Security -> Safety belts for Your Volkswagen Touareg SUV Third Generation (2018-2025)

The correct positions for the driver and  
passengers are given below.  
Adjust the seat height so that it reaches the  
highest point of the steering wheel.  
Always keep your feet in the footrests to  
maintain control of the vehicle at all times.  
Persons who are unable to assume a correct  
seating position due to a physical condition  
should ask a specialist workshop about the  
possibility of special modifications. Seat belts  
and air bags only provide optimum protection  
when seated in the correct position.  
The following also applies to the  
accompanying person:  
Position the seat backrest almost vertically so  
that the back rests completely on it.  
Volkswagen recommends that this be done by a  
Volkswagen dealer.  
Move the seat as far bacsible so that  
ossible  
in the event of an airbag de
the airbag can protect yo
For your own safety and to reduce injury in the  
event of braking or an accident, Volks- wagen  
recommends the following adjustments:  
Valid for all occupants of the vehicle:  
Adjust the head restraint so that the upper  
edge of the head restraint is level with the  
top of the head, but never below the eyes.  
Always keep the back of the head as close as  
possible to the headrest fig. 34.  
Safety bel
Iction to topic  
If you are short, lower the headrest as far as  
it will go, even if your head is below t
upper edge of the headrest.  
ion of all safetlts regularly.  
damage to the webing or  
f a seat belt, the automatic reel or  
lt buckle, contact a specialist  
p immediately and have the belt  
If you are tall, raise the headrest as far as i
will go.  
When driving, keep your feet on the footrest.  
. The specialist workshop should  
red  
use appropriate spare parts for the vehicle,  
equipmand model year. Volkswagen  
recommethat you visit a Volkswagen dealer  
or this.  
Adjust and fit the seat be
The following also app
Position the seat ba
that the back rests
WARNING  
Not wearing a seat-belt or wearing it  
Adjust the steering w
25 cm from the sternu
incorrectly increases the risk of serious or fatal  
injury. Seat-belts only provide optimum  
protection if they are correctly fitted and used.  
A
ad it with b
s, on the outside, with t
ent p. 113.  
Seat belts are the most effective means of  
reducing the risk of serious and fatal injury  
in the event of an accident. To help  
protect you, always wear your seat belt  
correctly while the vehicle is in motion.  
The steering wheel shall always point in the  
direction of the thorax anever towards the  
face.  
djust the seat so that ycan fully step on  
pedals with your knslightly bent and  
there is a distance tween the knee  
B
area he dashd of at least 10 cm  
.
56  
Instruction manual  
   
Before setting off, always sit in the correct  
position, always wear your seat belt  
correctly and always wear it properly  
throughout the journey. This applies to all  
occupants of the vehicle and also for urban  
journeys.  
Have damaged seat belts replaced  
immediately with new seat belts approved  
by Volkswagen for this vehicle. After an  
accident, have a specialised workshop  
replace any seat belts that have been  
stretched excessively as a result of the  
strain they have been subjected to. They  
may need to be replaced even if there is no  
perceptible damage. The belt anchorages  
should also be ch
When transporting children, use a child  
restraint system suitable for their weight  
and height with a properly fitted seat belt →  
p. 76.  
Never attempt to y or remove  
the seat belts yourepairs  
to seat belts, autom
carried out by a spec.  
Only start off when all occupants of the  
vehicle have their seat belts correctly  
fastened.  
Always insert the belt tongue into the belt  
buckle of the corresponding seat and latch  
it correctly. The use of a belt buckle from  
another seat reduces the safety belt's  
protective function and can lead to serious  
injury.  
Always prevent foreign bodies and liqui
from entering the seat belt buckle slo
Otherwise, the function of the loc
safety belt may be impaired.  
ng lamp  
note at the beginning of this  
chapter  
age 56.  
Never remove your seat belt while  
driving.  
The use of one seat belt per occupant is  
mandatory.  
Never carry a cp or  
restrain it wit
wearing.  
Do not wea
(e.g. a coat
difficult for t
thus reduces i
Fig. 35 On the instrument panel display: warning  
lamp.  
WARNING  
Damaged seat beare a major hazard and  
an cause serioufatal injuries.  
r pihe seat belt with the door or  
the set mechanism, as this could damage  
the seat belt.  
