Get Safety Guide for Mercedes B Class SUV Second Generation (2011-2017)

Panic alarm

To activate: press and hold the

! button : for approx. one second.

A visual and audible alarm is triggered if the

alarm system is armed.

To deactivate: press ! button : again.

Insert the SmartKey into the ignition lock.

or, in vehicles with KEYLESS-GO start-function

or KEYLESS‑GO

Press the Start/Stop button.

The SmartKey must be in the vehicle.

Occupant safety

Introduction to the restraint system

The restraint system can reduce the risk of vehi-

cle occupants coming into contact with parts of

the vehicle's interior in the event of an accident.

The restraint system can also reduce the forces

to which vehicle occupants are subjected during

an accident.

The restraint system comprises:

seat belt system

air bags

child restraint system

child seat securing systems

The components of the restraint system work in

conjunction with each other. They can only

deploy their protective function if, at all times, all

vehicle occupants:

have fastened their seat belts correctly

(Y page 41)

have adjusted their seat and head restraint

properly (Y page 79).

As the driver, you also have to make sure that

the steering wheel is adjusted correctly.

Observe the information relating to the correct

driver's seat position (Y page 79).

You also have to make sure that an air bag can

inflate properly if deployed (Y page 43).

An air bag supplements a correctly worn seat

belt. As an additional safety device, the air bag

increases the level of protection for vehicle

occupants in the event of an accident. For exam-

ple, if, in the event of an accident, the protection

offered by the seat belt is sufficient, the air bags

are not deployed. When an accident occurs, only

the air bags that increase protection in that par-

ticular accident situation are deployed. How-

ever, seat belts and air bags generally do not

protect against objects penetrating the vehicle

from the outside.

Information on restraint system operation can

be found under "Triggering of the Emergency

Tensioning Devices and air bags" (Y page 50).

For information on children traveling with you in

the vehicle and on child restraint systems, see

"Children in the vehicle" (Y page 52).

Important safety notes

WARNING

Modifications to the restraint system may

cause it to no longer work as intended. The

restraint system may then not perform its

intended protective function and may fail in an

accident or trigger unexpectedly, for example.

This poses an increased risk of injury or even

fatal injury.

Never modify parts of the restraint system.

Never tamper with the wiring, the electronic

components or their software.

If it is necessary to modify components of the

restraint system to accommodate a person

with disabilities, contact an authorized

Mercedes-Benz Center for details. USA only:

for further information contact our Customer

Assistance Center at 1-800-FOR-MERCedes

(1‑800‑367‑6372).

Mercedes-Benz recommends that you only use

driving aids which have been approved specifi-

cally for your vehicle by Mercedes-Benz.

Occupant safety

Safety

Restraint system warning lamp

The functions of the restraint system are

checked after the ignition is switched on and at

regular intervals while the drive system is run-

ning. Therefore, malfunctions can be detected in

good time.

The 6 restraint system warning lamp in the

instrument cluster lights up when the ignition is

switched on. It goes out no later than a few sec-

onds after the vehicle is started. The compo-

nents of the restraint system are in operational

readiness.

A malfunction has occurred if the 6 restraint

system warning lamp:

does not light up after the ignition is switched

does not go out after a few seconds with the

drive system running

lights up again while the drive system is run-

ning

DANGER

If the restraint system is malfunctioning,

restraint system components may be trig-

gered unintentionally or may not deploy as

intended during an accident. This can affect

for example the Emergency Tensioning

Device or the air bag. Furthermore, in the

event of an accident, the vehicle's high-volt-

age electrical system may not be deactivated

as intended. You may be electrocuted if you

touch the damaged components of the vehi-

cle's high-voltage electrical system. This

poses an increased risk of injury or even fatal

injury.

Have the restraint system checked and

repaired in a qualified specialist workshop as

soon as possible. After an accident, switch off

the ignition immediately and remove the key

from the ignition lock.

PASSENGER AIR BAG indicator lamp

PASSENGER AIR BAG ON indicator lamp : and

PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF indicator lamp ; are

part of the Occupant Classification System

(OCS).

The indicator lamps display the status of the

front-passenger front air bag.

PASSENGER AIR BAG ON lights up for 60 sec-

onds, subsequently both indicator lamps are

off (PASSENGER AIR BAG ON and OFF): the

front-passenger front air bag is able to deploy

in the event of an accident.

PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF lights up: the front-

passenger front air bag is deactivated. It will

then not be deployed in the event of an acci-

dent.

If the PASSENGER AIR BAG ON indicator lamp is

off, only the PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF indicator

lamp shows the status of the front-passenger

front air bag. The PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF

indicator lamp may be lit continuously or be off.

Depending on the person in the front-passenger

seat, the front-passenger front air bag must

either be deactivated or enabled; see the fol-

lowing points. You must make sure of this both

before and during a journey.

Children in a child restraint system:

whether the front-passenger front air bag is

enabled or deactivated depends on the instal-

led child restraint system, and the age and

size of the child. Therefore, be sure to observe

the notes on the "Occupant Classification

System (OCS)" (Y page 45) and on "Chil-

dren in the vehicle" (Y page 52). There you

will also find instructions on rearward and

forward-facing child restraint systems on the

front-passenger seat.

All other persons: depending on the classi-

fication of the person in the front-passenger

seat, the front-passenger front air bag is ena-

Occupant safety

Safety

bled or deactivated (Y page 45). Be sure to

observe the notes on "Seat

belts“ (Y page 40) and "Air bags"

(Y page 43). There you can also find infor-

mation on the correct seat position.

Seat belts

Introduction

Seat belts are the most effective means of

restricting the movement of vehicle occupants

in the event of an accident or the vehicle rolling

over. This reduces the risk of vehicle occupants

coming into contact with parts of the vehicle

interior or being ejected from the vehicle. Fur-

thermore, the seat belt helps to keep the vehicle

occupant in the best position in relation to the

air bag.

The seat belt system comprises:

Seat belts

Emergency Tensioning Devices for the front

seat belts and the outer seat belts in the rear

Seat belt force limiters for the front seat belts

and the outer seat belts in the rear

If the seat belt is pulled out of the belt outlet

quickly or with a jerky movement, the belt

retractor locks. The belt strap cannot be extrac-

ted any further.

The Emergency Tensioning Device tightens the

seat belt in an accident, pulling the belt close

against the body. However it does not pull the

vehicle occupant back in the direction of the

backrest.

The Emergency Tensioning Device does not cor-

rect an incorrect seat position or the routing of

an incorrectly fastened seat belt.

When triggered, a seat belt force limiter helps to

reduce the force exerted by the seat belt on the

vehicle occupant.

The seat belt force limiters for the front seats are

synchronized with the front air bags, which

absorb part of the deceleration force. This can

reduce the force exerted on the vehicle occu-

pants during an accident.

If the front-passenger seat is unoccupied,

do not insert the belt tongue into the buckle of

the front-passenger seat. This may otherwise

lead to the triggering of the Emergency Ten-

sioning Device in the event of an accident,

which will then need to be replaced.

Important safety notes

The use of seat belts and child restraint systems

is required by law in:

all 50 states

the U.S. territories

the District of Columbia

all Canadian provinces

Even where this is not required by law, all vehicle

occupants should correctly fasten their seat

belts before starting the journey.

WARNING

If the seat belt is not worn correctly, it cannot

perform its intended protective function. An

incorrectly fastened seat belt can also cause

injuries, for example, in the event of an acci-

dent or when braking or changing direction

abruptly. This poses an increased risk of injury

or even fatal injury.

Always ensure that all vehicle occupants have

their seat belts fastened correctly and are sit-

ting properly.

WARNING

The seat belt does not offer the intended level

of protection if you have not moved the back-

rest to an almost vertical position. When brak-

ing or in the event of an accident, you could

slide underneath the seat belt and sustain

abdomen or neck injuries, for example. This

poses an increased risk of injury or even fatal

injury.

Adjust the seat properly before beginning

your journey. Always ensure that the backrest

is in an almost vertical position and that the

shoulder section of your seat belt is routed

across the center of your shoulder.

WARNING

Persons less than 5 ft (1.50 m) tall cannot

wear the seat belt correctly without an addi-

tional and suitable restraint system. If the

seat belt is not worn correctly, it cannot per-

form its intended protective function. An

incorrectly fastened seat belt can also cause

injuries, for example, in the event of an acci-

dent or when braking or changing direction

Occupant safety

Safety

abruptly. This poses an increased risk of injury

or even fatal injury.

For this reason, always secure persons under

5 ft (1.50 m) tall in suitable additional restraint

systems.

If a child younger than twelve years old and

under 5 ft (1.50 m) in height is traveling in the

vehicle:

always secure the child in a child restraint

system suitable for this Mercedes-Benz vehi-

cle. The child restraint system must be appro-

priate to the age, weight and size of the child

always observe the instructions and safety

notes on "Children in the vehicle"

(Y page 52) in addition to the child restraint

system manufacturer's installation and oper-

ating instructions

always observe the instructions and safety

notes on the "Occupant classification system

(OCS)" (Y page 45)

WARNING

The seat belts may not perform their intended

protective function if:

they are damaged, modified, extremely

dirty, bleached or dyed

the seat belt buckle is damaged or

extremely dirty

the Emergency Tensioning Devices, belt

anchorages or inertia reels have been modi-

fied.

