Get Safety Guide for Mercedes GLA SUV First Generation (2013-2019)

Useful information .............................. 42

Panic alarm .......................................... 42

Occupant safety .................................. 42

Children in the vehicle ........................ 58

Pets in the vehicle .............................. 64

Driving safety systems ....................... 64

Protection against theft ..................... 72

Safety

Useful information

This Operator's Manual describes all

models and all standard and optional equip-

ment of your vehicle available at the time of

publication of the Operator's Manual.

Country-specific differences are possible.

Please note that your vehicle may not be

equipped with all features described. This

also applies to safety-related systems and

functions.

Read the information on qualified special-

ist workshops (Y page 28).

Panic alarm

To activate: press ! button : for at

least one second.

An alarm sounds and the exterior lighting

flashes.

To deactivate: press ! button :

again.

Insert the SmartKey into the ignition lock.

Occupant safety

Restraint system: introduction

The restraint system reduces 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 45)

have adjusted their seat and head restraint

properly (Y page 97).

As the driver, you also have to make sure that

the steering wheel is adjusted correctly.

Observe the information relating to the cor-

rect driver's seat position (Y page 96).

You also have to make sure that an air bag can

inflate properly if deployed (Y page 48).

An air bag supplements a correctly worn seat

belt. As an additional safety device, the air

bag increases the level of protection for vehi-

cle occupants in the event of an accident. For

example, if, in the event of an accident, the

protection offered by the seat belt is suffi-

cient, the air bags are not deployed. When an

accident occurs, only the air bags that

increase protection in that particular accident

situation are deployed. However, seat belts

and air bags generally do not protect against

objects penetrating the vehicle from the out-

side.

Information on restraint system operation

can be found under "Triggering of the Emer-

gency Tensioning Device and air bags"

(Y page 56).

For more information about children traveling

with you in the vehicle and on child restraint

systems, see "Children in the vehicle"

(Y page 58).

Occupant safety

Safety

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 an air bag system to

accommodate a person with disabilities, con-

tact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center for

details. USA only: for further information con-

tact our Customer Assistance Center at

1-800-FOR-MERCedes (1‑800‑367‑6372).

Restraint system warning lamp

The functions of the restraint system are

checked after the ignition is switched on and

at regular intervals while the engine is run-

ning. Therefore, malfunctions can be detec-

ted in good time.

The 6 restraint system warning lamp in

the instrument cluster lights up when the igni-

tion is switched on. It goes out no later than a

few seconds after the engine is started. The

components 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 on

does not go out after a few seconds with

the engine running

lights up again while the engine is running

WARNING

If restraint system is malfunctioning, restraint

system components may be triggered unin-

tentionally or might not be triggered at all in

the event of an accident with a high rate of

vehicle deceleration. This can affect the Emer-

gency Tensioning Device or air bag, for exam-

ple. 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.

PASSENGER AIR BAG indicator lamp

PASSENGER AIR BAG ON indicator lamp :

and PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF indicator

lamp ; are part of the Occupant Classifica-

tion System (OCS).

The indicator lamps display the status of the

front-passenger front air bag.

PASSENGER AIR BAG ON : lights up: the

front-passenger front air bag is enabled. If,

in the event of an accident, all deployment

criteria are met, the front-passenger front

air bag is deployed.

PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF ; lights up: the

front-passenger front air bag is deactiva-

ted. It will then not be deployed in the event

of an accident.

Depending on the person in the front-

passenger seat, the front-passenger front air

bag must either be disabled or enabled; see

the following points. You must make sure of

this both before and during a journey.

Occupant safety

Safety

Seat belts

Introduction

Seat belts are the most effective means of

restricting the movement of vehicle occu-

pants in the event of an accident or the vehi-

cle rolling over. This reduces the risk of vehi-

cle occupants coming into contact with parts

of the vehicle interior or being ejected from

the vehicle. Furthermore, the seat belt helps

to keep the vehicle occupant in the best posi-

tion 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

extracted 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

correct an incorrect seat position or the rout-

ing of an incorrectly fastened seat belt.

When triggered, seat belt force limiters help

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 vehi-

cle occupants 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 oth-

erwise lead to the triggering of the Emer-

gency Tensioning 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 sys-

tems 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 incorrectly fastened, it can-

not protect as intended. Furthermore, an

incorrectly fastened seat belt can cause addi-

tional injury, for example, in an accident, dur-

ing braking or when abruptly changing direc-

tion. This poses an increased risk of injury or

even fatal injury.

Make sure that all vehicle occupants are

seated properly with a correctly fastened seat

belt.

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 under 5 ft (1.50 m) in height cannot

fasten the seat belt correctly without an addi-

tional suitable restraint system. If the seat

Occupant safety

Safety

belt is incorrectly fastened, it cannot protect

as intended. Furthermore, an incorrectly fas-

tened seat belt can cause additional injury, for

example, in an accident, during braking or an

abrupt change of direction. This poses an

increased risk of injury or even fatal injury.