Fig. 36 On the instrument panel display: Seat belt  
status indication  
of the rear seats.  
If the belt webbing or other parts of the belt  
are damaged, the belt may break in the  
event of an accident or braking.  
Security  
57  
   
If the safety belts are not fastened or are  
unfastened at a speed of approx. 25 km/h (15  
mph) at the start of the journey or if the safety  
belts are unfastened during the journey.  
While driving, an acoustic signal will sound for a  
few seconds. In addition, the red warning light  
Fig. 35 flashes.  
Frontal accidents and the laws of  
physics  
Please note at the beginning of this  
on page 56.  
chapter  
The red warning lamp will go out when the  
driver and front passenger put on their  
seatbelts with the seatbelt switched on.  
Indication of the condition of the safety belts  
in the rear seats  
When the ignition is switched on, the seat belt  
status indicator fig. 36 informs the driver on  
the instrument panel display whether the  
occupants of the rear seats are wearing their  
seat belts. The symbol indicates that the  
occupant of that seat is wearing 'their' safety  
belt . The symbol indicates that it is not worn.  
Fig. 37 Vehicle to crash ia wall.  
Occunot wearing belts.  
If a rear seat occupant puts on or removes his  
or her seatbelt, the seatbelt status is displaye
for approx. 30 seconds. The display can be  
hidden by pressing the key.  
the of the instrument panel.  
If a rear seat occupant removes his or her seat  
belt while driving, the corresponl  
flashes for a maximum of 3
speed exceeds approx. 2
acoustic signal sounds
Fig. 38 Ve crashes into wall. The occupants  
re not wearg seat belts.  
is easy to explain how the laws of physics  
ork in the event of a frontal accident: as soon  
s a vehicle is in motion Fig. 37, so-called  
"kinetic energy" is generated in both the vehicle  
and its occupants.  
WARNING  
Not wearing a seat-bel
incorrectly icreases the
injueat-bonly provi
pection if they are correctly f.  
The higher the speed and weight of the vehicle,  
the more energy must be absorbed in the event  
of an accident.  
However, the most important factor is the  
speed of the vehicle. For example, if the speed  
doubles from approx. 25 km/h (15 mph) to  
approx. 50 km/h (31 mph), the corresponding  
kinetic energy quadruples!  
The magnitude of the "kinetic energy" depends  
primarily on the speed at which the vehicle is  
travelling and the weight of the vehicle and its  
occupants. The greater the speed and the  
greater the weight, the more energy must be  
absorbed by the vehicle and its occupants.  
in the event of an accident.  
58  
Instruction manual  
   
The occupants of the vehicle who are not  
wearing seat belts are not 'attached' to the  
vehicle. Therefore, in the event of a frontal  
collision, they will continue to travel at the  
same speed as the vehicle was travelling before  
the collision until something stops them! Since  
the occupants of the vehicle in our example are  
not wearing seat belts, in the event of a  
collision with the wall, all the kinetic energy of  
the occupants will only be absorbed by the  
impact.  
At speeds between approx. 30 km/h (19 mph)  
and 50 km/h (31 mph), the forces acting on the  
body in the event of an accident can easily  
exceed one tonne (1000 kg). The forces acting  
on the body increase the higher the speed at  
which the vehicle is driven.  
Fig. 40 The rear seat occa seat belt  
is throforward into the is wearing a  
seat be
There is a pread belief in the case of  
inor accidee blow can stopped with  
nds. This is true!  
This example is not only valid for frontal  
accidents, but also for all types of accidents  
collisions  
ow speeds, s are exerted on the  
he event of a con that cannot be  
acted by simply suporting oneself with  
ms and hands. In a frontal collision,  
icle occupants who are not wearing seat  
elts will be thrown forward and will be thrown  
uncontrollably into parts of the passenger  
ompartment, e.g. the steering wheel,  
rument panel or windscreen.  
Dangers of not wearing a seat
Please note at the b
on page 56.  
chapter  
The function of the airbag system does not  
replace that of the seat belt. If the airbags are  
deployed, they only provide additional  
protection. The airbags do not deploy in every  
type of accident. Even if the vehicle is equipped  
with an airbag system, all occupants (including  
the driver) must wear their seat belts and wear  
them properly throughout the journey. This  
reduces the risk of serious or fatal injury in the  
event of an accident, regardless of whether the  
seat is equipped with an airbag or not.  
