VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE 2012 Owners Manual

Luggage compartment

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.
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 or antenna in the rear window can be damaged by objects that rub
against them.

Folding the rear seat backrest forward and back into place

Fig. 76 Rear seat: release button right backrest 1, left backrest 2.

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. 77 On the rear hatch: Installing and removing the supporting cords.

Fig. 78 In the luggage compartment: Installing and removing the luggage compartment cover.

Storing the luggage compartment cover
x Slide the luggage compartment cover between the rear seat backrest and the side mounts (arrow
(2)).
Installing the luggage compartment cover
x Position the luggage compartment cover on the side brackets.
x Slide the luggage compartment cover forward into the side brackets.
x Ho/+ the supporting straps onto the rear hatch ⇒ fig. 77 (arrows).
WARNING
In a sudden braking or other maneuver, or in a collision, unsecured or improperly secured
objects or animals on the luggage compartment cover can cause serious personal injury.
x Never leave hard, heavy or sharp objects in bags or loose on the luggage compartment
cover.
x Never let animals ride on 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.
NOTICE
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.
Shopping bag hooks

Fig. 79 In the luggage compartment: Shopping bag hook.

Shopping bag hooks may be located on the upper left and right of the luggage compartment ⇒ fig. 79
(arrow).
WARNING
Never use the shopping bag hooks as tie-downs. The hooks could break off during sudden
braking maneuvers or in a collision.
NOTICE
The maximum load for each shopping bag hook is 5 lbs. (2.5 kg).

Roof rack

Securing a load on the roof rack

Trailer towing
Important information
For technical reasons, the vehicle body structure is not designed for the installation of a trailer hitch.
Never install a trailer hitch on your vehicle. Installing a trailer hitch will do considerable damage to the
vehicle ⇒ .
WARNING
Installing a trailer hitch on the vehicle can cause an accident and serious personal injuries.
x Never install a trailer hitch on the vehicle.
x A trailer hitch can fall off while driving or rip loose or while pulling a trailer causing the
trailer to separate from the vehicle.
NOTICE
Installing a trailer hitch of any kind will cause expensive damage to your vehicle that will not be
covered by any Volkswagen Limited Warranty.

Storage areas