For this reason, always secure persons under

5 ft (1.50 m) in height in suitable restraint

systems.

If a child younger than 12 years 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

vehicle. The child restraint system must be

appropriate to the age, weight and size of

the child

always observe the instructions and safety

notes in the "Children in the vehicle" sec-

tion of this Operator's Manual

(Y page 58) in addition to the child

restraint system manufacturer's installa-

tion instructions

be sure to observe the instructions and

safety notes on the "Occupant classifica-

tion system (OCS)" (Y page 51)

WARNING

The seat belts may not perform their intended

protective function if:

they are damaged, modified, extremely

dirty, bleach 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 or 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. Any such

modifications could invalidate the vehicle's

general operating permit.

Vehicles with a sports seat or AMG Per-

formance seat: these seats are designed for

the standard three-point seat belt. If you

install another multipoint seat belt, e.g. sport

or racing seat belts, the restraint system can-

not provide the best level of protection.

WARNING

If you feed seat belts through the opening in

the seat backrest, the seat backrest may be

damaged or may even break in the event of an

accident. This poses an increased risk of

injury or even fatal injury.

Only use the standard three-point seat belt.

Never modify the seat belt system.

Proper use of the seat belts

Observe the safety notes on the seat belt

(Y page 44).

All vehicle occupants must be wearing the

seat belt correctly before beginning the jour-

ney. Also make sure that all vehicle occu-

pants are always wearing the seat belt cor-

rectly 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.

Occupant safety

Safety

Only then can the forces which occur be

distributed 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 abdo-

men. 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,

pointed 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 sit-

ting 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.

Seat belts are only intended to secure and

restrain vehicle occupants. Always observe

the "Loading guidelines" for securing objects,

luggage or loads (Y page 266).

Fastening and adjusting the seat belts

Observe the safety notes on the seat belt

(Y page 44) and the notes on correct use of

seat belts (Y page 45).

Adjust the seat (Y page 96).

The seat backrest must be in an almost

vertical position.

Pull the seat belt smoothly from belt outlet

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.

Occupant safety

Safety

The shoulder section of the seat belt must

always be routed across the center of the

shoulder. 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 the 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 59).

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. Dam-

aged seat belts can no longer fulfill their

protective function and must be replaced.

Visit a qualified specialist workshop.

Press release button :, hold belt

tongue ; firmly and guide it back towards

belt outlet =.

Belt warning for the driver and front

passenger

The 7 seat belt warning lamp in the instru-

ment cluster is a reminder that all occupants

must fasten 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

warning lamp lights up for six seconds each

time the engine is started. If, after

six seconds, the driver or front-passenger

seat belt has not been fastened and the doors

are closed, the 7 seat belt warning lamp

lights up again. 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 engine is started, an additional warning

tone will sound. This warning tone stops after

six seconds or when 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. The warning tone

sounds with 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

warning is activated again.

For more information on the 7 seat

belt warning lamp, see "Warning and indi-

cator lamps in the instrument cluster, seat

belts" (Y page 252).

Occupant safety

Safety

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 fas-

tened seat belt. It is no substitute for the seat

belt. The air bag provides additional protec-

tion in applicable accident situations.

Not all air bags are deployed in an accident.

The different air bag systems function inde-

pendently from one another (Y page 56).

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 position must allow the vehicle to be

driven safely.

Only hold the steering wheel on the out-

side. 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 other-

wise 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

dashboard, for example. Your feet may oth-

erwise 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

systems. 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 12 years of

age and less than 5 ft (1.50 m) in height 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 43).

Always observe the instructions and safety

notes on the "Occupant Classification Sys-

tem (OCS)" (Y page 51) and on "Children

in the vehicle" (Y page 58) in addition to

the child restraint system manufacturer's

installation instructions.

Occupant safety

Safety

Objects in the vehicle interior may pre-

vent the air bag from functioning cor-

rectly. 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.

no accessories, such as cup holders, are

attached to the vehicle within the deploy-

ment 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

any more. 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

Driver's air bag : deploys in front of the

steering 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

occupants in the front seats.

The PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF and

PASSENGER AIR BAG ON indicator lamps

inform you about the status of the front-

passenger front air bag (Y page 43).

Front-passenger front air bag ; will only

deploy if:

the system, based on the OCS weight sen-

sor readings, detects that the front-

passenger seat is occupied (Y page 51).

The PASSENGER AIR BAG ON indicator

lamp is lit (Y page 51)

the restraint system control unit predicts a

high accident severity

Knee bags

Occupant safety

Safety

Driver's knee bag : deploys under the steer-

ing column and front-passenger knee bag ;

under the glove box. The driver's and front-

passenger knee bags are triggered together

with the front air bags.

The driver's and front-passenger knee bags

offer additional thigh, knee and lower leg pro-

tection for the occupants in the front seats.

Side impact air bags

WARNING

Unsuitable seat covers could restrict or even

prevent the deployment of the air bags inte-

grated into the seats. Consequently, the air

bags cannot protect vehicle occupants as

they are designed to do. In addition, the func-

tion of the Occupant Classification System

(OCS) could be restricted. 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

bolster of the seat backrest.

