The air bag installation locations are
identified by the label SRS/AIRBAG or
AIRBAG.
R
Front air bags (Y page 45)
R Thoraxbags (Y page 45)
R Window curtain air bags (Y page 46)
The air bags are deployed if the air bag control
unit detects the need for deployment. Only in
the event of such a situation will they provide
their supplemental protection.
If the driver and co-driver do not wear their
seat belts, it is not possible for the air bags to
provide their supplemental protection.
In the event of other types of impacts and
impacts below air bag deployment
thresholds, the air bags will not deploy. The
driver and passengers will then be protected
to the exten tpossible by a properly fastened
seat belt. Aproperly fastened seat belti s also
needed to provide the best possible
protection in a rollover.
Air bags provide additional protection, but are
not a substitute for the seat belts. All vehicle
occupants must fasten their seat belts
regardless of whether your vehicle is
equipped with air bags or not.
If an air bag is deployed, you will hear a bang
and a small amount of powder is released
briefly. Only in rare cases will the bang affect
your hearing. The powder emitted is not
generally hazardous to health. The 0008
warning lamp lights up. If it is safe to do so:
X Exit the vehicle immediately.
If you are unable to leave the vehicle:
X Open a window.
You will be able to breathe in fresh air and
avoid respiratory problems.
It is important for your safety and that of any
passengers to have deployed air bags
replaced and to have any malfunctioning air
bags repaired. This will help to make sure the
air bags continue to perform their protective
function for the vehicle occupants in the
event of a crash. Front air bags
Driver's air bag
0005inflates in front of the
steering wheel; co-driver's front air bag 0006
inflates in front of and above the glove box
and center console.
The front air bags increase the degree of
protection afforded to the driver and co-driver
against head and chest injuries.
They are deployed:
R in certain frontal collision situations
R if the system determines that air bag
deployment can offer additional protection
to that provided by the seat belt
R if the respective seat belt is fastened
R independently of other air bags in the
vehicle
If the vehicle rolls over, the front air bags are
generally not deployed. The front air bags are
deployed if it is detected that the vehicle is
decelerating rapidly in the longitudinal
direction.
In collision situations with low predicted
impact severity the front air bags are not
deployed. You will then be protected by the
seat belt, provided that it is fastened.
Thoraxbags G
WARNING
Only use seat covers which have been tested
and approved for your vehicle type by the
distributor named on the inside of the front
cover. The use of seat covers or other seat
coverings may cause a malfunction when the Occupant safety
45Safety
Z
Driving safet
ysystems Driving safety systems overview
In this section, you will find information about
the following driving safety systems:
R ABS ( Anti-lock BrakingSystem)
R BAS ( Brake Assist System)
R ASR (Acceleration SkidControl)
R ESP ®
(Electronic StabilityProgram)
R EBD ( Electronic Brake Force Distribution) Important safety notes
If you fail to adapt yourd riving style or if you
are inattentive, the driving safety systems can
neither reduce the risk of accident nor
override the laws of physics. Driving safety
systems are merely aids designed to assist
driving. You are responsible for the distance
to the vehicle in front, for vehicle speed and
for braking in good time. Always adapt your
driving style to the prevailing road and
weather conditions and maintai nasufficient,
safe distance from other road users. Drive
carefully.
The driving safety systems described can only
attain their maximum effectiveness when
there is optimum contact between the tires
and the road can. Therefore pay special
attention to the information on tires, the
recommended minimum tire tread, etc., in
the "Wheels and tires" section (Y page 274).
In wintry driving conditions, always use winter
tires (M+S tires) and if necessary, snow
chains. Only in this way will the driving safety
systems described in this section work as
effectively as possible. ABS (Anti-lock Braking System)
Important safety notes Note the section on 'Important safety notes'
(Y
page 56). G
WARNING
If ABS is faulty, the wheels could lock when
braking. The steerability and braking
characteristics may be severely impaired.
Additionally, further driving safety systems
are deactivated. There is an increased danger
of skidding and accidents.
Drive on carefully. Have ABS checked
immediately at a qualified specialist
workshop.
