
Driving systems
Display messages Possible causes/consequences and
M
MSolutions TC Shift
TC Shift
Conditions Not Conditions Not
Fulfilled Fulfilled
Apply Brake/ Apply Brake/
Parking Brake Parking Brake The parking brake has not been applied and the brake pedal has
not been depressed. The transfer case has canceled the gear
change process and is in
Neutral. There is no connection between
the engine and the drive wheels.
X Pull over and stop the vehicle safely as soon as possible, paying
attention to road and traffic conditions.
X Depress the brake pedal and apply the parking brake.
X Shift the automatic transmission to neutral position N.
X Make sure all conditions for changing gears are met
(Y page 130).
X Repeat the gearshift process. TC Malfunction TC Malfunction
Visit WorkshopTo Visit WorkshopTo
park, apply the park, apply the
parking brake parking brake There is a malfunction in the transfer case.
X
Do not shift the transfer case.
X When parking, secure the vehicle against rolling away
(Y page 104).
X Have the vehicle checked at a qualified specialist workshop. TC Shift Canceled TC Shift Canceled
Please Reactivate Please Reactivate The transfer case has not performed the gear change process.
X
Repeat the gearshift process.
X Make sure all conditions for changing gears are met
(Y page 130). TC TC
Shift
Shift Condition
Condition
Not Fulfilled
Not Fulfilled
Drive at Max. Drive at Max.
25 mph 25 mph You have exceeded the maximum speed for the gearshift process.
X
Drive more slowly.
X Repeat the gearshift process. TC TC
Shift
Shift Condition
Condition
Not Fulfilled
Not Fulfilled
Shift to NEUTRAL Shift to NEUTRAL You have not met one or more shift conditions.
X
Shift the automatic transmission to neutral position N.
X Repeat the gearshift process. TC TC
shift
shift condition
condition
not fulfilled
not fulfilled
Drive at Max. Drive at Max.
40 mph 40 mph You have exceeded the maximum speed for the gearshift process.
X
Drive more slowly.
X Repeat the gearshift process. LOW RANGE LOW RANGE
On On The transfer case is in the
LOW RANGEoff-road position. HIGH RANGE
HIGH RANGE
On On The transfer case is in the
HIGH RANGEon-road position. Display
messages
153On-board computer and displays Z

Vehicle
Display messages Possible causes/consequences and
M
MSolutions A The rear door is open.
G WARNING
When the engine is running, exhaust gases can enter the vehicle
interior if the rear door is open.
There is a risk of poisoning.
X Close the rear door. ? The hood is open.
G WARNING
The open hood may block your view when the vehicle is in motion.
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.
X Secure the vehicle against rolling away (Y page 104).
X Close the hood. D
Power Steering Power Steering
Malfunction See Malfunction See
Operator's Manual Operator's Manual The power steering is malfunctioning.
A warning tone also sounds.
G WARNING
You will need to use more force to steer.
There is a risk of an accident.
X Check whether you are able to apply the extra force required.
X If you are able to steer safely: carefully drive on to a qualified
specialist workshop.
X If you are unable to steer safely: do not drive on. Contact the
nearest qualified specialist workshop. Warning and indicator lamps in the
instrument cluster General notes
This section describes indicator and warning
lamps in the instrument cluster relevant to
safety and solutions. A description of other
indicator and warning lamps in the instrument
cluster and their solutions can be found in the
Digital Operator's Manual. Warning and indicator lamps in the instrument cluster
157On-board computer and displays Z

Safety
Seat belts Problem Possible causes/consequences and
M
MSolutions 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 49).
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 49).
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. In
addition, you are driving faster than 15 mph (25 km/h) or you have
briefly driven faster than 15 mph (25 km/h).
X Fasten your seat belt (Y page 49).
The warning lamp goes out and the intermittent warning tone
ceases. There are objects on the front-passenger seat. In addition, you are
driving faster than 15 mph (25 km/h) or you 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. 158
Warning and indicator lamps in the instrument clusterOn-board computer and displays

Safety systems
Problem Possible causes/consequences and
M
MSolutions $
(USA only)
J (Canada only)
USA only: the red
brake system warning
lamp is lit while the
engine is running. A
warning tone also
sounds.
Canada only: the
yellow brake system
warning lamp is lit while
the engine is running. A
warning tone also
sounds. G
WARNING
The brake boosting effect is malfunctioning and the braking
characteristics may be affected.
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 104).
X Consult a qualified specialist workshop.
X Observe the additional display messages in the multifunction
display. $
(USA only)
J (Canada only)
USA only: the red
brake system warning
lamp is lit while the
engine is running. A
warning tone also
sounds.
Canada only: the
yellow brake system
warning lamp is lit 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 104).
X Do not add brake fluid. Adding more will not remedy the
malfunction.
X Consult a qualified specialist workshop.
X Observe the additional display messages in the multifunction
display. Warning and indicator lamps in the instrument cluster
159On-board computer and displays Z

Problem Possible causes/consequences and
M
MSolutions !
The yellow ABS warning
lamp is lit while the
engine is running.
ABS (Anti-lock Braking System) is deactivated due to a
malfunction. BAS (Brake Assist), ESP
®
(Electronic Stability
Program), the HOLD function, hill start assist, the adaptive brake
lights 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. 160
Warning and indicator lamps in the instrument clusterOn-board computer and displays

Problem Possible causes/consequences and
M
MSolutions !
The yellow ABS warning
lamp is lit while the
engine is running.
ABS is temporarily unavailable. BAS, ESP
®
, EBD (electronic brake
force distribution), the HOLD function, hill start assist, ESP ®
trailer
stabilization and the adaptive brake lights, for example, are
therefore also deactivated.
Possible causes are:
R self-diagnosis is not yet complete.
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. Warning and indicator lamps in the instrument cluster
161On-board computer and displays Z

Problem Possible causes/consequences and
M
MSolutions !
The yellow ABS warning
lamp is lit while the
engine is running. A
warning tone also
sounds.
EBD is malfunctioning. Therefore, ABS, BAS, ESP
®
, the HOLD
function, hill start assist, the adaptive brake lights and ESP ®
trailer
stabilization are also not available, 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. !
The yellow ABS warning
lamp is lit while the
engine is running.
You have engaged the differential locks. ABS is deactivated.
X
Disengage the differential locks.
Subsequently ABS is reactivated. $
(USA only)
J (Canada only)
֌!
The yellow 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, the HOLD
function, hill start assist, the adaptive brake lights and ESP ®
trailer
stabilization, for example, are also not available.
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. 162
Warning and indicator lamps in the instrument clusterOn-board computer and displays

Problem Possible causes/consequences and
M
MSolutions ÷
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 PLUS 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 61).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 61).
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. ֌
The yellow ESP
®
and
ESP ®
OFF warning
lamps are lit while the
engine is running. ESP
®
, BAS, the HOLD function, hill start assist, the adaptive brake
lights 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. Warning and indicator lamps in the instrument cluster
163On-board computer and displays Z