When deployed, the side impact air bag offers

additional thorax protection. It also offers

additional 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 (front) deploys in the follow-

ing situations:

the OCS system detects that the front-

passenger seat is occupied or

the belt 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 acci-

dent situation occurs. In this case, deploy-

ment 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 cur-

tain 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 56).

Occupant safety

Safety

Occupant Classification System

(OCS)

Introduction

The Occupant Classification System (OCS)

categorizes the person in the front-passenger

seat. Depending on that result, the front-

passenger front air bag and front-passenger

knee bag are either enabled or deactivated.

The system does not deactivate:

the side impact air bag

the window curtain air bag

the Emergency Tensioning Devices

Prerequisites

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 possi-

ble

If the front passenger does not observe these

conditions, OCS may produce a false classi-

fication, 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. cushions. The entire base of the

child restraint system must always rest on the

seat cushion of the front-passenger seat. The

backrest of the forwards-facing child restraint

system must, as far as possible, be resting on

the backrest of the front-passenger seat.

The child restraint system must not touch the

roof or be put under strain by the head

restraint. Adjust the angle of the seat back-

rest and the head restraint position accord-

ingly.

Only then can OCS be guaranteed to function

correctly. Always observe the child restraint

system manufacturer's installation instruc-

tions.

Occupant Classification System opera-

tion (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 simultaneously for approx-

imately six seconds.

The indicator lamps display the status of the

front-passenger front air bag.

PASSENGER AIR BAG ON : lights up: the

front-passenger front air bag is enabled. If,

in the event of an accident, all deployment

criteria are met, the front-passenger front

air bag is deployed.

PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF ; lights up: the

front-passenger front air bag is deactiva-

ted. It will then not be deployed in the event

of an accident.

Occupant safety

Safety

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 instru-

ment cluster (Y page 233). When the front-

passenger seat is occupied, always pay atten-

tion to the PASSENGER AIR BAG ON and

PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF indicator lamps. Be

aware of the status of the front-passenger

front air bag both before and during the jour-

ney.

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-

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 ON indicator

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

may deploy in 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 remains off and/or the PASSENGER AIR

BAG ON indicator lamp lights up, 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 System"

(Y page 55).

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 ON is lit up

This poses an increased risk of injury or even

fatal injury.

Move the front-passenger seat as far back as

possible. Always make sure that the shoulder

belt strap is correctly routed from the vehicle

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 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 12 months old in a standard

child restraint system, the PASSENGER AIR

Occupant safety

Safety

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 in the case of a 12-month-old child in a

standard child restraint system, the

PASSENGER AIR BAG ON can light up per-

manently after the system self-test. This

indicates that the front-passenger front air

bag is activated. The result of the classifi-

cation is dependent on, among other fac-

tors, the child restraint system and the

child's stature. It is recommended that you

install the restraint system on a suitable

rear seat.

the front-passenger seat is occupied by a

person of smaller stature (e.g. a teenager

or small adult), either the PASSENGER AIR

BAG ON or PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF indi-

cator lamp lights up and remains lit after

the system self-test depending on the

result of the classification.

If the PASSENGER AIR BAG ON indicator

lamp lights up, move the front-passenger

seat as far back as possible. Alterna-

tively, a person 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 a stature correspond-

ing to that of an adult, the PASSENGER AIR

BAG ON indicator lamp lights up after the

system self-test and remains lit. This indi-

cates that the front-passenger front air bag

is activated.

If children are traveling in the vehicle, be sure

to observe the notes on "Children in the vehi-

cle" (Y page 58).

When OCS is malfunctioning, the red 6

restraint system warning lamp in the instru-

ment cluster and the PASSENGER AIR BAG

OFF indicator lamp light up simultaneously.

The front-passenger front air bag is deactiva-

ted in this case and does not deploy during an

accident. Have the system checked by quali-

fied technicians as soon as possible. Consult

an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center. The

front-passenger seat should only be repaired

at an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.

If the front-passenger seat, the seat cover or

the seat cushion is damaged, have the nec-

essary repair work carried out at an author-

ized Mercedes-Benz Center.

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

System (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.

DANGER

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-

Occupant safety

Safety

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

back 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 forwards-

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 display the status of the front-

passenger front air bag (Y page 51).

For more information about the OCS, see

"Problems with the Occupant Classification

System" (Y page 55).

Occupant safety

Safety

Problems with the Occupant Classification System (OCS)

Be sure to observe the notes on "System self-test" (Y page 53).

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

person of a stature cor-

responding to that of an

adult.

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

incorrect.

Make sure the conditions for a correct classification of the per-

son on the front-passenger seat are met (Y page 51).

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 by the

weight of a child up

to 12 months old in a

child restraint sys-

tem

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 pos-

sible against the backrest of the front-passenger seat. If nec-

essary, adjust the position of the front-passenger seat.