Each airbag only deploys once. For the best  
possible protection, it is essential to always  
wear your seat belt correctly. This will also  
protect you in the event of an accident in which  
the airbag does not deploy. Unbelted occupants  
could be thrown out of the vehicle and, as a  
result, be injured.  
ig. 39 The unbeltriver is thrown forward.  
even more serious or deadly consequences.  
Security  
59  
   
It is also very important that rear seat  
occupants wear their seat belts correctly,  
otherwise they will be thrown uncontrollably  
through the passenger compartment in the event  
of an accident. If a rear seat occupant is not  
wearing a seat belt, he or she endangers not  
only him- or herself, but also the driver and  
other passengers.  
kinetic energy. This reduces the energy  
generated and thus the risk of injury.  
The examples described are from frontal  
crashes. Of course, properly fitted seat-belts  
also greatly reduce the risk of injury in all other  
types of accident. For this reason, seat-belts  
should always be worn before setting off, even  
if it is only to go "around the corner". Make sure  
that all other occupants of the vehicle are also  
wearing seat belts.  
vehicle occupants fig. 40.  
Road accident statistics hav
wearing a seat-belt correctly
reduces the risk of injury and i
chances of survival in the event
accident. Coly fitted seat bel
reinforce the ptive effect of athat  
are triggered in tent of an accnt. For  
this reason, the use at-belts is matory in  
mes.  
Protective function of safety belts  
Please note at the beginning of this  
on page 56.  
chapter  
cle is equipwith airbs, the  
t be worn. Thnt airbags,  
only triggered irtain cases  
ion. They do not deploy in the  
ontal or minor side collision, a rear-  
ion, if the vehicle overturns or in the  
of an accident in which the airbag trigger  
varogrammed in the control unit is not  
exce.  
For this rn, always wear your seat belt and  
make sure at the other occupants of the  
ehicle are wearing their seat belts.  
e vehicle must be correctly installed before the start of the  
urney!  
Fig. 41 Drivers wearing
will not be thrown out in
Correctly fitted seat bel
difference. Properly fitted
occupcorrect po
sigcantly reduce kinetic ener
n accident. They also help to prevent  
controlled movements that could lead to  
rious injuries. Properly fseat belts also  
duce the risk of being throut of the  
icle.  
Vehiccupants weariproperly fitted seat-  
belts wilfit grerom the fact that  
kinetic energy sorbed by the seat-belts.  
The structure of the front of the vehicle and  
other passive safety components of the  
vehicle, such as the airbag system, also ensure  
a reduction in the kinetic energy absorbed by the  
seat belts.  
60  
Instruction manual  
 
Keep seat belts clean at all times.  
How to use and maintain seat  
belts in good condition  
Avoid chafing the belt webbing with sharp  
edges, pinching or damaging it.  
Keep the seat belt buckle and the seat belt  
tongue slot free of foreign objects at all  
times and do not get them wet.  
Please note at the beginning of this  
on page 56.  
chapter  
Checklist  
good  
How to use and maintain safety belts in  
condition →  
Check the condition of all seat belts regularly.  
Keep seat belts clean.  
:
Putting on and seat belts  
Please note at the beg
on pa56.  
chapter  
Keep foreign bodies and liquids away from the  
belt, tongue and belt lock slot.  
Do not damage or pinch the seat belt or the seat  
belt tongue, e.g. when closing the door.  
Never dismantle, modify or repair seat belts or  
their attachments.  
Always wear your seat belt correctly befor
driving and do not remove it while
Twisted safety belt  
If the seat belt cannot be easily pulled o
the guide, it may have been twisted inside t
side trim if it was rolled up too quickly:  
Fig. 42 Insert the tongue of the safety belt into its  
k.  
Pull the belt slowle tab  
until it is compl
Straighten th
with your ha
If you are unab
on anyway, but
of the belt does n
belt straa  
specialist workshop.  
WARNING  
Improper care of sy belts increases the risk  
of serious or fatal iy.  
