2014 MERCEDES-BENZ CLA-Class warning

If you make any changes to the vehicle elec-
tronics, the general operating permit is ren-
dered invalid.
! There is a risk of damage to the vehicle if:
R the vehicle becomes stuck, e.g. on a high
curb or an unpaved road
R you drive too fast over an obstacle, e.g. a
curb or a hole in the road
R a heavy object strikes the undercarriage
or parts of the chassis
In situations like this, the body, the under-
carriage, chassis parts, wheels or tires
could be damaged without the damage
being visible. Components damaged in this way can unexpectedly fail or, in the case of
an accident, no longer withstand the strain
they are designed to.
If the underbody paneling is damaged,
combustible materials such as leaves,
grass or twigs can gather between the
underbody and the underbody paneling. If
these materials come in contact with hot
parts of the exhaust system, they can catch fire.
In such situations, have the vehicle
checked and repaired immediately at a
qualified specialist workshop. If on con-
tinuing your journey you notice that driving
safety is impaired, pull over and stop the
vehicle immediately, paying attention to
road and traffic conditions. In such cases,
visit a qualified specialist workshop. Declarations of conformity
Vehicle components which receive
and/or transmit radio waves USA:
"The wireless devices of this vehicle
comply with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Oper-
ation is subject to the following two condi-
tions: 1) These devices may not cause harm-
ful interference, and 2) These devices must
accept any interference received, including
interference that may cause undesired oper-
ation. Changes or modifications not expressly approved by the party responsible for com-
pliance could void the user’s authority to
operate the equipment."
Canada:
"The wireless devices of this vehicle
comply with Industry Canada license-exempt
RSS standard(s). Operation is subject to the
following two conditions: (1) These devices
may not cause interference, and (2) These
devices must accept any interference, includ- ing interference that may cause undesired
operation of the device." Diagnostics connection
The diagnostics connection is only intended
for the connection of diagnostic equipment at a qualified specialist workshop. G
WARNING
If you connect equipment to the diagnostics
connection in the vehicle, it may affect the
operation of the vehicle systems. As a result, the operating safety of the vehicle could be
affected. There is a risk of an accident.
Do not connect any equipment to a diagnos-
tics connection in the vehicle. G
WARNING
Objects in the driver's footwell can restrict the pedal travel or obstruct a depressed pedal.
The operating and road safety of the vehicle is
jeopardized. There is a risk of an accident.
Make sure that all objects in the vehicle are
stowed correctly, and that they cannot enter
the driver's footwell. Install the floormats
securely and as specified in order to ensure
sufficient clearance for the pedals. Do not use loose floormats and do not place floormats on
top of one another.
! If the engine is switched off and equip-
ment on the diagnostics connection is
used, the starter battery may discharge.
Connecting equipment to the diagnostics
connection can lead to emissions monitoring information being reset, for example. This
may lead to the vehicle failing to meet the Introduction
25 Z

requirements of the next emissions test dur-
ing the main inspection. Qualified specialist workshop
An authorized Mercedes-Benz Center is a
qualified specialist workshop. It has the nec-
essary specialist knowledge, tools and quali-
fications to correctly carry out the work
required on your vehicle. This is especially the case for work relevant to safety.
Observe the notes in the Maintenance Book-
let.
Always have the following work carried out at
an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center:
R work relevant to safety
R service and maintenance work
R repair work
R alterations, installation work and modifica-
tions
R work on electronic components Correct use
If you remove any warning stickers, you or
others could fail to recognize certain dangers.
Leave warning stickers in position.
Observe the following information when driv- ing your vehicle:
R the safety notes in this manual
R the Technical Data section in this manual
R traffic rules and regulations
R laws and safety standards pertaining to
motor vehicles Problems with your vehicle
If you should experience a problem with your
vehicle, particularly one that you believe may affect its safe operation, we urge you to con-
tact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center
immediately to have the problem diagnosed
and rectified. If the problem is not resolved to
your satisfaction, please discuss the problem again with a Mercedes-Benz Center or con-
tact us at one of the following addresses.
In the USA
Customer Assistance Center
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC
One Mercedes Drive
Montvale, NJ 07645-0350
In Canada
Customer Relations Department
Mercedes-Benz Canada, Inc.
98 Vanderhoof Avenue
Toronto, Ontario M4G 4C9
Reporting safety defects
USA only:
The following text is published as required of
manufacturers under Title 49, Code of U.S.
Federal Regulations, Part 575 pursuant to the
"National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1966".
If you believe that your vehicle has a defect
which could cause a crash or could cause
injury or death, you should immediately
inform the National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration (NHTSA) in addition to notify-
ing Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC.
If NHTSA receives similar complaints, it may
open an investigation, and if it finds that a
safety defect exists in a group of vehicles, it
may order a recall and remedy campaign.
However, NHTSA cannot become involved in
individual problems between you, your
dealer, or Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC.
To contact NHTSA, you may call the Vehicle
Safety Hotline toll-free at
1-888-327-4236(TTY: 1-800-424-9153); go
to http://www.safercar.gov; or write to:
Administrator, NHTSA, 400 Seventh Street,
SW., Washington, DC 20590.
You can also obtain other information about
motor vehicle safety from
http://www.safercar.gov 26
Introduction