Seat belts may be damaged in an accident,

although the damage may not be visible, e.g.

due to splinters of glass. Modified or damaged

seat belts may tear or fail, e.g. in an accident.

Modified Emergency Tensioning Devices

could accidentally trigger or fail to deploy

when necessary. This poses an increased risk

of injury or even fatal injury.

Never modify the seat belts, Emergency Ten-

sioning Devices, belt anchorages and inertia

reels. Make sure that the seat belts are

undamaged, not worn out and clean. Follow-

ing an accident, have the seat belts checked

immediately at a qualified specialist work-

shop.

Only use seat belts that have been approved for

your vehicle by Mercedes-Benz.

Proper use of the seat belts

Observe the safety notes on the seat belt

(Y page 40).

All vehicle occupants must be wearing the seat

belt correctly before beginning the journey. Also

make sure that all vehicle occupants are always

wearing the seat belt correctly while the vehicle

is in motion.

When fastening the seat belt, always make sure

that:

the seat belt tongue is only inserted to the belt

buckle belonging to that seat.

the seat belt is tight across your body.

Avoid wearing bulky clothing, e.g. a winter

coat.

the seat belt is not twisted.

Only then can the forces which occur be dis-

tributed over the area of the belt.

the shoulder section of the belt is always

routed across the center of your shoulder.

The shoulder section of the belt must not

come into contact with your neck or be routed

under your arm. Where possible, adjust the

seat belt to the appropriate height.

the lap belt passes tightly and as low down as

possible across your lap.

The lap belt must always be routed across

your hip joints and not across your abdomen.

This applies particularly to pregnant women.

If necessary, push the lap belt down to your

hip joint and pull it tight using the shoulder

section of the belt.

the seat belt is not routed across sharp, poin-

ted or fragile objects.

If you have such items located on or in your

clothing, e.g. pens, keys or eyeglasses, store

these in a suitable place.

only one person is using a seat belt at a time.

Infants and children must never travel sitting

on the lap of a vehicle occupant. In the event

of an accident, they could be crushed

between the vehicle occupant and seat belt.

objects are never secured with a seat belt if

the seat belt is also being used by one of the

vehicle's occupants.

Also ensure that there are never objects

between a person and the seat, e.g. cushions.

Occupant safety

Safety

Seat belts are only intended to secure and

restrain vehicle occupants. Always observe the

"Loading guidelines" for securing objects, lug-

gage or loads (Y page 207).

Fastening and adjusting the seat belts

Observe the safety notes on the seat belt

(Y page 40)and the notes on correct use of seat

belts (Y page 41).

If the center rear seat belt is being used, also

observe the information about the seat belt for

the center rear seat (Y page 42).

Basic illustration

Adjust the seat (Y page 79).

The seat backrest must be in an almost ver-

tical position.

Pull the seat belt smoothly from the belt out-

let.

Engage seat belt tongue ; in belt buckle :.

If necessary, pull upwards on the shoulder

section of the seat belt to tighten the belt

across your body.

The shoulder section of the seat belt must

always be routed across the center of the shoul-

der. Adjust the belt outlet if necessary.

To raise: slide the belt outlet upwards.

The belt outlet will engage in various posi-

tions.

To lower: hold belt outlet release = and slide

belt outlet downwards.

Let go of belt outlet release = in the desired

position and make sure that the belt outlet

engages.

All seat belts except the driver's seat belt are

equipped with a special seat belt retractor to

securely fasten child restraint systems in the

vehicle. Further information can be found under

"Special seat belt retractor" (Y page 53).

Seat belt for the center rear seat

If the left-hand rear seat backrest is folded down

and back up again, the rear center seat belt may

lock. The seat belt can then not be pulled out.

To release the rear center seat belt: pull

the seat belt out approximately 1 in (25 mm)

at the belt outlet on the backrest and then

release it again.

The seat belt is retracted and released.

Releasing seat belts

Make sure that the seat belt is fully rolled up.

Otherwise, the seat belt or belt tongue will be

trapped in the door or in the seat mechanism.

This could damage the door, the door trim

panel and the seat belt. Damaged seat belts

can no longer fulfill their protective function

and must be replaced. Visit a qualified spe-

cialist workshop.

Press the release button in the belt buckle,

hold the belt tongue firmly and guide the belt

back.

Belt warning for the driver and front

passenger

The 7 seat belt warning lamp in the instru-

ment cluster is a reminder that all vehicle occu-

pants must wear their seat belts. It may light up

continuously or flash. In addition, there may be

a warning tone.

Regardless of whether the driver's seat belt has

already been fastened, the 7 seat belt warn-

ing lamp lights up for six seconds each time the

drive system is started. If the front doors are

closed and the driver or front-passenger seat

belt has not been fastened, the 7 seat belt

warning lamp lights up again after the

six seconds. As soon as the driver's and front-

passenger seat belts are fastened or a front door

is opened again, the 7 seat belt warning

lamp goes out.

If the driver's seat belt is not fastened after the

drive system is started, an additional warning

tone will sound. The warning tone switches off

after six seconds or once the driver's seat belt is

fastened.

If the vehicle's speed exceeds 15 mph

(25 km/h) once and the driver's and front-

passenger seat belts are not fastened, a warning

tone sounds. A warning tone also sounds with

Occupant safety

Safety

increasing intensity for 60 seconds or until the

driver or front passenger have fastened their

seat belts.

If the driver or front passenger unfasten their

seat belts during the journey, the seat belt warn-

ing is activated again.

Air bags

Introduction

The installation point of an air bag can be rec-

ognized by the AIR BAG symbol.

An air bag complements the correctly fastened

seat belt. It is no substitute for the seat belt. The

air bag provides additional protection in appli-

cable accident situations.

Not all air bags are deployed in an accident. The

different air bag systems function independ-

ently from one another (Y page 50).

However, no system available today can com-

pletely eliminate injuries and fatalities.

It is also not possible to rule out a risk of injury

caused by an air bag due to the high speed at

which the air bag must be deployed.

Important safety notes

WARNING

If you do not sit in the correct seat position,

the air bag cannot protect as intended and

could even cause additional injury when

deployed. This poses an increased risk of

injury or even fatal injury.

To avoid hazardous situations, always make

sure that all of the vehicle's occupants:

have fastened their seat belts correctly,

including pregnant women

are sitting correctly and maintain the great-

est possible distance to the air bags

follow the following instructions

Always make sure that there are no objects

between the air bag and the vehicle's occu-

pants.

Adjust the seats properly before beginning

your journey. Always make sure that the seat

is in an almost upright position. The center of

the head restraint must support the head at

about eye level.

Move the driver's and front-passenger seats

as far back as possible. The driver's seat posi-

tion must allow the vehicle to be driven safely.

Only hold the steering wheel on the outside.

This allows the air bag to be fully deployed.

Always lean against the backrest while driv-

ing. Do not lean forwards or lean against the

door or side window. You may otherwise be in

the deployment area of the air bags.

Always keep your feet in the footwell in front

of the seat. Do not put your feet on the dash-

board, for example. Your feet may otherwise

be in the deployment area of the air bag.

For this reason, always secure persons less

than 5 ft (1.50 m) tall in suitable restraint sys-

tems. Up to this height, the seat belt cannot

be worn correctly.

If a child is traveling in your vehicle, also

observe the following notes:

Always secure children under twelve years of

age and less than 5 ft (1.50 m) tall in suitable

child restraint systems.

Child restraint systems should be installed on

the rear seats.

Only secure a child in a rearward-facing child

restraint system on the front-passenger seat

when the front-passenger front air bag is

deactivated. If the PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF

indicator lamp is permanently lit, the front-

passenger front air bag is deactivated

(Y page 39).

Always observe the instructions and safety

notes on the "Occupant Classification System

(OCS)" (Y page 45) and on "Children in the

vehicle" (Y page 52)in addition to the child

restraint system manufacturer's installation

and operating instructions.

Objects in the vehicle interior may prevent

an air bag from functioning correctly. Before

starting your journey and to avoid risks resulting

from the speed of the air bag as it deploys, make

sure that:

there are no people, animals or objects

between the vehicle occupants and an air

bag.

there are no objects between the seat, door

and B-pillar.

no hard objects, e.g. coat hangers, hang on

the grab handles or coat hooks.

Occupant safety

Safety

no accessories, such as cup holders, are

attached to the vehicle within the deployment

area of an air bag, e.g. to doors, side windows,

rear side trim or side walls.

no heavy, sharp-edged or fragile objects are in

the pockets of your clothing. Store such

objects in a suitable place.

WARNING

If you modify the air bag cover or affix objects

such as stickers to it, the air bag can no longer

function correctly. There is an increased risk

of injury.