Fig. 43 Release the belt locking tab.  
Check regularly t the safety belts and  
their componenre in good condition.  
In the event of braking or an accident, properly  
fitted seat belts keep the vehicle occupants in the  
correct position and offer the best possible  
protection .  
If the vehicle is equipped with proactive occupant  
protection, the driver's and front passenger's seat  
belts will automatically tighten in certain driving  
situations if they are worn p. 65, Pro-active  
occupant protection.  
Security  
61  
   
In this way, the belt slack can be reduced as  
much as possible.  
Removing the seat belt while driving can  
cause serious injury or death in the event of  
an accident or braking.  
Wearing seat belts  
Always wear your seat belt before driving.  
Adjust the front seat and head restraint  
correctly page 54.  
Positioning of the b e l t webbing  
Position the backrest of the rear seat  
Please note at the beginning of this chapter  
on page 56.  
vertically →  
.
Grasp the belt strap and place it centrally  
so,  
across your chest and pelvis. When doing  
do not twist the belt →  
.
Insert the belt tongue securely into the  
seatbelt loop corresponding to the belt  
position  
Pull on the belt to check that the tongue is  
securely engaged in the blind.  
Removing seat belts  
ositioning of the webbing and  
nt of the head restnt.  
when the vehicle is  
Remove the seat belt only  
stationary →  
.
Press the red button on the belt lock  
fig. 43. The belt tongue is ejected.  
Pull the belt backwards with your hand so  
that the belt winds up more
does not twist and the t
Safety belt with lockin
If the belt webbing ha
completely and the be
is retracted, it is equip
system. Do not use the
attaching in child res
76, Child straint. If
acted, release it when the bd  
a person.  
Fig. 45 Correct positioning of the belt webbing in  
the case of pregnant women.  
Seat belts only provide optimum protection and  
reduce the risk of serious or fatal injury in the  
event of an accident if the belt webbing is  
correctly positioned. A properly positioned belt  
webbing also retains the occupants in their seat  
so that, if the airbag is triggered, it can provide  
maximum protection. Therefore, always fasten  
your seatbelt and make sure that the seatbelt  
webbing is correctly positioned.  
WARNING  
orrect belt webbing caad to serious or  
fanjuries in the event n accident.  
Thety belt shall ure optimum  
protecs worn correctly for the  
occupant's height and the seat backrest is  
in an upright position.  
correctly located fig. 44.  
62  
Instruction manual  
     
Sitting in an incorrect seating position can cause  
serious or fatal injuries p. 54, Seating  
position.  
The lap strap of the safety belt shall pass in  
front of the pelvic area and never over the  
abdomen. The safety belt should lie flat  
and snug against the pelvis. If necessary,  
the lap belt should be tightened slightly.  
Correct positioning of the belt webbing  
The shoulder band should always pass over  
the centre of the shoulder and never over  
the neck, over or under the arm, or behind  
the back.  
In the case of pregnant women, the lap  
belt lap belt shall be positioned flat in front  
of the pelvic region, as low as possible, and  
around the 'round' abdomen.  
The lap belt lap strap shall always pass in  
front of the pelvic area and never over the  
abdomen.  
Do not twist the ing while  
wearing the belt.  
Never pull the seat dy  
by hand.  
The safety belt shall lie flat and snug against  
the body. If necessary, its strap shall be pulled  
slightly.  
Never place the belt sd or  
fraobjects such as pens or  
keys.  
Pregnant women should wear the belt flat, well  
centred on the chest and as low as possible in  
front of the pelvic area so that it does not exert  
any pressure on the abdomen fig. 45. This  
should be observed throughout the pregna
Never mthe position he belt  
webbing wiat belt clamretaining  
s or similar cts.  
Adjusting the position of the belt we
according to height  
Persons who, because of physical  
conditions, are unable to position  
themselves correctly, or who are not able  
to do so because of  
The position of the belt webbing can be
with the following equipment:  
Belt height adjuster for front seats page  
the seatbelt webbing is not fitted, a specialist  
kshop should be consulted to find out  
whr special modifications can be made to  
ensure that the protective function of the  
seatbelt and air bags is maintained.  
Volkswagen recommends  
Height-adjustabl
p. 54  
a Volkswagen dealer.  
