Accessories, replacement parts, repairs, and modifications
Accessories and replacement parts
Consult an authorized Volkswagen dealer or authorized Volkswagen Service Facility before purchasing Genuine Volkswagen Accessories, replacement parts, or operating equipment, for example if you would like to retrofit the vehicle with Genuine Volkswagen Accessories or if parts need to be replaced. The authorized Volkswagen dealer or authorized Volkswagen Service Facility is aware of legal regulations and factory recommendations for Genuine Volkswagen Accessories, replacement parts, and operating equipment. Volkswagen recommends contacting an authorized Volkswagen dealer or authorized Volkswagen Service Facility.
Volkswagen recommends the use of Volkswagen Genuine Parts or Genuine Volkswagen Accessories, which you can acquire from an authorized Volkswagen dealer or authorized Volkswagen Service Facility. Volkswagen has verified their reliability, safety, and suitability. Qualified professionals are also qualified to perform installations correctly. Volkswagen recommends contacting an authorized Volkswagen dealer or authorized Volkswagen Service Facility.
Products that are not approved by Volkswagen may not have been evaluated by Volkswagen regarding the reliability, safety, and suitability for the vehicle, despite ongoing market observation. Therefore, Volkswagen can also not be responsible in individual cases if approval is given by an officially-recognized technical inspection and control authority or clearance is given by a government agency.
Retrofitted devices that have a direct effect on vehicle control, must have an e symbol (the approval symbol for the European Union) and be approved by Volkswagen for the vehicle. Such devices could include a cruise control system or an electronically-controlled damping system.
Additional electrical devices that do not have a direct effect on vehicle control must have a symbol (manufacturer's Declaration of Compliance for the European Union). Such devices could include refrigerators, computers, or ventilators.
WARNING
Unsuitable accessory parts and replacement parts may cause vehicle damage, malfunctions, accidents and severe injuries.
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Volkswagen recommends the use of Volkswagen Genuine Parts® or Genuine Volkswagen Accessories, which you can acquire from an authorized Volkswagen dealer or authorized Volkswagen Service Facility.
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Only install parts on the vehicle whose design and function are identical to the parts installed at the factory.
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Only use rim/tire combinations that are approved by Volkswagen for your vehicle model.
WARNING
Items in the deployment zone of the airbag may cause serious or fatal injuries if the airbags deploy.
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Never attach or position objects in the airbag deployment zone.
NOTICE
Unsuitable accessories and replacement parts may cause vehicle damage and malfunctions.
Retrofitting an engine preheating system may damage certain engines.
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Consult an authorized Volkswagen dealer or authorized Volkswagen Service Facility about the intended engines for retrofitting an engine preheating system. Volkswagen recommends contacting an authorized Volkswagen dealer or authorized Volkswagen Service Facility.
Repairs and technical modifications
Volkswagen guidelines must be followed when performing repairs and technical modifications.
Interference with electronic components and their software can cause malfunctions. Because of the way electronic components are interconnected, such malfunctions can also impair systems that are not directly involved. This means that you risk both a substantial reduction in the operational safety of your vehicle and increased wear of vehicle components.
An authorized Volkswagen dealer or authorized Volkswagen Service Facility cannot assume any liability for damage resulting from repairs and technical modifications that were performed incorrectly.
An authorized Volkswagen dealer or authorized Volkswagen Service Facility is not responsible for damage resulting from repairs and technical modifications that were performed incorrectly. Such damages are also not covered by the Volkswagen warranty.
Have all repairs and technical modifications performed by suitably qualified professionals. Volkswagen recommends contacting your authorized Volkswagen dealer or authorized Volkswagen Service Facility for Volkswagen Genuine Parts®.
Volkswagen repair information
Volkswagen service information and official Volkswagen repair information can be purchased.
Customers in Europe, Asia, Australia, Africa, Central and South America:
Contact suitably qualified professionals for assistance. Volkswagen recommends contacting an authorized Volkswagen dealer or authorized Volkswagen Service Facility. Or register with the erWin (electronic repair and service information) web portal:
https://erwin.volkswagen.de
Customers in North America and Canada:
If you wish to order the printed service information, please contact:
Volkswagen Technical Literature Ordering Centerliterature.vw.com
You can also register for the erWin web portal:
https://erwin.vw.com
Diagnostic connection (on-board diagnosis)
In the vehicle interior, there is a diagnostic connection (OBD) to read event memories. Event memories document faults that have occurred and deviations from specified values from the control module .
