Page 241 of 364

Warning and indicator lamps in the instrument cluster
Safety
Seat belts Problem Possible causes/consequences and
M Solutions
ü
After starting the
engine, the red seat
bel
twarning lamp lights
up for 6seconds. The seat belt warning lamp reminds the driver and fron
tpassenger
to fasten their seat belts.
X Faste nyour seat belt (Y page 56). ü
After starting the
engine, the red seat
belt warning lamp lights
up. In addition, a
warning tone sounds
for up to six seconds.
The driver's seat belt is not fastened.
X
Fasten your seat belt (Y page 56).
The warning tone ceases. ü
The red seat belt
warning lamp lights up
after the engine starts,
as soon as the driver's
or the front-passenger
door is closed.
The driver or front passenger has not fastened their seat belt.
X
Fasten your seat belt (Y page 56).
The warning lamp goes out. There are objects on the front-passenger seat.
X
Remove the objects from the front-passenger seat and stow
them in a secure place.
The warning lamp goes out. ü
The red seat belt
warning lamp flashes
and an intermittent
audible warning
sounds.
The driver or front passenger has not fastened their seat belt. You
are driving faster than 15 mph (25 km/h) or have briefly driven
faster than 15 mph (25 km/h).
X
Fasten your seat belt (Y page 56).
The warning lamp goes out and the intermittent warning tone
ceases. There are objects on the front-passenger seat. You are driving
faster than 15 mph (25 km/h) or have briefly driven faster than
15 mph (25 km/h).
X
Remove the objects from the front-passenger seat and stow
them in a secure place.
The warning lamp goes out and the intermittent warning tone
ceases. 238
Warning and indicator lamps in the instrument clusterOn-board computer and displays
Page 242 of 364

Safety systems
Problem Possible causes/consequences and
M Solutions
$
(USA only)
J (Canada only)
The red brake system
warning lamp comes on
while the engine is
running. A warning tone
also sounds. There is not enough brake fluid in the brake fluid reservoir.
G WARNING
The braking effect may be impaired.
There is a risk of an accident.
X Pull over and stop the vehicle safely as soon as possible, paying
attention to road and traffic conditions. Do not continue driving
under any circumstances.
X Secure the vehicle against rolling away (Y page 166).
X Do not add brake fluid. Topping up will not remedy the
malfunction.
X Consult a qualified specialist workshop.
X Observe the additional display messages in the multifunction
display. !
The yellow ABS warning
lamp is lit while the
engine is running.
ABS (Anti-lock Brake System) is deactivated due to a malfunction.
ESP
®
(Electronic Stability Program), BAS (Brake Assist),
PRE-SAFE ®
, hill start assist and ESP ®
trailer stabilization, for
example, are therefore also deactivated.
G WARNING
The brake system continues to function normally, but without the
functions listed above. The wheels could therefore lock if you
brake hard, for example.
The steerability and braking characteristics may be severely
affected. The braking distance in an emergency braking situation
can increase.
If ESP ®
is not operational, ESP ®
is unable to stabilize the vehicle.
There is an increased risk of skidding and an accident.
X Observe the additional display messages in the multifunction
display.
X Drive on carefully.
X Visit a qualified specialist workshop.
If the ABS control unit is faulty, there is also a possibility that other
systems, such as the navigation system or the automatic
transmission, will not be available. Warning and indicator lamps in the instrument cluster
239On-board computer and displays Z
Page 243 of 364

Problem Possible causes/consequences and
M Solutions
!
The yellow ABS warning
lamp is lit while the
engine is running.
ABS is temporarily unavailable. ESP
®
,B AS, EBD (electronic brake
force distribution), PRE-SAFE ®
, hill start assist and ESP ®
trailer
stabilization, for example, are therefore also deactivated.
Possible causes are:
R Self-diagnosis is not ye tcomplete.
R The on-board voltage may be insufficient.
G WARNING
The brake system continues to function normally, but without the
functions listed above. The front and rear wheels could therefore
lock if you brake hard, for example.
The steerability and braking characteristics may be severely
affected. The braking distance in an emergency braking situation
can increase.
If ESP ®
is not operational, ESP ®
is unable to stabilize the vehicle.
There is a risk of an accident.
X Carefully drive a suitable distance, making slight steering
movements at a speed above 12 mph (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. 240
Warning and indicator lamps in the instrument clusterOn-board computer and displays
Page 244 of 364

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 malfunctioning. Therefore, ABS,B
AS, PRE-SAFE®
, hill start
assist and ESP ®
trailer stabilization are also unavailable, for
example.
G WARNING
The brake system continue sto function normally, but without the
functions listed above. The front and rear wheels could therefore
lock if you brake hard, for example.
The steerability and braking characteristics may be severely
affected. The braking distance in an emergency braking situation
can increase.
If ESP ®
is not operational, ESP ®
is unable to stabilize the vehicle.
There is an increased risk of skidding and an accident.
X Observe the additional display messages in the multifunction
display.
X Drive on carefully.
X Visit a qualified specialist workshop. $
(USA only)
J (Canada only)
֌!
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, EBD, PRE-
SAFE ®
, hill start assist and ESP ®
trailer stabilization are also
unavailable, for example.
G WARNING
The brake system continues to function normally, but without the
functions listed above. The front and rear wheels could therefore
lock if you brake hard, for example.
The steerability and braking characteristics may be severely
affected. The braking distance in an emergency braking situation
can increase.
If ESP ®
is not operational, ESP ®
is unable to stabilize the vehicle.
There is an increased risk of skidding and an accident.
X Observe the additional display messages in the multifunction
display.
X Drive on carefully.
X Visit a qualified specialist workshop. Warning and indicator lamps in the instrument cluster
241On-board computer and displays Z
Page 245 of 364