Never modify an air bag cover or affix objects

to it.

WARNING

Sensors to control the air bags are located in

the doors. Modifications or work not per-

formed correctly to the doors or door panel-

ing, as well as damaged doors, can lead to the

function of the sensors being impaired. The air

bags might therefore not function properly

anymore. Consequently, the air bags cannot

protect vehicle occupants as they are

designed to do. There is an increased risk of

injury.

Never modify the doors or parts of the doors.

Always have work on the doors or door pan-

eling carried out at a qualified specialist work-

shop.

Front air bags

Do not place heavy objects on the front-

passenger seat. This could cause the system

to identify the seat as being occupied. In the

event of an accident, the restraint systems on

the front-passenger side may be triggered

and have to be replaced.

Driver's air bag : deploys in front of the steer-

ing wheel. Front-passenger front air bag ;

deploys in front of and above the glove box.

When deployed, the front air bags offer addi-

tional head and thorax protection for the occu-

pants in the front seats.

The PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF indicator lamp

informs you about the status of the front-

passenger front air bag (Y page 39).

The front-passenger front air bag will only

deploy if:

the system, based on the OCS weight sensor

readings, detects that the front-passenger

seat is occupied (Y page 45). The

PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF indicator lamp is

not lit (Y page 46)

the restraint system control unit predicts a

high accident severity

Driver's knee bag

Driver's knee bag : deploys under the steering

column. The driver's knee bag is triggered

together with the front air bag.

The driver's knee bag offers additional thigh,

knee and lower leg protection for the occupant

in the driver's seat.

Occupant safety

Safety

Side impact air bags

WARNING

Unsuitable seat covers can obstruct or pre-

vent deployment of the air bags integrated

into the seats. Consequently, the air bags

cannot protect vehicle occupants as they are

designed to do. In addition, the operation of

the occupant classification system (OCS)

could be adversely affected. This poses an

increased risk of injury or even fatal injury.

You should only use seat covers that have

been approved for the respective seat by

Mercedes-Benz.

Front side impact air bags : and rear side

impact air bags ; deploy next to the outer bol-

ster of the seat backrest.

When deployed, the side impact air bag offers

additional thorax protection. It also offers addi-

tional pelvis protection for occupants in the

front seats. However, it does not protect the:

head

neck

arms

In the event of a side impact, the side impact air

bag is deployed on the side on which the impact

occurs.

The side impact air bag on the front-passenger

side deploys under the following conditions:

the OCS system detects that the front-

passenger seat is occupied or

the seat belt buckle tongue is engaged in the

belt buckle of the front-passenger seat

If the belt tongue is engaged in the belt buckle,

the side impact air bag on the front-passenger

side deploys if an appropriate accident situation

occurs. In this case, deployment is independent

of whether the front-passenger seat is occupied

or not.

Window curtain air bags

Window curtain air bags : are integrated into

the side of the roof frame and deployed in the

area from the A-pillar to the C-pillar.

When deployed, the window curtain air bag

enhances the level of protection for the head.

However, it does not protect the chest or arms.

In the event of a side impact, the window curtain

air bag is deployed on the side on which the

impact occurs.

If the system determines that they can offer

additional protection to that provided by the

seat belt, a window curtain air bag may be

deployed in other accident situations

(Y page 50).

Occupant Classification System

(OCS)

Introduction

The Occupant Classification System (OCS) cat-

egorizes the person in the front-passenger seat.

Depending on that result, the front-passenger

front air bag is either enabled or deactivated.

The system does not deactivate:

the side impact air bag

the window curtain air bag

the Emergency Tensioning Devices

Occupant safety

Safety

Requirements

To be classified correctly, the front passenger

must sit:

with the seat belt fastened correctly

in an almost upright position with their back

against the seat backrest

with their feet resting on the floor, if possible

If the front passenger does not observe these

conditions, OCS may produce a false classifica-

tion, e.g. because the front passenger:

transfers their weight by supporting them-

selves on a vehicle armrest

sits in such a way that their weight is raised

from the seat cushion

If it is absolutely necessary to install a child

restraint system on the front-passenger seat, be

sure to observe the correct positioning of the

child restraint system. Never place objects

under or behind the child restraint system, e.g. a

cushion. The entire base of the child restraint

system must always rest on the seat cushion of

the front-passenger seat. The backrest of the

forward-facing child restraint system must lie as

flat as possible against the backrest of the front-

passenger seat.

The child restraint system must not touch the

roof or be subjected to a load by the head

restraint. Adjust the angle of the seat backrest

and the head restraint position accordingly.

Only then can OCS be guaranteed to function

correctly. Always observe the child restraint sys-

tem manufacturer's installation and operating

instructions.

Operation of Occupant Classification

System (OCS)

PASSENGER AIR BAG ON indicator lamp

;

PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF indicator lamp

The indicator lamps inform you whether the

front-passenger front air bag is deactivated or

enabled.

Press the Start/Stop button once or twice, or

turn the SmartKey to position 1 or 2 in the

ignition lock.

The system carries out self-diagnostics.

The PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF and PASSENGER

AIR BAG ON indicator lamps must light up simul-

taneously for approximately six seconds.

The indicator lamps display the status of the

front-passenger front air bag.

PASSENGER AIR BAG ON lights up for 60 sec-

onds, subsequently both indicator lamps are

off (PASSENGER AIR BAG ON and OFF): the

front-passenger front air bag is able to deploy

in the event of an accident.

PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF lights up: the front-

passenger front air bag is deactivated. It will

then not be deployed in the event of an acci-

dent.

If the PASSENGER AIR BAG ON indicator lamp is

off, only the PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF indicator

lamp shows the status of the front-passenger

front air bag. The PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF

indicator lamp may be lit continuously or be off.

If the status of the front-passenger front air bag

changes while the vehicle is in motion, an air bag

display message appears in the instrument clus-

ter (Y page 176). When the front-passenger

seat is occupied, always pay attention to the

PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF indicator lamp. Be

aware of the status of the front-passenger front

air bag both before and during the journey.

WARNING

If the PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF indicator

lamp is lit, the front-passenger front air bag is

disabled. It will not be deployed in the event of

an accident and cannot perform its intended

protective function. A person in the front-

passenger seat could then, for example, come

into contact with the vehicle's interior, espe-

cially if the person is sitting too close to the

dashboard. This poses an increased risk of

injury or even fatal injury.

When the front-passenger seat is occupied,

always ensure that:

the classification of the person in the front-

passenger seat is correct and the front-

Occupant safety

Safety

passenger front air bag is enabled or disa-

bled in accordance with the person in the

front-passenger seat

the front-passenger seat has been moved

back as far back as possible.

the person is seated correctly.

Make sure, both before and during the jour-

ney, that the status of the front-passenger

front air bag is correct.

WARNING

If you secure a child in a rearward-facing child

restraint system on the front-passenger seat

and the PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF indicator

lamp is off, the front-passenger front air bag

may deploy in the event of an accident. The

child could be struck by the air bag. This poses

an increased risk of injury or even fatal injury.

Make sure that the front-passenger front air

bag has been disabled. The PASSENGER AIR

BAG OFF indicator lamp must be lit.

If the PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF indicator lamp

stays off, do not install a rearward-facing child

restraint system on the front-passenger seat.

You can find more information on OCS under

"Problems with the Occupant Classification Sys-

tem" (Y page 49).

WARNING

If you secure a child in a forward-facing child

restraint system on the front-passenger seat

and you position the front-passenger seat too

close to the dashboard, in the event of an

accident, the child could:

come into contact with the vehicle's inte-

rior if the PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF indi-

cator lamp is lit, for example

be struck by the air bag if the PASSENGER

AIR BAG OFF indicator lamp is off

This poses an increased risk of injury or even

fatal injury.

Always move the front-passenger seat as far

back as possible and fully retract the seat

cushion length. Always make sure that the

shoulder belt strap is correctly routed from

the vehicle belt sash guide to the shoulder

belt guide on the child restraint system. The

shoulder belt strap must be routed forwards

and downwards from the vehicle belt sash

guide. If necessary, adjust the vehicle belt

sash guide and the front-passenger seat

accordingly. Always observe the child

restraint system manufacturer's installation

instructions.

If OCS determines that:

the front-passenger seat is unoccupied, the

PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF indicator lamp

lights up after the system self-test and

remains lit. This indicates that the front-

passenger front air bag is deactivated.

the front-passenger seat is occupied by a

child of up to twelve months old, in a standard

child restraint system, the PASSENGER AIR

BAG OFF indicator lamp lights up after the

system self-test and remains lit. This indi-

cates that the front-passenger front air bag is

deactivated.

But even in the case of a twelve-month-old

child, in a standard child restraint system, the

PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF indicator lamp can

go out after the system self-test. This indi-

cates that the front-passenger front air bag is

activated. The result of the classification is

dependent on, among other factors, the child

restraint system and the child's stature. It is

recommended that you install the child

restraint system on a suitable rear seat.

the front-passenger seat is occupied by a per-

son of smaller stature (e.g. a teenager or

small adult), the PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF

indicator lamp lights up and remains lit after

the system self-test depending on the result

of the classification or, alternatively, goes out.

