Page 121 of 521

120 Controls in detailLocking and unlockingOpening the tailgate 
Opening the tailgate from the outside
A minimum height clearance of 6.76 ft 
(2.06 m) is required to open the tailgate.
The handle is located above the rear 
license plate recess.
In vehicles without KEYLESS-GO*: The ve-
hicle must be unlocked.
Pull on the handle.
The tailgate opens.Opening the tailgate from the inside 
with handle
You can open the tailgate from the inside if 
the vehicle is stationary.
A minimum height clearance of 6.76 ft 
(2.06 m) is required to open the tailgate.
The handle is located on the inside of the 
tailgate.
1Handle
2Catch
To unlock the tailgate, move the 
catch2 to the right.
Pull handle1 down and swing tailgate 
upward.
!The tailgate swings open upwards auto-
matically. Always make sure there is 
sufficient overhead clearance.
Vehicles with tailgate opening/closing 
system*: to stop the opening proce-
dure, press buttonŠ on the 
SmartKey. The tailgate stops moving.iThe tailgate can also be opened using 
button Š on the SmartKey or 
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO.iIf the vehicle was previously centrally 
locked, the tailgate will lock automati-
cally after closing it (
page 122).
To confirm locking all turn signal lamps 
flash three times. 
         
        
        
     
        
        Page 122 of 521

121 Controls in detail
Locking and unlocking
Opening the tailgate from the inside au-
tomatically*
In vehicles with tailgate opening/closing 
system* you can open the tailgate from 
the inside if the vehicle is stationary.
A minimum height clearance of 6.76 ft 
(2.06 m) is required to open the tailgate.
The switch is located on the driver’s door.
1Remote tailgate release switch with in-
dicator lamp
Pull and hold remote tailgate release 
switch1 until
the tailgate is completely open 
(opened to its full extent),
or
the tailgate has reached the desired 
opening angle.
The tailgate stops moving as soon as 
you release the switch. The indicator 
lamp in the switch comes on. It re-
mains lit until the tailgate is closed 
again.
!Always make sure there is sufficient 
overhead clearance.iTo lock the tailgate, move the catch2 
to the left.Warning!
G
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the 
SmartKey or the SmartKey with 
KEYLESS-GO* from the starter switch, take 
it with you, and lock the vehicle. Do not 
leave children unattended in the vehicle. 
Children could open the tailgate from the in-
side, which could result in an accident 
and/or serious personal injury. 
         
        
        
     
        
        Page 123 of 521
122 Controls in detailLocking and unlocking
Limiting opening height of tailgate*
Vehicles with tailgate opening/closing 
system*:
The tailgate opening height can be limited 
when transporting goods on a roof rack 
(e.g. presence of an optional MB sport lug-
gage container). When activated, the tail-
gate opens to approximately the height of 
the roof edge.
Activate the limiting opening height of 
tailgate using the control system 
(page 176). 
Closing the tailgate
1Handle
Lower tailgate using handle1.
Close tailgate with hands placed flat on 
the tailgate.
!The tailgate swings open upwards as 
long as you pull and hold the remote 
tailgate release switch. Always make 
sure there is sufficient overhead clear-
ance. To stop the opening procedure, 
release the remote tailgate release 
switch.iThe tailgate can also be opened using 
buttonŠ on the SmartKey or 
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*. 
         
        
        
     
        
        Page 124 of 521

123 Controls in detail
Locking and unlocking
1Strap in vehicles with folding bench 
seat
Pull the tailgate down from the inside of 
the vehicle using strap1.Closing the tailgate from the outside 
(vehicles without KEYLESS-GO*)
In vehicles with tailgate opening/closing 
system* you can close the tailgate sepa-
rately from the outside using the tailgate 
closing switch.
1Tailgate closing switch
Press tailgate closing switch 1 briefly.
The tailgate closes.
Warning!
G
To prevent possible personal injury, always 
keep hands and fingers away from the cargo 
compartment opening when closing the tail-
gate. Be especially careful when small chil-
dren are around.
Warning!
G
Only drive with the tailgate closed as, 
among other dangers such as blocked visi-
bility, exhaust fumes may enter the vehicle 
interior.iTo prevent an inadvertent lockout, do 
not place the SmartKey in the cargo 
compartment.
Vehicles with KEYLESS-GO*: 
To prevent a possible inadvertent lock-
out, the tailgate will open automatically 
if a SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO is rec-
ognized inside the vehicle. 
         
        
        
     
        
        Page 125 of 521

124 Controls in detailLocking and unlockingIf the tailgate comes into contact with an 
object while closing (e.g. luggage that has 
been piled too high), the closing procedure 
is stopped and the tailgate reopens 
slightly.
iYou can also close the tailgate by hand.
Warning!
G
Monitor the closing procedure carefully to 
make sure no one is in danger of being in-
jured. To prevent possible personal injury, 
always keep hands and fingers away from 
the cargo compartment opening when clos-
ing the tailgate. Be especially careful when 
small children are around. To stop the clos-
ing procedure, do one of the following: 
press the tailgate closing switch1 
(page 123)
press button Š on the SmartKey
pull the remote tailgate switch (on the 
driver’s door) (
page 121)
Even with the SmartKey removed from the 
starter switch, the tailgate closing switch 
can be operated. Therefore, do not leave 
children unattended in the vehicle, or with 
access to an unlocked vehicle. Unsuper-
vised use of vehicle equipment may cause 
an accident and/or serious personal injury.
Warning!
G
Only drive with the tailgate closed as, 
among other dangers such as blocked visi-
bility, exhaust fumes may enter the vehicle 
interior.iDo not place the SmartKey in the open 
cargo compartment. You may lock 
yourself out.iIf the vehicle was previously centrally 
locked, the tailgate will lock automati-
cally after closing it.
To confirm locking all turn signal lamps 
flash three times. 
         
