warning VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN 2012 Owner's Manual

WARNING
Some kinds of cigarette lighters can be lit unintentionally, or crushed causing a fire that can result in serious burns and vehicle damage.
x Always make sure that there are no lighters in the seat tracks or near other moving parts before adjusting the seats.
x Before closing a storage compartment, always make sure that no cigarette lighter can be activated, crushed, or otherwise damaged.
x Never leave a cigarette lighter in a storage compartment, on the instrument panel or in other places in the vehicle. Heat buildup in the passenger and luggage compartment of a parked vehicle can result in temperatures in the vehicle that are much higher than the outside temperatures, particularly in summer. High temperatures could cause the cigarette lighter to catch fire.
Examples of improper seating positions

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.
Proper seating position

Fig. 39 The driver should never sit closer than 10 inches (25 cm) of the steering wheel.

Fig. 40 Proper safety belt positioning and head restraint adjustment.

fig. 43 Press the switch in the direction of the arrow:
(A) (1) Slide the seat backward or forward.
(2) and (3) Raise or lower the seat cushion.
(2) or (3) Adjust seat cushion angle.
(B) Forward or backward. Adjust backrest angle.


Press fig. 44 switch for each area:
(1) or (2) Adjust lumbar support. (1) inflates, (2) deflates.
(3) or (4) Adjust lumbar support height. (3) moves the lumbar support up, (4) moves the lumbar support down.

WARNING
Improper use of electrical seat controls can cause serious personal injuries.
x The front seats in your vehicle can be electrically adjusted even when the vehicle key has been removed from the ignition or, on a vehicle with Keyless Access, even if there is no key in the vehicle.
x Never leave children and persons who need help in the vehicle alone because the unsupervised use of the electric seat adjustments can result in serious personal injury.
x Always make sure that no one is in the way while the front seats are being adjusted, or while calling up the stored memory settings for the front seats. In an emergency, stop automatic seat adjustment by pressing a seat adjustment switch.
NOTICE
To help prevent damage to electrical parts in the seat, do not kneel on the front seats or apply concentrated pressure to a small area of the seat or backrest.
If the vehicle battery is too weak, the electrical seat adjustment controls may not work.
Starting the engine stops seat adjustment.
When entering and exiting the vehicle, be careful not to come into contact with any switches that could change the seat adjustment.

Adjusting the height
x Push the head restraint up in the direction of the arrow or down when the button ⇒ fig. 47 (1) or
⇒ fig. 48 (1) is pressed ⇒ .
x The head restraint must lock securely in the position selected.
Folding the outer rear head restraints down
x With the button (2) pressed, fold the head restraint forward and down ⇒ .
x To use the seating area, fold the head restraint back up until it locks in place.
Proper head restraint adjustment
Adjust head restraints so that the upper edge of the head restraint is at least at eye level or higher. Position the back of the head as close as possible to the head restraint.
Adjusting the head restraint for short people
Push the head restraint down as far as it will go, even if this means the person's head is still below the top edge of the head restraint. A small gap may remain between the head restraint and the backrest when the head restraint is all the way down.
Adjusting the head restraint for tall people
Pull the head restraint up as far as it will go.
WARNING
Driving without head restraints or with improperly adjusted head restraints increases the risk of serious injuries in a collision.
x Always drive with the head restraints in place and properly adjusted to help minimize the risk of neck injury in a crash.
x Every person in the vehicle must have a properly adjusted head restraint to minimize the risk of neck injury in a crash. Each head restraint must be adjusted according to the occupants' size so that the upper edge is even with the top of the person's head, but no lower than eye level. Always sit so that the back of your head is as close as possible to the head restraint.
x Never adjust head restraint while driving.

