2012 MERCEDES-BENZ A CLASS ESP

Problem Possible causes/consequences and
M Solutions!
The
yellow ABS warning
lamp is lit while the
engine is running. A
warning tone also
sounds. EBD is faulty. Therefore, ABS, BAS, COLLISION PREVENTION
ASSIST,
ESP®
, PRE-SAFE ®
, the HOLD function, hill start assist, the
adaptive brake lights and ESP ®
trailer stabilisation, for example,
are not available either.
ATTENTION ASSIST is deactivated.
G WARNING
The brake system continues to function normally, but without the
functions listed above. The front and rear wheels could therefore
lock, for example, if you brake hard.
The

steerability and braking characteristics may be severely affec-
ted. The braking distance may increase in an emergency braking
situation.
If ESP ®
is not operational, ESP ®
is unable to stabilise the vehicle.
There is an increased danger of skidding and risk of an accident.
X Observe the additional display messages in the multifunction
display.
X Drive on carefully.
X Visit a qualified specialist workshop. J֌!
The red brake warning
lamp, the yellow ESP
®
and ESP ®
OFF warning
lamps and the yellow
ABS warning lamp are
lit while the engine is
running. ABS and ESP
®
are malfunctioning. Therefore, BAS, COLLISION
PREVENTION ASSIST, EBD, PRE-SAFE ®
, the HOLD function, hill
start assist, the adaptive brake lights and ESP ®
trailer stabilisa-
tion, for example, are not available either.
ATTENTION ASSIST is deactivated.
G WARNING
The brake system continues to function normally, but without the
functions listed above. The front and rear wheels could therefore
lock, for example, if you brake hard.
The

steerability and braking characteristics may be severely affec-
ted. The braking distance may increase in an emergency braking
situation.
If ESP ®
is not operational, ESP ®
is unable to stabilise the vehicle.
There is an increased danger of skidding and risk of an accident.
X Observe the additional display messages in the multifunction
display.
X Drive on carefully.
X Visit a qualified specialist workshop.260
Warning and indicator lamps in the instrument cluster
On-board computer and displays

Problem Possible causes/consequences and
M Solutions÷
The yellow ESP
®
warn-
ing lamp flashes while
the
vehicle is in motion. ESP
®
or traction control has intervened because there is a risk of
skidding or at least one wheel has started to spin.
Cruise control or DISTRONIC PLUS is deactivated.
X Only depress the accelerator pedal as far as necessary when
pulling away.
X Accelerate more gently while the vehicle is in motion.
X Adapt your driving style to suit the road and weather conditions.
X Do not deactivate ESP ®
.
For exceptions, see: ( Y page 65).å
The yellow ESP
®
OFF
warning

lamp is lit while
the engine is running. ESP
®
and ESP ®
trailer stabilisation are deactivated. ESP ®
will not
stabilise the vehicle if it starts to skid or if a wheel starts to spin.
G WARNING
If ESP ®
is deactivated, ESP ®
is unable to stabilise the vehicle.
There is an increased danger of skidding and risk of an accident.
X Reactivate ESP ®
.
For exceptions, see: ( Y page 65).
X Adapt your driving style to suit the road and weather conditions.
If ESP ®
cannot be activated:
X Have ESP ®
checked at a qualified specialist workshop. M
AMG vehicles only:
The yellow SPORT han-
dling mode warning
lamp is lit while the
engine is running.
SPORT handling mode is activated.
G WARNING
When SPORT handling mode is switched on, ESP ®
is unable to
stabilise the vehicle.
There is an increased danger of skidding and risk of an accident.
X Only switch on SPORT handling mode in certain situations
(Y page 66). Warning and indicator lamps in the instrument cluster
261
On-board computer and displays Z

Problem Possible causes/consequences and
M Solutions֌
The yellow ESP
®
and
ESP ®
OFF warning
lamps are lit while the
engine is running. ESP
®
, BAS, COLLISION PREVENTION ASSIST, PRE-SAFE ®
, the
HOLD function, hill start assist, the adaptive brake lights and
ESP ®
trailer stabilisation are not available due to a malfunction.
ATTENTION ASSIST is deactivated.
G WARNING
The brake system continues to function normally, but without the
functions listed above.
The
braking distance may thus increase in an emergency braking
situation.
If ESP ®
is not operational, ESP ®
is unable to stabilise the vehicle.
There is an increased danger of skidding and risk of an accident.
X Observe the additional display messages in the multifunction
display.
X Drive on carefully.
X Visit a qualified specialist workshop. ֌
The yellow ESP
®
and
ESP ®
OFF warning
lamps are lit while the
engine is running. ESP
®
, BAS, PRE-SAFE ®
, the HOLD function, hill start assist and
ESP ®
trailer stabilisation are temporarily unavailable.
The adaptive brake lights and COLLISION PREVENTION ASSIST
may also have failed.
ATTENTION ASSIST is deactivated.
Self-diagnosis is not yet complete.
G WARNING
The brake system continues to function normally, but without the
functions listed above.
The

