2015 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN warning

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 up or down while the vehicle is moving.
x When folding the rear seat backrest 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 away when folding the rear seat backrest up and down.
x Each rear seat backrest must be securely latched into place 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 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 a collision.
x No one, including children, may ride on the rear seats if the rear seat backrest 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.
NOTICE
Items in the luggage compartment could be damaged or cause damage when the rear seat is adjusted in the fore and aft direction.
Removing and reinstalling the rear seat

Fig. 100 Front attachment of the rear seat.

4. Secure both seat rails of the rear seat in front and back with 2 hexagonal nuts each, tightening the nuts by hand - do not tighten them with the lug wrench yet.
5. Lift the right rear seat into the vehicle through the right rear door.
6. Set the seat rails of the rear seat first on the front anchoring studs and then on the rear studs.
7. Secure both seat rails of the rear seat in front and back with 2 hexagonal nuts each, tightening the nuts by hand - do not tighten them with the lug wrench yet.
8. To align the seat rails, press the left rear seat all the way to the left in the vehicle.
9. To align the seat rails, press the right rear seat all the way to the right in the vehicle.
10. Tighten the hexagonal nuts in the luggage compartment ⇒ fig. 101 (arrows) to 44 ft-lbs (60 Nm) using a torque wrench. If no torque wrench is available, tighten the hexagonal nuts using the lug wrench and have the torque checked at a qualified workshop as soon as possible.
11. Push the rear seats as far back as possible ⇒  Adjusting the rear seat.
12. Remove the hexagonal nuts in the rear of the footwell again, set the 3 plastic covers ⇒ fig. 100 on the studs and screw on with the hexagonal nuts.
13. Tighten the hexagonal nuts ⇒ fig. 100 (arrows) to 44 ft-lbs (60 Nm) using a torque wrench. If no torque wrench is available, tighten the hexagonal nuts using the lug wrench and have the torque checked at a qualified workshop as soon as possible.
14. Clip on the small covers (not pictured) on the hexagonal nuts ⇒ fig. 100 (arrows).
15. Install the foam insert and spare wheel in the vehicle ⇒  Compact spare wheel.
16. Install the luggage compartment floor ⇒  Variable luggage compartment floor.
17. Install the luggage compartment cover ⇒  Luggage compartment cover.
18. Install all rear head restraints ⇒  Adjusting the seating position.
WARNING
No one may ride in the back of the vehicle when the rear seat has been removed.
WARNING
An improperly installed rear seat can separate from its mountings during an accident.
x All securing bolts must be tightened to the specified torque after the rear seat has been installed.
CAUTION
Sharp-edged parts are located on the underside of the rear seat.
x Protect your hands when you lift the rear seat in or out.
NOTICE
x Have at least one person help to lift the rear seat in or out. One person should be in the vehicle and one outside.

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 restraint to the tie-downs.
WARNING
Elastic straps have to be stretched when being attached to the tie-downs in the luggage compartment Hooks on elastic 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 vehicle and do not let them snap back and hit you.
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 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 785 lbs. (356 kg).
For suitable ratchet straps and luggage stowage systems, please see an authorized Volkswagen dealer or authorized Volkswagen Service Facility.

WARNING
The elastic luggage net has to be stretched when being attached to the tie-downs in the luggage compartment. The hooks can cause serious personal injury if not handled properly and attached securely.
x Always hold the hooks on the luggage net bag firmly when attaching to the vehicle and do not let them spring back and hit you.
x Always protect eyes and face from injury from the metal hooks when attaching them to the tie-downs in the luggage compartment.
x First attach the luggage net bag hooks to the tie-downs on the rear seat backrest or on the shopping bag hooks in the luggage compartment and then to the tie-downs near the loading edge of the luggage compartment. If one of the hooks on the luggage bag net snaps back, it will move away from you and not towards you, increasing the risk of injury.
Variable luggage compartment floor

Fig. 107 In the luggage compartment: Opening and securing the variable luggage compartment floor.

Fig. 108 Extending the luggage compartment floor forward or downward.

x To secure, push the retaining pin ⇒ fig. 107 to the right.
x To close, push the retaining pin (1) to the left and guide the luggage compartment floor downwards.
Extending the luggage compartment floor forward
x Remove the luggage compartment cover ⇒  Luggage compartment cover.
x Remove the rear head restraints ⇒  Adjusting the seating position.
x Push both sections of the rear seat forward ⇒  Adjusting the seating position.
x Fold the rear backrests forward ⇒  Adjusting the seating position.
x Fold the cover forward ⇒ fig. 108 (1).
Extending the luggage compartment floor downward
x Remove the luggage compartment cover ⇒  Luggage compartment cover.
x Raise the luggage compartment floor, pull from the side pins (2) and remove it from the vehicle to the rear.
There may be a foam element with the spare wheel ⇒ fig. 107 located beneath the variable luggage
compartment floor. If a spare wheel is present, remove it ⇒  Compact spare wheel and remove the foam element from the luggage compartment.
WARNING
During hard braking or an accident, loose objects can fly through the passenger compartment and cause serious or even fatal injuries.
x Even if the luggage compartment floor panel is properly raised, it is still necessary to secure all objects.
x Objects stowed between the rear seat bench and the luggage compartment floor panel must never be more than 2/3 as high as the raised floor panel.
x Objects stowed between the rear seat bench and the raised luggage compartment floor panel must never weigh more than about 16.5 lbs. (7.5 kg).
NOTICE
Do not let the luggage compartment floor fall freely when closing it. Always guide it down into place. The trim or the luggage compartment floor could be damaged.
If you slide the rear seats forward, there is a gap between the luggage compartment floor and the rear seats. Make certain there are no objects in this space before sliding the rear seats back again.

Only mount the roof rack base carrier at the holes shown in the illustration.
WARNING
Installing or using a base carrier or roof rack improperly can cause the entire system to fly off the vehicle, causing accidents and injuries.
x Always follow the installation instructions provided by the manufacturer.
x Use the base carrier and roof rack only if they are undamaged and properly installed.
x Mount the roof rack base carrier only at the markings shown in the illustration ⇒ fig. 109
or ⇒ fig. 110.
x Always install the base carrier and roof rack properly.
x Make sure that all bolts and fasteners are properly installed and properly tightened before every trip and retighten them as needed after driving a short distance. During a long trip, check all bolts and fasteners at each stop.
x Always properly install special fixtures for items such as bicycles, skis, surfboards, etc.
x Do not modify or repair the base carrier or roof rack.
Follow the installation instructions provided for installing the roof rack system. Always carry them in the vehicle.
Securing a load on the roof rack

WARNING
If the maximum permissible roof load is exceeded, accidents and substantial vehicle damage may occur.
x Never exceed the specified roof load, the maximum gross axle weight rating, or the gross vehicle weight rating.
x Do not exceed the loading capacity of the roof rack, even if the permissible roof load is not fully utilized.
x Always make sure that loads are evenly distributed and that heavier items are, as far as possible, toward the front.
WARNING
Loose or improperly secured loads can be thrown from the roof rack and cause accidents and injuries.
x Always use suitable, undamaged tie-down ropes and ratchet straps.
x Secure the load properly.

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 gravity.
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 exceptional 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.