IQ Drive – helpful tips and troubleshooting
Everything you need to know about our advanced driver assistance systems
Always looking out for you
The IQ.DRIVE range of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) are always quietly working away to keep Volkswagen drivers safe on the road. To get the most out of these smart technologies, it helps to understand exactly how they think and react.
Below you’ll find a few of the assist systems you might come across in your Volkswagen. You’ll learn more about how they work and behave, what triggers each system and what to do should they be mistakenly activated. Because sometimes the systems err on the side of safety and can react overly cautiously to situations.
This guide is designed to help you navigate any problems with confidence.
Understanding how radar sensors and cameras work
Our driver assistance systems do their best to support you on your drive, but occasionally they can react unexpectedly to certain weather, road and driving conditions. In these circumstances you can experience either delays with the system, or find they’re not operating.
Let us explain the common causes of these problems, so you’re prepared should it happen and it is understood why the system isn’t functioning at its usual high standards.
Driver assist systems that use sensors
Driving conditions and situations that can adversely affect radar sensors:
- Poor weather conditions like heavy rain, snow or heavy spray.
- Driving through roadworks, tunnels, toll stations and multi-storey carparks.
- Roads with loose chippings and embedded metal objects, like railway tracks.
- Driving offroad and on winding roads, over crests or through dips.
- Complex driving situations, like roundabouts or traffic islands.
- After external force on components in the area of the radar sensors, like a rear-end collision.
- If the radar sensors are covered, dirty, displaced or damaged.
Driver assist systems that use the camera behind the windscreen
Similarly, camera systems can also react unexpectedly in the following driving conditions and situations:
- Driving offroad, over crests or through roadworks or dips.
- Poor weather conditions, like heavy rain, snow, fog or heavy spray, and on poor roads.
- Driving when the sun is low in the sky, in darkness, or with glare from oncoming vehicles.
- The camera may become temporarily unavailable after prolonged exposure to direct sunlight or high ambient temperatures.
- If the camera window is covered, dirty or damaged.
- If the camera has been displaced.
Common warning indicators
All of the warning indicators below relate to our driver assist systems that keep you safe on the road. Please take a moment to familiarise yourself with them.
The amber warning indicators can be sensitive to various environmental factors or system limitations, such as the angle of the sun or driving through tunnels. This is not necessarily a fault with the car. It simply means some sensors and features can’t operate as intended for a short time. The warning indicators should clear once the weather or road conditions change and the system returns to normal operation.
1-5/5
Emergency Assist | Emergency Assist | Emergency Assist | Emergency Assist | Front Assist |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |  |  |  |  |
The indicator lamp lights up white and a message is displayed in the instrument cluster display. You have released the steering wheel for a few seconds. Take hold of the steering wheel and take over vehicle control. | The warning lamp lights up red and a message is displayed in the instrument cluster display. An acoustic warning is issued or the steering wheel vibrates, depending on the driving situation. You have let go of the steering wheel for an extended time or the system limits have been reached. Take hold of the steering wheel immediately and take over vehicle control. | If the driver does not respond to the initial intervention prompt, the system can brake the vehicle and keep it in lane if road lane markings are detected. Warning lamps lights up in the instrument cluster display. System performing control intervention, adaptive lane guidance active.
| If the driver does not respond to the initial intervention prompt, the system can brake the vehicle and keep it in lane if road lane markings are detected. Warning lamps lights up in the instrument cluster display. System performing control intervention, adaptive lane guidance passive.
| Front Assist detects when safety is endangered by driving too close to the vehicle in front. The indicator lamp lights up. Increase the distance. |
1-5/5
Front Assist | Front Assist | Manoeuvre Braking | Manoeuvre braking function of Park Distance Control | No sensor visibility, or there is a fault in the Park Distance Control |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |  |  |  |  |
Front Assist detects a possible collision and prepares the vehicle for possible emergency braking. An acoustic warning sounds and the red warning lamp lights up. Brake or take avoiding action. | Front Assist is temporarily unavailable or limited. Front Assist is available after driving straight ahead for a short time, and the indicator light goes out. When the vehicle is not in motion, the indicator lamp may light up continuously. | The vehicle brakes to a standstill and is held for around 2 seconds. A text message may also be shown on the Infotainment system or digital instrument cluster display, depending on the vehicle equipment. Automatic braking intervention by manoeuvre braking. Hold the vehicle with the foot brake! | The manoeuvre braking function is automatically activated every time the ignition is switched on. Manoeuvre braking can be deactivated temporarily in the Park Distance Control settings in the Infotainment system. Manoeuvre braking deactivated | The sensor area is switched off permanently if a sensor fails. The symbol indicates the affected sensor area in the Infotainment system. If there is a fault in the Park Distance Control, a signal tone will sound for several seconds when it is switched on. |
1-5/5
Sensors affected | Sensors affected | Sensors affected | Sensors affected | Cameras affected |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |  |  |  |  |
The indicator lamp lights up yellow. A message will also appear on the instrument cluster display. | The indicator lamp lights up yellow. A message will also appear on the instrument cluster display. | Some of the sensors at the front of the vehicle are not available or their availability is restricted. The yellow symbol and a text message are displayed for a few seconds. | Fault or malfunction. The indicator lamp in the instrument cluster display lights up yellow. The yellow central warning lamp also lights up. | The indicator lamp lights up yellow. A message will also appear on the instrument cluster display. |
FAQs
How do I overide the manoeuvre braking function in my Volkswagen?
How do I overide Emergency Assist in my Volkswagen?
Is Emergency Assist always switched on?
Why did my vehicle autonomously brake when there was no obstructions?