braking distance may thus increase in an emergency braking
situation.
If ESP ®
is not operational, ESP ®
is unable to stabilise the vehicle.
There is an increased danger of skidding and risk of an accident.
X Carefully drive on a suitable stretch of road, making slight steer-
ing movements at a speed above 20 km/h.
The functions mentioned above are available again when the
warning lamp goes out.
If the warning lamp is still on:
X Observe the additional display messages in the multifunction
display.
X Drive on carefully.
X Visit a qualified specialist workshop.262
Warning and indicator lamps in the instrument cluster
On-board computer and displays

Useful information
i This Owner's Manual describes all mod-
els,
series and optional equipment for your
vehicle that were available at the time of
going to press. National variations are pos-
sible. Note that your vehicle may not be
equipped with all of the functions descri-
bed. This is also the case for systems and
functions relevant to safety.
i Read the information on qualified special-
ist workshops: (Y page 24). Loading guidelines
G
WARNING
If objects, luggage or loads are not secured or
not secured sufficiently, they could slip, tip
over

or be flung around and thereby hit vehicle
occupants. There is a risk of injury, especially
when braking or abruptly changing directions.
Always store objects so that they cannot be
flung around. Secure objects, luggage or
loads against slipping or tipping before the
journey. G
WARNING
Combustion engines emit poisonous exhaust
gases
such as carbon monoxide. If the tailgate
is open when the engine is running, particu-
larly if the vehicle is moving, exhaust fumes
could enter the passenger compartment.
There is a risk of poisoning.
Turn off the engine before opening the tail-
gate. Never drive with the tailgate open.
The handling characteristics of a laden vehi-
cle are dependent on the distribution of the
load within the vehicle. For this reason, you
should observe the following notes when
transporting a load:
R when transporting a load, never exceed the
maximum permissible gross vehicle weight or the permissible axle loads for the vehicle
(including occupants).
R the luggage compartment is the preferred
place to carry objects.
R position

heavy loads as far forwards as pos-
sible and as low down in the luggage com-
partment as possible.
R the load must not protrude above the upper
edge of the seat backrests.
R always place the load against the rear or
front seat backrests. Make sure that the
seat backrests are securely locked into
place.
R always place the load behind unoccupied
seats if possible.
R use the lashing eyelets and the luggage
nets to transport loads and luggage.
R only use lashing eyelets and fastening com-
ponents that are suitable for the weight and
size of the load.
R the maximum load capacity of the stowage
well under the luggage compartment floor
is 25 kg.
R secure the load with sufficiently strong and
wear-resistant lashing material. Pad sharp
edges for protection.
i Lashing material is available at any quali-
fied specialist workshop.
! Do not position the load on one part of the
folding luggage compartment floor only.
The maximum load capacity of the folding
luggage compartment floor is 100 kg.
Spread the weight evenly to avoid damag-
ing the luggage compartment floor. Place a
solid board under the load if necessary.
Please note that the load on the luggage
compartment floor will be increased when
the load is lashed down. 268
Loading guidelines
Stowing and features

Stowage areas
Stowage spaces
Important safety notes G
WARNING
If you do not correctly store objects in the
vehicle interior, they can slip or be flung
around, thus striking vehicle occupants.
There
is a risk of injury, especially when brak-
ing or abruptly changing directions.
R Always store objects so that they cannot be
flung around in these or in similar situa-
tions.
R Always make sure that objects do not pro-
trude from stowage compartments, lug-
gage nets or stowage nets.
R Close lockable stowage compartments
while driving.
R Stow and secure objects that are heavy,
hard, pointy, sharp-edged, fragile or too
large in the luggage compartment.
Observe the loading guidelines (Y page 268).
Front stowage compartments Glove compartment
X
To open: pull handle : and open glove
compartment flap ;.
X To close: fold glove compartment flap ;
upwards until it engages.
i There is a pen holder at the top of the
glove compartment flap. Spectacles compartment
X
To open: press marking :.
Make sure that the spectacles compartment
is
always closed while the vehicle is in motion.
Stowage compartment in the centre con-
sole X
To open: press the marking on cover :.
i Depending on the vehicle's equipment,
there is an open instead of a closed stow-
age compartment or an ashtray in the
centre console. Stowage areas
269
Stowing and features Z