If ABS is malfunctioning, other systems will
also fail, including driving safety systems.
Observe the information relating to the 000E
(Y page 210) warning lamp.
ABS regulates brake pressure in such a way
that the wheels do not lock when you brake.
This allows you to continue steering the
vehicle when braking.
ABS acts from a speed of about 5 mph
(8 km/h) upwards, regardless of road surface
conditions. ABS works on slippery surfaces,
even when you only brake gently.
The yellow 000Ewarning lamp in the
instrument cluster lights up when the ignition
is switched on. The lamp goes out when the
engine starts running.
Braking X
If ABS intervenes: continue to depress the
brake pedal with force until the braking
situation is over.
X To make a full brake application:
depress the brake pedal with full force.
If ABS intervenes when braking, you will feel
a pulsating in the brake pedal.
The pulsating brake pedal can be an
indication of hazardous road conditions and
functions as a reminder to take extra care
while driving. BAS (Brake AssistS
ystem)
Note the section on 'Important safety notes'
(Y page 56). 56
Driving safety systemsSafety
G
WARNING
If BAS is malfunctioning, the braking distance
in an emergency braking situation is
increased. There is a risk of an accident.
In an emergency braking situation, depress
the brake pedal with full force. ABS prevents
the wheels from locking.
Vehicles without steering wheel buttons: if
the BAS driving safety system is
malfunctioning, the 000Awarning lamp lights
up while the engine is running (Y page 210).
BAS operates in emergency braking
situations. If you depress the brake quickly,
BAS automatically increases the brake
pressure, thereby reducing the stopping
distance.
The brakes will function as usual once you
release the brake pedal. BAS is deactivated. EBD (electronic brake force
distribution)
Note the section on 'Important safety notes'
(Y page 56). G
WARNING
If EBD has malfunctioned, the rear wheels can
still lock, e.g. under full braking. This
increases the risk of skidding and an accident.
You should therefore adapt yourd riving style
to the different handling characteristics. Have
the brake system checked at a qualified
specialist workshop.
EBD monitors and controls the brake
pressure to the rear wheels. This enables EBD
to improve handling during braking.
Observe the information on warning and
indicator lamps (Y page 210). ESP
®
(Electronic Stability Program)
Note the section on 'Important safety notes'
(Y page 56). G
WARNING
If ESP ®
is malfunctioning it willn ot provide
any vehicle stabilization. There is an increased
risk of skidding or of an accident.
Exercise caution when continuing to drive.
Have ESP ®
checked at a qualified specialist
workshop.
! Only operate the vehicle briefly
(maximum of 10 seconds) on a brake
dynamometer. The key must be turned to
position 1in the ignition lock during this
time. You could otherwise damage the
drive train or the brake system.
! Do not run the vehicle on a roller
dynamometer (e.g. for performance tests).
If you must operate the vehicle on a roller
dynamometer, please consult a qualified
specialist workshop in advance. You could
otherwise damage the drive train or the
brake system.
If you activate or deactivate ESP ®
in a vehicle
with engageable all-wheel drive, ESP ®
will be
deactivated for the duration of the
activation/deactivation process.
If ESP ®
is malfunctioning, the 0002indicator
lamp lights up while the engine is running and
the engine power may be reduced
(Y page 210).
ESP ®
monitors driving stability and detects a
tendency of the vehicle to understeer or
oversteer (skidding) in good time. If ESP ®
detects that the vehicle is deviating from the
direction desired by the driver, one or more
wheels are braked to stabilize the vehicle. The
engine output is also modified to keep the
vehicle on the desired course within physical
limits. ESP ®
greatly assists you when driving
on wet or slippery road surfaces. ESP ®
also
stabilizes the vehicle when braking.
The 000D warning lamp in the instrument
cluster flashes when ESP ®
is intervening. Driving safety systems
57Safety Z
If ESP
®
intervenes:
X Do not deactivate ASR under any
circumstances.
X When driving off, apply as little throttle as
possible.
X Adapt yours peed and driving style to the
prevailing road conditions.
i Only use wheels with the recommended
tire sizes. Only then will ESP ®
function
properly. ASR (acceleration skid control)
General notes Important safety notes
Note the section on 'Important safety notes'
(Y
page 56).
