MERCEDES-BENZ GLS SUV 2022 Owners Manual


Replace the key battery, if necessary
( pag e 84). 
Use the replacement key. 
Use the emergency key to lock or unlock
( pag

e 89). 
Have the vehicle and key checked at a quali-
Ned specialis

t workshop.
There is interference from a powerful radio signal
sour
ce
Possible causes if the function of KEYLESS-GO is
impaired:
= high voltage power lines
= mobile phones
= electronic devices (notebooks, tablets)
= shielding due to metal objects or induction
loops for electrical gate systems or automatic
barriers 
Make sure that there is suPcient dis
tance
between the key and the potential source of
interference. Activating/deactivating the automatic locking fea-
tur
e The vehicle is locked automatically when the vehi-
cle is switc

hed on and the wheels are turning
faster than walking pace. 
To activate: pr
ess and hold button 2 for
approximately Nve seconds until an acoustic
signal sounds. 
To deactivate: pr
ess and hold button 1 for
approximately Nve seconds until an acoustic
signal sounds.
In the following situations, there is a danger of
being loc
ked out when the function is activated:
= while the vehicle is being tow-started or
pushed
= if the vehicle is being tested on a roller dyna-
mometer Power closing function
&
WARNING Risk of becoming tr
apped when
the doors close automatically
Body parts or objects can become trapped,
causing injur
ies. 
Ensure that no body parts or objects are
in t
he closing area. 
Automatic closing of the doors can be
cancelled b

y pulling the outer or inner
door handle. 88
Opening and closing

If you push the door into the lock to the
Nr st
detent position, the power closing function will
automatically pull the door into the lock. Locking/unlocking the driver's door with the
emer

gency key %
If you wish to lock the vehicle entirely using
t
he emergency key, Nrst press the button for
locking from the inside while the driver's door
is open. Then proceed to lock the driver's
door using the emergency key. 
Remove the emergency key (  pag
e 84). 
Insert the emergency key as far as it will go
int
o opening 1 in the cover. 
Pull and hold the door handle. 
Pull the cover on the emergency key as
s

traight as possible away from the vehicle until
it releases. 
Release the door handle. 
To unlock: tur
n the emergency key anti-clock-
wise to position 1. 
To lock: tur
n the emergency key clockwise to
position 1. 
Carefully press the cover onto the lock cylin-
der until it eng

ages and is seated Nrmly. Opening and closing
89

Running boards
Operation of the running boards
Mercedes-Maybach vehicles:
t he vehicle is equip-
ped with electrically extendable running boards. If
you have selected the automatic mode in the mul-
timedia system, (  page 91) the running board
will extend automatically on the respective side
when a door is opened. When the running boards
are extended, check the excess width of the vehi-
cle.
You can extend or retract the running boards
manually for cleaning (  page 91).
% The running boards will extend and retract
onl

y if the vehicle is stationary.
In the following cases, the running boards will
r
etract automatically:
= If you select an oM-road drive program
(  page 207).
= If you activate car wash mode (  page 375).
= If the outside mirrors fold in automatically
( page 177). =
If y
ou are driving at a speed greater than
4 km/h.
If you have selected the automatic mode in the
multimedia system and you manually extend the
running boards when the doors are closed, the
running boards will remain extended. Even if you
open a door and then close it again, the running
boards will remain extended. Automatic mode will
be reactivated only when you are driving at a
speed greater than 4 km/h. &
WARNING Risk of injur
y when extending
or retracting the running boards
The running boards extend at the side during
e
xtension. During retraction, the running
boards are integrated in the side skirt. Parts of
the body could become trapped. There may
be people in the range of movement. There is
a risk of injury. 
Always ensure that there are no people
wit

hin the range of movement of the run-
ning boards. *
NOTE Damag
e to the running boards dur-
ing extension or retraction The running boards extend at the side during
e

xtension. During retraction, the running
boards are integrated in the side skirt. 
Make sure that there is suPcient space
dur
ing extension and retraction. *
NOTE Damag
e to the vehicle body or
underbody due to low ground clearance The running boards are attached to the vehicle
body via t
he underbody. This limits the ground
clearance. 
Drive over obstacles, such as kerbs, par-
ticular

ly carefully and slowly. Observe the corresponding display messages in
t

he instrument cluster ( page 445). 90
Opening and closing

Extending and retracting the running boards via
t
he multimedia system Multimedia system:
4 © 5
Settings 5
Vehicle
5 SIDE RUNNING BOARD 
Select Extend or Retract.
Automatically extending and retracting the run-
ning boar
ds 
Activate or deactivate AUTOMATIC EXTEN-
SION.
% This equipment is available only for Mercedes-
Ma

ybach vehicles. Load compartment
Opening the tailgate
&
DANGER Risk of poisoning fr
om exhaust
gases
Combustion engines emit poisonous exhaust
g
ases, such as carbon monoxide. Exhaust
gases can enter the vehicle interior if the tail- gate is open when the engine is running, espe-
ciall

y if the vehicle is in motion. 
Always switch oM t
he engine before
opening the tailgate. 
Never drive with the tailgate open. *
NOTE Damag
e to the tailgate caused by
obstacles above the vehicle The tailgate swings rearwards and upwards
when it is opened.

