Safety systems
Warning/
indicator
lampNSignal type
Possible causes/consequences and M
Solutions
$J
òN$ (USA only) or J(Canada only): the ABS and brake warning lamps are
lit while the engine is running.
EBD is unavailable due to a malfunction. ABS, BAS, hill start assist and ESP
®as well
as its driving safety systems, for example, are therefore also unavailable.
ATTENTION ASSIST is deactivated and other driving systems could be automati-
cally deactivated.
GWARNING
The brake system continues to function normally, but without the functions listed
above. The wheels could therefore lock prematurely if you brake hard, for example.
This causes steerability and braking to be greatly impaired. The braking distance
can increase in emergency braking situations.
If ESP
®is not operational, ESP®will not stabilize the vehicle.
There is an increased risk of skidding and accidents.
XSwitch the engine off, wait briefly and start the engine again.
XCheck if the display message has disappeared and ESP®is operational.
XIf the display message continues to be displayed:
RDrive on with care.
RVisit a qualified specialist workshop immediately.
$JN The red $(USA only) or J(Canada only) brake system warning lamp is lit
while the engine is running. An additional warning tone sounds.
There is insufficient brake fluid in the brake fluid reservoir.
GWARNING
Braking performance can be impaired.
There is a risk of an accident.
XStop the vehicle immediately, paying attention to road and traffic conditions. Do
not continue driving under any circumstances.
XSecure the vehicle to prevent it from rolling away (Ypage 133).
XDo not add brake fluid. Adding more will not remedy the malfunction.
XConsult a qualified specialist workshop.
XObserve the display messages.
Indicator and warning lamps in the instrument cluster221
On-board computer and displays
Z
Warning/
indicator
lampNSignal type
Possible causes/consequences and M
Solutions
ò!NThe yellow ABS warning lamp is lit while the engine is running.
ABS has been deactivated due to a malfunction. BAS, hill start assist and ESP®as
well as its driving safety systems, for example, are therefore also deactivated.
ATTENTION ASSIST is deactivated and other driving systems could be automati-
cally deactivated.
GWARNING
The brake system continues to function normally, but without the functions listed
above. The wheels could therefore lock prematurely if you brake hard, for example.
This causes steerability and braking to be greatly impaired. The braking distance
can increase in emergency braking situations.
If ESP
®is not operational, ESP®will not stabilize the vehicle.
There is an increased risk of skidding and accidents.
XSwitch the engine off, wait briefly and start the engine again.
XCheck if the display message has disappeared and ESP®is operational.
XIf the display message continues to be displayed:
RDrive on with care.
RVisit a qualified specialist workshop immediately.
If the ABS control unit is faulty, there is also a possibility that other systems, such
as the automatic transmission, will be restricted or unavailable.
÷N The yellow ESP®warning lamp flashes while the vehicle is in motion.
ESP®or traction control is intervening because there is a risk of skidding or at least
one wheel has started to spin.
Cruise control is automatically deactivated.
XWhen starting off, do not depress the accelerator pedal more than is necessary.
XEase off the accelerator pedal while driving.
XAdapt your driving style to suit the weather and road conditions.
XDo not deactivate ESP®.
In rare cases , it may be best to deactivate ESP®(Ypage 66).
222Indicator and warning lamps in the instrument cluster
On-board computer and displays
Warning/
indicator
lampNSignal type
Possible causes/consequences and M
Solutions
÷NThe yellow ESP®warning lamp is lit while the engine is running.
ESP®, BAS, hill start assist, ESP®trailer stabilization and Crosswind Assist are
unavailable due to a malfunction.
ATTENTION ASSIST is deactivated and other driving systems could be automati-
cally 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®will not stabilize the vehicle.
There is an increased risk of skidding and accidents.
XSwitch the engine off, wait briefly and start the engine again.
XCheck if the display message has disappeared and ESP®is operational.
XIf the display message continues to be displayed:
RDrive on with care.
RVisit a qualified specialist workshop immediately.
