Page 385 of 521
384 Practical hintsWhat to do if …On the pages that follow, you will find a
compilation of the most important warning
and malfunction messages that may
appear in the multifunction display.
For your convenience the messages are di-
vided into two sections:
Text messages (
page 385)
Symbol messages (
page 395)
iSwitching on the ignition causes all in-
strument cluster lamps (except low
beam headlamp indicator lamp, high
beam headlamp indicator lamp, and
turn signal indicator lamps unless acti-
vated) as well as the multifunction dis-
play to come on. Make sure the lamps
and multifunction display are in work-
ing order before starting your journey.
Page 386 of 521
385 Practical hints
What to do if …
Text messagesDisplay
Display message
Possible cause/consequence
Possible solution
ABS
Malfunction
Visit workshop
The ABS has detected a malfunction
and has switched off.
The ESP
® and the BAS are also de-
activated.
The electrohydraulic brake system is
still functioning normally but without
the ABS available.
Continue driving with added caution.
Wheels will lock during hard braking, reduc-
ing steering capability.
Have the system checked at an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center as soon as possible.
Failure to follow these instructions increases
the risk of an accident.
Display malfunction
Visit workshop
The ABS or the ABS display is
malfunctioning.
Continue driving with added caution.
Wheels will lock during hard braking, reduc-
ing steering capability.
Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center
as soon as possible.
Failure to follow these instructions increases
the risk of an accident.
Page 387 of 521
386 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Display
Display message
Possible cause/consequence
Possible solution
Low
Battery
Conven. functions
temporarily
unavailable
The battery has insufficient voltage
and can no longer supply conve-
nience functions such as the rear
window defroster.
As soon as the on-board voltage is sufficient,
the consumers will switch on again.
Please note:
Conven. functions
available again
On-board voltage is sufficient; the
consumers will switch on again.
Cruise control
Drive to workshop
Cruise control or Distronic* is
malfunctioning.
Have the cruise control or Distronic*
checked by an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.
Distronic
External interference
Reactivate
The Distronic* is switched off and is
temporarily unavailable.
Try activating the Distronic* again later.
Drive to workshop
The Distronic* is malfunctioning or
the display is malfunctioning.
Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center
as soon as possible.
Page 388 of 521

387 Practical hints
What to do if …
Display
Display message
Possible cause/consequence
Possible solution
Distronic
Currently unavailable
See Operator’s Manual
Distronic* is switched off if:
the Distronic* cover in the area
of the radiator grille is dirty
the functionality is impaired by
heavy rain or thick fog
If necessary, clean the Distronic* cover in the area of
the radiator grille.
Restart the vehicle.
or
Distronic* becomes operational again without the engine
being restarted when:
dirt on the grille falls off while driving (e.g. slush or
snow)
the system recognizes full sensor availability (due to
lessening rain or the road surface drying)
the message in the multifunction display disappears
the speed last stored flashes in the multifunction dis-
play for 5 seconds.
You can operate Distronic* as usual again.
Warning!
G
Distronic* cannot take weather conditions
into account. Switch off Distronic* or do not
turn it on if the sensor is dirty or visibility is
diminished as a result of snow, rain or fog.
The distance control may be impaired even
before the system is able to detect a dirty
sensor. The message
Distronic
Currently unavailable
See Operator’s Manualwill be displayed in the multifunction display
and Distronic* will be turned off.
Page 389 of 521