        
        
     
        
        Page 126 of 521

125 Controls in detail
Locking and unlocking
Closing the tailgate from the outside 
(vehicles with KEYLESS-GO*)
In vehicles with tailgate opening/closing 
system* you can close the tailgate sepa-
rately from the outside using the tailgate 
closing switch.
1Tailgate closing switch
Make sure you have the SmartKey with 
KEYLESS-GO with you.
Press tailgate closing switch 1 briefly.
The tailgate closes.If the tailgate comes into contact with an 
object while closing (e.g. luggage that has 
been piled too high), the closing procedure 
is stopped and the tailgate reopens 
slightly.
iYou can also close the tailgate by hand.iTo prevent a possible inadvertent lock-
out, the tailgate will open automatically 
if a SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO is rec-
ognized inside the vehicle.
Warning!
G
Monitor the closing procedure carefully to 
make sure no one is in danger of being in-
jured. To prevent possible personal injury, 
always keep hands and fingers away from 
the cargo compartment opening when clos-
ing the tailgate. Be especially careful when 
small children are around. To stop the clos-
ing procedure, do one of the following: 
press KEYLESS-GO locking / closing 
switch1 (
page 126)
press the tailgate closing switch1 
(page 125)
press button Š on the SmartKey with 
KEYLESS-GO (
page 111)
pull the remote tailgate switch (on the 
driver’s door) (
page 121)
 
         
        
        
     
        
        Page 127 of 521

126 Controls in detailLocking and unlocking
Closing the tailgate and locking the 
vehicle from the outside (vehicles with 
KEYLESS-GO*)
In vehicles with tailgate opening/closing 
system* and KEYLESS-GO, you can close 
the tailgate and lock the vehicle simulta-
neously from the outside using the 
KEYLESS-GO locking/closing switch.
1KEYLESS-GO locking/closing switch
Make sure you have SmartKey with 
KEYLESS-GO with you.
Press switch 1 briefly.
The tailgate closes.
All turn signal lamps flash three 
times.
The locking knobs in the doors 
move down.
The anti-theft alarm system is 
armed.
If the tailgate comes into contact with an 
object while closing (e.g. luggage that has 
been piled too high), the closing procedure 
is stopped and the tailgate reopens 
slightly.
Even with the SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO 
removed from the vehicle, the tailgate clos-
ing switch can be operated. Therefore, do 
not leave children unattended in the vehicle, 
or with access to an unlocked vehicle. Unsu-
pervised use of vehicle equipment may 
cause an accident and/or serious personal 
injury.Warning!
G
Only drive with the tailgate closed as, 
among other dangers such as blocked visi-
bility, exhaust fumes may enter the vehicle 
interior.iIf the vehicle was previously centrally 
locked, the tailgate will lock automati-
cally after closing it.
To confirm locking all turn signal lamps 
flash three times.
iYou can also close the tailgate by hand.iTo prevent a possible inadvertent lock-
out, the tailgate will open automatically 
if a SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO is rec-
ognized inside the vehicle.
 
         
        
        
     
        
        Page 128 of 521

127 Controls in detail
Locking and unlocking
Automatic central locking
The doors and the tailgate automatically 
lock when the ignition is switched on and 
the wheels are turning at vehicle speeds of 
approximately 9 mph (15 km / h) or more.
You can open a locked door from the in-
side. Open door only when conditions are 
safe to do so.For more information on towing the vehi-
cle, see “Towing the vehicle” (
page 458).
You can deactivate the automatic locking 
mode using the control system 
(
page 176).
Warning!
G
Monitor the closing procedure carefully to 
make sure no one is in danger of being in-
jured. To prevent possible personal injury, 
always keep hands and fingers away from 
the cargo compartment opening when clos-
ing the tailgate. Be especially careful when 
small children are around. To stop the clos-
ing procedure, do one of the following: 
press KEYLESS-GO locking / closing 
switch 1
press tailgate closing switch1 
(page 125)
press button Š on the SmartKey with 
KEYLESS-GO (
page 111)
pull the remote tailgate switch (on the 
driver’s door) (
page 121)
Even with the SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO 
removed from the vehicle, the locking/clos-
ing switch can be operated. Therefore, do 
not leave children unattended in the vehicle,
or with access to an unlocked vehicle. Unsu-
pervised use of vehicle equipment may 
cause an accident and/or serious personal 
injury.Warning!
G
Only drive with the tailgate closed as, 
among other dangers such as blocked visi-
bility, exhaust fumes may enter the vehicle 
interior.
iThe doors unlock automatically after an 
accident if the force of the impact ex-
ceeds a preset threshold.
The vehicle automatically locks when 
the ignition is switched on and the 
wheels are turning at vehicle speeds of 
approximately 9 mph (15 km / h) or 
more. You could therefore lock yourself 
out when the vehicle
is pushed or towed
is on a test stand