Cockpit
Function Page
0043
Steering wheel paddle
shifters
151
0044
Combination switch 110
0087
Instrument cluster 31
0085
Horn
0083
DIRECT SELECT lever 146
0084
PARKTRONIC warning dis-
play
178
006B
Overhead control panel 36 Function Page
006C
Climate control systems 124
006D
Ignition lock 141
006E
Adjusts the steering wheel 102
006F
Cruise control lever 166
0070
Electric parking brake 158
0071
Light switch 108
0072
Diagnostics connection 25
0073
Opens the hood 28230
CockpitAt a glance

Warning and indicator lamps
Function Page
0043
0058
Low-beam head-
lamps 109
0044
0060
Parking lamps 110
0087
0057
High-beam head-
lamps 110
0085
00E5
ESP® 247
0083
Electric parking brake (red)
0049
(USA only) 0024
(Canada only) 250
0084
0024
Electric parking brake
(yellow) 250
006B
00BA
Distance warning 253
006C
003E003D
Turn signals 110
006D
0075
SRS 250
006E
00E9
Seat belt 243 Function Page
006F
0074
SPORT handling
mode in AMG vehicles 248
0070
00AC
Coolant 251
0071
005E
Rear fog lamp 109
0072
005A
Fog lamps 109
0073
00B9
Check Engine 251
0074
0077
Tire pressure monitor 254
0075
00D4
Reserve fuel 251
0076
00BB
ESP®
OFF 247
0077
0025
ABS 245
0078
Brakes 245
0027
(USA only) 004D
(Canada only) 32
Instrument clusterAt a glance

Center console
Center console, upper section
Function Page
0043
Audio system/COMAND;
see the separate operating
instructions
0044
0072
Seat heating 101
0087
008F
PARKTRONIC 178
0085
00A7
ECO start/stop func-
tion 143 Function Page
0083
002F
Hazard warning
lamps 111
0084
0073
PASSENGER AIR BAG
OFF indicator lamp 47
006B
00C8
Selects the drive pro-
gram 150
00BB
AMG vehicles: ESP ® 6934
Center consoleAt a glance

Useful information
i This Operator's manual describes all
models and all standard and optional equip- ment of your vehicle available at the time of
publication of the Operator's manual.
Country-specific differences are possible.
Please note that your vehicle may not be
equipped with all features described. This
also applies to safety-related systems and
functions.
i Read the information on qualified special-
ist workshops (Y page 26). Panic alarm
X
To activate: press0033button 0043for at
least one second.
An alarm sounds and the exterior lighting
flashes.
X To deactivate: press0033button 0043
again.
or
X Insert the SmartKey into the ignition lock. Occupant safety
Important safety notes
G
WARNING
Modifications to the restraint systems could
result in them not functioning properly any
more. The restraint systems could then no
longer protect vehicle occupants as they are designed to do and could fail in the event of an
accident or activate unexpectedly, for exam-
ple. There is an increased risk of injury.
Never modify parts of the restraint systems.
Do not attempt to modify the wiring as well as
electronic components or their software.
If it is necessary to modify an air bag system to accommodate a person with disabilities, con-tact an authorized Mercedes-Benz center.
USA only: for further information contact our
Customer Assistance Center at
1-800-FOR-MERCedes (1800-367-6372).
In this section, you will learn the most impor- tant facts about the restraint system compo-
nents of the vehicle.
The restraint system consists of:
R Seat belts
R Child restraint systems
R LATCH-type (ISOFIX) child seat securing
system
Additional protection is provided by:
R SRS (Supplemental Restraint System)
R Air bag system components with:
- PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF indicator lamp
- Front-passenger seat with Occupant
Classification System (OCS)
Although the systems are independent, their
protective functions work in conjunction with each other. Not all air bags are always
deployed in an accident.
i For information on infants and children
traveling with you in the vehicle restraint
systems for infants and children, see "Chil-
dren in the vehicle" (Y page 56). SRS (Supplemental Restraint System)
Introduction Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) with:
R The 0075 SRS warning lamp
R Air bags
R Air bag control unit (with crash sensors) 40
Occupant safetySafety