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

accordingly.

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

recommended that you install the restraint system on a suitable

rear seat.

Have OCS checked as soon as possible at an authorized

Mercedes-Benz Center.

Occupant safety

Safety

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

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

Pyrotechnic Emergency Tensioning Devices

that have been deployed 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.

Therefore, have pyrotechnic Emergency Ten-

sioning Devices which have been triggered

immediately replaced at a qualified specialist

workshop.

If Emergency Tensioning Devices 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

hearing. The powder that is released gener-

ally does not constitute a health hazard, but it

may cause short-term breathing difficulties in

people with asthma or other respiratory prob-

lems. To avoid this, you may wish to get out of

the vehicle or open the windows as soon as it

is safe to do so.

Air bags and pyrotechnic Emergency Tension-

ing Devices (ETDs) contain perchlorate mate-

rial, which may require special handling and

regard for the environment. National guide-

lines must be observed during disposal. In

California, see

HazardousWaste/Perchlorate/

Method of operation

During the first stage of a collision, the

restraint system control unit evaluates impor-

tant physical data relating to vehicle deceler-

ation or acceleration, such as:

duration

direction

intensity

Based on the evaluation of this data, the

restraint system control unit deploys the

Emergency Tensioning Devices during a fron-

tal or rear collision.

An Emergency Tensioning Device can only be

deployed, if:

the ignition is switched on

the components of the restraint system are

operational; see "Restraint system warning

lamp" (Y page 43)

the belt tongue is engaged in the buckle on

the respective front-passenger seat

The Emergency Tensioning Devices in the

rear compartment are deployed independ-

ently of the lock status of the seat belts.

Occupant safety

Safety

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 as well as driver's and front-

passenger knee bags

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 ON indi-

cator lamp is lit. Observe the information on

the PASSENGER AIR BAG indicator lamps

(Y page 43).

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 pro-

pellant gas if a second deployment threshold

is reached within a few milliseconds.

The deployment threshold of the Emergency

Tensioning Devices and the air bag are deter-

mined by evaluating the rate of vehicle decel-

eration or acceleration which occurs at vari-

ous 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 accelera-

tion and the direction of the force are essen-

tially determined by:

the distribution of forces during the colli-

sion

the collision angle

the deformation characteristics of the vehi-

cle

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

decisive role in the deployment of an air bag,

nor do they provide an indication of air bag

deployment.

The vehicle can be deformed considerably,

without an air bag being deployed. This is the

case if only parts which are relatively easily

deformed are affected and the rate of decel-

eration is not high. Conversely, air bags may

be deployed even though the vehicle suffers

only minor deformation. This is the case if, for

example, very rigid vehicle parts such as lon-

gitudinal body members are hit, and sufficient

deceleration occurs as a result.

If the restraint system control unit detects a

side impact or that the vehicle is rolling over,

the relevant restraint system components are

activated independently of one another

depending on the apparent type of accident.

If the system determines a need for additional

protection for the vehicle occupants, the

Emergency Tensioning Devices are deployed.

Side impact air bags on the side of impact,

independently of the Emergency Tension-

ing Device and the use of the seat belt on

the driver's seat and outer seats in the sec-

ond row

The side impact air bag on the front-

passenger side (front) deploys in the fol-

lowing situations:

the OCS system detects that the front-

passenger seat is occupied or

the belt 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

Window curtain air bags on the driver's and

front-passenger side in certain situations

when the vehicle rolls over, if the system

determines that deployment can offer addi-

tional protection to that provided by the

seat belt

Not all air bags are deployed in an acci-

dent. The different air bag systems work

independently of each other.

Occupant safety

Safety

How the air bag system works is deter-

mined by the severity of the accident detec-

ted, especially the vehicle deceleration or

acceleration and the apparent type of acci-

dent:

frontal collision

side impact

rollover

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 engine is switched off

the fuel supply is cut off

vehicles with mbrace: automatic emer-

gency call

Children in the vehicle

Important safety notes

Accident statistics show that children

secured in the rear seats are safer than chil-

dren 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 pro-

tected there.

If a child younger than 12 years 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 vehi-

cles. The child restraint system must be

appropriate 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 classifica-

tion system (OCS)" (Y page 51)

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 automatic transmission out of the

parking position P.

start the engine.

In addition, they may operate vehicle equip-

ment and become trapped. 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.

Always ensure that all vehicle occupants have

their seat belts fastened correctly and are sit-

ting properly. Particular attention must be

paid to children.

Children in the vehicle

Safety

Observe the safety notes on the seat belt

(Y page 44) and the notes on correct use of

seat belts (Y page 45).

A booster seat may be necessary to achieve

proper seat belt positioning for children over

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

where a lap/shoulder belt can be fastened

properly 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 retrac-

tor 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 sys-

tem manufacturer's installation instruc-

tions.

Pull the seat belt smoothly from the belt

outlet.

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/deactivat-

ing the special seat belt retractor:

Always comply with the child restraint sys-

tem manufacturer's installation instruc-

tions.

