Towing

 Introduction
In this section you’ll find information about:
Towing on a commercial tow truck 
Tips on towing 
Installing the front towing eye 
Installing the rear towing eye 
Driving tips while towing 

Observe legal requirements when towing.

Your vehicle is equipped with a trailer package.
For technical reasons:
 A vehicle with a dead battery must never be towed; Jump-start the vehicle instead.
 It is not possible to tow-start or push-start your vehicle; Jump-start the vehicle instead.
Vehicles with Keyless Access may only be towed with the ignition on.
Towing the vehicle when the engine is turned off and the ignition is turned on drains the vehicle bat-
tery. Depending on the charge level of the vehicle battery, it is possible that even after just a few
minutes, electrical devices such as the emergency flashers may not have the power necessary to
function. The steering wheel might lock in vehicles with Keyless Access ⇒  .

More information:
 Exterior views
 Engine control and emission control system

WARNING
Never tow a vehicle without any electrical power.
 Never remove the remote control vehicle key from the ignition switch while the vehicle is
moving. The electronic steering column lock could suddenly engage, and you would not be
able to steer or control the vehicle. You can lose control of the vehicle, crash, and seriously
injure yourself and others.
 If the vehicle loses power while it is being towed, stop towing the vehicle immediately and
contact your authorized Volkswagen dealer or authorized Volkswagen Service Facility for
assistance.
 WARNING
Towing a vehicle changes the way it handles and brakes. To help reduce the risk of an acci-
dent and serious personal injury, note the following:
 The driver of the vehicle that is being towed:
– Since the brake booster also does not work when the engine is stopped, you will need
to press harder on the brake pedal to slow down or stop. Always be alert so as not to rear-
end towing vehicle.
– Will have to use considerable more force to turn the steering wheel because the power
steering is not working.
 The driver of the vehicle that is doing the towing:
– Must accelerate gradually and gently and avoid jerking movements.
– Must not brake hard or steer sharply.
– Must brake earlier and more gently than in normal driving.

WARNING
Never let the vehicle be towed unless its electrical system is working and the ignition is
switched on. Otherwise, the steering column lock may engage, causing loss of control, a
crash, and serious personal injuries.

NOTICE
 Be careful not to damage the paint when installing and removing the towing eye and the
cover for the threaded hole behind the bumper.
 Unburned fuel can get into the catalytic converter during towing and damage it.

NOTICE
The vehicle may be damaged if it is towed with a tow rope or a tow bar.
 Never let the vehicle be towed with a tow rope or a tow bar unless it is absolutely neces-
sary.
 If the vehicle breaks down, it can only be towed by a special tow truck.

Towing on a commercial tow truck

 Please first read and note the introductory information and heed the WARNINGS
To help avoid damaging the vehicle, have it towed only by a professional towing company. Read and
heed the following information:

General information
Never let the vehicle be towed at speeds above 30 mph (50 km/h).
Never let the vehicle be towed for more than 30 miles (50 km).

Towing automatic transmission vehicles

 Release the parking brake.
 Shift the transmission into Neutral (N).
 Tow the vehicle only with its front wheels off the ground ⇒  .

Special towing instructions for vehicles with all-wheel drive (4MOTION)

 To help prevent unnecessary damage, vehicles with all-wheel drive (4MOTION) must be transport-
ed on a flat-bed truck.
 To load the vehicle on the flat bed, use the towing eye found in the vehicle tool kit and attach it to
the front anchorage ⇒  Vehicle tool kit, ⇒  Installing the front towing eye.

When not to tow your vehicle

If there is little or no oil in the transmission because of damage to your vehicle, it must be moved with
the drive wheels off the ground. The vehicle can only be towed if its ignition is switched on and its
electrical system is operating. In the following situations, the vehicle cannot be towed at all and must
be transported on a flatbed truck or trailer:
 If the front and rear wheels cannot turn.
 If the vehicle battery is dead (because the steering is locked and the electronic parking brake and
the electronic steering column lock cannot be released if engaged).
 If you have to tow an automatic transmission vehicle more than 30 miles (50 km).

WARNING
It is not safe for children or other persons to ride in a vehicle that is being towed.
 Never let children or anyone else remain in the vehicle while it is being towed.

NOTICE
The drive axle rotates while the vehicle is being towed with its rear wheels off the ground. This
can damage the automatic transmission.
 Never tow automatic transmission vehicle with the rear wheels off the ground.

Tips on towing
 Please first read and note the introductory information and heed the WARNINGS

Towing eye; tow rope or tow bar

A towing eye is included in your vehicle's tool kit. This can be inserted in a threaded hole in the front
bumper and used when your vehicle is being towed by another vehicle. On most vehicles, there is
another threaded hole in the rear bumper, so you can use the towing eye to tow other vehicles as well.
Towing a vehicle with a tow bar is safer and easier on both vehicles than using a tow rope. A tow rope
should be used only if a tow bar is not available.
The tow rope should be flexible enough to help protect both vehicles from damage. Use a synthetic
fiber rope or similar rope.
Attach the tow rope or tow bar only to the towing eye included in the vehicle tool kit for this purpose, or
to a trailer hitch.

Towing manual transmission vehicles

Check whether your vehicle can be towed at all; see below When not to tow your vehicle.
If yes, note the following for the towed vehicle:

 Shift the gearshift lever to Neutral ⇒  Shifting.

 Do not tow faster than 30 mph (50 km/h).
 Do not tow more than 30 miles (50 km).