R
Emergency Tensioning Devices for the
front seat belts and the outer seat belts in
the rear
R Seat belt force limiter for the front seat
belts and the outer seat belts in the rear
SRS reduces the risk of vehicle occupants
coming into contact with parts of the vehi-
cle's interior in the event of an accident. It can
also reduce the forces to which vehicle occu-
pants are subjected during an accident.
SRS warning lamp G
WARNING
If SRS is malfunctioning, restraint system
components may be triggered unintentionally
or might not be triggered at all in the event of
an accident with a high rate of vehicle decel-
eration. There is an increased risk of injury,
possibly even fatal.
Have SRS checked and repaired immediately
at a qualified specialist workshop.
SRS functions are checked regularly when
you switch on the ignition and when the
engine is running. Therefore, malfunctions
can be detected in good time.
The 0075 SRS warning lamp in the instrument
cluster lights up when the ignition is switched on. It goes out no later than a few seconds
after the engine is started.
The SRS components are in operational read-
iness when the 0075SRS indicator lamp goes
out while the engine is running.
There is a malfunction if:
R the 0075 SRS warning lamp does not light
up when the ignition is switched on
R the engine is running and the 0075SRS
warning lamp does not go out after a few
seconds
R the engine is running and the 0075SRS
warning lamp lights up again Triggering of Emergency Tensioning
Devices and air bags During the first stage of a collision, the air bag
control unit evaluates important physical
data relating to vehicle deceleration or accel-
eration, such as:
R duration
R direction
R magnitude
Based on the evaluation of this data, the air
bag control unit pre-emptively triggers the
Emergency Tensioning Device in the first
stage.
If there is an even higher rate of vehicle decel- eration or acceleration in a longitudinal direc-tion, the front air bags are also deployed.
Your vehicle has adaptive, two-stage front air bags. The air bag control unit evaluates vehi-cle deceleration or acceleration in the event
of a collision. In the first deployment stage,
the front air bag is filled with enough propel-
lant gas to reduce the risk of injuries. The
front air bag is fully deployed if a second
deployment threshold is reached within a few
milliseconds.
The Emergency Tensioning Device and air bag triggering thresholds are variable and are
adapted to the detected rate of deceleration
or acceleration of the vehicle. This process is
pre-emptive in nature. The triggering process must take place in good time at the start of
the collision.
The rate of vehicle deceleration or accelera-
tion and the direction of the force are essen-
tially determined by:
R the distribution of forces during the colli-
sion
R the collision angle
R the deformation characteristics of the vehi-
cle
R the characteristics of the object with which
the vehicle has collided
Factors that can only be seen and measured
after a collision has occurred do not play a Occupant safety
41Safety Z

decisive role in the deployment of an air bag,
nor do they provide an indication of air bag
deployment.
The vehicle may be deformed significantly,
e.g. the hood or the fender, without an air bag
being deployed. This is the case if only parts
which are relatively easily deformed are affec- ted and the rate of deceleration is not high.
Conversely, air bags may be deployed even
though the vehicle suffers only minor defor-
mation. This is the case if, for example, very
rigid vehicle parts such as longitudinal body
members are hit, and sufficient deceleration
occurs as a result.
i The front Emergency Tensioning Devices
can only be triggered if the seat belt
tongues on the front seats are correctly
engaged in the seat belt buckles.
i Not all air bags are deployed in an acci-
dent. The different air bag systems work
independently of each other.
How the air bag system works is deter-
mined by predicting the severity of the acci-
dent, especially vehicle deceleration or
acceleration, and the type of accident:
R head-on collision
R side impact
R rollover
Safety guidelines for seat belts, Emer-
gency Tensioning Devices (ETDs) and
air bags G
WARNING
R Damaged seat belts or seat belts that have
been subjected to stress in an accident
must be replaced. Their anchoring points
must also be checked. Only use seat belts
installed or supplied by an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
R Air bags and pyrotechnic Emergency Ten-
sioning Devices (ETDs) contain perchlorate material, which may require special han-
dling and regard for the environment.
Check your national disposal guidelines. In California, see
www.dtsc.ca.gov/
HazardousWaste/Perchlorate/
index.cfm.
R Air bags and ETDs are designed to function
on a one-time-only basis. An air bag or ETD
that has deployed must be replaced.
R Do not pass seat belts over sharp edges.
They could tear.
R Do not make any modification that could
change the effectiveness of the seat belts.
R Do not bleach or dye seat belts, as this may
severely weaken them. In a crash, they may
not be able to provide adequate protection.
R Do not make any modifications to the SRS
wiring or components.
R Do not modify or remove any components
or parts of the SRS.
R Do not install additional trim material, seat
covers, badges, etc. to the:
- padded steering wheel boss
- knee bag covers
- front-passenger air bag cover
- outer side of front seat bolsters
- outer seat bolsters of the rear bench seat
backrest
- roof frame trim
R Do not install additional electrical/elec-
tronic equipment on or near SRS compo-
nents and wiring.
R Keep the area between the air bags and
occupants free of objects (e.g. packages,
handbags, umbrellas etc.).
R Do not hang any objects such as coat hang-
ers on the coat hooks or the grab handle
above the door. These items may be thrownaround in the vehicle and cause head and
other injuries when the window curtain air
bag is deployed.
R Air bag system components will be hot after
an air bag has inflated. Do not touch them.
R Never rest your feet on the dashboard or
the seat. Always keep both feet on the floor in front of the seat. 42
Occupant safetySafety