If the PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF indicator

lamp is off, move the front-passenger seat

as far back as possible. Alternatively, a per-

son of smaller stature can sit on a rear seat.

If the PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF indicator

lamp is lit, a person of smaller stature

should not use the front-passenger seat.

the front-passenger seat is occupied by an

adult or a person of adult stature, the

PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF indicator lamp

goes out after the system self-test. This indi-

cates that the front-passenger front air bag is

activated.

Occupant safety

Safety

If children are traveling in the vehicle, be sure to

observe the notes on "Children in the vehicle"

(Y page 52).

When the occupant classification system (OCS)

is malfunctioning, the red 6 restraint system

warning lamp in the instrument cluster and the

PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF indicator lamp light

up simultaneously. The front-passenger front air

bag is deactivated in this case and does not

deploy during an accident. Have the Occupant

Classification System (OCS) checked and

repaired immediately at a qualified specialist

workshop. Mercedes-Benz recommends that

you use an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center

for this purpose.

If the front-passenger seat, the seat cover or the

seat cushion are damaged, have the necessary

repair work carried out at a qualified specialist

workshop. Mercedes-Benz recommends that

you use an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center

for this purpose.

For safety reasons, Mercedes-Benz recom-

mends that you only use seat accessories that

have been approved by Mercedes-Benz.

If the driver's air bag deploys, this does not

mean that the front-passenger front air bag will

also deploy. The Occupant Classification Sys-

tem (OCS) categorizes the occupant in the front-

passenger seat. Depending on that result, the

front-passenger front air bag is either enabled or

deactivated.

System self-test

DANGER

If both the PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF and

PASSENGER AIR BAG ON indicator lamps do

not light up during the system self-test, the

system is malfunctioning. The front-

passenger front air bag might be triggered

unintentionally or might not be triggered at all

in the event of an accident with high deceler-

ation. This poses an increased risk of injury or

even fatal injury.

In this case the front-passenger seat may not

be used. Do not install a child restraint system

on the front-passenger seat. Have the Occu-

pant Classification System (OCS) checked

and repaired immediately at a qualified spe-

cialist workshop.

WARNING

If the PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF indicator

lamp remains lit after the system self-test, the

front-passenger front air bag is disabled. It will

not be deployed in the event of an accident. In

this case, the front-passenger front air bag

cannot perform its intended protective func-

tion, e.g. when a person is seated in the front-

passenger seat.

That person could, for example, come into

contact with the vehicle's interior, especially

if the person is sitting too close to the dash-

board. This poses an increased risk of injury or

even fatal injury.

When the front-passenger seat is occupied,

always ensure that:

the classification of the person in the front-

passenger seat is correct and the front-

passenger front air bag is enabled or disa-

bled in accordance with the person in the

front-passenger seat

the person is seated properly with a cor-

rectly fastened seatbelt

the front-passenger seat has been moved

as far back as possible

If the PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF indicator

lamp remains lit when it should not, the front-

passenger seat may not be used. Do not

install a child restraint system on the front-

passenger seat. Have the Occupant Classifi-

cation System (OCS) checked and repaired

immediately at a qualified specialist work-

shop.

WARNING

Objects between the seat surface and the

child restraint system could affect OCS oper-

ation. This could result in the front-passenger

air bag not functioning as intended during an

accident. This poses an increased risk of

injury or even fatal injury.

Do not place any objects between the seat

surface and the child restraint system. The

entire base of the child restraint system must

always rest on the seat cushion of the front-

passenger seat. The backrest of the forward-

Occupant safety

Safety

facing child restraint system must, as far as

possible, be resting on the backrest of the

front-passenger seat. Always comply with the

child restraint system manufacturer's instal-

lation instructions.

After the system self-test, the PASSENGER AIR

BAG OFF or PASSENGER AIR BAG ON indicator

lamp displays the status of the front-passenger

front air bag (Y page 46). If the front-passenger

front air bag is enabled, the PASSENGER AIR

BAG ON indicator lamp lights up for 60 seconds

and then goes out.

If the PASSENGER AIR BAG ON indicator lamp is

off, only the PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF indicator

lamp shows the status of the front-passenger

front air bag. The PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF

indicator lamp may be lit continuously or be off.

For more information about the OCS, see "Prob-

lems with the Occupant Classification System"

(Y page 49).

Problems with the Occupant Classification System (OCS)

Be sure to observe the notes on "System self-test" (Y page 48).

Occupant safety

Safety

Problem

Possible causes/consequences and MM Solutions

The PASSENGER AIR

BAG OFF indicator lamp

lights up and remains lit,

even though the front-

passenger seat is occu-

pied by an adult or a per-

son of a stature corre-

sponding to that of an

adult.

The classification of the person on the front-passenger seat is incor-

rect.

Make sure the conditions for a correct classification of the person

on the front-passenger seat are met (Y page 46).

If the PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF indicator lamp remains lit, the front-

passenger seat may not be used.

Have OCS checked as soon as possible at an authorized Mercedes-

Benz Center.

The PASSENGER AIR

BAG OFF indicator lamp

does not light up and/or

does not stay on.

The front-passenger seat

is:

unoccupied

occupied with the

weight of a child up to

twelve months old in a

child restraint system

OCS is malfunctioning.

Make sure there is nothing between the seat cushion and the child

seat.

Make sure that the entire base of the child restraint system rests on

the seat cushion of the front-passenger seat. The backrest of the

forward-facing child restraint system must lie as flat as possible

against the backrest of the front-passenger seat. If necessary,

adjust the position of the front-passenger seat.

Make sure that the seat cushion length is fully retracted.

When installing the child restraint system, make sure that the seat

belt is tight. Do not pull the seat belt tight using the front-passenger

seat adjustment. This could result in the seat belt and the child

restraint system being pulled too tightly.

Check for correct installation of the child restraint system.

Make sure that the head restraint does not apply a load to the child

restraint system. If necessary, adjust the head restraint accord-

ingly.

Make sure that no objects are applying additional weight onto the

seat.

If the PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF indicator lamp remains off and/or

the PASSENGER AIR BAG ON indicator lamp lights up, do not install

a child restraint system on the front-passenger seat. It is recom-

mended that you install the child restraint system on a suitable rear

seat.

Have OCS checked as soon as possible at an authorized Mercedes-

Benz Center.

Deployment of Emergency Tensioning

Devices and air bags

Important safety notes

WARNING

The air bag parts are hot after an air bag has

been deployed. There is a risk of injury.

Do not touch the air bag parts. Have a

deployed air bag replaced at a qualified spe-

cialist workshop as soon as possible.

WARNING

A deployed air bag no longer offers any pro-

tection and cannot provide the intended pro-

tection in an accident. There is an increased

risk of injury.

Have the vehicle towed to a qualified special-

ist workshop in order to have a deployed air

bag replaced.

It is important for your safety and that of your

passenger to have deployed air bags replaced

Occupant safety

Safety

and to have any malfunctioning air bags

repaired. This will help to make sure the air bags

continue to perform their protective function for

the vehicle occupants in the event of a crash.

WARNING

Emergency Tensioning Devices that have

deployed pyrotechnically are no longer opera-

tional and are unable to perform their inten-

ded protective function. This poses an

increased risk of injury or even fatal injury.

Have pyrotechnically triggered Emergency

Tensioning Devices replaced immediately at a

qualified specialist workshop.

If Emergency Tensioning Devices are triggered

or air bags are deployed, you will hear a bang,

and a small amount of powder may also be

released. The 6 restraint system warning

lamp lights up.

Only in rare cases will the bang affect your hear-

ing. The powder that is released generally does

not constitute a health hazard, but it may cause

short-term breathing difficulties in people with

asthma or other respiratory problems. Provided

it is safe to do so, you should leave the vehicle

immediately or open the window in order to pre-

vent breathing difficulties.

Air bags and pyrotechnic Emergency Tensioning

Devices (ETDs) contain perchlorate material,

which may require special handling and regard

for the environment. National guidelines must

be observed during disposal. In California, see

Perchlorate/.

Method of operation

During the first stage of a collision, the restraint

system control unit evaluates important physi-

cal data relating to vehicle deceleration or accel-

eration, such as:

duration

direction

intensity

Based on the evaluation of this data, the

restraint system control unit triggers the Emer-

gency Tensioning Devices during a frontal or

rear collision.

An Emergency Tensioning Device can only be

triggered, if:

the ignition is switched on

the components of the restraint system are

operational. You can find further information

under: "Restraint system warning lamp"

(Y page 39)

the seat belt buckle tongue has engaged in

the belt buckle of the respective front seat

The Emergency Tensioning Devices in the rear

compartment are triggered independently of the

lock status of the seat belts.

If the restraint system control unit detects a

more severe accident, further components of

the restraint system are activated independ-

ently of each other in certain frontal collision

situations:

Front air bags and driver's knee bag

Window curtain air bag, if the system deter-

mines that deployment can offer additional

protection to that provided by the seat belt

The front-passenger front air bag is activated or

deactivated depending on the person on the

front-passenger seat. The front-passenger front

air bag can only deploy in an accident if the

PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF indicator lamp is off.