388 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Display
Display message
Possible cause/consequence
Possible solution
ESP
Malfunction
Visit workshop
The ESP
® has detected a malfunc-
tion and switched off.
The ABS may not be operational.
The electrohydraulic brake system is
still functioning normally but without
the ESP® available.
Continue driving with added caution.
Have the system checked at an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center as soon as possible.
Failure to follow these instructions increases
the risk of an accident.
unavailable
See Operator’s Manual
The ESP
® is deactivated because
the power supply was interrupted.
The electrohydraulic brake system is
still functioning normally but without
the ESP® available.
Synchronize the ESP
®. With the vehicle sta-
tionary, turn the steering wheel completely
to the left and then to the right to synchro-
nize the ESP
®.
If the ESP
® message does not go out:
Continue driving with added caution.
Have the system checked at an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center as soon as possible.
Failure to follow these instructions increases
the risk of an accident.
!When synchronizing the ESP
®, make
sure you can turn the steering wheel in
both directions as far as it will go with-
out the wheels hitting any objects, e.g.
a road curb.
Page 390 of 521
389 Practical hints
What to do if …
Display
Display message
Possible cause/consequence
Possible solution
ESP
Display malfunction
Visit workshop
The ESP
® or the ESP
® display is
malfunctioning.
Continue driving with added caution.
Have the system checked at an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center as soon as possible.
Failure to follow these instructions increases
the risk of an accident.
P
Gear selector lever
in Park
You have attempted to turn off the
engine with the KEYLESS-GO*
start/stop button with the gear se-
lector lever not inP. You have
opened the driver’s door with the
gear selector lever not inP.
Place the gear selector lever in positionP.
P/N
Shift to
Neutral or Park
You have attempted to start the en-
gine with the KEYLESS-GO*
start/stop button while the gear se-
lector lever was in positionR orD.
Place the gear selector lever in positionP
orN. Make sure the brake pedal is de-
pressed.
Page 391 of 521

390 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Display messages
Possible cause/consequence
Possible solution
Front passenger
airbag
activated
See Operator’s Manual
Front passenger front air bag is
activated while driving even
though a child, small individual, or
object below the system’s weight
threshold is on the front passen-
ger seat, or the front passenger
seat is empty. Objects on the seat
or forces acting on the seat may
make the system sense supple-
mental weight.
Stop the vehicle in a safe location as soon as possible and check the
front passenger seat for the following:
Switch off the ignition (
page 36).
Open the front passenger door.
Remove child and child restraint from front passenger seat and
properly secure the child in rear seat employing the child restraint
if necessary.
Remove any other items from on and around the front passenger
seat and make sure the storage pocket on the back of the front pas-
senger seat is empty.
Make sure that no objects which apply forces to the seat are
present (e.g. objects such as books, briefcases etc. lodged behind
or around the seat, head restraints pushing against roof etc.). The
system may recognize such forces as supplemental weight and
sense that an occupant on the front passenger seat is of a greater
weight than actually present.
Keep the seat unoccupied, close the front passenger door and turn
on the ignition (
page 36).
(Continued on next page)
Page 392 of 521

391 Practical hints
What to do if …
Display messages
Possible cause/conse-
quence
Possible solution
Front passenger
airbag
activated
See Operator’s Manual
Monitor the 75 indicator lamp on the center console (
page 27) and
the multifunction display in the instrument cluster (
page 26) for the following:
With the seat unoccupied and the ignition turned on,
the 75 indicator lamp on the center console should illuminate and
remain illuminated, indicating that the OCS (
page 81) has deactivated the
front passenger front air bag.
the message
Front passenger airbag activated See Operator’s Manual
or
the message
Front passenger airbag deactivated See Operator’s Manual
should not appear in the multifunction display at any time the seat is unoccu-
pied. Wait at last 60 seconds for the system to complete the necessary check
cycles and to make sure neither message appears in the multifunction display.
If above conditions are met, you can occupy the front passenger seat again. De-
pending on the front passenger classification sensed by the OCS (
page 81), the
75 indicator lamp will remain illuminated or go out.
If above conditions are not met, the system is not working properly. Have the sys-
tem checked as soon as possible by an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Warning!
G
If the
75
indicator lamp remains
out even after performing the above correc-
tive steps, do not have any children 12 years
old and under and other small individuals
use the front passenger seat until the sys-
tem has been repaired.