Enlarging the luggage compartment
Important safety notes G
WARNING
If the rear bench seat/rear seat and seat
backrest are not engaged they could fold for-
wards, e.g. when braking suddenly or in the
event of an accident.
R The vehicle occupant would thereby be
pushed into the seat belt by the rear bench
seat/rear seat or by the seat backrest. The
seat belt cannot protect as intended and
could result in additional injury.
R Objects or loads in the boot/luggage com-
partment cannot be restrained by the seat
backrest.
This poses an increased risk of injury.
Before every trip, make sure that the seat
backrests and the rear bench seat/rear seat
are engaged before every trip.
! Before folding the backrest in the rear
compartment forwards, make sure that the
rear compartment armrest and the
cupholder are folded in. They may other-
wise be damaged.
Observe the loading guidelines (Y page 268).
Folding the rear seat backrest forwards
and back Folding the rear seat backrest forward
The

left-hand and right-hand rear seat backr-
ests can be folded forwards separately to
increase the luggage compartment capacity. X
Fully insert the backrest head restraints
(Y page 96).
X Move the driver's or front-passenger seat
forward if necessary.
X Pull left-hand or right-hand release han-
dle ; of the seat backrest forwards.
The corresponding seat backrest : is
released.
X Fold backrest : forwards.
X Move the driver's or front-passenger seat
back if necessary. X
Insert the seat belt into seat-belt
extender :.
Folding the rear seat backrest back X
Move the driver's or front-passenger seat
forward if necessary.
! Make sure that the seat belt does not
become

trapped when folding the rear seat
backrest back. Otherwise, it could be dam-
aged. 272
Stowage areas
Stowing and features

:
Bag hook Stowage well underneath the luggage
compartment floor
Important safety notes G
WARNING
If you drive when the luggage compartment
floor is open, objects could be flung around,
thus
striking vehicle occupants. There is a risk
of injury, especially when braking or abruptly
changing directions.
Always close the luggage compartment floor
before a journey.
! The maximum load capacity of the stow-
age well under the luggage compartment
floor is 25 kg.
Opening/closing the luggage compart-
ment floor A bracket for TIREFIT, the vehicle tool kit, etc.
is located underneath the luggage compart-
ment floor. X
To open: open the tailgate.
X Press down handle : on ribbing ;.
Handle : folds upwards.
X Swing the luggage compartment floor
upwards using handle : until it rests
against the luggage compartment cover.
X If the rear shelf is fitted:
hook the loop on
the luggage compartment floor into the
hook on the underside of the rear shelf. X
If the rear shelf is not fitted :
fold out hook
= on the underside of the luggage com-
partment floor. X
Attach hook = to the luggage compart-
ment's upper seal ?.
X To close (if the rear shelf is fitted):
unhook the loop from the hook on the
underside of the rear shelf.
X If the rear shelf is not fitted:
detach hook
= from upper seal ?.
X Fasten hook = to the bracket on the
underside of the luggage compartment
floor. 274
Stowage areas
Stowing and features

There is a risk of injury, especially when brak-
ing or abruptly changing directions.
R
Always
store objects so that they cannot be
flung around in these or in similar situa-
tions.
R Always make sure that objects do not pro-
trude from stowage compartments, lug-
gage nets or stowage nets.
R Close lockable stowage compartments
while driving.
R Stow and secure objects that are heavy,
hard, pointy, sharp-edged, fragile or too
large in the luggage compartment.
! Only use the cup holders for containers of
the right size and which have lids. The
drinks could otherwise spill.
The stowage compartments in the doors pro-
vide space for bottles:
R front: capacity up to 1.0 l
R rear: capacity up to 0.5 l
Cup holder in the front centre console All vehicles (except vehicles with Audio 5)
Two coin holders
=
and a card holder ; can
be found in the cup holder.
The cup holder and the rubber mat under-
neath can be removed for cleaning. Clean
them with clean, lukewarm water only.
X To remove: Lift the cup holder up and out
with a brief tug :. X
To fit: : insert the cup holder into lateral
curved sections ; in the stowage com-
partment. Simultaneously insert the cup
holder

in such a way that the wedge of the
upper section of the cup holder faces for-
wards.
X :
Press the cup holder downwards until it
engages on the right and left-hand sides.
Vehicles with Audio 5 X
Fold lift-up lid :
in stowage compartment
= up until it engages in the two lugs ;.
You can use front part ? as a cup holder.
Cup holder in the rear seat armrest !
Do
not sit on or support your body weight
on the rear seat armrest when it is folded
down, as you could otherwise damage it.
! Close the cup holder before folding the
rear seat armrest up. Otherwise, the cup
holder could be damaged. 276
Features
Stowing and features