Observe the information on the PASSENGER AIR

BAG indicator lamps (Y page 39).

Your vehicle has two-stage front air bags. During

the first deployment stage, the front air bag is

filled with propellant gas to reduce the risk of

injuries. The front air bag is fully deployed with

the maximum amount of propellant gas if a sec-

ond deployment threshold is reached within a

few milliseconds.

The activation threshold of the Emergency Ten-

sioning Devices and the air bag are determined

by evaluating the rate of vehicle deceleration or

acceleration which occurs at various points in

the vehicle. This process is pre-emptive in

nature. Deployment should take place in good

time at the start of the collision.

The rate of vehicle deceleration or acceleration

and the direction of the force are essentially

determined by:

the distribution of forces during the collision

the collision angle

the deformation characteristics of the vehicle

the characteristics of the object with which

the vehicle has collided

Factors which can only be seen and measured

after a collision has occurred do not play a deci-

Occupant safety

Safety

sive role in the deployment of an air bag. Nor do

they provide an indication of air bag deploy-

ment.

The vehicle can be deformed considerably, with-

out an air bag being deployed. This is the case if

only parts which are relatively easily deformed

are affected and the rate of deceleration is not

high. Conversely, air bags may be deployed even

though the vehicle suffers only minor deforma-

tion. This is the case if, for example, very rigid

vehicle parts such as longitudinal body mem-

bers are hit, and sufficient deceleration occurs

as a result.

If the restraint system control unit detects a side

impact, the relevant restraint system compo-

nents are deployed independently of each other.

Side impact air bags on the side where the

impact takes place, independently of the

Emergency Tensioning Device and the use of

the seat belt on the driver's seat and outer

seats in the second row

The side impact air bag on the front-

passenger side deploys under the following

conditions:

the OCS system detects that the front-

passenger seat is occupied or

the seat belt buckle tongue is engaged in

the belt buckle of the front-passenger seat

Window curtain air bag on the side of impact,

independently of the use of the seat belt and

independently of whether the front-

passenger seat is occupied

Emergency Tensioning Devices, if the system

determines that deployment can offer addi-

tional protection in this situation

Not all air bags are deployed in an accident.

The different air bag systems work independ-

ently of each other.

How the air bag system works is determined

by the severity of the accident detected,

especially the vehicle deceleration or accel-

eration and the apparent type of accident:

Frontal collision

Side impact

Automatic measures after an acci-

dent

Immediately after an accident, the following

measures are implemented, depending on the

type and severity of the impact:

the hazard warning lamps are activated

the emergency lighting is activated

the vehicle doors are unlocked

the front side windows are lowered

the drive system and the high-voltage electri-

cal system are switched off

vehicles with mbrace: automatic emergency

call

Children in the vehicle

Important safety notes

Accident statistics show that children secured

in the rear seats are safer than children secured

in the front-passenger seat. For this reason,

Mercedes-Benz strongly advises that you install

a child restraint system on a rear seat. Children

are generally better protected there.

If a child younger than twelve years old and

under 5 ft (1.50 m) in height is traveling in the

vehicle:

always secure the child in a child restraint

system suitable for Mercedes-Benz vehicles.

The child restraint system must be appropri-

ate to the age, weight and size of the child

be sure to observe the instructions and safety

notes in this section in addition to the child

restraint system manufacturer's installation

instructions

be sure to observe the instructions and safety

notes on the "Occupant classification system

(OCS)" (Y page 45)

WARNING

If children are left unsupervised in the vehicle,

they could:

open the doors, thus endangering other

people or road users.

get out and disrupt traffic.

operate the vehicle's equipment.

Children in the vehicle

Safety

Additionally, children could set the vehicle in

motion if, for example, they:

release the parking brake.

shift the transmission out of park position P

start the vehicle's drive system.

There is a risk of an accident and injury.

When leaving the vehicle, always take the

SmartKey with you and lock the vehicle. Never

leave children or animals unattended in the

vehicle. Always keep the SmartKey out of

reach of children.

WARNING

If persons, particularly children are subjected

to prolonged exposure to extreme heat or

cold, there is a risk of injury, possibly even

fatal. Never leave children unattended in the

vehicle.

WARNING

If the child restraint system is subjected to

direct sunlight, parts may get very hot. Chil-

dren may burn themselves on these parts,

particularly on the metal parts of the child

restraint system. There is a risk of injury.

If you leave the vehicle, taking the child with

you, always ensure that the child restraint

system is not exposed to direct sunlight. Pro-

tect it with a blanket, for example. If the child

restraint system has been exposed to direct

sunlight, let it cool down before securing the

child in it. Never leave children unattended in

the vehicle.

Always ensure that all vehicle occupants have

their seat belts fastened correctly and are sitting

properly. Particular attention must be paid to

children.

Observe the safety notes on the seat belt

(Y page 40) and the notes on correct use of seat

belts (Y page 41).

A booster seat may be necessary to achieve

proper seat belt positioning for children over

41 lbs(18 kg) until they reach a height where a

three-point seat belt can be properly fastened

without a booster seat.

Special seat belt retractor

WARNING

If the seat belt is released while driving, the

child restraint system will no longer be

secured properly. The special seat belt retrac-

tor is disabled and the inertia real draws in a

portion of the seat belt. The seat belt cannot

be immediately refastened. There is an

increased risk of injury, possibly even fatal.

Stop the vehicle immediately, paying atten-

tion to road and traffic conditions. Reactivate

the special seat belt retractor and secure the

child restraint system properly.

All seat belts except the driver's seat belt are

equipped with a special seat belt retractor.

When activated, the special seat belt retractor

ensures that the seat belt will not slacken once

the child restraint system has been secured.

Installing a child restraint system:

Always comply with the child restraint system

manufacturer's installation instructions.

Pull the seat belt smoothly from the belt out-

let.

Engage the seat belt tongue in the belt buckle.

Activating the special seat belt retractor:

Pull the seat belt out fully and let the inertia

reel retract it again.

While the seat belt is retracting, you should

hear a ratcheting sound. The special seat belt

retractor is activated.

Push the child seat restraint system down so

that the seat belt is tight and does not loosen.

Removing a child restraint system and deacti-

vating the special seat belt retractor:

Always comply with the child restraint system

manufacturer's installation instructions.

Press the release button of the belt buckle,

hold the belt tongue firmly and guide it back

towards the belt outlet.

The special seat belt retractor is deactivated.

Children in the vehicle

Safety

Child restraint system

The use of seat belts and child restraint systems

is required by law in:

all 50 states

the U.S. territories

the District of Columbia

all Canadian provinces

If you install a rearward-facing child restraint

system on the center rear seat, the rear arm rest

must be folded back as far as possible.

You can obtain further information about the

correct child restraint system from any author-

ized Mercedes-Benz Center.

WARNING

If the child restraint system is installed incor-

rectly on a suitable seat, it cannot protect as

intended. The child cannot then be restrained

in the event of an accident, heavy braking or

sudden changes of direction. There is an

increased risk of injury, possibly even fatal.

Make sure that you observe the child restraint

system manufacturer's installation instruc-

tions and the notes on use. Please ensure,

that the base of the child restraint system is

always resting completely on the seat cush-

ion. Never place objects, e.g. cushions, under

or behind the child restraint system. Only use

child restraint systems with the original cover

designed for them. Only replace damaged

covers with genuine covers.

WARNING

If the child restraint system is installed incor-

rectly or is not secured, it can come loose in

the event of an accident, heavy braking or a

sudden change in direction. The child

restraint system could be thrown about, strik-

ing vehicle occupants. There is an increased

risk of injury, possibly even fatal.

Always install child restraint systems prop-

erly, even if they are not being used. Make

sure that you observe the child restraint sys-

tem manufacturer's installation instructions.

You will find further information on stowing

objects, luggage or loads under "Loading guide-

lines" (Y page 207).

WARNING

Child restraint systems or their securing sys-

tems which have been damaged or subjected

to a load in an accident can no longer protect

as intended. The child cannot then be

restrained in the event of an accident, heavy

braking or sudden changes of direction. There

is an increased risk of injury, possibly even

fatal.

Replace child restraint systems which have

been damaged or subjected to a load in an

accident as soon as possible. Have the secur-

ing systems on the child restraint system

checked at a qualified specialist workshop,

before you install a child restraint system

again.

The securing systems of child restraint systems

are:

the seat belt system

the LATCH-type (ISOFIX) securing rings

the Top Tether anchorages

If it is absolutely necessary to carry a child on

the front-passenger seat, be sure to observe the

information on the "Occupant Classification

System (OCS)" (Y page 45). There you will also

find information on deactivating the front-

passenger front air bag.

All child restraint systems must meet the fol-

lowing standards:

U.S. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards

213 and 225

Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety Standards

213 and 210.2

Confirmation that the child restraint system cor-

responds to the standards can be found on an

instruction label on the child restraint system.