Press the release button on the belt buckle,

hold the belt tongue firmly and guide it back

towards the belt outlet.

The special seat belt retractor is deactiva-

ted.

Child restraint system

The use of seat belts and child restraint sys-

tems is required by law in:

all 50 states

the U.S. territories

the District of Columbia

all Canadian provinces

You can obtain further information about the

correct child restraint system from any

authorized 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-

Children in the vehicle

Safety

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

guidelines" (Y page 266).

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.

Securing systems for the child restraint sys-

tem are:

the seat belt system

the ISOFIX (LATCH-type) 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 51).

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 Stand-

ards 213 and 225

Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety Standards

213 and 210.2

Confirmation that the child restraint system

corresponds to the standards can be found

on an instruction label on the child restraint

system. This confirmation can also be found

in the installation instructions that are inclu-

ded with the child restraint system.

Observe the warning labels in the vehicle inte-

rior and on the child restraint system.

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

installation and operating instructions for the

child restraint system used.

Children in the vehicle

Safety

Before every trip, make sure that the LATCH-

type (ISOFIX) child restraint system is

engaged correctly in both LATCH-type (ISO-

FIX) securing rings

LATCH-type (ISOFIX) securing rings

Install the LATCH-type (ISOFIX) child

restraint system on both LATCH-type (ISO-

FIX) 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 rear seats.

Non-LATCH-type (ISOFIX) child seats may

also be used and can be installed using the

vehicle's seat belt system. Install child seats

according to the manufacturer's instructions.

Top Tether

Introduction

Top Tether provides an additional connection

between a child restraint system, secured

with a LATCH-type (ISOFIX) child seat mount,

and the rear seat. This helps reduce the risk of

injury even further. If the child restraint sys-

tem 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 270).

Top Tether anchorages

The Top Tether anchorages are located on the

rear side of the rear seat backrests.

Children in the vehicle

Safety

Vehicles with adjustable head restraints:

Move head restraint : upwards.

Route Top Tether belt ? under head

restraint : between the two head restraint

bars.

Vehicles without adjustable head

restraints:

Top Tether belt with one belt strap: route

Top Tether belt ? centrally over head

restraint :.

Top Tether belt with two belt straps:

route one Top Tether belt ? to the left and

one to the right past the side of head

restraint :.

All vehicles:

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.

Hook Top Tether hook = of Top Tether

belt ? into Top Tether anchorage ;.

Make sure that:

Top Tether hook = is hooked into Top

Tether anchorage ; as shown.

Top Tether belt ? is not twisted.

Top Tether belt ? is routed between the

rear seat backrest and the cargo com-

partment cover if the cargo compart-

ment cover is installed.

Tension Top Tether belt ?. Always comply

with the child restraint system manufactur-

er's installation instructions when doing so.

Vehicles with adjustable head restraints:

Move head restraint : back down again

slightly if necessary (Y page 100). Make

sure that you do not interfere with the cor-

rect routing of Top Tether belt ?.

Child restraint system on the front-

passenger seat

General notes

Accident statistics show that children

secured in the rear seats are safer than chil-

dren secured in the front-passenger seat. For

this reason, Mercedes-Benz strongly advises

that you install a child restraint system on a

rear seat.

If it is absolutely necessary to install a child

restraint system to the front-passenger seat,

be sure to observe the instructions and safety

notes on the "Occupant classification system

(OCS)" (Y page 51).

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 rear-

ward-facing child restraint system on the

front-passenger seat, always make sure that

the front-passenger front air bag is deactiva-

ted. Only if the PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF

indicator lamp is permanently lit (Y page 43)

is the front-passenger front air bag deactiva-

ted.

Always observe the child restraint system

manufacturer's installation and operating

instructions.

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. The

entire base of the child restraint system must

always rest on the seat cushion of the front-

Children in the vehicle

Safety

passenger seat. The backrest of the child

restraint system must, as far as possible, lie

flat against the backrest of the front-

passenger seat. The child restraint system

must not touch the roof or be put under strain

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

vehicle belt sash guide to the shoulder belt

guide on the child restraint system. The shoul-

der 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 accord-

ingly.

Always observe the child restraint system

manufacturer's installation and operating

instructions.

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 64)

the rear side windows (Y page 64)

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 automatic transmission out of the

parking position P.

start the engine.

In addition, they may operate vehicle equip-

ment and become trapped. 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

working 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 driv-

er's door. If indicator lamp ; is off, oper-

ation is possible using the switches in the

rear compartment.