Installing the front head restraints
x Position head restraint properly over the head restraint guides of the respective seat backrest and insert the head restraint into the guides until it clicks.
x Push the head restraint down while pressing button (1).
x Adjust the head restraint according to the occupant's size ⇒  Adjusting front and rear head restraints.
Removing the rear head restraints
x Unlock the rear bench and fold it forward ⇒ page 145, Luggage compartment.
x Pull the head restraint all the way up ⇒ .
x Slide a flat object, such as a plastic credit card, underneath the right side of the cap on the right-
hand seat guide rod ⇒ fig. 50 (2) to unlock the head restraint.
x Use one hand to hold the release button in with the flat object. With your other hand, lift the same guide rod slightly to expose a notch in the rod at the bottom (can be seen and felt with fingers). The right-hand guide rod is now released.
x To release the left-hand guide rod, press button (1) in (towards guide rod) and hold.
x Pull the head restraint out completely while holding button (1).
x Fold the backrest of the rear bench back so that it locks securely.
Installing the rear head restraints
x Unlock the rear bench and fold it forward ⇒  Luggage compartment.
x Position head restraint properly over the head restraint guides of the respective seat backrest and insert the head restraint into the guides.
x Push the head restraint down while pressing button (1).
x Fold the backrest of the rear bench back so that it locks securely.
x Adjust the head restraint according to the occupant's size ⇒  Adjusting front and rear head restraints.
WARNING
Driving without head restraints or with improperly adjusted head restraints increases the risk of serious injuries in a collision.
x Always drive with the head restraints in place and properly adjusted to help minimize the risk of neck injury in crash.
x Always reinstall head restraints as soon as possible so that vehicle occupants are properly protected.
NOTICE
When removing or reinstalling the head restraint, take care that the head restraint does not strike the headliner or the back of the front seat. The headliner or other parts of the vehicle could otherwise be damaged.

WARNING
Improper use of the steering column adjustment feature can result in serious personal injury and even death.
x Always pull the lever ⇒ fig. 51 (1) firmly upward after adjusting the steering column so that the steering wheel does not change position suddenly while the vehicle is moving.
x Never adjust the steering column while the vehicle is moving. If you find that you need to adjust the steering wheel while driving, stop the vehicle in a safe place and make the proper adjustment.
x Never adjust the steering wheel so that it points toward your face. Always make sure that the steering wheel points toward your chest. Otherwise, the airbag system cannot protect you properly in the event of a crash.
x Always hold the steering wheel on the outside of the steering wheel rim with your hands
at the 9 o'clock and 3 o'clock positions ⇒ fig. 52 to help reduce the risk of serious personal injury if the driver airbag inflates.
x Never hold the steering wheel at the 12 o'clock position or with your hands anywhere inside the steering wheel or on the steering wheel hub. Holding the steering wheel the wrong way increases the risk of severe injury to the arms, hands, and head if the driver airbag deploys.
Center armrest

Fig. 53 Front center armrest.

Function Action for seat heating ⇒ fig. 55
Switch on: Press the A or e button. Seat heating is switched on to maximum.
Adjusting heating level: Press the button A or e repeatedly until the desired heating level is set.
Switch off: Press the button A or e repeatedly until all indicator lights in the button are off.

Special seat heating features
On the driver side the seat heating will resume at the setting that was set when the ignition was switched off. However, this feature only works if the ignition is switched back on within 10 minutes.
People suffering from a low level of perceived pain or a lowered awareness of pain as from
medication, paralysis, or chronic illness (e.g. diabetes) should NEVER use the seat heating feature ⇒ 
.
The use of seat heating by persons with these conditions could result in burns to the back, buttocks, and legs that may take a long time to heal and may never heal completely. If you have any of these conditions, you should take regular breaks and get out of the vehicle, particularly on long trips. Consult your doctor for advice regarding your specific condition.
WARNING
Certain medical conditions, such as paralysis and diabetes, and certain medications, can increase the risk of serious burns when the seat heating feature is switched on.
x Vehicle occupants who have a low level of perceived pain or a lowered awareness of pain can receive serious burns to the back, buttocks, and legs that take a long time to heal or may never heal completely.
x Never use the seat heating feature if you or your passengers are at risk of being burned because of a medical condition. Take regular breaks and get out of the vehicle, particularly on long trips. Consult your doctor for advice regarding your specific condition.
x Never let exposed skin remain in contact with the seat upholstery when the seat heating is being used.
WARNING
A wet seat can cause the seat heating to malfunction and increase the risk of serious burns.
x Always make sure the seats are dry before using the seat heating.
x Never sit on the seat with wet clothes.
x Never put damp or wet things including clothes on the seat.
x Never spill liquids on the seats.
NOTICE
x To help prevent damage to electrical and other parts in the seat, do not kneel on the front seats or apply concentrated pressure to a small area of the seat or backrest.