Towing automatic transmission vehicles

Check whether your vehicle can be towed at all; see below When not to tow your vehicle.
If yes, note the following for the towed vehicle:
 Put the transmission in Neutral (N).
 Do not tow faster than 30 mph (50 km/h).
 Do not tow more than 30 miles (50 km).
 When a commercial tow truck is being used, the vehicle must only be towed with the front wheels
lifted off the ground.
 Follow the special instructions for towing vehicles with all-wheel drive (4MOTION).

Towing vehicles with all-wheel drive (4MOTION)

Vehicles with all-wheel drive (4MOTION) should be towed with a tow bar or a tow rope. If the vehicle is
towed with the front or rear axles lifted off the ground, the engine must be switched off. Otherwise the
powertrain may be damaged.

When not to tow your vehicle

In the following situations, the vehicle cannot be towed and must be transported on a flatbed truck or
trailer:
 If transmission fluid has leaked out of the transmission.
 If there is little or no oil in the transmission because of damage to your vehicle, it must be moved
with the drive wheels off the ground.
 If the front and rear wheels cannot turn.
 When the vehicle battery is dead, since the steering may remain disabled, and it may not be possi-
ble to release the electronic steering column lock and the electronic parking brake.
 If you have to tow an automatic transmission vehicle more than 30 miles (50 km).

Towing other vehicles

 Obey all legal requirements.
 Read and heed all towing information in the owner’s manual for the other vehicle.

A vehicle can be towed only if the electronic parking brake and the electronic steering column
lock can be released. In case of a power loss or malfunctions of the electrical system, the engine may
have to be jump-started in order to release the electronic parking brake and the electronic steering
column lock.
Installing the front towing eye

Fig. 351 In right front bumper: Removing the cover.

Fig. 352 In right front bumper: Screwing in towing eye.

 Please first read and note the introductory information and heed the WARNINGS
Holes for the towing eyes are in the front bumper at the right and at the left.
Always keep the towing eye in the vehicle and stow it securely.

Read and follow the notes about towing ⇒  Tips on towing.

Installing the front towing eye

 Take the towing eye, the lug wrench, and the screwdriver out of the vehicle tool kit in the luggage
compartment ⇒  Vehicle tool kit.
 Push the outboard edge of the cover ⇒ fig. 351.
 Reach behind the cover, pull it off, and let it hang from the vehicle.
 Screw the towing eye counterclockwise into the threaded hole as far as it will go ⇒ fig. 352 (ar-
row) ⇒  . Use the lug wrench to turn and tighten the towing eye.
 When towing is complete, unscrew the towing eye clockwise to remove it and replace the cover.
 Clean the towing eye and lug wrench if necessary and put them back in the vehicle tool kit in the
luggage compartment.

NOTICE
Always make sure the towing eye is screwed all the way into threaded hole so that it is secure.
Otherwise, it could be ripped out while your vehicle is being towed.
Installing the rear towing eye

Fig. 353 In right rear bumper: Screwing in towing eye.

 Please first read and note the introductory information and heed the WARNINGS
Holes for the screw-in towing eyes are in the rear bumper at the right and at the left.
Follow towing instructions

Installing the rear towing eye

 Take the towing eye, the lug wrench, and the screwdriver out of the vehicle tool kit in the luggage
compartment ⇒  Vehicle tool kit.
 Push the outboard edge of the cover.
 Reach behind the cover, pull it off, and let it hang from the vehicle.
 Screw the towing eye counterclockwise into the threaded hole as far as it will go ⇒ fig. 353 (ar-
row) ⇒  . Use the lug wrench to turn and tighten the towing eye.
 When towing is complete, unscrew the towing eye clockwise to remove it and replace the cover.
 Clean the towing eye and lug wrench if necessary and put them back in the vehicle tool kit in the
luggage compartment.

NOTICE
Always make sure the towing eye is screwed all the way into threaded hole so that it is secure.
Otherwise, it could be ripped out while your vehicle is being towed.

Driving tips while towing

 Please first read and note the introductory information and heed the WARNINGS
Towing requires some experience, especially when using a towing rope. Both drivers must be familiar
with the techniques required for towing. Inexperienced drivers should not try to tow a vehicle or to
drive a vehicle that is being towed.
Do not pull too hard with the towing vehicle, and avoid jerking the tow rope. When towing on an un-
paved road, there is always a risk of overloading and damaging the attachment points.
If your vehicle is being towed, it can still signal turns even if the emergency flashers are activated, as
long as the ignition is switched on. Use the turn signal in the normal way. The emergency flashers go
off as long as the turn signal is blinking. As soon as the turn signal lever returns to its neutral position,
the emergency flashers are automatically activated again.
As driver of the towed vehicle:
 If your vehicle is the one being towed, the ignition switch must be switched on to keep the steering
wheel from locking. Also make sure that the turn signals, horn, windshield wipers, and windshield
washers work properly.
 Since power steering does not work when the engine is switched off, more effort is needed to steer
the vehicle.
 Since the brake booster also does not work when the engine is stopped, you will need to press
harder on the brake pedal to slow down or stop. Do not hit the towing vehicle.
 Read and heed the information and WARNINGS in the towing vehicle's owner's manual.

As driver of the towing vehicle

 Drive especially carefully and accelerate gently. Avoid sudden driving maneuvers.
 Brake earlier than usual and with light pedal pressure.
 Read and heed the information and WARNINGS in the owner's manual of the vehicle being towed.