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 65)

BAS (Brake Assist System) (Y page 65)

COLLISION PREVENTION ASSIST PLUS

(distance warning function and adaptive

Brake Assist) (Y page 66)

ESP

(Electronic Stability Program)

(Y page 68)

EBD (Electronic Brake force Distribution)

(Y page 72)

ADAPTIVE BRAKE (Y page 72)

STEER CONTROL (Y page 72)

Important safety notes

If you fail to adapt your driving style or

become distracted, the driving safety sys-

Driving safety systems

Safety

tems can neither reduce the risk of accident

nor override the laws of physics. Driving

safety systems are merely aids designed to

assist driving. You are responsible for the dis-

tance to the vehicle in front, for vehicle speed

and for braking in good time. Always adapt

your driving style to suit the prevailing road,

weather and traffic 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 adequate contact between the tires and

the road surface. Pay particular attention to

the information regarding tires, recommen-

ded minimum tire tread depths etc. in the

"Wheels and tires" section (Y page 324).

In wintry driving conditions, always use

winter tires (M+S tires) and if necessary,

snow chains. Only in this way will the driv-

ing 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 vehi-

cle 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.

Important safety notes

Observe the "Important safety notes" sec-

tion for driving safety systems (Y page 64).

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 254) and

display messages which may be shown in the

instrument cluster (Y page 222).

ABS works from a speed of about 5 mph

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

tions. ABS works on slippery roads, even if

you only brake gently.

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 indica-

tion of hazardous road conditions, and func-

tions as a reminder to take extra care while

driving.

Off-road ABS

An ABS system specifically suited to off-road

terrain is activated automatically once the off-

road program is activated (Y page 186).

At speeds below 20 mph (30 km/h), the front

wheels lock cyclically during braking. The dig-

ging-in effect achieved in the process reduces

the stopping distance on off-road terrain. This

limits steering capability.

BAS (Brake Assist System)

General information

BAS operates in emergency braking situa-

tions. If you depress the brake pedal quickly,

BAS automatically boosts the braking force,

thus shortening the stopping distance.

Driving safety systems

Safety

Important safety notes

Observe the "Important safety notes" sec-

tion (Y page 64).

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.

COLLISION PREVENTION ASSIST

PLUS

General information

COLLISION PREVENTION ASSIST PLUS con-

sists of a distance warning function with an

autonomous emergency braking function and

adaptive Brake Assist.

COLLISION PREVENTION ASSIST PLUS 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 COLLISION PREVENTION ASSIST PLUS

detects that there is a risk of a 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, the COLLISION

PREVENTION ASSIST system PLUS adaptive

Brake Assist assists you.

Important safety notes

In particular, the detection of obstacles can

be impaired if:

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

example in parking garages

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

motorbike

a vehicle traveling in front on a different line

new vehicles or after a service on the COL-

LISION PREVENTION ASSIST PLUS system

Observe the notes in the section on break-

ing-in (Y page 142).

Following damage to the front end of the vehi-

cle, have the configuration and operation of

the radar sensor checked at a qualified spe-

cialist workshop. This also applies to colli-

sions at low speeds where there is no visible

damage to the front of the vehicle.

Distance warning function

Important safety notes

Observe the "Important safety notes" sec-

tion for driving safety systems (Y page 64).

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.

Driving safety systems

Safety

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.

Function

To activate/deactivate: activate or deac-

tivate the distance warning function in the

on-board computer (Y page 214).

If the distance warning function is not activa-

ted, the æ symbol appears in the assis-

tance graphics display.

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.

Starting at a speed of around 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 condi-

tions may also cause the system to display a

warning.

With the help of the radar sensor system, the

distance warning function can detect obsta-

cles that are in the path of your vehicle for an

extended period of time.

Up to a speed of around 44 mph (70 km/h),

the distance warning function can also react

to stationary obstacles, such as stopped or

parked vehicles.

If you approach an obstacle and the distance

warning function detects a risk of a collision,

the system will initially alert you both visually

and acoustically.

Autonomous braking function

If the driver does not react to the distance

warning signal in a critical situation, COLLI-

SION PREVENTION ASSIST PLUS can assist

with the autonomous braking function.

The autonomous braking function:

gives the driver more time to react to criti-

cal driving situations

can help the driver to avoid an accident or

reduces the effects of an accident

Vehicles without DISTRONIC PLUS: the

autonomous braking function is available in

the following speed ranges:

5 - 65 mph (7 - 105 km/h) for moving

objects

5 - 31 mph (7 - 50 km/h) for stationary

objects

Vehicles with DISTRONIC PLUS: the auton-

omous braking function is available in the fol-

lowing speed ranges:

5 - 124 mph (7 - 200 km/h) for moving

objects

5 - 31 mph (7 - 50 km/h) for stationary

objects

If the autonomous braking function requires a

particularly high braking force, preventative

passenger protection measures (PRE-SAFE

)

are activated simultaneously.

Adaptive Brake Assist

Observe the "Important safety notes" sec-

tion (Y page 64).

Driving safety systems

Safety

WARNING

Adaptive Brake Assist cannot always clearly

identify objects and complex traffic situa-

tions.

In such cases, Adaptive Brake Assist may:

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.

WARNING

Adaptive Brake Assist does not react:

to people or animals

to oncoming vehicles

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.

Due to the nature of the system, particularly

complicated but non-critical driving condi-

tions may also cause Brake Assist to inter-

vene.