x Push the head restraint all the way down
x Unlock the front passenger backrest in the direction of the arrow ⇒ fig. 57 (1).
x Fold the front passenger backrest forward into the horizontal position in the direction of the arrow (2).
x The front passenger backrest must be securely latched in the folded down position.
Folding the front passenger backrest into place
x Make sure that nobody is near the hinges when folding the backrest back into place.
x Unlock the front passenger backrest to fold it back ⇒ fig. 58.
x Fold the front passenger backrest into the upright position.
x The front passenger backrest must be securely latched in the upright position.
WARNING
Improper folding and improper latching of the front passenger backrest can cause serious personal injury.
x Never fold the front passenger backrest forward or back when the vehicle is moving.
x Always make sure that the PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF  light is on and stays on whenever the backrest of the front passenger seat is folded forward.
x Always keep hands, fingers, feet and other body parts out of the way of the seat hinges and the seat locking mechanism when folding the backrest forward and back.
x Floor mats and other objects can get caught in the front passenger backrest hinges. This can cause the front passenger backrest to incorrectly latch when folded back into the upright position.
x When folded back into place, the front passenger backrest must be securely latched in the upright position. An improperly latched front passenger backrest can suddenly move and cause serious personal injury.
WARNING
Open seat mountings and hinges of the folded front passenger backrest can cause severe injuries in the event of a braking maneuver or accident.
x Do not let passengers or children occupy the front passenger seat when the front passenger backrest is folded forward.
x When the front passenger backrest is folded down, only the outer seat of the rear bench behind the driver seat can be occupied. This also applies to children in child safety seats.

WARNING
Not wearing a safety belt or wearing an improperly positioned safety belt increases the risk of severe personal injury or death. Safety belts offer optimum protection only when they are used properly.
x Properly worn safety belts are the single most effective means of reducing the risk of serious injury and death in a collision or other accident. 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 The driver must always make sure that every person in the vehicle is properly seated on a seat of his or her own, properly fastens the safety belts belonging to that seat before the vehicle starts to move, and keeps the belts properly fastened while riding in the vehicle. This applies even when just driving around town. Therefore, always wear your safety belts and make sure that everybody in your vehicle is properly restrained.
x Always secure children in the vehicle with a restraint system appropriate for their age, weight and height
x Always fasten safety belts correctly before driving off and make sure that all passengers are properly restrained.
x Never attach the safety belt to the buckle of another seat. Attaching the safety belt to the wrong buckle will reduce safety belt effectiveness and can cause serious personal injury.
x Never let any objects or liquids get into the safety belt latch and prevent it from working properly.
x Never remove a safety belt while the vehicle is moving. Doing so will increase your risk of being injured or killed.
x Never strap more than one person, including small children, into any single safety belt.
x Never let children or babies ride sitting on your lap and never place a safety belt over a child sitting on your lap.
x Never wear belts over rigid or breakable objects in or on your clothing, such as eye glasses, pens, keys, etc., as these may cause injury.
x Several layers of heavy clothing (such as a coat worn over top of a sports jacket) may interfere with proper positioning of the belt and reduce the overall effectiveness of the system.
x Never use comfort clips or devices that create slack in the shoulder belt. However, special clips may be required for the correct use of some child restraint systems.
x Safety belts offer optimum protection only when the seat backrest is upright and belts are correctly positioned on the body.

WARNING
Damage to safety belts reduces their overall effectiveness and increases the risk of serious personal injury and death whenever the vehicle is being used.
x Never let safety belts become damaged by being caught in the door or seat hardware.
x Torn or frayed safety belts can tear, and damaged safety belt hardware can break in an accident.
x Inspect belts regularly for damage. If webbing, bindings, buckles, or retractors are damaged, have the belts replaced immediately with the correct replacement belts approved by Volkswagen for your vehicle, model, and model year.
x Safety belts that were subject to stress in an accident and stretched must be replaced with a correct, new safety belt, preferably by an authorized Volkswagen dealer or authorized Volkswagen Service Facility.
x Replacement after a crash may be necessary even if a safety belt shows no visible damage. Anchorages that have been loaded must also be inspected.
x Damaged safety belts must be replaced; they cannot be repaired.
x Never try to repair a damaged safety belt yourself. Never remove or modify the safety belts in any way.
x Have safety belts, bindings, retractors and buckles replaced by an authorized Volkswagen dealer or authorized Volkswagen Service Facility.
x Always keep the belts clean. Dirty belts may not work correctly and can impair the function of the inertia reel.
Warning light

Fig. 59 Warning light in the instrument cluster.