This confirmation can also be found in the instal-

lation instructions that are included with the

child restraint system.

Observe the warning labels in the vehicle inte-

rior and on the child restraint system.

Children in the vehicle

Safety

LATCH-type (ISOFIX) child seat secur-

ing system

WARNING

LATCH-type (ISOFIX) child restraint systems

do not offer sufficient protective effect for

children whose weight is greater than 48 lbs

(22 kg) who are secured using the safety belt

integrated in the child restraint system. In the

event of an accident, a child might not be

restrained correctly. This poses an increased

risk of injury or even fatal injury.

If the child weighs more than 48 lbs (22 kg),

only use LATCH-type (ISOFIX) child restraint

systems with which the child is also secured

with the vehicle seat belt. Also secure the

child restraint system with the Top Tether

belt, if available.

Always comply with the manufacturer's instal-

lation and operating instructions for the child

restraint system used.

Before every trip, make sure that the LATCH-

type (ISOFIX) child restraint system is engaged

correctly in both LATCH-type (ISOFIX) securing

rings

When installing the child restraint system,

make sure that the seat belt for the middle

seat does not get trapped. The seat belt could

otherwise be damaged.

Install the LATCH-type (ISOFIX) child restraint

system on both LATCH-type (ISOFIX) securing

rings :.

ISOFIX is a standardized securing system for

specially designed child restraint systems on

the rear seats. LATCH-type (ISOFIX) securing

rings for two LATCH-type (ISOFIX) child restraint

systems are installed on the left and right of the

rear seats.

Non-LATCH-type (ISOFIX) child seats may also

be used and can be installed using the vehicle's

seat belt system. Install the child seat according

to the manufacturer's instructions.

Top Tether

Introduction

Top Tether provides an additional connection

between the child restraint system secured with

a LATCH-type (ISOFIX) system and the vehicle.

This helps reduce the risk of injury even further.

If the child restraint system is equipped with a

Top Tether belt, this should always be used.

Important safety notes

WARNING

If the rear seat backrests are not locked, they

could fold forwards in the event of an acci-

dent, heavy braking or sudden changes of

direction. As a result, child restraint systems

cannot perform their intended protective

function. Rear seat backrests that are not

locked can also cause additional injuries, e.g.

in the event of an accident. This poses an

increased risk of injury or even fatal injury.

Always lock rear seat backrests after instal-

ling a Top Tether belt. Observe the lock veri-

fication indicator. Adjust the rear seat backr-

ests so that they are in an upright position.

If the rear backrest is not engaged and locked,

the red lock verification indicator will be visible

(Y page 211).

Children in the vehicle

Safety

Top Tether anchorages

The Top Tether anchorages are located on the

rear side of the rear seat backrests.

Move head restraint : upwards.

Release rear seat backrest = and fold it for-

wards (Y page 211).

Route Top Tether belt B under head

restraint : between the two head restraint

bars.

Hook Top Tether hook A of Top Tether belt

B into Top Tether anchorage ?.

Make sure that:

Top Tether hook A is hooked into Top

Tether anchorage ? as shown.

Top Tether belt B is not twisted.

Top Tether belt B is routed between rear

seat backrest = and cargo compartment

cover ; if cargo compartment cover ; is

installed.

Top Tether belt B is routed between rear

seat backrest = and the cargo net if the

cargo net is installed.

Swing back rear seat backrest = until it

engages.

The red lock verification indicator is no longer

visible.

Install the LATCH-type (ISOFIX) child restraint

system with Top Tether. Always comply with

the child restraint system manufacturer's

installation instructions when doing so.

Tension Top Tether belt B. Always comply

with the child restraint system manufactur-

er's installation instructions when doing so.

Move head restraint : back down again

slightly if necessary (Y page 81). Make sure

that you do not interfere with the correct rout-

ing of Top Tether belt B.

Child restraint system on the front-

passenger seat

General notes

Accident statistics show that children secured

in the rear seats are safer than children secured

in the front-passenger seat. For this reason,

Mercedes-Benz strongly advises that you install

the child restraint system on a rear seat.

If it is absolutely necessary to install a child

restraint system on the front-passenger seat,

always observe the instructions and safety

notes on the "Occupant Classification System

(OCS)" (Y page 45).

You can thus avoid the risks that could arise as

a result of:

an incorrectly categorized person in the front-

passenger seat

the unintentional deactivation of the front-

passenger front air bag

the unsuitable positioning of the child

restraint system, e.g. too close to the dash-

board

Rearward-facing child restraint system

If it is absolutely necessary to install a rearward-

facing child restraint system on the front-

passenger seat, always make sure that the

front-passenger front air bag is deactivated.

Only if the PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF indicator

lamp is permanently lit (Y page 39)is the front-

passenger front air bag deactivated.

Always observe the child restraint system man-

ufacturer's installation and operating instruc-

tions.

Children in the vehicle

Safety

Forward-facing child restraint system

If it is absolutely necessary to install a forward-

facing child restraint system on the front-

passenger seat, always move the front-

passenger seat as far back as possible. Fully

retract the seat cushion length. The entire base

of the child restraint system must always rest on

the seat cushion of the front-passenger seat.

The backrest of the child restraint system must

lie as flat as possible against the backrest of the

front-passenger seat. The child restraint system

must not touch the roof or be subjected to a load

by the head restraint. Adjust the angle of the

seat backrest and the head restraint position

accordingly. Always make sure that the shoul-

der belt strap is correctly routed from the vehi-

cle belt outlet to the shoulder belt guide on the

child restraint system. The shoulder belt strap

must be routed forwards and downwards from

the vehicle belt outlet. If necessary, adjust the

vehicle belt outlet and the front-passenger seat

accordingly.

Always observe the child restraint system man-

ufacturer's installation and operating instruc-

tions.

Child-proof locks

Important safety notes

WARNING

If children are traveling in the vehicle, they

could:

open doors, thus endangering other people

or road users

exit the vehicle and be caught by oncoming

traffic

operate vehicle equipment and become

trapped

There is a risk of an accident and injury.

Always activate the child-proof locks and

override feature if children are traveling in the

vehicle. When leaving the vehicle, always take

the key with you and lock the vehicle. Never

leave children unattended in the vehicle.

Override feature for:

the rear doors (Y page 58)

the rear side windows (Y page 58)

WARNING

If you leave children unsupervised in the vehi-

cle, they could set it in motion by, for example:

release the parking brake.

shift the transmission out of park position

start the vehicle's drive system.

They could also operate the vehicle's equip-

ment. There is a risk of an accident and injury.

When leaving the vehicle, always take the

SmartKey with you and lock the vehicle. Never

leave children unsupervised in the vehicle.

WARNING

If persons, particularly children are subjected

to prolonged exposure to extreme heat or

cold, there is a risk of injury, possibly even

fatal. Never leave children unattended in the

vehicle.

WARNING

If the child restraint system is subjected to

direct sunlight, parts may get very hot. Chil-

dren may burn themselves on these parts,

particularly on the metal parts of the child

restraint system. There is a risk of injury.

If you leave the vehicle, taking the child with

you, always ensure that the child restraint

system is not exposed to direct sunlight. Pro-

tect it with a blanket, for example. If the child

restraint system has been exposed to direct

sunlight, let it cool down before securing the

child in it. Never leave children unattended in

the vehicle.

Children in the vehicle

Safety

Child-proof locks for the rear doors

You secure each door individually with the child-

proof locks on the rear doors. A door secured

with a child-proof lock cannot be opened from

inside the vehicle. When the vehicle is unlocked,

the door can be opened from the outside.

To activate: press the child-proof lock lever

up in the direction of arrow :.

Make sure that the child-proof locks are work-

ing properly.

To deactivate: press the child-proof lock

lever down in the direction of arrow ;.

Override feature for the rear side win-

dows

To activate/deactivate: press button :.

If indicator lamp ; is lit, operation of the rear

side windows is disabled. Operation is only

possible using the switches in the driver's

door. If indicator lamp ; is off, operation is

possible using the switches in the rear com-

partment.

Pets in the vehicle

WARNING

If you leave animals unattended or unsecured

in the vehicle, they could press buttons or

switches, for example.

As a result, they could:

activate vehicle equipment and become

trapped, for example

activate or deactivate systems, thereby

endangering other road users

Unsecured animals could also be flung around

the vehicle in the event of an accident or sud-

den steering or braking, thereby injuring vehi-

cle occupants. There is a risk of an accident

and injury.

Never leave animals unattended in the vehi-

cle. Always secure animals properly during

the journey, e.g. use a suitable animal trans-

port box.

