Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) -> Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) for Your Volkswagen Passat SUV Seventh Generation (2010-2014)

If the tire is not “flat” and you do not have to change the tire  
or wheel immediately, drive at reduced speed to the nearest  
service station to check the tire pressure and add air as re-  
quired.  
When replacing tires or wheel rims on vehicles equipped with  
TPMS, always read and heed the information and all WARN-  
INGS in the section Tires and wheels.  
WARNING  
Failure to heed warning lights and instrument cluster text mes-  
sages can cause the vehicle to break down in traffic and result  
in a collision and serious personal injury.  
Never ignore warning lights or text WARNINGS.  
Always stop the vehicle as soon as it is safe to do so.  
NOTICE  
Failure to heed warning lights or text WARNINGS can result in  
vehicle damage.  
Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)  
Fig. 117 Display screen in the instrument cluster: Current tire pres-  
sures in psi.  
¤ Please first read and note the introductory information and  
heed the WARNINGS  
The Tire Pressure Monitoring System uses a pressure sensor in each  
wheel. Signals from the sensors are transmitted to the TPMS.  
The TPMS checks the tire pressure of all 4 tires while you are driving  
and warns if there is a loss of pressure while the vehicle is moving.  
Pressure loss that is 25% or more of the benchmark value pro-  
grammed into the system is signaled by the indicator light (telltale)  
described above, by acoustic warnings, and by text messages in the  
instrument cluster display.  
If you mount tires of a different size than the factory installed tires, an  
authorized Volkswagen dealer or an authorized Volkswagen Service  
Facility can adjust the benchmark TPMS tire pressure to match the  
new tires. Without this adjustment, TPMS may not work correctly or at  
all.  
The tire pressure recommended for the tires originally installed on the  
vehicle is on a sticker on the driver door jamb Tire inflation pres-  
sure.  
Display in the instrument cluster  
The display in the instrument cluster shows the vehicle with the actual  
and benchmark tire pressures of all 4 road wheels fig. 117  
Tire pressure display screen  
fig. 117  
Meaning  
(1)  
Tire pressure warning, left rear  
tire.  
(2)  
Current tire pressure, front left  
tire.  
(3)  
(4)  
Benchmark pressure, front tires  
Current tire pressure, front right  
tire.  
(5)  
(6)  
No data received, right rear tire.  
Benchmark pressure, rear tires  
If the tire pressure is too low, the relevant tires and the respective  
readings are highlighted in yellow.  
Each tire, including the spare (if provided), should be checked month-  
ly when cold and inflated to the inflation pressure recommended by  
the vehicle manufacturer on the vehicle placard or tire inflation pres-  
sure label. (If your vehicle has tires of a different size than the size  
indicated on the vehicle placard or tire inflation pressure label, you  
should determine the proper tire inflation pressure for those tires.)  
As an added safety feature, your vehicle has been equipped with a  
Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) that illuminates a low tire  
pressure telltale when one or more of your tires is significantly under-  
inflated. Accordingly, when the low tire pressure telltale illuminates,  
you should stop and check your tires as soon as possible, and inflate  
them to the proper pressure. Driving on a significantly underinflated  
tire causes the tire to overheat and can lead to tire failure. Under-  
inflation also reduces fuel efficiency and tire tread life, and may affect  
the vehicle's handling and stopping ability.  
Please note that the TPMS is not a substitute for proper tire mainte-  
nance, and it is the driver's responsibility to maintain correct tire pres-  
sure, even if under-inflation has not reached the level to trigger illumi-  
nation of the TPMS low tire pressure telltale.  
Your vehicle has also been equipped with a TPMS malfunction indi-  
cator to indicate when the system is not operating properly. The  
TPMS malfunction indicator is combined with the low tire pressure  
telltale. When the system detects a malfunction, the telltale will flash  
for approximately one minute and then remain continuously illuminat-  
ed. This sequence will continue upon subsequent vehicle start-ups as  
long as the malfunction exists.  
When the malfunction indicator is illuminated, the system may not be  
able to detect or signal low tire pressure as intended. TPMS malfunc-  
tions may occur for a variety of reasons, including the installation of  
replacement or alternate tires or wheels on the vehicle that prevent  
the TPMS from functioning properly. Always check the TPMS mal-  
function telltale after replacing one or more tires or wheels on your  
vehicle to ensure that the replacement or alternate tires and wheels  
allow the TPMS to continue to function properly.