What Causes the Failure of the Auto Hold Function in the Tiguan?
2 Answers
Auto hold function failure is a system malfunction, which also refers to a brake function failure where the vehicle cannot brake automatically. The auto hold function is designed to prevent unnecessary vehicle sliding without the need for the driver to apply the brake for a long time or to activate the electronic parking brake. Solutions for auto hold system malfunction: Turn on the car key, press the foot brake, then hold down the electronic handbrake for 5 seconds, followed by pulling up the electronic handbrake for 5 seconds. This will reset the electronic parking brake. How auto hold works: The auto hold function provides precise parking force through a slope sensor controlled by the system. When starting, the parking control unit calculates information from the clutch distance sensor, clutch engagement speed sensor, accelerator pedal sensor, etc. The parking brake is automatically released when the driving force exceeds the running resistance, allowing the car to start smoothly. How to use auto hold: When the driver has fastened the seat belt and the driver's side door is closed with the engine running, press the auto hold switch to change the function from off to standby. When the brake pedal is pressed to a certain depth and the vehicle has completely stopped, the auto hold function changes from standby to parking status. When auto hold is in parking status, after engaging the appropriate forward or reverse gear and pressing the accelerator pedal, auto hold will automatically release based on the slope's gradient.
As a Tiguan owner, I've experienced automatic parking brake failure several times. That day when stopping at a traffic light, the car suddenly slid slightly, which gave me a scare. There could be multiple reasons: the sensors got covered by mud splashed from the road, preventing the system from detecting the parked state; or the battery voltage might be insufficient to power the electronic system; or perhaps a software glitch requiring reprogramming. I once neglected maintenance, and when the battery aged, the unstable power supply caused intermittent parking function failures. I recommend regularly cleaning the undercarriage sensor area and checking battery life periodically. If the function fails, immediately engage the manual handbrake to avoid danger, then take it to a professional shop for diagnosis and repair—don't tinker with it yourself to prevent worsening the issue. Safe driving is the top priority.