ARNING  
If the seat belt webbin
positioned, it can cause serry in the  
event of an accident, braking or sudden  
manoeuvres.  
B e l t height adjuster  
Please note at the beginning of this  
on page 56.  
chapter  
The safety belt wnly ensure optimum  
protection if it is rn correctly and the  
backrest is in an ight position.  
If the seat belt ves from the hard parts  
the body the soft parts of the body  
(bdomen), among other things  
due to slackness, it can cause serious  
injury.  
The shoulder band should pass over the  
centre of the shoulder and never under  
the arm or over the neck.  
The safety belt should lie flat and snug  
against the upper body.  
Fig. 46 Next to the front seats: seat adjustment  
the height of the belt.  
Security  
63  
   
The seatbelt height adjusters in the front seats  
can be used to adjust the position of the  
seatbelt in the shoulder area according to the  
height of the occupant so that the seatbelt can  
be correctly positioned:  
When the critical situation passes, the two belts  
are loosened again. The proactive occupant  
protection is again ready for operation p. 65,  
Belt pretensioner  
Compress the forwarding device in the  
direction of the arrows and hold it in this  
The safety belts in the front seats and, where  
appropriate, in the rear rear seats are fitted with  
pretensioners.  
Slide the repositioning device up or down  
until the safety belt passes over the centre  
of the shoulder.  
The pre-tensioners are activsensors in  
the event of severe frontal,
collisions and tighten the sea
opposite direction to their exit
is slack, the pretensioner tighte,  
thus cushionithe occupants' m
forward or in irection of imp
seatbelt pretensis work in conjion with  
the airbag system. e event of a ver,  
the ioners are ctivated unthe  
e triggere
Release the forwarding device.  
Make sure that the return device is locked in  
place by pulling on the safety strap.  
WARNING  
Never adjust the height of the safety belt while  
driving.  
a fine dust be released.  
y normal and dot mean  
broken out in the vhicle.  
Automatic rewinder, belt  
pretensioner and belt force limiter  
nsioning  
iver or front passenger is wearing a  
slt, the seatbelt is automatically pre-  
tighd at the start of the journey, depending  
on the ney time and speed, by reducing the  
belt slack ar as possible p. 65, Proactive  
Please note at the beginning of this  
on page 56.  
chapter  
Vehicle seat belts are pa
system.  
p. 67 and consist of
and functions:  
versible belt tensioning (proactive  
ccupant protection  
)
Automatic belt winder  
n certain driving situations, the safety belts  
may be tightened reversibly. For example p.  
All safety are fitted w
retrain the houlder belt
de ensures complete freedont  
en the shoulder belt is pulled out slowly or  
ring normal driving. Hower, the rewinder  
cks the seat belt if the bepulled out quickly,  
en braking, on hilly strets, on curves and  
n accelerating.  
in case of braking  
in case of oversteer or understeer  
in case of minor collisions  
Belt force limiter  
In the event of an accident, the belt force limiter  
reduces the force the safety belt exerts on the  
body  
In al driving situation.g. in the event of  
emery braking or oteer and understeer,  
the proacprotection can  
.
automatically tighten the front seat belts if they  
are worn. If an accident does not occur or  
64  
Instruction manual  
If the vehicle or system components are to  
be scrapped, the following must be done  
P r o a c t i v e occupant protection  
The relevant safety regulations must be observed.  
Please note at the beginning of this  
on page 56.  
chapter  
these  
The specialist workshops are familiar with  
regulations p. 65.  
Proactive occupant protection is an assistance  
system that activates a series of measures to  
protect vehicle occupants in dangerous  
situations, but cannot prevent a collision.  
Maintenance and disposal of belt  
pretensioners  
Proactive occupant only fully  
functions when the fted in the  
infotainment system action  
Please note at the beginning of this  
on page 56.  
chapter  
When work is carried out on the belt  
Basic nctions  
pretensioners or when other vehicle parts are  
removed and fitted for other repair work, the  
seat belts may be damaged without being  
noticed. In the event of an accident, this may  
result in the pretensioners not functioning  
properly or not functioning at all.  
