).
Fording depth in standing water Distance between the point on the ground that touches the tire and the engine air intake duct.
Maximum 6.9 inches (175 mm).
Gradient angle The number of feet (meters) in altitude gained when traveling 100 ft (30.48 m) is given as a percentage or in degrees
⇒ fig. 164 A. Information on the maximum slope the vehicle can climb unassisted (depends on road surface and engine power).
Maximum permissible 31 degrees (corresponds to 60 %).
Lateral angle (vehicle slope) The maximum angle the vehicle may be driven across terrain without the vehicle rolling over (depends on height of center of
gravity) ⇒ fig. 164 B.
Maximum permissible 27 degrees.
Breakover angle Maximum permitted angle given in degrees that a vehicle driven at low speed can clear a ramp without the underbody of the vehicle scraping the ramp.
Maximum 21.3 degrees.
Approach/departure angle Transition from horizontal plane to a slope, or from a slope to flat ground. Maximum angle in degrees the vehicle can be driven at low speed along an embankment without the bumper or underbody scraping.
Approach angle for off-road front end: Maximum 28 degrees.
Departure angle: Maximum 25 degrees.
Fall line This is the vertical drop route.
Articulation Articulation capability of the vehicle while driving on one side over an object.

WARNING
Never exceed the recommended maximum values in the above table. Exceeding these values will result in serious personal injury and/or damage to your vehicle.
x All values listed above are for ideal conditions and assume firm, even surfaces that are dry and not slippery.
x Off-road conditions will always be less than ideal. Always reduce the maximum values listed in the table above to allow an adequate margin of safety between the ideal maximum value and your vehicle's actual off-road situation.

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.

x After driving through water, have the vehicle drive train and electrical system thoroughly inspected for damage by an authorized Volkswagen dealer or an authorized Volkswagen Service Facility.
WARNING
Flowing water is very powerful and can sweep your vehicle away. This can lead create an extremely dangerous situation and cause an accident with serious personal injuries.
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 Never stop in the water.
x If water gets into the engine, your vehicle can break down. You will lose control of a broken down vehicle, and it can be swept away.
x Soft surfaces, mud, underwater obstacles, and holes can cause accidents and can cause the vehicle to break down in the water. This can lead pose extreme danger.
x Rapidly flowing water can develop strong forces that can pull the vehicle downstream. This can cause accidents and fatal injuries.
x Drive through water only where the banks and bottom are firm enough and the water is shallower at all points than the maximum permissible fording depth for your vehicle.
NOTICE
x Vehicle components such as the engine, drive train, suspension or electrical system may be severely damaged by driving through water.
x Avoid stopping in deep water. This can let water get inside the vehicle.
x On soft ground, the tires dig into the surface. This reduces fording depth. Make sure that the ground is sufficiently firm.
x Avoid creating a bow wave in front of the vehicle while driving through water. A bow wave could force its way into the engine air intake duct and seriously damage the engine.
x If you even briefly exceed the maximum fording depth when driving through water, severe engine damage will result. This engine damage will lead to a vehicle breakdown. This can disable the vehicle in the water.
x Never drive over salt flats or through salt or salty water. Salt causes vehicle corrosion. Rinse all parts of the vehicle that were exposed to salt or salt water right away with fresh water.
Driving over snow-covered terrain

WARNING
Driving through snow-covered terrain is very dangerous.
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 Potholes, ruts, ditches, drop-offs, and other obstacles are often partially or completely hidden by the snow, especially when it is deep.
x Snow-covered dangers can lead to an accident, serious personal injury, or stranding under extreme weather conditions.
x Always adapt driving speed and style to load, terrain, visibility, and weather conditions.
Driving in steep terrain

WARNING
Never try to drive up or down slopes that are too steep for your vehicle. The vehicle could slide away, tip over, or roll over.
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 lateral angle must never be more than the maximum angle approved for the vehicle.
x Always drive along the fall line when driving up or down a slope.
x Never try to turn the vehicle around on a slope. The vehicle could tip over or roll down the slope.
x If the engine stalls or you can no longer drive up the slope for any reason, stop and apply the foot brake. If stalled, apply the foot brake and restart the engine. Then shift into Reverse (R) and carefully back your vehicle straight down the slope along the fall line. Keep the vehicle speed slow and even.
x If the engine will not restart, apply constant pressure to the foot brake and carefully back straight down the slope the same way you drove up. Keep the vehicle speed slow and even.
x If the engine is running, select Reverse (R) and carefully back straight down the slope the same way you drove up. Use engine braking power and the foot brake to keep the vehicle speed slow and even.
x Never just roll down a slope with the clutch depressed or the transmission in Neutral (N). You could lose control of the vehicle.
Driving crosswise on a slope

Fig. 165 Steer downhill along the fall line.

WARNING
Never try to drive crosswise on a slope, especially one that is too steep for your vehicle. The vehicle could slide sideways and tumble down the slope. To reduce the risk of accidents and serious injuries:
x Never underestimate the difficulties and dangers of driving crosswise on a slope. 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 different route.
x When driving crosswise on a hill, the vehicle can lose its hold, slide sideways, tip or turn over and roll down the hill.
x Make certain that the wheels on the downhill side of the vehicle do not run over holes or depressions. Make certain that the wheels on the high side of the vehicle do not run over rocks, tree stumps, or protruding objects.
x Before driving crosswise on a hill, check whether it is possible to steer into the fall line along the selected route. If this is not possible, select a different route. If the vehicle
threatens to tip, immediately steer downhill into the fall line and gently accelerate ⇒ fig. 165.
x If the vehicle is stopped a hillside and is laterally tilted, avoid sudden and uncontrolled movement in the vehicle The vehicle can lose its hold, slide sideways, tip, or turn over and roll down the hill.
x If the vehicle is stopped at while pointed crosswise on a steep slope, make certain that no one exits the vehicle through a door on the downhill side. This can shift the vehicle center of gravity to the downhill side. The can tilt or roll over and roll down the hill. To help minimize
this risk, always exit the vehicle through the doors that are facing uphill ⇒ fig. 166.
x When getting out, make certain that doors opened on the uphill side are not closed carelessly and do not swing shut due to their own weight and injure anybody.
Avoiding deep ruts and depressions

WARNING
If the approach/departure angle or the lateral angle of the ditch are too steep for the vehicle, do not attempt to cross the ditch. The vehicle can fall over on its side, slide sideways, or turn over.
NOTICE
If you enter at right angles to the ditch, the front wheels will fall into the ditch. The underbody of the vehicle can get stuck and the vehicle can be damaged or disabled. Getting out of a ditch without assistance is rarely possible, even with all-wheel drive.
Driving in sand and mud