Safety systems
Warning/
indicator
lampNSignal type
Possible causes/consequences and M
Solutions
J$N$ (USA only), J(Canada only): the red brake system warning lamp is lit
while the engine is running.
PLUG-IN HYBRID vehicles:
The red brake system warning lamp is shown in the READY driving status.
A warning tone also sounds.
GWARNING
The brake boosting effect is malfunctioning and the braking characteristics may be
affected.
There is a risk of an accident.
XPull over and stop the vehicle safely as soon as possible, paying attention to road
and traffic conditions. Do not continue driving under any circumstances.
XSecure the vehicle against rolling away (Ypage 178).
XConsult a qualified specialist workshop.
XObserve the additional display messages in the multifunction display.
J$N $ (USA only), J(Canada only): the red brake system warning lamp is lit
while the engine is running.
PLUG-IN HYBRID vehicles:
The red brake system warning lamp is shown in the READY driving status.
A warning tone also sounds.
GWARNING
There is not enough brake fluid in the brake fluid reservoir.
There is a risk of an accident.
XPull over and stop the vehicle safely as soon as possible, paying attention to road
and traffic conditions. Do not continue driving under any circumstances.
XSecure the vehicle against rolling away (Ypage 178).
XDo not add brake fluid. Adding more will not correct the malfunction.
XConsult a qualified specialist workshop.
XObserve the additional display messages in the multifunction display.
Warning and indicator lamps in the instrument cluster317
On-board computer and displays
Z
Warning/
indicator
lampNSignal type
Possible causes/consequences and M
Solutions
J$N$ (USA only), J(Canada only): the red brake system warning lamp is lit
while the engine is running.
PLUG-IN HYBRID vehicles:
The red brake system warning lamp is shown in the READY driving status.
A warning tone also sounds.
GWARNING
RBS is malfunctioning. Pedal travel may be longer than usual and braking per-
formance may be affected.
There is a risk of an accident.
XPull over and stop the vehicle safely as soon as possible, paying attention to road
and traffic conditions. Do not continue driving under any circumstances.
XSecure the vehicle against rolling away (Ypage 178).
XConsult a qualified specialist workshop.
XObserve the additional display messages in the multifunction display.
éN The yellow RBS (Recuperative Brake System) warning lamp is lit while the engine
is running.
PLUG-IN HYBRID vehicles:
The yellow RBS (Recuperative Brake System) warning lamp is on in driving condi-
tion READY.
A warning tone also sounds.
GWARNING
RBS is malfunctioning. Pedal travel may be longer than usual and braking per-
formance may be affected.
There is a risk of an accident.
XIf the multifunction display shows a display message, please observe this.
XDrive on carefully.
XVisit a qualified specialist workshop immediately.
$N USA only: the red brake system warning lamp is lit while the engine is running.
The multifunction display also shows a display message with the #symbol.
The brake pads/linings have reached their wear limit.
XVisit a qualified specialist workshop.
318Warning and indicator lamps in the instrument cluster
On-board computer and displays
Warning/
indicator
lampNSignal type
Possible causes/consequences and M
Solutions
!NThe yellow ABS warning lamp is lit while the engine is running.
PLUG-IN HYBRID vehicles:
The yellow ABS warning lamp is shown in the READY driving status.
ABS (Anti-lock Braking System) is deactivated due to a malfunction. BAS (Brake
Assist), BAS PLUS with Cross-Traffic Assist, COLLISION PREVENTION ASSIST
PLUS, ESP
®(Electronic Stability Program), ESP®trailer stabilization, EBD (Elec-
tronic Brake-force Distribution), PRE ‑SAFE®, PRE‑SAFE®PLUS, PRE ‑SAFE®Brake,
HOLD function, hill start assist, Crosswind Assist, STEER CONTROL, Active Lane
Keeping Assist and Active Blind Spot Assist, for example, are therefore also deac-
tivated.
In addition, the ÷andå warning lamps may light up in the instrument
cluster.
ATTENTION ASSIST is deactivated.
GWARNING
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.
XObserve the additional display messages in the multifunction display.
XDrive on carefully.
XVisit a qualified specialist workshop immediately.
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 cluster319
On-board computer and displays
Z
Warning/
indicator
lampNSignal type
Possible causes/consequences and M
Solutions
!NThe yellow ABS warning lamp is lit while the engine is running.
PLUG-IN HYBRID vehicles:
The yellow ABS warning lamp is shown in the READY driving status.
ABS is temporarily unavailable. BAS, BAS PLUS with Cross-Traffic Assist, COLLI-
SION PREVENTION ASSIST PLUS, ESP
®, ESP®trailer stabilization, EBD,
PRE‑ SAFE®, PRE ‑SAFE®PLUS, PRE ‑SAFE®Brake, HOLD function, hill start assist,
Crosswind Assist, STEER CONTROL, Active Lane Keeping Assist and Active Blind
Spot Assist, for example, are therefore also deactivated.
In addition, the ÷andå warning lamps may light up in the instrument
cluster.
ATTENTION ASSIST is deactivated.
Possible causes are:
Rself-diagnosis is not yet complete.
Rthe on-board voltage may be insufficient.
GWARNING
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 exam-
ple.
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.
XCarefully 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:
XObserve the additional display messages in the multifunction display.
XDrive on carefully.
XVisit a qualified specialist workshop immediately.
320Warning and indicator lamps in the instrument cluster
On-board computer and displays
Warning/
indicator
lampNSignal type
Possible causes/consequences and M
Solutions
!NThe yellow ABS warning lamp is lit while the engine is running.
PLUG-IN HYBRID vehicles:
The yellow ABS warning lamp is shown in the READY driving status.
