airbag VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT 2015 B8 / 6.G Owners Manual

Upper center console

Fig. 6 Overview of the upper center console.
Key to fig. 6:
(1) Switch for emergency flashers 
(2) PASSENGER AIR BAG /&&  light (front airbag for front seat passenger)
(3) Radio or Radio & Navigation system (factory-installed) ⇒ Booklet Radio
or ⇒ Booklet Navigation system
(4) Controls for:
– Manual air conditioning
– Climatronic
(5) Air vents
(6) Passenger seat heating switch [
(7) Driver seat heating switch A
(8) Analog clock

Front passenger side overview

Fig. 8 Overview of the front passenger side.
Key to fig. 8:
(1) Passenger front airbag location in the instrument panel (approximate)
(2) Opening handle for the lockable glove compartment
(3) Air vent 

Safe & Secure:
Feature Description
Automatic Crash Notification (ACN)
Automatic Crash Notification is initiated in the event of airbag deployment or rollover. When the feature is activated the Volkswagen Car-Net Response Center is notified of your location and contacts your vehicle to determine the risk of injury and to dispatch help. Help is dispatched even if the Volkswagen Car-Net Response Center does not connect to the vehicle's occupants. Auto-matic Crash Notification may be engaged for up to 6 months without activating a trial or paid subscription.
Manual Emergency Call
In the case of an emergency, press the • button in the 3-button module: The Volkswagen Car-Net device initiates a connection to the Volkswagen Car-Net Response Center. The location of the vehicle and customer data for identifica-tion is sent at the same time.
Roadside Assis-tance
Press the > button in the 3-button module: The vehicle will connect directly to the Volkswagen Roadside Assistance Call Center. The vehicle’s location is also transmitted in order to more quickly provide assistance.
Stolen Vehicle Location Assis-tance For use by law enforcement au-thorities only. See Terms of Service at www.vw.com/carnet for details.
After you have reported your vehicle as stolen to law enforcement, you may provide the case information to the Volkswagen Car-Net Response Center. Once the information has been verified, the VW Car-Net Customer Specialist will be able to provide law enforcement with vehicle location data sent by the VW Car-Net module.


Family Guardian:
Feature Description
Boundary Alert
By logging on to your Volkswagen Car-Net account, you can designate an area on a map as a “virtual fence.” The vehicle owner can then choose notification channels (text message or email) for receiving alerts when the vehicle crosses the defined boundary (texts and data rates apply).
Speed Alert
Volkswagen Car-Net can be configured to inform the vehicle owner whenever the vehicle exceeds a speed set by the owner. The owner can select to be informed through multiple channels, including text messages and email (text and data rates apply).


Remote Vehicle Access:
Feature Description

WARNING
Application software and Volkswagen Car-Net services that are unsuitable or improperly used can cause accidents, serious personal injury and vehicle damage.
x Volkswagen Car-Net services can be used only where adequate cellular and GPS signals are available
x Volkswagen recommends using only services and application software that are provided by Volkswagen or Verizon Telematics, Inc. (VzT) specifically for your vehicle.
x Protect the mobile device and its application software from misuse.
x Never modify application software and Volkswagen Car-Net services.
x Always read and heed the operating instructions for the mobile device.
WARNING
Driver distraction causes accidents, collisions and serious personal injury! Using application software and Volkswagen Car-Net services while driving can distract the driver from traffic.
x Always drive attentively and responsibly.
NOTICE
The system does not support simultaneous Volkswagen Car-Net and mobile phone calls via the mobile phone package.
x When a Volkswagen Car-Net service is accessed through the 3-button module call buttons any calls on a mobile device connected to the vehicle’s mobile phone package will be automat-ically disconnected.
x Initiating or accepting a call on a mobile device connected to the vehicle's mobile phone package could end any connection to the Volkswagen Car-Net Response Center made through the •, > or • buttons.
x Calls on a mobile device connected to the vehicle's mobile phone package cannot be ac-cepted or initiated during an automated emergency connection to the Volkswagen Car-Net Response Center; for example, because an airbag has deployed.