ASR can neither reduce the risk of an accident
nor suspend the laws of physics if the driver
does not pay attention when pulling away or
accelerating. ASR is only an aid. Always adapt
your driving style to suit the prevailing road
and weather conditions.
Vehicles without steering wheel buttons: if
ASR is malfunctioning, the 000Aindicator
lamp lights up while the engine is running and
the engine power may be reduced
(Y page 210).
ASR significantly improves traction, i.e. the
transmission of power from the tires to the
road surface, and thus increases the vehicle's
driving stability. If the driving wheels start to
spin, ASR brakes individual drive wheels and
limits the engine torque. ASR thus
significantly assists you when pulling away
and accelerating, especially on wet or
slippery roads.
If traction on the road surface is not sufficient,
even ASR will not allow you to pull away
without difficulty. The type of tires and total
weight of the vehicle as well as the gradient
of the road also play a crucial role. If ASR intervenes, the
000Dwarning lamp in
the instrument cluster flashes.
Activating/deactivating ASR G
WARNING
If deactivated, ASR will not attempt to
stabilize the vehicle during pulling away and
acceleration. There is an increased risk of
skidding and of an accident.
Only deactivate ASR in the situations
described in the following.
! If you deactivate ASR, ESP ®
will still
intervene to stabilize the vehicle. Frequent
braking automatically triggered by ESP ®
can damage the brake system.
For this reason, deactivate ASR only briefly
and when absolutely necessary. When ESP
®
is intervening and the 000D
warning lamp in the instrument cluster is
flashing, leave ASR on. In this case, only
depress the accelerator pedal as far as
required when pulling away.
X Press the 0006button.
If ASR is deactivated, the 000Dwarning
lamp in the instrument cluster lights up.
ASR is automatically activated when the
engine is started.
It may be best to deactivate ASR briefly in the
following situations:
R when using snow chains
R in deep snow
R on sand or gravel 58
Driving safet
ysystemsSafety
If you deactivate ASR:
R
engine torque is not limited and the drive
wheels are able to spin. The spinning
wheels will then achieve a cutting effect for
better traction.
R traction control remains active through
brake intervention. If a drive wheel attains
its tire traction limitb ecause one side of the
road is slippery, for example, that wheel is
braked. The traction is then increased in
this situation.
R active brake intervention by ESP ®
to
increase driving stability remains active.
The 000D warning lamp in the instrument
cluster flashes when ESP ®
is intervening. Emergency exit
Emergency exit window
G
WARNING
The emergency exit window cannot be locked
in place. You risk injury if you exit the vehicle
through the emergency exit window.
R Make sure that nobody becomes trapped,
both when closing and when opening the
emergency exit window.
R The opened emergency exit window must
be held in place by another person.
Pay attention to traffic conditions. G
WARNING
If the emergency exit window is unlocked
while driving, it could open and slam shut and
consequently fall down. There is a risk of an
accident and injury.
Before starting off, make sure that the
emergency exit window is locked and the
locking pins are undamaged.
! Make sure there is sufficien tclearance
when opening the emergency exit window.
Hold the open window in position. You
could otherwise damage the emergency
exit window. The emergency exit window is intended for
use in an emergency only and must not be
opened unless the vehicle is stationary. The
emergency exit window is the firs
twindow
behind the driver's seat on the driver's side.
It is marked by the "Emergency Exit" label.
X To open: position both handles 0005
vertically. This will break locking pins 0006.
The window is unlocked.
X Swing the window outward by the handles
and hold it in this position. Make sure there
is sufficien tclearance when doing so.
X To close: close the window.
X Position both handles 0005horizontally.
Make sure that the locks 0026are inside in
front of the window frame.
The window is locked.
X Replace locking pins 0006at the lates tbefore
starting on a new journey.
You can obtain information on this at any
qualified specialist workshop.
In an emergency, or after an accident, the
vehicle occupants can exit the vehicle
through the emergency exit window.