The diagnostic connection (OBD) is located in the footwell on the driver's side on the underside of the instrument panel or next to the hood release lever behind a cover.
Only have the event memory read out and reset by suitably qualified professionals. Additional information about the saved data can be obtained from suitably qualified professionals. Volkswagen recommends contacting an authorized Volkswagen dealer or authorized Volkswagen Service Facility.
After a malfunction is fixed, the information about it will be deleted from the event memory. Other memory content is overwritten continuously.
Vehicles with special modifications and mountings
The attachment and mounting manufacturer should make sure that the applicable environmental laws and regulations are met for the attachments and mountings, especially the EU directive 2000/53/EG about old vehicle and EU directive 2003/11/EG about market introduction restrictions and the use of certain hazardous materials and compounds.
The installation instructions for any retrofitted equipment should be saved by the vehicle owner and provided to the removal facility if the vehicle is scrapped. This ensures that even vehicles with retrofitted equipment will be disposed of in a way that will not harm the environment.
Windshield repairs
To perform functions, some equipment requires an electric or electronic component that is secured to the inside of the windshield near the interior rearview mirror, for example. If the windshield is damaged within the area covered by the electrical or electronic component's visual field, for example with a stone chip, then the windshield must be replaced. Stone chip repairs can cause malfunctions in the equipment.
After a windshield is replaced, the camera and sensors must be adjusted and calibrated by suitably qualified professionals. Volkswagen recommends contacting an authorized Volkswagen dealer or authorized Volkswagen Service Facility.
Impairment or damage to sensors and cameras
The sensors or cameras could shift or become damaged as a result of incorrect repairs, structural changes to the vehicle (such as “lowering”), installation of after-market equipment, or changes to the trim panels. This can also be caused by collisions when parking and by minor damage, such as a stone hitting the windshield.
The area in front of and around the sensors and cameras must not be covered by stickers, auxiliary headlights, decorative license plate frames, or similar objects. Note the position of sensors and cameras on your vehicle in the vehicle overviews.
If ignored, important vehicle functions of driver assistance systems could be impaired and vehicle damage could result.
Have repairs or structural changes performed by suitably qualified professionals. Volkswagen recommends contacting an authorized Volkswagen dealer or authorized Volkswagen Service Facility.
Additional information:
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Painting near the sensors can impair the function of the system that uses those sensors.
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The Volkswagen emblem can impede the view of the radar sensors to the front on some vehicle versions. Therefore only operate the vehicle with the original Volkswagen emblem or an emblem approved by Volkswagen.
Engine/motor protection
Engine/motor protection can reduce the risk of damage to the vehicle underbody and the oil pan, for example if driving over curbs, entering driveways, or on unpaved roads.
Have the retrofitting work performed by suitable qualified professionals. Volkswagen recommends contacting an authorized Volkswagen dealer or authorized Volkswagen Service Facility.
Engine/motor protection may not be available in all countries.
WARNING
Repairs and modifications to the vehicle that are performed incorrectly can impair the effectiveness of the driver assistance systems and deploying airbags. This can cause malfunctions, accidents and fatal injuries.
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Only have suitably qualified professionals make repairs or modifications to a vehicle. Volkswagen recommends contacting an authorized Volkswagen dealer or authorized Volkswagen Service Facility.
WARNING
Repairs and modifications to the vehicle that are performed incorrectly may cause vehicle damage, accidents and severe injuries.
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Volkswagen recommends the use of Volkswagen Genuine Parts or Genuine Volkswagen Accessories, which you can acquire from an authorized Volkswagen dealer or authorized Volkswagen Service Facility. Volkswagen has verified their reliability, safety, and suitability.
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Only have suitably qualified professionals make repairs or modifications to a vehicle. Authorized Volkswagen dealers and authorized Volkswagen Service Facilities have the required tools, diagnostic devices, repair information, and qualified personnel. Volkswagen recommends contacting an authorized Volkswagen dealer or authorized Volkswagen Service Facility.
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Only install parts on the vehicle whose design and function are identical to the parts installed at the factory.
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Only use rim/tire combinations that are approved by Volkswagen for your vehicle model.
WARNING
Incorrect use of the diagnostic connection can cause malfunctions, which can then result in collisions and serious injuries.
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Never read out the event memory yourself using the diagnostic connection.