Driving safety systems

Overview of driving safety systems

In this section, you will find information about

the following driving safety systems:

ABS (Anti-lock Braking System)

(Y page 59)

BAS (Brake Assist System) (Y page 59)

Active Brake Assist (Y page 60)

ESP

(Electronic Stability Program)

(Y page 62)

EBD (Electronic Brake force Distribution)

(Y page 63)

ADAPTIVE BRAKE (Y page 64)

STEER CONTROL (Y page 64)

Important safety notes

If you fail to adapt your driving style or if you are

inattentive, the driving safety systems can nei-

ther reduce the risk of an accident nor override

the laws of physics. Driving safety systems are

merely aids designed to assist driving. You are

responsible for maintaining the distance to the

Driving safety systems

Safety

vehicle in front, for vehicle speed, for braking in

good time, and for staying in lane. Always adapt

your driving style to suit the prevailing road and

weather conditions and maintain a safe distance

from the vehicle in front. Drive carefully.

The driving safety systems described only work

as effectively as possible when there is ade-

quate contact between the tires and the road

surface. Please pay special attention to the

notes on tires, recommended minimum tire

tread depths, etc. (Y page 257).

In wintry driving conditions, always use winter

tires (M+S tires) and if necessary, snow chains.

Only in this way will the driving safety systems

described in this section work as effectively as

possible.

ABS (Anti-lock Braking System)

General information

ABS regulates brake pressure in such a way that

the wheels do not lock when you brake. This

allows you to continue steering the vehicle when

braking.

The ! ABS warning lamp in the instrument

cluster lights up when the ignition is switched

on. It goes out when the engine is running.

ABS works from a speed of about 5 mph

(8 km/h), regardless of road-surface conditions.

ABS works on slippery surfaces, even when you

only brake gently.

Important safety notes

Observe the "Important safety notes" sec-

tion (Y page 58).

WARNING

If ABS is faulty, the wheels could lock when

braking. The steerability and braking charac-

teristics may be severely impaired. Addition-

ally, further driving safety systems are deac-

tivated. There is an increased danger of skid-

ding and accidents.

Drive on carefully. Have ABS checked imme-

diately at a qualified specialist workshop.

When ABS is malfunctioning, other systems,

including driving safety systems, will also

become inoperative. Observe the information

on the ABS warning lamp (Y page 193) and dis-

play messages which may be shown in the

instrument cluster (Y page 168).

Braking

If ABS intervenes: continue to depress the

brake pedal vigorously until the braking sit-

uation is over.

To make a full brake application: depress

the brake pedal with full force.

If ABS intervenes when braking, you will feel a

pulsing in the brake pedal.

The pulsating brake pedal can be an indication

of hazardous road conditions, and functions as a

reminder to take extra care while driving.

BAS (Brake Assist System)

General information

BAS operates in emergency braking situations.

If you depress the brake pedal quickly, BAS

automatically boosts the braking force, thus

shortening the stopping distance.

Important safety notes

Observe the "Important safety notes" sec-

tion (Y page 58).

WARNING

If BAS is malfunctioning, the braking distance

in an emergency braking situation is

increased. There is a risk of an accident.

In an emergency braking situation, depress

the brake pedal with full force. ABS prevents

the wheels from locking.

Braking

Keep the brake pedal firmly depressed until

the emergency braking situation is over.

ABS prevents the wheels from locking.

The brakes will function as usual once you

release the brake pedal. BAS is deactivated.

Driving safety systems

Safety

Active Brake Assist

General information

Observe the "Important safety notes" sec-

tion (Y page 58).

Active Brake Assist consists of a distance warn-

ing function with an autonomous braking func-

tion and braking assistance appropriate to the

situation.

Active Brake Assist can help you to minimize the

risk of a collision with the vehicle traveling in

front or reduce the effects of such a collision.

If Active Brake Assist detects that there is a risk

of collision, you will be warned visually and

acoustically. If you do not react to the visual and

audible collision warning, autonomous braking

can be initiated in critical situations. If you apply

the brake yourself in a critical situation, Adap-

tive Brake Assist supports you with braking

assistance appropriate to the situation.

Important safety notes

Detection of hazardous situations can be par-

ticularly impaired by:

there is dirt on the sensors or anything else

covering the sensors

there is snow or heavy rain

there is interference by other radar sources

there are strong radar reflections, for exam-

ple in parking garages

a narrow vehicle is traveling in front, e.g. a

motorbike

a vehicle is traveling in front on a different line

new vehicles or after servicing is carried out

on the Active Brake Assist system

Observe the important safety notes in the

"Breaking-in notes" section (Y page 108).

Following damage to the front end of the vehicle,

have the configuration and operation of the

radar sensor checked at a qualified specialist

workshop. This also applies to collisions at low

speeds where no visible damage to the front of

the vehicle is apparent.

Activating/deactivating

Active Brake Assist is active after every ignition

cycle.

You can activate or deactivate Active Brake

Assist (Y page 162) in the on-board computer.

When deactivated, the distance warning func-

tion and the autonomous braking function are

also deactivated.

If Active Brake Assist is deactivated, the æ

symbol appears in the assistance graphic dis-

play.

Distance warning function

General information

The distance warning function can help you to

minimize the risk of a front-end collision with a

vehicle ahead or reduce the effects of such a

collision. If the distance warning function

detects that there is a risk of a collision, you will

be warned visually and acoustically.

Important safety notes

Observe the "Important safety notes" sec-

tion for driving safety systems (Y page 58).

WARNING

The distance warning function does not react:

to people or animals

to oncoming vehicles

to crossing traffic

when cornering

Thus, the distance warning function cannot

provide a warning in all critical situations.

There is a risk of an accident.

Always pay careful attention to the traffic sit-

uation and be ready to brake.

WARNING

The distance warning function cannot always

clearly identify objects and complex traffic

situations.

In such cases, the distance warning function

may:

give an unnecessary warning

not give a warning

There is a risk of an accident.

Always pay careful attention to the traffic sit-

uation and do not rely solely on the distance

warning function.

Driving safety systems

Safety

Function

Starting at a speed of approximately 4 mph

(7 km/h), the distance warning function warns

you if you rapidly approach a vehicle in front. An

intermittent warning tone will then sound, and

the · distance warning lamp will light up in

the instrument cluster.

Brake immediately in order to increase the

distance from the vehicle in front.

Take evasive action, provided it is safe to do

so.

Due to the nature of the system, particularly

complicated but non-critical driving conditions

may also cause the system to display a warning.

With the help of the radar sensor system, the

distance warning function can detect obstacles

that are in the path of your vehicle for an exten-

ded period of time.

Up to a speed of approximately 44 mph

(70 km/h), the distance warning function can

also react to stationary obstacles, such as stop-

ped or parked vehicles.

Autonomous braking function

If the driver does not react to the distance warn-

ing signal in a critical situation, Active Brake

Assist can assist the driver with the autonomous

braking function.

The autonomous braking function:

gives the driver more time to react to critical

driving situations

can help the driver to avoid an accident or

reduces the effects of an accident

The autonomous braking function is available in

the following speed ranges:

4 - 65 mph (7 - 105 km/h) for moving objects

4 - 31 mph (7 - 50 km/h) for stationary

objects

Due to the nature of the system, particularly

complicated but non-critical driving conditions

may also cause the Autonomous Braking Func-

tion to intervene.

Braking assistance appropriate to the

situation

General information

Observe the "Important safety notes" sec-

tion (Y page 58).

With the help of the radar sensor system, Adap-

tive Brake Assist can detect obstacles that are in

the path of your vehicle for an extended period

of time.

If Adaptive Brake Assist detects a risk of colli-

sion with the vehicle in front, it calculates the

brake pressure necessary to avoid a collision. If

you apply the brakes forcefully, the braking

assistance adapts to the situation and automat-

ically increases the brake pressure to a degree

appropriate to the traffic situation.

Braking assistance appropriate to the situation

provides braking assistance in hazardous situa-

tions at speeds above 4 mph (7 km/h). It uses

radar sensor technology to assess the traffic

situation.

Situation-dependent braking assistance is capa-

ble of reacting to moving objects that have

already been recognized as such at least once

over the period of observation, up to vehicle

speeds of around 155 mph (250 km/h).

Braking assistance appropriate to the situation

can also detect stationary objects, up to vehicle

speeds of around 44 mph 70 km/h.

Keep the brake pedal depressed until the

emergency braking situation is over.

ABS prevents the wheels from locking.

The brakes will work normally again if:

you release the brake pedal.

there is no longer any danger of a collision.

no obstacle is detected in front of your vehi-

cle.

Braking assistance appropriate to the situation

is then deactivated.

Important safety notes

Observe the "Important safety notes" sec-

tion for driving safety systems (Y page 58).

WARNING

Adaptive Brake Assist does not react:

to people or animals

to oncoming vehicles

Driving safety systems

Safety

to crossing traffic

when cornering

As a result, Adaptive Brake Assist may not

intervene in all critical conditions. There is a

risk of an accident.

Always pay careful attention to the traffic sit-

uation and be ready to brake.

WARNING

Adaptive Brake Assist cannot always clearly

identify objects and complex traffic situa-

tions.

In such cases, Adaptive Brake Assist might:

intervene unnecessarily

not intervene

There is a risk of an accident.

Always pay careful attention to the traffic sit-

uation and be ready to brake. Terminate the

intervention in a non-critical driving situation.

