Towing -> Tips on towing for Your Volkswagen Passat SUV Seventh Generation (2010-2014)

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 electronic steering col-  
umn lock engages and cannot be released).  
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.  
Tow manual transmission vehicles with the rear wheels off the  
ground only if it is certain that no transmission fluid can leak  
out.  
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, not 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, not 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.  
For vehicles with the DSG® Direct Shift Gearbox, also follow the di-  
rections on how to tow a vehicle with automatic transmission Tow-  
ing automatic transmission vehicles.