Off-road driving situations -> Driving on steep terrain for Your Volkswagen Atlas SUV First Generation (2018-2023)

The tires can lose their grip in sand or mud.  
Do not change the speed or direction.  
If the vehicle slides, steer in the direction in which it is sliding to regain control of the vehicle.  
If the tires are no longer gripping the ground, turn the steering wheel back and forth quickly. This can briefly create better tire traction between the ground at the  
front wheels.  
WARNING  
Driving through sand and mud can be dangerous. The vehicle can slide uncontrollably, increasing the risk of injury. Always drive forward carefully when you  
have to drive through sand, mud, or slush.  
Never choose unsafe routes or undertake a risk that would put you and your passengers in danger. If you have doubts about the safety of the route, turn  
around and choose a different route.  
WARNING  
Incorrect tire pressures can cause a serious or fatal accident.  
Incorrect tire pressures cause increased tire wear and impair vehicle handling.  
Incorrect tire pressures can cause overheating, sudden tire damage including tire blow-outs, and stripping of the tread, which can then result in loss of  
vehicle control.  
If you do choose to lower the tire pressure in order to drive through sand, however, you must always reinflate the tires to the correct tire pressure  
afterward before you drive anywhere else. Driving with low tire pressures can cause the driver to lose control of the vehicle and increases the risk of  
serious and fatal injuries.  
Recommendations if the vehicle is stuck  
Refer to  
and Safety precautions for driving off-road.  
The vehicle becomes stuck when the wheels have sunk so deeply into the ground that the vehicle can no longer move forward or backward under its own power.  
To rock the vehicle out of sand or mud, training and a lot of strength are necessary. If one makes a mistake when rocking a vehicle out of place, the vehicle can sink  
even farther and additional assistance will be needed to continue.  
Never let the wheels spin for a long time, because this will only make the vehicle sink deeper into the ground  
.
Preparations  
1. Carefully dig out all of the wheels and make sure no other vehicle components are stuck in sand or mud.  
2. Select the reverse gear.  
3. Press the accelerator pedal gently and reverse in the same track.  
If this does not help, place brushwood, floor mats, or burlap cloth directly behind the tires to create traction to help the vehicle to move  
.
Rocking the vehicle out of place  
1. Switch off the ASR Braking assistance systems.  
2. Adjust the steering wheel so that it is straight.  
3. Drive in reverse until the wheels begin to spin straight.  
4. Engage the first gear immediately and begin to drive forward until the wheels begin to spin again.  
5. Drive back and forth in this way until there is enough momentum to release the vehicle.  
6. Reactivate ASR after the vehicle is rocked out of place.  
WARNING  
No one should ever stand in front of or behind the vehicle, especially when attempting to move a stuck vehicle out of place.  
Spinning wheels can greatly accelerate stones, brushwood, pieces of wood, or other objects under the wheels, which could cause life-threatening  
injuries.  
If the stuck vehicle moves suddenly, people standing in front of or behind the vehicle could be run over.  
Driving on steep terrain  
Refer to ⇒  
and Safety precautions for driving off-road.  
Driving on inclines or slopes  
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Before driving up an incline or down a hill, stop, exit the vehicle, and assess the situation:  
Go along the path and check the ground for sufficient firmness, obstacles, or other hidden hazards  
Look to see how the path continues after the incline.  
.
If the route is too steep, too uneven, or the ground is too loose, then do not drive on this path and choose another route.  
Drive uphill or downhill slowly and continuously on a straight path.  
Never stop or turn around on a hillside.  
Only accelerate enough to overcome the incline. Too much acceleration can cause the wheels to spin and the driver to lose control of the vehicle. Too little  
acceleration increases the likelihood of stalling the engine.  
Vehicles with an automatic transmission Do not shift gears while driving on an incline.  
Use the off-road display Offroad display.  
If the vehicle can no longer drive up an incline  
Never turn around on an incline.  
If the engine has stopped, press the brake pedal and restart the engine.  
Select reverse gear and drive slowly and carefully along the same path.  
Maintain a consistent speed using the brake pedal until you reach safe and level ground.  
Driving downhill  
There is increased risk of rollover accidents when driving downhill. Concentrate very carefully on steering the vehicle when driving downhill.  
Drive in first gear when driving down steep hills.  
Use the brakes gently to reduce the risk of losing control of the vehicle.  
Never exceed the tilt angle of the vehicle.  
If it is possible and not dangerous, drive straight downhill along the fall line (maximum slope).  
Use the off-road display and the hill hold assist when driving on steep hills Offroad display.  
WARNING  
Never try to drive on an incline or a hill when it is too steep for the vehicle. The vehicle could slide, tip or flip over.  
The incline angle or tilt angle must not be larger than the maximum permissible value for the vehicle.  
When driving uphill or downhill, always follow the fall line.  
Never change direction or turn round when driving uphill or downhill. The vehicle could tip over or slide.  
If the engine stalls or if your vehicle can go no further, stop and press the brake pedal. Restart the engine. Engage the reverse gear, release the brake  
pedal and use engine braking to ease the vehicle back in a straight line that follows the fall line. Keep to a steady, low speed.  
If the engine will not start, press the brake pedal down, applying constant pressure, and allow the vehicle to roll back the same way you came. Keep to a  
steady, low speed.  
Never allow the vehicle to coast backward down the incline. You may lose control of the vehicle.  
Driving at an angle on a hill  
Refer to ⇒  
and Safety precautions for driving off-road.  
Fig. 123 General example: steering downhill along the fall line.  
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