Indicator and warning lamps in the instrument cluster223
On-board computer and displays
Z
Warning/
indicator
lampNSignal type
Possible causes/consequences and M
Solutions
åNThe yellow ESP®OFF warning lamp is lit while the engine is running or the ECO
start/stop function is activated.
ESP
®is deactivated. ESP®trailer stabilization and Crosswind Assist are deacti-
vated.
GWARNING
If ESP
®is deactivated, vehicle stabilization assistance is significantly reduced.
There is an increased risk of skidding and accidents.
XReactivate ESP®.
In rare cases , it may be best to deactivate ESP®(Ypage 66).
XAdapt your driving style to suit the weather and road conditions.
If ESP
®cannot be activated:
XDrive on with care.
XHave ESP®checked at a qualified specialist workshop.
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 display messages.
XDrive on with care.
XHave the restraint system and its components checked immediately at a quali- fied specialist workshop.
Further information on the restraint system and its components can be found
under "Occupant safety" (
Ypage 45).
224Indicator and warning lamps in the instrument cluster
On-board computer and displays
Engine
Warning/
indicator
lampNSignal type
Possible causes/consequences and M
Solutions
;NThe yellow Check Engine warning lamp lights up while the engine is running.
There may be a malfunction, for example:
Rin the engine management
Rin the transmission management
Rin the fuel injection system
Rin the exhaust system
Rin the ignition system (for vehicles with a gasoline engine)
Rin the fuel system
The emission limit values may be exceeded and the engine may be running in
emergency mode.
XHave the vehicle checked as soon as possible at a qualified specialist workshop.
æN The yellow reserve fuel warning lamp is on while the engine is running.
The fuel level has dropped to the reserve range.
XRefuel at the nearest gas station.
?N The red coolant warning lamp comes on while the engine is running.
On vehicles without steering wheel buttons, the coolant temperature gage is at the
start of the bar display (
Ypage 173).
On vehicles with steering wheel buttons, the coolant temperature gage is at the
start of the scale in the instrument cluster (
Ypage 39).
The temperature sensor for the coolant temperature gage is faulty.
The coolant temperature is no longer being monitored. There is a risk of engine
damage if the coolant temperature is too high.
XStop the vehicle immediately, paying attention to road and traffic conditions,
and switch off the engine. Do not continue driving under any circumstances.
XSecure the vehicle to prevent it from rolling away (Ypage 133).
XConsult a qualified specialist workshop.
Indicator and warning lamps in the instrument cluster225
On-board computer and displays
Z
Warning/
indicator
lampNSignal type
Possible causes/consequences and M
Solutions
?NThe red coolant warning lamp comes on while the engine is running.
The coolant level is too low.
If the coolant level is correct, the airflow to the engine radiator may be blocked or
the electric engine radiator fan may be malfunctioning.
The coolant is too hot and the engine is no longer being cooled sufficiently.
XObserve the display messages.
XStop the vehicle immediately, paying attention to road and traffic conditions,
and switch off the engine.
XSecure the vehicle to prevent it from rolling away (Ypage 133).
XExit the vehicle and keep a safe distance from the vehicle until the engine has
cooled down.
XCheck the coolant level and add coolant, observing the warning notes
(Ypage 253).
XIf you have to add coolant more frequently, have the engine cooling system
checked.
XMake sure that the air supply to the radiator is not obstructed, by frozen slush
for example.
XCheck the coolant temperature:
Rusing the display in the on-board computer on vehicles without steering wheel
buttons (Ypage 173)
Rusing the analog display in the instrument cluster on vehicles with steering
wheel buttons (Ypage 39)
XDo not start the engine again until the coolant temperature is below the maxi-
mum value specified below. The engine could otherwise be damaged.
XDrive to the nearest qualified specialist workshop.
Avoid heavy loads on the engine, e.g. driving in mountainous terrain, and stop-
start traffic.
