Audi A4 Owners Manual

Stowing luggage safely
Safety / Safe driving / Stowing luggage safely

Luggage compartment

All luggage and other objects must be safely secured in the luggage compartment.

Loose items in the luggage compartment can shift suddenly and cause a safety hazard or impair the handling of the vehicle by changing the weight distribution.

– Distribute the load evenly in the luggage compartment.
– Place heavy items as far forward as possible in the luggage compartment and secure them properly.
– Use the fastening rings* provided or the luggage net* for securing heavy items.

Audi A4: Stowing luggage safely. WARNING

  • • Loose items in the luggage compartment can shift suddenly and cause a safety hazard or impair the handling of the vehicle by changing the weight distribution.
  • • Always stow objects in the luggage compartment and secure them on the fastening rings*.
  • • Transporting heavy objects may affect the vehicle's handling by shifting the centre of gravity – this could cause an accident. Take extra care when driving and adjust your speed accordingly.
  • • Never exceed the maximum axle loads or the maximum gross weight for the vehicle, “Performance, weights and dimensions”. Exceeding the permitted axle loads or gross weight limit can affect the vehicle's handling characteristics, and increase the risk of accidents, personal injuries or damage to the vehicle.
  • • Never leave your vehicle unattended when the boot lid is open. Children could climb into the boot and close the boot lid from the inside. In this case the child would be unable to get out of the vehicle without help. This could have fatal consequences.
  • • Never allow children to play in or around the vehicle. Always close and lock the boot lid and all the doors when you leave the vehicle.
  • • Never let passengers ride in the luggage compartment. All occupants must be properly restrained by the seat belts at all times.

Audi A4: Stowing luggage safely. Note

  • • Air circulation in the vehicle helps reduce fogging of the windows. Used air escapes through ventilation slots in the rear of the vehicle. Make sure that these ventilation slots are not obstructed.
  • • Suitable belts for securing loads to the fastening rings* are commercially available.

Fastening rings

Unsecured loads are a hazard to all vehicle occupants.

There are fastening rings in the luggage compartment which can be used to secure luggage and other objects.

– Use the fastening rings to secure items safely in the luggage compartment ⇒ Audi A4: Stowing luggage safely. on page 79. in “Loading the luggage compartment” on page 79.

During a collision or an accident, even small and light objects can possess so much energy that they can cause very severe injuries. The amount of this “kinetic energy” depends on the speed of the vehicle and the weight of the object. The most significant factor, however, is the speed of the vehicle.

An example: An object weighing 4.5 kg is lying unsecured in the vehicle. During a frontal collision at a speed of 50 km/h, this object generates a force corresponding to 20 times its weight. That means that the effective weight of the object increases to about 90 kg. You can imagine the severity of the injuries which might be sustained if this “projectile” strikes an occupant as it flies through the passenger compartment.

Audi A4: Stowing luggage safely. If items of luggage or other objects are secured to the fastening rings WARNING

If items of luggage or other objects are secured to the fastening rings with inappropriate or damaged retaining cords, injuries could result in the event of sudden braking or a collision.

  • • To prevent pieces of luggage or other objects from flying forward, always use appropriate retaining cords which are properly secured to the fastening rings.
  • • Never secure a child seat on the fastening rings.


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