If Adaptive Brake Assist is not available due to

a malfunction in the radar sensor system, the

brake system remains available with full

brake boosting effect and BAS.

Adaptive Brake Assist provides braking assis-

tance in hazardous situations at speeds

above 4 mph (7 km/h). It uses radar sensor

technology to assess the traffic situation.

With the help of Adaptive Brake Assist, the

distance warning signal 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 col-

lision with the vehicle in front, adaptive Brake

Assist calculates the necessary brake pres-

sure to avoid this collision. Should you apply

the brakes vigorously, Adaptive Brake Assist

will automatically increase the braking force

to a level suitable for the traffic conditions.

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

vehicle.

Adaptive Brake Assist is then deactivated.

If adaptive Brake Assist demands particularly

high braking force, preventative passenger

protection measures (PRE-SAFE

) are activa-

ted simultaneously.

Up to vehicle speeds of around 155 mph

(250 km/h), adaptive Brake Assist is capable

of reacting to moving objects that have

already been recognized as such at least once

over the period of observation.

Up to a speed of approximately 44 mph

(70 km/h), adaptive Brake Assist reacts to

stationary obstacles.

ESP

(Electronic Stability Program)

General notes

Observe the "Important safety notes" sec-

tion (Y page 64).

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 vehicle 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.

Driving safety systems

Safety

ETS/4ETS (Electronic Traction System)

Observe the "Important safety notes" sec-

tion (Y page 64).

ETS/4ETS traction control is part of ESP

ETS brakes the drive wheels individually 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 transferred to

the wheel or wheels with traction.

ETS remains active when you deactivate

ESP

Off-road 4ETS (Electronic Traction Sys-

tem)

A 4ETS system specifically suited to off-road

terrain is activated automatically once the off-

road program is activated (Y page 186).

Important safety notes

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.

If you test the parking brake using a brake

dynamometer, switch the ignition off.

Application of the brakes by ESP

may oth-

erwise destroy the brake system.

Vehicles with 4MATIC: switch off the igni-

tion when the electric parking brake is

being tested on a brake dynamometer.

Application of the brakes by ESP

may oth-

erwise destroy the brake system.

Vehicles with 4MATIC: function or per-

formance tests may only be carried out on

a 2-axle dynamometer. Before you operate

the vehicle on such a dynamometer, please

consult a qualified workshop. You could

otherwise damage the drive train or the

brake system.

Do not tow vehicles with 4MATIC with the

front or rear axle raised.

Vehicles without 4MATIC: when towing your

vehicle with the front axle raised, it is impor-

tant that you observe the notes on ESP

(Y page 319).

Vehicles with 4MATIC: when towing your

vehicle with both axles on the ground, it is

important that you observe the notes on ESP

(Y page 319).

ESP

is deactivated if the å ESP

OFF

warning lamp in the instrument cluster lights

up continuously when the engine is running.

If the ÷ ESP

warning lamp and the å

ESP

OFF warning lamp are lit continuously,

ESP

is not available due to a malfunction.

Observe the information on warning lamps

(Y page 256) and display messages which

may be shown in the instrument cluster

(Y page 222).

Only use wheels with the recommended

tire sizes. Only then will ESP

function

properly.

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 prevail-

ing road and weather conditions.

Driving safety systems

Safety

ECO start/stop function

The ECO start/stop function switches the

engine off automatically when the vehicle

stops moving. The engine starts automati-

cally when the driver wants to pull away again.

ESP

remains in its previously selected sta-

tus. Example: if ESP

was deactivated before

the engine was switched off, ESP

remains

deactivated when the engine is switched on

again.

Deactivating/activating ESP

(except

AMG vehicles)

Important safety notes

You can select between the following states

of ESP

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.

It may be best to deactivate ESP

in the fol-

lowing 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 vehi-

cle 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.

To deactivate: (Y page 213).

The å ESP

OFF warning lamp in the

instrument cluster lights up.

To activate: (Y page 213).

The å ESP

OFF warning lamp in the

instrument 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 situa-

tions, 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.

The spinning of the wheels results in a cut-

ting action for better traction on loose sur-

faces.

traction control is still activated.

ESP

still provides support when you

brake.

Deactivating/activating ESP

(AMG

vehicles)

Important safety notes

Observe the "Important safety notes" sec-

tion (Y page 64).

You can select between the following states

of ESP

ESP

is activated.

SPORT handling mode is activated.

ESP

is deactivated.

WARNING

When SPORT handling mode is activated,

there is a greater risk of skidding and acci-

dents.

Only activate SPORT handling mode in the sit-

uations described in the following.

Driving safety systems

Safety

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.

In the following situations, it may be better to

activate SPORT handling mode or deactivate

ESP

when using snow chains

in deep snow

on sand or gravel

on designated roads when the vehicle's

own oversteering and understeering char-

acteristics are desired

Driving in SPORT handling mode or without

ESP

requires an extremely qualified and

experienced driver.