EBD is not available due to a malfunction. ABS, BAS, BAS PLUS with Cross-Traffic
Assist, COLLISION PREVENTION ASSIST PLUS, ESP
®, ESP®trailer stabilization,
PRE‑SAFE®, PRE ‑SAFE®PLUS, PRE ‑SAFE®Brake, HOLD function, hill start assist,
Crosswind Assist, STEER CONTROL, Active Lane Keeping Assist and Active Blind
Spot Assist, for example, are therefore also deactivated.
In addition, the ÷andå warning lamps may light up in the instrument
cluster.
ATTENTION ASSIST is deactivated.
GWARNING
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 exam-
ple.
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.
XObserve the additional display messages in the multifunction display.
XDrive on carefully.
XVisit a qualified specialist workshop immediately.
$J
֌
!N $ (USA only), J(Canada only): the red brake warning lamp and the yellow
ESP®, ESP®OFF and ABS warning lamps are lit while the engine is running.
PLUG-IN HYBRID vehicles:
ABS and ESP
®are malfunctioning. BAS, BAS PLUS, COLLISION PREVENTION
ASSIST PLUS, ESP®trailer stabilization, PRE‑SAFE®, PRE‑SAFE®PLUS,
PRE‑SAFE®Brake, HOLD function, hill start assist, Crosswind Assist, STEER CON-
TROL, Active Lane Keeping Assist and Active Blind Spot Assist, for example, are
therefore also deactivated.
ATTENTION ASSIST is deactivated.
GWARNING
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 exam-
ple.
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.
XObserve the additional display messages in the multifunction display.
XDrive on carefully.
XVisit a qualified specialist workshop immediately.
Warning and indicator lamps in the instrument cluster321
On-board computer and displays
Z
Warning/
indicator
lampNSignal type
Possible causes/consequences and M
Solutions
÷NThe 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.
XWhen pulling away, only depress the accelerator pedal as far as necessary.
XEase off the accelerator pedal while the vehicle is in motion.
XAdapt your driving style to suit the road and weather conditions.
XDo not deactivate ESP®.
In rare cases (
Ypage 72), it may be best to deactivate ESP®.
Observe the important safety notes on ESP®(Ypage 72).
åN The yellow ESP®OFF warning lamp is lit while the engine is running.
PLUG-IN HYBRID vehicles:
The yellow ESP
®OFF warning lamp is lit in the READY driving status.
ESP®is deactivated.
GWARNING
If ESP
®is switched off, ESP®is unable to stabilize the vehicle.
Further driving systems or driving safety systems are thus restricted, e.g. Active
Blind Spot Assist. The system does not perform course-correcting brake applica-
tions.
There is an increased risk of skidding and an accident.
XReactivate ESP®.
In rare cases (
Ypage 72), it may be best to deactivate ESP®.
Observe the important safety notes on ESP®(Ypage 72).
XAdapt your driving style to suit the road and weather conditions.
If ESP
®cannot be activated:
XDrive on carefully.
XContact a qualified specialist workshop and have ESP®checked.
322Warning and indicator lamps in the instrument cluster
On-board computer and displays
Warning/
indicator
lampNSignal type
Possible causes/consequences and M
Solutions
÷åNThe yellow ESP®and ESP®OFF warning lamps are lit while the engine is running.
PLUG-IN HYBRID vehicles:
The yellow ESP
®and ESP®OFF warning lamps are lit in the READY driving status.
ESP®, BAS, BAS PLUS with Cross-Traffic Assist, COLLISION PREVENTION ASSIST
PLUS, ESP®trailer stabilization, PRE‑ SAFE®, PRE‑SAFE®PLUS, PRE‑ SAFE®Brake,
HOLD function, hill start assist, Crosswind, STEER CONTROL, Active Lane Keeping
Assist and Active Blind Spot Assist are unavailable due to a malfunction.
ATTENTION ASSIST is deactivated.
GWARNING
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.
XObserve the additional display messages in the multifunction display.
XDrive on carefully.
XVisit a qualified specialist workshop immediately.
÷åN The yellow ESP®and ESP®OFF warning lamps are lit while the engine is running.
PLUG-IN HYBRID vehicles:
The yellow ESP
®and ESP®OFF warning lamps are lit in the READY driving status.
ESP®, BAS, BAS PLUS with Cross-Traffic Assist, COLLISION PREVENTION ASSIST
PLUS, ESP®trailer stabilization, PRE‑ SAFE®, PRE‑SAFE®PLUS, PRE‑ SAFE®Brake,
HOLD function, hill start assist, Crosswind, STEER CONTROL, Active Lane Keeping
Assist and Active Blind Spot Assist are unavailable due to a malfunction.
ATTENTION ASSIST is deactivated.
Self-diagnosis is not yet complete.
GWARNING
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.
XCarefully 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:
XObserve the additional display messages in the multifunction display.
XDrive on carefully.
XVisit a qualified specialist workshop immediately.
Warning and indicator lamps in the instrument cluster323
On-board computer and displays
Z
Warning/
indicator
lampNSignal type
Possible causes/consequences and M
Solutions
F!NF (USA only), !(Canada only): the red indicator lamp for the electric
parking brake flashes or is lit and/or the yellow warning lamp for the electric
parking brake is lit.
XObserve the additional display messages in the multifunction display.
6N The red restraint system warning lamp is lit while the engine is running.
The restraint system is faulty.
GWARNING
The air bags or Emergency Tensioning Devices may either be triggered uninten-
tionally or, in the event of an accident, may not be triggered.
There is an increased risk of injury.
XObserve the additional display messages in the multifunction display.
XDrive on carefully.
XContact a qualified specialist workshop and have the restraint system checked.
For further information about the restraint system, see (
Ypage 44).
324Warning and indicator lamps in the instrument cluster
On-board computer and displays