VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT 2013 B8 / 6.G Owners Manual

WARNING
Improper trailer towing can cause loss of vehicle control and serious personal injury.
x Driving with a trailer and carrying heavy or bulky items changes the way the vehicle han-
dles and increases the distance it needs to stop safely.
x Always watch what is happening up ahead and around you. Brake earlier than you would
if you were not towing a trailer.
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 Drive especially carefully and accelerate gently. Always avoid sudden maneuvers and
hard braking.
x Be especially careful when passing other vehicles.
x Reduce speed immediately if the trailer shows even the slightest sign of swaying.
x Never try to stop the swaying by accelerating.
x Always obey speed limits. In some areas speed limits for vehicles towing trailers are lower
than for vehicles without trailers.
Ball mount

Fig. 115 Dimensions of the ball mount support.

x The pin-to-ball distance (B) from the center of the ball to the center of the hole for the securing pin
on the ball mount must be no more than 7 inches (178 mm).
x The ball diameter must be no more than 17/8 inches (47.6 mm).
A ball mount and ball combination that does not meet these specifications can damage your vehicle
and may even fail in use ⇒ .
Never install a “weight distributing” or “load equalizing” trailer hitch on your vehicle. The vehicle is not
designed for this kind of trailer hitch ⇒ .
WARNING
An improperly installed or unsuitable trailer hitch can cause the trailer to separate from the
towing vehicle and result in a major accident with serious personal injuries.
x Have any trailer hitch retrofit or other work on a trailer hitch done by a qualified workshop.
CAUTION
The ball mount sticks out behind the rear bumper and can cause injury to pedestrians and
cyclists.
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 carrier when you are not towing a trailer.
NOTICE
x Never use a ball larger than 17/8 inches (47.6 mm) on your vehicle. The vehicle was not
designed to tow heavier trailers with a receiver larger than the specified ball. The increased
loads can damage the attachment points for the trailer hitch.
x Never use an adapter to increase the size of the trailer hitch receiver from 17/8 inches
(47.6 mm) to 2 inches (50.8 mm) or more than to tow a trailer that is heavier than the maximum
permissible trailer weight that your vehicle can tow.
x You can use an adapter if required for the proper installation of a bicycle rack or other
similar carrier as long as the maximum weight limits are observed. When using bicycle racks
or similar carriers, make sure that the rear lights are not blocked.
x Only use trailer hitches that are approved by the hitch manufacturer for your vehicle and
model.

Retrofitting a trailer hitch

Fig. 116 Dimensions and attachment points for retrofitting a trailer hitch.

(F) 27.8 inches (705.3 mm)
(G) 41.3 inches (1048.2 mm)
WARNING
Improper or incorrect connections to the vehicle electrical system can cause malfunctions
that affect the entire vehicle electrical system and cause accidents and serious personal
injury.
x Never connect the electrical system of the trailer directly to the electrical connections of
the rear lights or other unsuitable power sources. Use only a suitable connector to provide
power to the trailer.
x Have any trailer hitch retrofit or other work on a trailer hitch done by a qualified workshop.
WARNING
An improperly installed or unsuitable trailer hitch can cause the trailer to separate from the
towing vehicle and result in a major accident with serious personal injuries.
Applicable only in the United States and Canada
Maximum permissible trailer weight

Applicable only in Mexico the AGCC, and South Korea
Maximum permissible trailer weight

Storage areas

NOTICE
x The defroster heating wires or antenna in the rear window can be damaged by hard or sharp
things on the shelf below the rear window.
x Do not keep any food, medicine, or other items sensitive to heat or cold in the vehicle. They
can be damaged or made unusable by heat or cold.
x Things that are made of transparent materials (such as eyeglasses, magnifying glasses, or
transparent suction cups on the windows) can magnify sunlight and damage the vehicle.
The ventilation slots between the rear window and the luggage compartment cover must not be
blocked so that stale air can escape from the vehicle.
Storage compartments in the driver door

Fig. 117 In the driver door: Storage compartment.

Storage compartment on the driver side

Fig. 118 On driver side: Storage compartment.

Storage compartment in the front center console

Fig. 120 In the front center console: Storage compartment.

WARNING
The center armrest can restrict the driver's arm movement and cause crashes and serious
personal injury.
x Always keep storage compartments in the center armrest closed while driving.
WARNING
Never let a passenger, especially a child, ride on the center armrest.
There may be a 12 Volt socket, an AUX-IN jack, USB port, or a multimedia jack (MEDIA-IN) in
the center armrest storage compartment ⇒ Booklet Radio or ⇒ Booklet Navigation system.
Applicable only in the United States, Canada, Mexico, and the AGCC
Glove compartment

Fig. 122 On the passenger side: Glove compartment.

Fig. 123 Inside the glove compartment.