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Never load data yourself using the diagnostic connection in the vehicle.
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Only have the event memory read out with the diagnostic connection by suitably qualified professionals. Volkswagen recommends contacting an authorized Volkswagen dealer or authorized Volkswagen Service Facility.
Airbag system repairs and situations that can affect the system function
Volkswagen guidelines must be followed when performing repairs and technical modifications.
Only have modifications and repairs on the front bumper, doors, front seats, headliner, or vehicle body performed by an authorized Volkswagen dealer or authorized Volkswagen Service Facility. Volkswagen recommends contacting an authorized Volkswagen dealer or authorized Volkswagen Service Facility. Airbag system components and sensors may be located on these vehicle components.
Airbag system components can be damaged during all procedures on the airbag system and when removing and installing system components while performing other repair procedures. This may prevent the airbags from deploying or cause them to deploy incorrectly in the event of an accident.
The instructions must be followed so that the effectiveness of the airbags is not impaired and removed components do not cause injuries and environmental pollution. An authorized Volkswagen dealer or authorized Volkswagen Service Facility will be familiar with these provisions. Volkswagen recommends contacting an authorized Volkswagen dealer or authorized Volkswagen Service Facility.
A modification to the vehicle suspension can impair the functionality of the airbag system during a collision. For example, using a rim/tire combination that is not approved by Volkswagen, lowering the vehicle, or changing the suspension stiffness including the springs, suspensions struts, shock absorbers, etc., can change the force that is measured by the airbag sensors and transmitted to the electronic control module. For example, some changes to the suspension can increase the force measured by the systems and trigger the airbag system in accidents where the airbags would normally not be deployed if the modifications had not been made. Other modifications can reduce the force measured by the sensors and prevent the airbag from deploying when it should have deployed.
WARNING
Repairs and modifications that were done incorrectly can cause damage and malfunctions to the vehicle as well as impair the effectiveness of the airbag system. This can cause accidents and serious or fatal injuries.
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Only have suitably qualified professionals make repairs or modifications to a vehicle. Volkswagen recommends contacting an authorized Volkswagen dealer or authorized Volkswagen Service Facility.
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The airbag module cannot be repaired; it must be replaced.
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Never install airbag components removed from old vehicles or from recycling.
WARNING
A modification to the vehicle suspension including using a rim/tire combination that is not permitted can change the functionality of the airbag and increase the risk of severe or fatal injuries in an accident.
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Never install suspension components that do not have the same properties as the original parts installed in the vehicle.
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Never use rim/tire combinations that are not approved by Volkswagen.
Mobile phone usage in the vehicle
Electromagnetic waves
When using a mobile phone or radio equipment without connecting to the exterior antenna, the electromagnetic waves will not be deflected outward in an optimum way. Increased waves in the vehicle interior can occur, especially when reception is poor, for example in rural areas. This could be a potential health risk .
Depending on the equipment, it may be possible to use a suitable telephone interface to connect the mobile phone to the exterior antenna. This will improve the connection quality and increase the range.
Using a phone
In many countries, using a phone in the vehicle is only permitted if there is a hands-free connection, for example using a Bluetooth® connection. Before using the phone, secure it in a suitable holder or store it in a storage compartment, such as in the center console, to prevent it from sliding around.
Radio
If operating radio devices, follow the legal regulations and the user guide from the manufacturer. The aftermarket installation of radio devices is subject to approval.
Contact qualified professionals for more information about installing radio equipment. Volkswagen recommends contacting an authorized Volkswagen dealer or authorized Volkswagen Service Facility.
WARNING
Mobile devices that are loose or not secured correctly can be thrown through the vehicle interior during sudden driving or braking maneuvers or in the event of a collision and cause injuries.
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Secure or store the mobile phone and accessories safely outside the deployment range of the airbags.
WARNING
Using a mobile device or radio equipment inside the vehicle without a connection to an exterior antenna may create electromagnetic energy that exceeds permissible limits. This may be dangerous to your health and that of your passengers. This also applies if the exterior antenna is not installed correctly.
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Maintain a distance of at least 8 inches (20 cm) between the device antennae and any active medical implants, such as pacemakers.
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Do not carry a mobile device that is turned on directly above or in the immediate vicinity of any active medical implants, for example by keeping a phone in a shirt pocket.
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Switch off the mobile device immediately if you suspect there is interference with an active medical implant or other medical device.
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