I have a 2024 superb estate which I use to tow my caravan. Before starting I disable all the assist alarms. However at no perticular instances I get a Passenger proactive protection alarm which tightens the seat belts and starts the 4 way flashes for a short period. I have no idea why this is happening or how I can disable the car from doing this. Help

Do you always get this error, regardless of whether you have a trailer attached or not? Immediately after starting?

Only when I am towing my caravan

Why are you deactivating the assist systems? Plug the connector into the trailer hitch and start the vehicle. See what happens.

If I don't disable the assist elements I get more alarms. I don't understand where this alarm is coming from

When the caravan is connected, does the additional indicator control in the speedometer come on?

Hi, My car is the same 2024 Superb estate and I also get these alarms and proactive symptoms. also, when reversing with the caravan into position, I get the emergency brakes activating. I'd be very interested in any solution

1 hour ago, johndavid158 said:

Hi, My car is the same 2024 Superb estate and I also get these alarms and proactive symptoms. also, when reversing with the caravan into position, I get the emergency brakes activating. I'd be very interested in any solution

When the caravan is connected, does the additional indicator control in the speedometer come on?

I have the same model (Technology version) and tow a caravan. The solution fir reversing is select reverse. On the camera screen that comes on the infotech screen, turn off the alarm and also select settings. On that menu select 'brake maneuver' and switch off. You can now reverse without problem.

I've got the same car, 2024 Estate, 2.0 diesel SEL. Just towed our caravan to Italy and back, and that Proactive Passenger Protection alarm has been an absolute pain in the back side! I've towed 2,500 miles and I still can't predict when it will happen. Hazards flash at double speed and you just about get strangled by the seat belts getting tightened! Some days it came on about 20 times, other days only once or twice, but you just can't seem to predict when it will activate .

I also get side assist, front assist and exit system alarms, usually after towing for a couple of hours. I love the car otherwise, but this is making me think about changing it for something else.

Did some research today from the digital version of the skoda manual, it states that the pasanger protection protection is activated once you start the ignition. I could not find any ware how to deactivate this. Like you I wonder if the car is a mistake

I'm pretty sure this has only happened when I've been towing. When I had the towbar fitted (the car didn't have the factory fitted towbar), the fitter told me that coding was not required. I've since read that this might not be entirely true, but rather that VAG have not, for whatever reason, released coding software. I've noticed when trying to reverse the car when towing that the emergency brake activates, I would think this is the kind of thing that might be deactivated by coding, along with things like the car's rear fog lights?

Hello to all. I have a 2024 L&K 2.0 tdi 4x4 estate and I have experienced the same crash protection issue with random seatbelt tightening and hazards flashing when I am towing a trailer. It is completely random and quite alarming when it happens. My car had "towbar preparation" fitted when I bought it but skoda were unable to supply me with a towbar as towbar (and the all important coding) were not yet available, forcing me to have a quality detachable towbar fitted by a reputable fitter. I also need to disable the rear alarms and rear emergency braking when I have the trailer on, or else I get problems when reversing but I can live with that. The latest from my skoda dealer in inverness, UK is that the only solution is to NOW have a skoda towbar fitted (presumably with the newly developed coding) at a cost of approx £1700. I would be interested to know if anyone with a factory fitted towbar experiences these forward driving, random, crash protection issues.

Stuartie, I have an L&K PHEV estate new in December 2024 with Skoda towbar. Once deployed and trailer socket plugged in, very easy as the socket is on the swing-out towbar, the car detects Trailer Connected and disables all the rear warning devices. Very pleased with the car except for some aspects of the ADAS. Auto Emergency Brakes can catch you out, much documented elsewhere, but ACC and Lane Assist work well. Cavernous boot but PHEV leaves no space for spare wheel. When tyres need replacing will buy Run Flats.

Hi, I have recently purchased a Skoda Superb Technology Estate for towing. I had an aftermarket towbar fitted as Skoda wouldn't fit one. I am getting the same passenger protection issues, with the same randomness as previous respondents.

Has anyone found a solution to the re-coding issue?