Under normal operating conditions and with the specified coolant level, the cool-
ant temperature gage may rise to 248 ‡ (120 †).
?N The red coolant warning lamp comes on while the engine is running. An addi-
tional warning tone sounds.
The coolant temperature has exceeded the maximum value specified below. The
airflow to the engine radiator may be blocked or the coolant level may be too low.
GWARNING
The engine is not being cooled adequately and could become damaged.
Never drive with an overheated engine. Otherwise, fluids which may have leaked
into the engine compartment could catch fire.
In addition, steam from an overheated engine can cause serious burns, which can
occur just by opening the hood.
There is a risk of injury.
XObserve the display messages.
XStop the vehicle immediately, paying attention to road and traffic conditions,
and switch off the engine.
XSecure the vehicle to prevent it from rolling away (Ypage 133).
226Indicator and warning lamps in the instrument cluster
On-board computer and displays
Warning/
indicator
lampNSignal type
Possible causes/consequences and M
Solutions
XExit the vehicle and keep a safe distance from the vehicle until the engine has
cooled down.
XCheck the coolant level and add coolant, observing the warning notes
(Ypage 253).
XIf you have to add coolant more frequently, have the engine cooling system
checked.
XMake sure that the air supply to the radiator is not obstructed, by frozen slush
for example.
XCheck the coolant temperature:
Rusing the display in the on-board computer on vehicles without steering wheel
buttons (Ypage 173)
Rusing the analog display in the instrument cluster on vehicles with steering
wheel buttons (Ypage 39)
XIf the coolant temperature is below the maximum value specified below, you can
continue driving to the nearest qualified specialist workshop.
Avoid heavy loads on the engine, e.g. driving in mountainous terrain, and stop-
start traffic.
Under normal operating conditions and with the specified coolant level, the cool-
ant temperature gage may rise to 248 ‡ (120 †).
Driving systems
Warning/
indicator
lampNSignal type
Possible causes/consequences and M
Solutions
·NThe red distance warning lamp lights up while the vehicle is in motion.
The distance to the vehicle in front is too small for the speed selected.
XIncrease the distance.
·N The red distance warning lamp lights up while the vehicle is in motion. An
additional warning tone sounds.
You are approaching a vehicle or a stationary obstacle in your line of travel at too
high a speed.
XBe prepared to brake immediately.
XPay particular attention to the traffic situation. You may have to brake or take
evasive action.
Further information about the distance warning function can be found under
"COLLISION PREVENTION ASSIST" (
Ypage 144).
Indicator and warning lamps in the instrument cluster227
On-board computer and displays
Z
Tires
Warning/
indicator
lampNSignal type
Possible causes/consequences and M
Solutions
hNThe yellow tire pressure monitor warning lamp (pressure loss/malfunction) is lit.
The tire pressure monitor has detected a loss of pressure in at least one of the tires.
GWARNING
Underinflated tires pose the following risks:
RThe tires may burst, especially as the load and vehicle speed increase.
RThe tires may wear excessively and/or unevenly, which may greatly impair tire traction.
RThe handling as well as steering and braking characteristics may be severely
affected.
There is a risk of an accident.
XStop the vehicle without making any sudden steering or braking maneuvers. Pay
attention to the traffic conditions while doing so.
XSecure the vehicle to prevent it from rolling away (Ypage 133).
XObserve the display messages.
XCheck the tires and, if necessary, change the wheel (Ypage 296).
XCheck the tire pressure.
You can check the tire pressure electronically on vehicles with steering wheel
buttons (
Ypage 284).
XIf necessary, correct the tire pressure.
hN The yellow tire pressure monitor (pressure loss/malfunction) warning lamp
flashes for approximately one minute and then remains lit.
The tire pressure monitor is malfunctioning.
GWARNING
The system may not be able to detect or signal low tire pressure as intended.
There is a risk of an accident.
XObserve the display messages.
XVisit a qualified specialist workshop.
228Indicator and warninglamps in the instrument cluster
On-board computer and displays