Volkswagen Tiguan Owners Manual:  Introduction to the subject

In this chapter you will find information on the following subjects:

⇒ Advanced Airbag System, infants, child restraints and children on the front seat 

⇒ Monitoring the Advanced Airbag System 

⇒ PASSENGER AIR BAG   light 

⇒ Airbags and how they work 

⇒ The dangers of using child restraints on the front seat. 

⇒ Front airbags 

⇒ Advanced Airbag System components 

⇒ How to tell if the front passenger front airbag is on or off 

⇒ Side airbags 

⇒ Side Curtain Protection® airbags 

Your vehicle is equipped with a front airbag for the driver and front seat passenger. The front airbags can provide additional protection for the chest and head of the driver and the front seat passenger when seats, safety belts, head restraints and, for the driver, the steering wheel, are properly used and have been properly adjusted. Airbags are only supplemental restraints. They are not a substitute for safety belts that must be worn even though the front seating positions are equipped with front airbags.

More information:

• Driving checklists and warnings ⇒ Driving checklists and warnings 

• Proper seating position ⇒ Adjusting the seating position 

• Safety belts ⇒ Safety belts 

• Child safety and child restraints ⇒ Child safety and child restraints 

• Interior care and cleaning ⇒ Interior care and cleaning 

• Parts, accessories, repairs and modifications ⇒ Parts, accessories, repairs and modifications 

• Consumer information ⇒ Consumer information 

Warning

Never rely on airbags alone for protection.

• Even when they deploy, airbags provide only supplemental protection.

• Airbags work most effectively when used with properly worn safety belts ⇒ Safety belts .

• 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.

Warning

Sitting too close to the steering wheel or instrument panel will decrease the effectiveness of the airbags and will increase the risk of personal injury in a collision.

• Never sit closer than 10 inches (25 cm) to the steering wheel or instrument panel.

• If you cannot sit upright more than 10 inches (25 cm) from the steering wheel and with your back against the backrest, investigate whether adaptive equipment may be available to help you reach the pedals and increase your seating distance from the steering wheel.

• If you are unrestrained, leaning forward, sitting sideways or out of position in any way, your risk of injury is much higher.

• You will also receive serious injuries and could even be killed if you are up against the airbag or too close to it when it inflates.

• To reduce the risk of injury when an airbag inflates, always wear safety belts properly see ⇒ Safety belts .

• An infant in a rearward-facing child seat installed on the front passenger seat will be seriously injured and can be killed if the front airbag inflates.

• Always make certain that children age 12 or younger always ride in the rear seat. If children are not properly restrained, they may be severely injured or killed when an airbag inflates.

• Never let children ride unrestrained or improperly restrained in the vehicle.

• Never put your feet on the instrument panel or on the seat. Always keep both feet on the floor in front of the seat to help prevent serious injuries to the head, legs and hips if the airbag inflates.

Warning

Objects between you and the airbag will increase the risk of injury in a crash by interfering with the way the airbag unfolds or by being pushed into you as the airbag inflates.

• Never hold things in your hands or on your lap when the vehicle is in use.

• Never transport items on or in the area of the front passenger seat. Objects could move into the area of the front airbags during braking or other sudden maneuvers and fly dangerously through the passenger compartment when an airbag inflates.

• Always make sure that the airbag deployment zones are clear at all times. Never let anything or object, a pet, or a person, including an infant or small child, be in the space between any vehicle occupant and any airbag at any time.

Warning

An airbag works only once. Airbags that have deployed in a crash must be replaced.

• Deployed airbags and the related system parts must be replaced immediately with new parts approved by Volkswagen for the vehicle model and model year.

• Have repairs and vehicle modifications performed by an authorized Volkswagen dealer or authorized Volkswagen Service Facility. Authorized Volkswagen dealers and authorized Volkswagen Service Facilities have the required tools, diagnostic equipment, repair information, and trained personnel to properly replace any airbag in your vehicle and assure system effectiveness in a crash.

• Never permit salvaged or recycled airbags to be installed in your vehicle.

• Never modify any components of the airbag system.

Warning

Fine dust released when airbags deploy can irritate the skin, eyes, and mucous membranes as well as cause breathing problems for people who suffer from asthma or other respiratory conditions.

• The fine dust can irritate the skin and eye mucous membranes and cause breathing problems for people who suffer from asthma or other breathing conditions. To reduce the risk of breathing problems, those with asthma or other respiratory conditions should get fresh air right away by getting out of the vehicle or opening windows or doors.

• If your are in a collision in which airbags deploy, wash your hands and face with mild soap and water before eating.

• Be careful not to get the dust into your eyes or into any cuts, scratches, or open wounds.

• If the residue should get into your eyes, flush them with water.

Warning

Using solvents or other improper cleaning products on surfaces where airbags are located can change the way airbags deploy in a crash.

• Products containing solvents will change the properties of the plastics and may cause plastic parts to break and fly around when the airbag deploys in a crash, causing injury.

• Never use solvents or cleaners on the steering wheel horn pad or on the instrument panel because they can damage the airbag cover or change the stiffness or strength of the material so that the airbag cannot deploy and protect properly.

• When cleaning the horn pad and instrument panel, use only a soft, dry cloth or a cloth moistened with plain water.