Hi I have also recently bought a Superb Hatchback technology 2025 , and have the same issue with the passenger protection activating randomly .. it can be quite disconcerting ,, to say the least

after market tow bar fitted by Indespension,

reading above it looks like the only solution is having it recoded when Skoda release the code ..

update ..spoken to Indespension, the towbar company who fitted the bar but they cant really help other than to say they hadn't had this issue before .. and said I should contact Skoda for advice

Have now emailed Skoda asking for advice or information about the coding

will post when I've had an answer

further research on the system,

my understanding is, that it detects unusually car movements.. ie skid, or motion that could lead to an accident.. which makes the seat belts tighten it also closes the windows and flashes the four way indicators..

so it is activated by a motion detector, not a reversing or other body sensor ..hence the apparently random activation which is probably caused by the caravan pulling or pitching especially on uneven road surfaces.. which is what I noticed.

Edited 19 March19 Mar by Scotjimland

Reply From Skoda Customer services ...

I hope this email finds you well.

Thank you for contacting Škoda UK, and congratulations on your new vehicle. I hope you are enjoying it so far, and I wish you many happy and safe miles ahead.

I am sorry to hear about the issue you are currently experiencing when towing, particularly with the Proactive Occupant Protection System activating intermittently, which I fully appreciate can be both concerning and disruptive when the seat belts tension and hazard lights activate unexpectedly.

Based on the information you have provided, it appears that the towbar and electrical kit were retro?fitted by a third?party provider (Indespension, Ipswich). In situations such as this, the vehicle does typically require coding/adaptation so that it correctly recognises when a trailer is connected. 

While Škoda retailers are able to code vehicles for towing, this is normally carried out when a towbar is:

• Supplied and fitted by a Škoda?Approved Retailer, or

• Supplied and fitted as part of a Factory ordered vehicle

If the towbar installation was arranged by the selling retailer at the time of purchase, we would recommend contacting the Sales Department directly so that they can make the necessary arrangements on your behalf.

If the towbar was independently fitted after delivery, we would recommend contacting your local Škoda Authorised Retailer to discuss whether coding can be completed with their Service Department, to ensure they have the correct equipment to have this carried out for you. Our retailers have the technical knowledge and experience needed to resolve issues like this, so they’ll be able to assist you most effectively.

I hope this provides some clarity, I appreciate it may not be the outcome you were hoping for. Please do let me know if you would like assistance locating your nearest Škoda Retailer or if there is anything further I can help with.

Kind regards

Sounds like a cop-out from Skoda Customer Service, and they obviously don't know what they are talking about! Everybody states, including Skoda Retailer Sales Departments, that Skoda do not allow coding of the cars by anybody, including Skoda Retailers. 🙃

Skoda absolutely allow dealers to retrofit tow bars and “code” the car to tell it there is now a tow bar.

The important part is skoda supplied, which mean the kit has all the parts.

Edited 19 March19 Mar by Monkhai

I will be having a chat with the Skoda service manager tomorrow and report back what he says .

7 minutes ago, Monkhai said:

Skoda absolutely allow dealers to retrofit tow bars and “code” the car to tell it there is now a tow bar.

The important part is skoda supplied, which mean the kit has all the parts.

So why do people report that dealers won't fit and coding not available? Why did my Skoda dealer not fit towbar and recommend an aftermarket company who cannot do a proper job???

55 minutes ago, JP39 said:

So why do people report that dealers won't fit and coding not available? Why did my Skoda dealer not fit towbar and recommend an aftermarket company who cannot do a proper job???

People report many things, but dealers can and do supply the tow bar, tow bar electrics as would be factory fitted. They fit it and code the car so the various systems know.

They won’t fit a tow bar to a vehicle that isn’t certified for one, but that’s different.

I have a 2024 SEL 193ps 4x4 I bought second hand from a Skoda dealer in January - I had to wait till last week to have a Skoda OEM electrically released tow bar fitted. They kept the car for 2 days in case there were any coding problems with it. The towbar and the electrics all work fine.

I understand that all Mark 4 Superbs now come with 'towbar preparation'. This means that wiring is in place to the nearside of the boot. The wiring that comes with the towbar includes a control unit that connects to this wiring.

Google 'skoda foldable towbar instructions' (the PDF is too large to attach)