Activate ESP

as soon as the situations

described above no longer apply. ESP

will

otherwise not be able to stabilize the vehi-

cle 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

To activate SPORT handling mode:

briefly press button :.

The M SPORT handling mode warning

lamp in the instrument cluster lights up.

The

SPORT handling modeSPORT handling mode message

appears in the multifunction display.

To deactivate SPORT handling mode:

briefly press button :.

The M SPORT handling mode warning

lamp in the instrument cluster goes out.

To deactivate ESP

: press button : until

the å ESP

OFF warning lamp lights up

in the instrument cluster.

The ÷

OFFOFF message appears in the mul-

tifunction display.

To activate ESP

: briefly press button :.

The å ESP

OFF warning lamp in the

instrument cluster goes out. The ÷

ESP

ONON message appears in the multifunc-

tion display.

Characteristics of activated SPORT han-

dling mode

If SPORT handling mode is activated and one

or more wheels start to spin, the ÷ ESP

warning lamp in the instrument cluster

flashes. ESP

only stabilizes the vehicle to a

limited degree.

When SPORT handling mode is activated:

ESP

only improves driving stability to a

limited degree.

traction control is still activated.

engine torque is only restricted to a limited

degree, and the drive wheels are able to

spin.

The spinning of the wheels results in a cut-

ting action for better traction on loose sur-

faces.

ESP

still provides support when you

brake.

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 does not flash. In such

situations, ESP

will not stabilize the vehicle.

Driving safety systems

Safety

If you deactivate ESP

ESP

no longer improves driving stability.

engine torque is no longer limited and the

drive wheels are able to spin.

The spinning of the wheels results in a cut-

ting action for better traction on loose sur-

faces.

traction control is still activated.

PRE-SAFE

is no longer available, nor is it

activated if you brake firmly and ESP

intervenes.

COLLISION PREVENTION ASSIST is no lon-

ger available; nor is it activated if you brake

firmly with assistance from ESP

ESP

still provides support when you

brake.

Off-road ESP

An ESP

system specifically suited to off-road

terrain is activated automatically once the off-

road program is activated (Y page 186).

Off-road ESP

intervenes with a delay if there

is oversteering or understeering, thus improv-

ing traction.

EBD (electronic brake force distribu-

tion)

General information

EBD monitors and controls the brake pres-

sure on the rear wheels to improve driving

stability while braking.

Important safety notes

Observe the "Important safety notes" sec-

tion for driving safety systems (Y page 64).

WARNING

If EBD has malfunctioned, the rear wheels can

still lock, e.g. under full braking. This increa-

ses the risk of skidding and an accident.

You should therefore adapt your driving style

to the different handling characteristics. Have

the brake system checked at a qualified spe-

cialist workshop.

Observe information regarding indicator and

warning lamps (Y page 254) as well as dis-

play messages (Y page 224).

ADAPTIVE BRAKE

ADAPTIVE BRAKE enhances braking safety

and offers increased braking comfort. In addi-

tion to the braking function, ADAPTIVE BRAKE

also has the HOLD function (Y page 181) and

hill start assist (Y page 144). For further

information, see Driving tips (Y page 164).

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 partic-

ular if:

both right wheels or both left wheels are on

a wet or slippery road surface when you

brake.

the vehicle starts to skid.

Important safety notes

No steering support is provided from STEER

CONTROL, if:

ESP

is malfunctioning.

the lighting is faulty.

Power steering will, however, continue to

function.

Protection against theft

Immobilizer

The immobilizer prevents your vehicle from

being started without the correct SmartKey.

Protection against theft

Safety

To activate: remove the SmartKey from

the ignition lock.

To deactivate: switch on the ignition.

When leaving the vehicle, always take the

SmartKey with you and lock the vehicle. The

engine can be started by anyone with a valid

SmartKey that is left inside the vehicle.

The immobilizer is always deactivated

when you start the engine.

In the event that the engine cannot be star-

ted (yet the vehicle's battery is charged),

the system is not operational. 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 Smart-

Key.

Indicator lamp : flashes. The alarm sys-

tem is armed after approximately

15 seconds.

To disarm: unlock the vehicle with the

SmartKey.

Insert the SmartKey into the ignition lock.

A visual and audible alarm is triggered if the

alarm system is armed and you open:

the vehicle with the mechanical key

a door

the tailgate

the hood

To stop the alarm: insert the SmartKey

into the ignition lock.

The alarm is switched off.

Press the % or & button on the

SmartKey.

The alarm is switched off.

The alarm is not switched off, even if you

close the open door that triggered it, for

example.

i If the alarm continues for more than

30 seconds, the mbrace emergency call

system automatically notifies the Cus-

tomer Assistance Center. This is done

either by text message or data connection.

The emergency call system sends the mes-

sage provided that:

you have subscribed to the mbrace ser-

vice.

the mbrace service has been activated

properly.

the necessary mobile phone network is

available.

Protection against theft

Safety

Safety for Your Mercedes GLA SUV First Generation (2013-2019)

Related Topics

Popular Owner Manuals

Latest Owner Manuals