x From the inside with the power locking button ⇒  Unlocking and locking the vehicle from the inside.
Special functions of the power locking system can be activated or deactivated via the Convenience
submenu in the Settings menu on vehicles with the Premium instrument cluster ⇒  Volkswagen Information System or by an authorized Volkswagen dealer or authorized Volkswagen Service Facility.
The doors, the luggage compartment lid, and the fuel filler flap can be locked manually if the remote vehicle key is not working.
Automatic locking (Auto lock)
The vehicle locks automatically when it reaches a speed of about 10 mph (15 km/h). When the vehicle
is locked, the indicator light 1 lights up in the power locking button ⇒ fig. 39.
Automatic unlocking (Auto unlock)
All doors automatically unlock when you switch off the ignition and open a door from inside the vehicle. On vehicles with automatic transmission, the doors will also unlock when the selector lever is in Park (P) or the ignition is switched off. Auto unlock works only if the vehicle has been automatically locked with the Auto lock feature. The indicator light 1 goes out in the power locking button when the doors
unlock ⇒ fig. 39.
Locking the vehicle after airbag inflation
If the airbags are activated during a collision, the entire vehicle is unlocked. Depending on the severity of the damage, the vehicle can be locked after a collision when the airbags have deployed as follows:

Function Action
Locking the vehicle with the power locking button: – Switch the ignition off. – Press the power locking button 1.
Locking the vehicle with the remote control vehicle key: – Switch the ignition off. OR: Remove the vehicle key from the ignition. – Lock the vehicle with the remote control vehicle key.

If the vehicle key buttons ⇒  Vehicle key set or one of the power locking buttons ⇒  Unlocking and locking the vehicle from the inside are pushed repeatedly in quick succession, the power locking system is switched off for a brief period to help keep it from being overloaded. The vehicle is then unlocked for about 30 seconds. Unless a door or the luggage compartment lid is opened during this time, the vehicle is automatically locked afterwards.

WARNING
Always adjust seat, safety belts, and head restraints properly before driving and make sure that all passengers are properly restrained.
x Push the passenger seat as far back as possible. Always be sure that there are at least 10 inches (25 cm) between the front passenger's breastbone and the instrument panel.
x Always adjust the driver's seat and the steering wheel so that there are at least 10 inches (25 cm) between your breastbone and the steering wheel.
x Adjust the driver's seat so that you can easily push the pedals all the way to the floor while keeping your knee(s) slightly bent. The distance to the instrument panel in the knee area must be at least 4 inches (10 cm).
x If these requirements cannot be met for physical reasons, contact an authorized Volkswagen dealer or an authorized Volkswagen Service Facility to see whether adaptive equipment is available.
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 to help reduce the risk of personal injury if the driv-er's airbag inflates.
x Never hold the steering wheel at the 12 o'clock position or with your hands at other places inside the steering wheel rim or on the steering wheel hub. Holding the steering wheel the wrong way can cause serious injuries to the hands, arms, and head if the driver's airbag in-flates.
x Pointing the steering wheel toward your face decreases the ability of the driver's airbag to help protect you in a collision.
x Never drive with backrests reclined or tilted back farther than necessary to drive comfort-ably. The farther back the backrests are tilted, the greater the risk of injury caused by incor-rect positioning of the safety belts and improper seating position.
x Never drive with the front seat passenger backrest tilted forward. If the front airbag de-ploys, the front backrest can be forced backward and injure passengers on the rear seat.
x Sit as far back as possible from the steering wheel and the instrument panel.
x Always sit upright with your back against the backrest with the front seats properly ad-justed. Never lean against or place any part of your body too close to the area where the air-bags are located.
x Rear seat passengers who are not properly seated and restrained are more likely to be seriously injured in a crash.
WARNING
Improper adjustment of the seats can cause accidents and severe injuries.
x Never adjust the seats while the vehicle is moving. Your seat may move unexpectedly and you could lose control of the vehicle. In addition, you will not be in the correct seating posi-tion while adjusting the seats.
x Adjust the front seat height, angle and longitudinal direction only if the seat adjustment area is clear.
x The adjustment of the front seats must not be restricted by things in the footwell in front or behind the seats.
Examples of improper seating positions

