Page 394 of 509
393 Practical hints
What to do if …?
Display Possible cause/consequencePossible solution
Front Passenger
Airbag Disabled
See Operator’s Manu-
alFront passenger front air bag is 
deactivated while driving even 
though an adult or someone 
larger than a small individual is 
occupying the front passenger 
seat. Forces acting on the seat 
may make the system sense a 
decrease in 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 82).
Have the front passenger vacate the seat and exit the vehicle.
Keep the seat unoccupied, close the front passenger door and switch 
on the ignition (
page 82).
Monitor the 
5/indicator lamp right of the instrument cluster 
(
page 45) and the multifunction display in the instrument cluster 
(
page 151) for the following:
(Continued on next page) 
     
        
        Page 395 of 509

394 Practical hints
What to do if …?
Display Possible cause/consequencePossible solution
Front Passenger
Airbag Disabled
See Operator’s Manu-
alWith the seat unoccupied and the ignition switched on (page 82),
the 5/indicator lamp right of the instrument cluster should il-
luminate and remain illuminated, indicating that the OCS (
page 41) 
has deactivated the air bag.
the message Front Passenger Airbag Enabled See Operator’s Man-
ual
 or the message Front Passenger Airbag Disabled See Opera-
tor’s Manual
 should not appear in the multifunction display at any time 
the seat is unoccupied. Wait at least 60 seconds for the system to com-
plete the necessary check cycles and to make sure neither message ap-
pears in the multifunction display.
If above conditions are met, you can occupy the front passenger seat again. 
Depending on the front passenger classification sensed by the OCS 
(
page 41), the5/indicator lamp will remain illuminated or go 
out.
If above conditions are not met, the system is not working properly. Have 
the system checked as soon as possible at an authorized Mercedes-Benz 
Center.
Warning!G
If the 5/indicator lamp remains 
illuminated with an adult occupant on the 
front passenger seat even after performing 
the above corrective steps, do not have any 
passenger use the front passenger seat until 
the system has been repaired. 
     
        
        Page 397 of 509

396 Practical hints
What to do if …?
Display Possible cause/consequencePossible solution
Front Passenger 
Airbag Enabled
See Operator’s Manu-
alWith the seat unoccupied and the ignition switched on (page 82),
the 5/indicator lamp right of the instrument cluster should il-
luminate and remain illuminated, indicating that the OCS (
page 41) 
has deactivated the air bag.
the message Front Passenger Airbag Enabled See Operator’s Man-
ual
 or the message Front Passenger Airbag Disabled See Opera-
tor’s Manual
 should not appear in the multifunction display at any time 
the seat is unoccupied. Wait at least 60 seconds for the system to com-
plete the necessary check cycles and to make sure neither message ap-
pears in the multifunction display.
If above conditions are met, you can occupy the front passenger seat again. 
Depending on the front passenger classification sensed by the OCS 
(
page 41), the 5/indicator lamp will remain illuminated or go 
out.
If above conditions are not met, the system is not working properly. Have 
the system checked as soon as possible at an authorized Mercedes-Benz 
Center.
Warning!G
If the 5/indicator lamp remains 
illuminated with an adult occupant on the 
front passenger seat even after performing 
the above corrective steps, do not have any 
passenger use the front passenger seat until 
the system has been repaired.