To help make it more difficult to steal your vehicle, you should always make sure the steering column 
is locked before leaving the vehicle. 
Electronic steering column lock 
Vehicles with Keyless Access: The steering column is locked if the driver door is opened with the 
ignition switched off. The vehicle must be standing still and the transmission must be in Park (P) on an 
automatic transmission vehicle. 
If the driver door is opened before the ignition is switched off, the electronic steering column lock is 
activated only after the vehicle has been locked with the vehicle key or via the sensor in the door 
handle. 
Mechanical steering column lock 
Vehicles without Keyless Access: The steering column is locked if the vehicle is stationary and the 
vehicle key is removed from the ignition switch. 
 
Engaging the steering column 
lock 
Disengaging the steering column 
lock 
Parking the vehicle     Turn the steering wheel slightly to 
take pressure off the steering 
column lock. 
Remove the vehicle key.  Insert the vehicle key into the 
ignition switch. 
Turn the steering wheel slightly until 
you hear the steering column lock 
engage. 
Hold the steering wheel in this 
position and turn the ignition switch. 
 
Power steering 
Power steering automatically adjusts to driving speed, steering torque, and the steering angle of the 
wheels. Power steering works only when the engine is running. 
If power steering is reduced or lost completely, it will be much harder to steer and control the vehicle. 
Counter-steering assistance 
Counter-steering assistance is part of Electronic Stability Control (ESC). This feature makes it easier 
for the driver to control the vehicle in difficult situations. For example, if you have to brake hard on a 
surface that provides uneven traction, the vehicle could pull to the right or left. ESC detects this 
situation and helps the driver counter-steer with additional steering power ⇒ . 
  WARNING 
The counter-steering assistance in ESC can do no more than help the driver steer in difficult 
situations. The driver must still control the vehicle. The vehicle does not steer by itself with 
this feature!  
  NOTICE 
If the ignition is off, the steering column lock will engage and the vehicle cannot be steered. 
For this reason, you must leave the ignition on when going through an automatic car wash, for 
example, so that the wheels will still steer.  
         
        
         
 
Sport Drive (S), or Reverse (R) and you must use the foot brake to hold the vehicle before starting to 
move. 
Hill Hold keeps the brake applied for not quite 2 seconds with the same force you used to prevent the 
vehicle from moving. This gives you time to take your foot off the brake and gently depress the 
accelerator to get the vehicle moving again. If you do not depress the accelerator pedal and get the 
vehicle moving again within this time, the brakes will release and the vehicle will roll downhill. 
Furthermore, if any requirement for engaging Hill Hold is no longer met while the vehicle is stopped, 
Hill Hold disengages and the brakes are automatically released and will no longer hold the vehicle. 
Hill Hold is activated automatically when the following conditions are all met at the same 
time. 
 
Points 1 to 3 must all be met at the same time: 
Step  Automatic transmission 
1. Hold the stopped vehicle on an incline with the foot or parking brake. 
2. The engine must be running “smoothly.” 
3. An automatic transmission vehicle must be in Reverse (R), Drive (D), or Sport Drive (S) 
and the foot brake must be depressed to keep the vehicle from moving. 
4. To drive off, take your foot off the brake pedal and gently depress the accelerator within 
2 seconds. 
 
Hill Hold is immediately deactivated: 
 x If any requirement listed in the table above is no longer met (see   213, Hill Hold is activated 
automatically when the following conditions are all met at the same time.). 
 x If the engine is not running smoothly or the engine malfunctions. 
 x If the engine stalls or is switched off. 
 x If the transmission is in Neutral (N). 
 x If a tire does not have enough road contact (such as when the vehicle is tipped or at an angle). 
  WARNING 
The intelligent technology of Hill Hold cannot overcome the laws of physics. Never let the 
increased convenience provided by Hill Hold tempt you into taking risks. 
 x The Hill Hold feature cannot hold the vehicle in all hill start situations (for example, if the 
surface is icy or slippery). 
 x Hill Hold can only help keep the vehicle from moving for less than 2 seconds. After that, 
the brakes will be released and the vehicle can roll down the hill.