When tiver or front paer is wearing a  
seat belt, e start of the rney and  
depending on journey timnd speed, the  
elt is autoally pre-tigned by  
its slack aas possib
g on the legaulations of the  
n question and tehicle equipment,  
owing functions can be activated  
rately or together in critical situations (e.g.  
the event of emergency braking or  
understeer and oversteer) from a speed of  
approx.  
To ensure that the effectiveness of the
pretensioners is not impaired and th
dismantled components do not caus
pollute the environment, the relevant  
regulations must be observed. Specialised  
workshops are familiar with these regulations.  
km/h (19 mph):  
WARNING  
Improper handli-  
belts and auto
ersible tensioning of front seat belts which  
arbuckled.  
pretensioners
or fatal injury.
activate, even
activate unexpe
Depending on equipment, automatic closing  
of the glass roof and windows until there is  
only a slit.  
Depending on how critical the driving situation  
is, the belts can be tensioned individually or all  
at the same time.  
specialis
workshop itself, shaantle  
and fit components of sand their  
pretensioners.  
Additionally for vehicles with Front Assist  
surveillance system  
p. 376.  
Belt pretensionand automatic belt  
retractors cannorepaired and must be  
replaced.  
In vehicles with Front Assist p. 214  
surveillance system, the probability of a rear-  
end collision with the vehicle in front is also  
calculated within the limits of the system. The  
system can activate proactive occupant  
protection if it detects that a rear-end collision is  
likely or if it triggers a braking manoeuvre.  
abrupt.  
Airmodules and belt pretensioners  
may ontain perchlorate. Observe the legal  
regulations relating to the use of perchlorate.  
you are going to their disposal.  
Security  
65  
   
Activate pre-tensioning and reversible tensioning Control indicator  
of the seat belts in the  
infotainment system  
The pre-tensioning and reversible tensioning  
of the struts can be activated in the info-  
tainment system:  
Proactive occupant protection is not  
available. Have the system checked by a  
specialist workshop.  
WARNING  
Intelligent technology incorporating proactive  
occupant protection cannot overcome the  
limits imposed by the laws of physics and  
only works within the limitsystem.  
Never allow the increased ed  
by pro-active occupant prot
you to take any risks that com
The system cannot prevent a c
system cannregain the driver.  
Switch on the ignition.  
CAR  
Press the  
Press the  
infotainment button.  
Assistants  
function button .  
Proactive Occupant Protection  
Select  
from the list.  
Briefly press the desired function button  
Active Left side belt pre-tensioner  
,
or  
Right side belt pretensioner  
to activate  
or deactivate the function.  
Always adjour speed and
distance to thicle in front acding to  
visibility, weathed and traffi
s.  
Active  
: Activate or deactivate proactive occupant  
protection with all its functions. Proactive  
occupant protection is reactivated each time the  
ignition is switched on.  
is not alwayle to recise  
Belt pre-tensioning on left-hand side  
: Activate or de-  
activate the belt pre-tensioning for the left-ha
front seat only.  
cupant protectioes not  
ople or animals, or to objects  
s or are difficult to detect.  
Right-hand side belt pretensioning  
: Activate or de-  
activate the belt pretensioning for the right-  
hand front seat only.  
ctive objects (e.g. crash barriers),  
nel entrances, heavy rain and ice can  
air the function of the proactive  
ocnt protection and thus the ability to  
detece risk of a collision.  
If the checkbox of the function ked ,  
it means that the function i
Limited operation  
It may hppen that the system is activated  
in the event of a fault.  
In the following situat
protection is not availa
limited extent:  
If the ESC, the belt pr
airbanit do no
5p. 67.  
WARNING  
Any driver distraction can lead to an accident  
and injury.  
hen ASR or ESC is switched off,
OFFROAD mode and when driving in reverse  
page 249 or page .  
Never make any adjustments to the in-  
fotainment system while driving.  
When the front passenfrontal airbag is  
eactivated, the front senger seat belt  
-tensioning and tensioning are  
divated.  
NOTICE  
Wheadaptive se control (ACC) does  
not work pp. 207.  
The sensors can become out of adjustment due  
to knocks or damage to the bumper, wheel arch  
and underbody of the vehicle. As a result, the  
function of the radar sensors, and thus the  
detection  
of the risk of collision may be reduced.  
66  
Instruction manual