Not wearing or improperly fastening safety belts increases the risk of severe or fatal injuries. Safety belts can work only when they are properly positioned on the body. An improper seating position significantly impairs the protection provided by safety belts. This can cause severe or even fatal inju-ries. Improper seating positions also increase the risk of serious injury or death when an airbag de-ploys and strikes an occupant who is not in the proper seating position. The driver is responsible for all passengers and especially children riding in the vehicle.
The following are only some examples of seating positions that will increase the risk of serious injury or death.
Therefore, whenever the vehicle is moving:
x Never stand up in the vehicle.
x Never stand on the seats.
x Never kneel on the seats.
x Never ride with the seat backrest reclined.
x Never lean up against the instrument panel.
x Never lie down on the rear seat.
x Never sit on the edge of the seat.
x Never sit sideways.
x Never lean out the window.
x Never put your feet out the window.
x Never put feet on the instrument panel.
x Never rest your feet on the seat cushion or back of the seat.
x Never ride in the footwell.
x Never sit on the front or rear center armrest.
x Never ride without your safety belt properly fastened.
x Never ride in the luggage compartment.
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.

x Adjust the seat backrest angle to an upright position so that your back is in full contact with it when the vehicle is moving.
x Always keep both feet on the floor and in the footwell whenever the vehicle is moving.
x Always adjust and fasten safety belts properly ⇒  Safety belts.
Driver - seat and steering wheel adjustment:
x Adjust the steering wheel so that there are at least 10 inches (25 cm) between the steering wheel
and your breast bone ⇒ fig. 56. When adjusting the proper distance to the steering wheel, grasp the top of the steering wheel with your elbows slightly bent.
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 to help reduce the risk of personal injury if the driver's airbag inflates.
x Never hold the steering wheel at the 12 o'clock position or with your hands at other places inside the steering wheel rim or on the steering wheel hub. Holding the steering wheel the wrong way can cause serious injuries to the hands, arms, and head if the driver's airbag inflates.
x Adjust the steering wheel so that the steering wheel cover points at your chest and not at your face. Pointing the steering wheel toward your face decreases the ability of the driver's airbag to help protect you in a collision.
x Adjust the driver's seat so that you can easily push the pedals all the way to the floor while keeping your knee(s) slightly bent.
x Adjust the seat height so that the top point of the steering wheel can be reached.
x Always keep both feet in the footwell so that you are in control of the vehicle at all times.
Passenger - front seat adjustment:
x Push the passenger seat as far back as possible in order to ensure optimum protection if the airbag is deployed.
Manual controls on the driver and passenger seat

Fig. 60 Controls on the left front seat (version 1).

WARNING
Improper use of the steering column adjustment feature can result in serious personal injury and even death.
x Always pull the lever (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 to help reduce the risk of serious personal injury if the driver's 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 de-ploys.
Center armrest

Fig. 68 Front center armrest.

Accident statistics show that vehicle occupants properly wearing safety belts have a lower risk of being injured and a much better chance of surviving a collision. Properly using safety belts also greatly increases the ability of the supplemental airbags to do their job in a collision. For this reason, wearing a safety belt is required by law in most countries including the United States and Canada.
Although your Volkswagen is equipped with airbags, you still have to wear the safety belts provided. Front airbags, for example, are activated only in some frontal collisions. The front airbags are not activated in all frontal collisions, in side and rear collisions, in rollovers, or in cases when the condi-tions for deployment stored in the electronic control unit are not met. The same goes for the other airbag systems on your Volkswagen.
So always wear your safety belt and make sure that everybody in your vehicle is properly restrained!
Using safety belts