Observe the following notes to make sure that
the emergency exit window can be used
safely in the event of an emergency:
R Before beginning a journey, inform the
vehicle occupants of the emergency exit
window and explain how to use it. Make Emergency exit
59Safety Z
Problems with the key/remote control
Problem Possible causes/consequences and
0004 Solutions
It is no longer possible
to lock the vehicle
using the remote
control.
The turn signals do not
flash when the vehicle
is locked. The doors are not closed properly.
X
Close the doors properly and lock the vehicle again. The central locking system has malfunctioned.
X
Lock the vehicle using the folding key (Y page 64).
X Have the central locking system checked as soon as possible
at a qualified specialist workshop. It is no longer possible
to lock or unlock the
vehicle using the
remote control. The key battery is weak or discharged.
X
Point the remote control at the driver's door handle from very
close range and press the 0009or0008 button.
If this does not work:
X Replace the key battery (Y page 66).
Or
X Lock the vehicle using the folding key (Y page 64). The remote control is faulty.
X
Lock the vehicle using the folding key (Y page 64).
X Have the key checked at a qualified specialist workshop. The key cannot be
turned in the ignition
lock. The steering lock has jammed mechanically.
X
Remove the key and insert it again into the ignition lock. Turn
the steering wheel from side to side while doing so. The engine cannot be
started using the key. The on-board voltage is too low.
X
Switch off all non-essential consumers, such as interior lighting,
and try to start the engine again.
If this does not work:
X Check the starter battery and charge it if necessary
(Y page 254).
Or
X Jump-start the vehicle (Y page 267).
Or
X Consult a qualified specialist workshop. You have lost a key. X
Have the key deactivated at a qualified specialist workshop.
X Report the loss immediately to the vehicle insurers.
X If necessary, have the mechanical locks replaced. 68
KeyOpening and closing
Electrical closing assist
If your vehicle is equipped with electrical
closing assist, you will require less force to
close the sliding door. Electrical step
Important safety notes
If you do no tuse the grab handle and the step,
you could injure yourselfw hen getting in and
out of the vehicle.
In order to reduce risks:
R draw the passengers' attention to the
electrical step. Wait until the electrical step
is fully extended.
R do not jump out of the vehicle.
R only use the grab handle and step. Only
they are designed for such a load.
R keep grab handles, access steps and entry
sills free from dirt, e.g. mud, clay, snow and
ice. Operation and obstacle detection
Electrical step
The sliding door of your vehicle can be
equipped with an electrical access step.
X When getting in and out of the vehicle, use
the grab handles and electrical step 0005.
Electrical step 0005automatically extends
when the sliding door is opened and retracts
when it is closed. Electrical step
0005is equipped with an
obstruction detection device on the front
side. If the step comes into contact with an
obstacle while it is extending, it stops.
After you have removed the obstacle, you
must first close the sliding door and open it
once again so that the step can extend
completely.
i If the electrical step obstructs loading,
you can prevent the step from extending
when opening the sliding door via obstacle
detection. The electrical step can then
remain retracted and aforklift or other
lifting equipment can be moved nearer to
the cargo compartment.
Vehicles without steering-wheel buttons: if
the 0004 indicator lamp in the instrument
cluster lights up and a warning tone sounds,
electrical step 0005is malfunctioning
(Y page 219).
Vehicles with steering-wheel buttons: if the
Electrical Step message is shown in the
display and a warning tones ounds, electrical
step 0005is malfunctioning (Y page 208).
If electrical step 0005is malfunctioning, the
step may only partially extend/retract or may
not extend/retract at all. If a malfunction
does occur, you will have to retrac tand lock
electrical step 0005manually before continuing
the journey (Y page 72).
Before passengers ge tout of the vehicle, let
them know that electrical step 0005might not
be extended. Emergency release
! Driving with the step extended may result
in it being damaged.
If the electrical step does not retract
automatically, you will have to push it in and
loc kiti nto place manually before
continuing your journey. 72
Electrical stepOpening and closing
Useful information
..............................80
Seats .................................................... 80
Steering wheel .................................... 85
Mirrors ................................................. 86 79Seats, steering wheel and mirrors