Problem Possible causes/consequences and
M Solutions
÷
The yellow ESP
®
warning 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 is deactivated.
X When pulling away, only depress the accelerator pedal as far as
necessary.
X Ease off the accelerator pedal 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 69).÷
The yellow ESP
®
warning lamp flashes
while the vehicle is in
motion. At least one wheel is spinning and the Electronic Traction System
is deactivated. This is to prevent the brakes on the drive wheels
from overheating.
X
Observe the additional display messages in the multifunction
display.
The Electronic Traction System switches back on again as soon
as the brakes have cooled down.
The display message disappears and the ÷warning lamp goes
out. å
The yellow ESP
®
OFF
warning lamp is lit while
the engine is running. ESP
®
is deactivated.
G WARNING
If ESP ®
is switched off, ESP ®
is unable to stabilize the vehicle.
There is an increased risk of skidding and an accident.
X Reactivate ESP ®
.
For exceptions, see: (Y page 69).
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. 242
Warning and indicator lamps in the instrument clusterOn-board computer and displays
Page 246 of 364

Problem Possible causes/consequences and
M Solutions
֌
The yellow ESP
®
and
ESP ®
OFF warning
lamps are lit while the
engine is running. ESP
®
, BAS, PRE-SAFE ®
, hill start assist and ESP ®
trailer
stabilization are not available due to a malfunction.
G WARNING
The brake system continues to function normally, but without the
functions listed above.
The braking distance in an emergency braking situation can thus
increase.
If ESP ®
is not operational, ESP ®
is unable to stabilize the vehicle.
There is an increased risk of skidding and 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 ®
, hill start assist and ESP ®
trailer
stabilization are temporarily not available.
Self-diagnosis is not yet complete.
G WARNING
The brake system continues to function normally, but without the
functions listed above.
The braking distance in an emergency braking situation can thus
increase.
If ESP ®
is not operational, ESP ®
is unable to stabilize the vehicle.
There is an increased risk of skidding and an accident.
X Carefully drive a suitable distance, making slight steering
movements at a speed above 12 mph (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. Warning and indicator lamps in the instrument cluster
243On-board computer and displays Z
Page 247 of 364
Problem Possible causes/consequences and
M Solutions
$
(USA only)
J (Canada only)
The red brake system
warning lamp comes on
while the vehicle is
moving. A warning tone
also sounds. You are driving with the parking brake applied.
X
Release the parking brake.
The warning lamp goes out and the warning tone ceases. +
The red SRS warning
lamp is lit while the
engine is running.
The restraint systems are malfunctioning.
G WARNING
The air bags or Emergency Tensioning Devices may either be
triggered unintentionally or, in the event of an accident, may not
be triggered.
There is an increased risk of injury.
X Drive on carefully.
X Visit a qualified specialist workshop immediately.
Further information on occupant safety (Y page 41).244
Warning and indicator lamps in the instrument clusterOn-board computer and displays
Page 248 of 364

Engine
Problem Possible causes/consequences and
M Solutions
!
(USA only)
; (Canada only)
The yellow Check
Engine warning lamp
lights up while the
engine is running. There may be a malfunction, for example:
R
in the engine management
R in the fuel injection system
R in the exhaust system
R in the ignition system (for vehicles with a gasoline engine)
R in the fuel system
The emission limit values may be exceeded and the engin emay
be running in emergency mode.
X Have the vehicle checked as soon as possible at a qualified
specialist workshop.
i In some states, you must immediately visit a qualified
specialist workshop as soon as the yellow Chec kEngine warning
lamp lights up.T his is due to the legal requirements in effect in
these states. If in doubt, check whether such legal regulations
apply in the state in which you are currently driving. Vehicles with a diesel engine: the fuel tank has been run dry
(Y
page 163).
X Start the engine three to four times after refueling.
If the yellow Check Engine warning lamp goes out, emergency
running mode is canceled. The vehicle need not be checked. The yellow reserve fuel
warning lamp lights up
while the engine is
running. The fuel level has dropped into the reserve range.
X
Refuel at the nearest gas station. The yellow reserve fuel
warning lamp flashes
while the vehicle is in
motion.
The
! Check Engine
(USA only)/;
(Canada only) warning
lamp may also light up. The fuel system pressure is too low. The fuel filler cap is not closed
correctly or the fuel system is leaking.
X
Check that the fuel filler cap is correctly closed.
X If the fuel filler cap is not correctly closed: close the fuel filler
cap.
X If the fuel filler cap is closed: visit a qualified specialist
workshop. Warning and indicator lamps in the instrument cluster
245On-board computer and displays Z