Due to the nature of the system, complex but

non-critical driving conditions may also cause

Active Brake Assist to intervene.

Even if Active Brake Assist is not available due to

a malfunction in the radar sensor system, the

brake system is still available with full brake

boosting effect and BAS.

ESP

(Electronic Stability Program)

General notes

Observe the "Important safety notes" sec-

tion (Y page 58).

ESP

monitors driving stability and traction, i.e.

power transmission between the tires and the

road surface.

If ESP

detects that the vehicle is deviating from

the direction desired by the driver, one or more

wheels are braked to stabilize the vehicle. The

engine output is also modified to keep the vehi-

cle on the desired course within physical limits.

ESP

assists the driver when pulling away on

wet or slippery roads. ESP

can also stabilize

the vehicle during braking.

ETS (Electronic Traction System)

Observe the "Important safety notes" sec-

tion (Y page 58).

ETS traction control is part of ESP

Traction control brakes the drive wheels indi-

vidually if they spin. This enables you to pull

away and accelerate on slippery surfaces, for

example if the road surface is slippery on one

side. In addition, more drive torque is transfer-

red to the wheel or wheels with traction.

Traction control remains active, even if you

deactivate ESP

Important safety notes

Observe the "Important safety notes" sec-

tion (Y page 58).

WARNING

If ESP

is malfunctioning, ESP

is unable to

stabilize the vehicle. Additionally, further driv-

ing safety systems are deactivated. This

increases the risk of skidding and an accident.

Drive on carefully. Have ESP

checked at a

qualified specialist workshop.

When towing your vehicle with the front axle

raised, observe the notes on ESP

(Y page 253).

When towing the vehicle with the rear axle

raised, observe the notes on ESP

(Y page 254).

If the å ESP

OFF warning lamp lights up

continuously, ESP

is deactivated.

If the ÷ ESP

warning lamp and the å

warning lamp are lit continuously, ESP

is not

available due to a malfunction.

Observe the information on warning lamps

(Y page 195) and display messages which may

be shown in the instrument cluster

(Y page 168).

Only use wheels with the recommended tire

sizes. Only then will ESP

function properly.

Driving safety systems

Safety

Characteristics of ESP

General information

If the ÷ ESP

warning lamp goes out before

beginning the journey, ESP

is automatically

active.

If ESP

intervenes, the ÷ ESP

warning lamp

flashes in the instrument cluster.

If ESP

intervenes:

Do not deactivate ESP

under any circum-

stances.

Only depress the accelerator pedal as far as

necessary when pulling away.

Adapt your driving style to suit the prevailing

road and weather conditions.

Deactivating/activating ESP

Important safety notes

Observe the "Important safety notes" sec-

tion (Y page 58).

You can select between the following states of

ESP

is activated.

ESP

is deactivated.

WARNING

If you deactivate ESP

, ESP

no longer sta-

bilizes the vehicle. There is an increased risk

of skidding and an accident.

Only deactivate ESP

in the situations descri-

bed in the following.

The spinning of the wheels results in a cutting

action for better traction on loose surfaces.

It may be best to deactivate ESP

in the follow-

ing situations:

when using snow chains

in deep snow

on sand or gravel

Activate ESP

as soon as the situations

described above no longer apply. ESP

will

otherwise not be able to stabilize the vehicle if

the vehicle starts to skid or a wheel starts to

spin.

Avoid spinning the driven wheels for an

extended period with ESP

deactivated. You

could otherwise damage the drivetrain.

Deactivating/activating ESP

You can deactivate or activate ESP

via the on-

board computer (Y page 162).

ESP

deactivated:

The å ESP

OFF warning lamp in the instru-

ment cluster lights up.

ESP

activated:

The å ESP

OFF warning lamp in the instru-

ment cluster goes out.

Characteristics when ESP

is deactivated

If ESP

is deactivated and one or more wheels

start to spin, the ÷ ESP

warning lamp in the

instrument cluster flashes. In such situations,

ESP

will not stabilize the vehicle.

If you deactivate ESP

ESP

no longer improves driving stability.

Engine torque is no longer limited and the

drive wheels are able to spin.

Traction control is still activated.

STEER CONTROL is no longer active

ESP

still provides support when you brake

firmly.

EBD (electronic brake force distribu-

tion)

General information

EBD monitors and controls the brake pressure

on the rear wheels to improve driving stability

while braking.

Important safety notes

Observe the "Important safety notes" sec-

tion (Y page 58).

WARNING

If EBD is malfunctioning, the rear wheels can

lock, e.g. under full braking. This increases the

risk of skidding and an accident.

You should therefore adapt your driving style

to the different handling characteristics. Have

Driving safety systems

Safety

the brake system checked at a qualified spe-

cialist workshop.

Observe information regarding indicator and

warning lamps (Y page 193) as well as display

messages (Y page 170).

ADAPTIVE BRAKE

ADAPTIVE BRAKE enhances braking safety and

offers increased braking comfort. In addition to

the braking function, ADAPTIVE BRAKE also has

the HOLD function (Y page 138) and hill start

assist (Y page 111).

STEER CONTROL

General information

STEER CONTROL helps you by transmitting a

noticeable steering force to the steering wheel

in the direction required for vehicle stabilization.

This steering assistance is provided in particular

if:

both right wheels or both left wheels are on a

wet or slippery road surface when you brake

the vehicle begins to skid

Important safety notes

Observe the "Important safety notes" sec-

tion (Y page 58).

No steering assistance is provided from STEER

CONTROL, if:

ESP

is malfunctioning

the steering is malfunctioning

If ESP

is malfunctioning, you will be assisted

further by the electrical power steering.

Recuperative Brake System

WARNING

In the event of malfunctions in the Recupera-

tive Brake System, the following may occur:

the braking performance of the electric

motor may be either reduced or not effec-

tive

brake pedal resistance may be lower than

usual

pedal travel may be longer than usual

If you do not make an additional effort to apply

the brake yourself, the braking effect may not

be sufficient. There is a risk of an accident.

In the event of this malfunction, continue to

depress the brake pedal. The brake system is

still fully functional.

Observe the important safety notes on driving

safety systems (Y page 58).

The Recuperative Brake System converts the

kinetic energy when braking into electrical

energy. The electric motor is used as an alter-

nator during braking. This electrical energy is

then stored in the high-voltage battery.

You can find information about manually adjust-

able recuperation under "Steering wheel paddle

shifters" (Y page 115).

If the warning light in the instrument cluster is lit

up, there is a motor malfunction or a brake mal-

function.

Observe information regarding indicator and

warning lamps (Y page 192) as well as display

messages (Y page 168).

Protection against theft

Immobilizer

The immobilizer prevents your vehicle from

being started without the correct SmartKey.

To activate with the SmartKey: remove the

SmartKey from the ignition lock.

To activate with KEYLESS-GO start-func-

tion or KEYLESS-GO: switch the ignition off

and open the driver's door.

To deactivate: switch on the ignition.

When leaving the vehicle, always take the

SmartKey with you and lock the vehicle. Anyone

can start the drive system if a valid SmartKey

has been left inside the vehicle.

The immobilizer is always deactivated when

you start the drive system.

Protection against theft

Safety

In the event that the engine cannot be started

(yet the vehicle's battery is charged), the sys-

tem is not operational. The READY display in

the multifunction display does not appear.

Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center

or call 1-800-FOR-MERCedes (in the USA) or

1-800-387-0100 (in Canada).

ATA (anti-theft alarm system)

To arm: lock the vehicle with the SmartKey or

KEYLESS-GO.

Indicator lamp : flashes. The alarm system

is armed after approximately 15 seconds.

To disarm: unlock the vehicle with the Smart-

Key or KEYLESS-GO.

Insert the SmartKey into the ignition lock.

A visual and audible alarm is triggered if the

alarm system is armed and you open:

a door

the vehicle with the mechanical key

the tailgate

the hood

To turn the alarm off with the SmartKey:

press the % or & button on the Smart-

Key.

The alarm is stopped.

Vehicles with KEYLESS-GO start-function

or KEYLESS-GO: remove the Start/Stop but-

ton from the ignition lock (Y page 109).

Insert the SmartKey into the ignition lock.

The alarm is stopped.

To stop the alarm using KEYLESS-GO:

grasp the outside door handle. The SmartKey

must be outside the vehicle.

The alarm is stopped.

Press the Start/Stop button on the dash-

board. The SmartKey must be inside the vehi-

cle.

The alarm is stopped.

The alarm is not switched off, even if you close

the open door that triggered it, for example.

If the alarm continues for more than

30 seconds, the mbrace emergency call sys-

tem automatically notifies the Customer

Assistance Center. This is done either by text

message or data connection.

The emergency call system sends the mes-

sage or data provided that:

you have subscribed to the mbrace service.

the mbrace service has been activated

properly.

the necessary mobile phone network is

available.

Protection against theft

Safety

Safety for Your Mercedes B Class SUV Second Generation (2011-2017)

Related Topics

Popular Owner Manuals

Latest Owner Manuals