Make sure that there is suPcient space
behind and abo
ve the tailgate. 
If the tailgate is unlocked, pull the tailgate han-
dle and r

elease it again immediately. 
Vehicles with HANDS-FREE ACCESS: mak
e a
kicking movement with your foot below the
bumper ( page 94). 
Pull remote operating switch 1 until t
he tail-
gate opens.
or 
Press and hold the p butt
on on the key. 
If the tailgate is stopped in an intermediate
position, pull it upw ards. Release it as soon as
it begins to open. Opening and closing
91

If an obstacle obstructs the tailgate during the
aut
omatic opening process, blockage detection
will stop the tailgate. The automatic blockage
detection function is only an aid. It is not a substi-
tute for your attentiveness. Closing the tailgate
&
WARNING Risk of injur
y from unsecured
items in the vehicle
If objects, luggage or loads are not secured or
no
t secured suPciently, they could slip, tip
over or be thrown around and thereby hit vehi-
cle occupants.
There is a risk of injury, particularly in the
event of sudden braking or a sudden change
in direction. 
Always stow objects in such a way that
t

hey cannot be thrown around. 
Before the journey, secure objects, lug-
g

age or loads against slipping or tipping
over. Observe the notes on loading the vehicle. Notes on closing the tailgate:
y
our vehicle is
equipped with automatic key recognition. If a key
belonging to the vehicle is detected in the vehicle,
the tailgate will not be locked.
Note that the tailgate will not be locked in the fol-
lowing situation:
= You have locked the vehicle and close the tail-
gate while a key belonging to the vehicle is
inside the vehicle.
and
= A second key belonging to the vehicle is not
detected outside the vehicle.
Automatic key recognition is only an aid and is not
a substitute for your attentiveness. 
Before locking, ensure that at least one key
belonging t

o the vehicle is outside the vehicle. 
To close the tailgate: pull t
he tailgate down-
wards slightly. Release it as soon as it begins
to close. &
WARNING Risk of becoming tr
apped dur-
ing automatic closing of the tailgate
Body parts may become trapped. There may
be people in t
he closing area. 
Make sure that nobody is in the vicinity
of t
he closing area during the closing
process.
Use one of the following options to stop the
closing pr
ocess:
= Press the p button on the key.
= Press or pull the remote operating switch
on the driver's door.
= Press the closing or locking button on the
tailgate.
= Pull the tailgate handle. Vehicles with HANDS-FREE ACCESS: it is also
possible t

o stop the closing process by making a
kicking movement below the rear bumper. 92
Opening and closing


Switch on the power supply or the vehicle. 
Push remote operating switch 1 until t he tail-
gate is fully closed. 
Press closing button 1 on t
he tailgate.
Vehicles with KEYLESS-GO 
Press locking button 2 on t
he tailgate.
If a key is detected outside the vehicle, the
tailgate will close and the vehicle will be
locked. 
Press and hold the p butt
on on the key
(with the key in the vicinity of the vehicle). Vehicles with HANDS-FREE ACCESS 
Make a kicking movement with your foot
belo
w the bumper ( page 94).
Automatic reversing function for the tailgate
The t
ailgate is equipped with automatic blockage
detection with a reversing function. If a solid
object hinders or restricts the tailgate when it is
closing automatically, the tailgate will automati-
cally open again slightly. Automatic blockage
detection with reversing function is only an aid. It
is not a substitute for your attentiveness when you
are closing the tailgate. 
During the closing process, make sure that no
body par
ts are in the closing area. &
WARNING Risk of becoming tr
apped
despite reversing function
The reversing function will not react:
= t

o sos, light and thin objects, e.g. Nngers
= towards the end of the closing procedure
In these situations in particular, the reversing
function cannot prevent someone being trap-
ped. Opening and closing
93


Ensure that no body parts are in the
closing ar ea.
If someone is trapped, either: = Pr

ess the p button on the key.
= Press or pull the remote operating switch
on the driver's door.
= Press the closing or locking button on the
tailgate.
= Pull the tailgate handle. HANDS-FREE ACCESS function
With HANDS-FREE ACCESS you can open, close
or s

top the closing process of the tailgate by per-
forming a kicking movement under the rear
bumper.
The kicking movement triggers the opening or
closing process alternately. Observe the notes when opening ( pag

e 91)
and closing ( page 92) the tailgate.
% Two warning tones sound when the tailgate is
opening or closing. &
WARNING Risk of bur
ns caused by a hot
exhaust system
The vehicle exhaust system can become very
ho
t. If you use HANDS-FREE ACCESS, you
could burn yourself by touching the exhaust
system. 
Always ensure that you only make a kick-
ing mo

vement within the detection range
of the sensors. *
NOTE V
ehicle damage due to uninten-
tional opening of the tailgate =
when using an aut
omatic car wash
= when using a high pressure cleaner 
Deactivate the function of the key in
t

hese situations.
or 94
Opening and closing


Make sure that the key is at a minimum
dis
tance of 3 m away from the vehicle. When making the kicking movement, make sure
t

hat you are standing Nrmly on the ground. You
could otherwise lose your balance, e.g. on ice.
Observe the following notes: = The key is behind the vehicle.
= Stand at least 30 cm away from the vehicle
while performing the kicking movement.
= Do not come into contact with the bumper
while making the kicking movement.
= Do not carry out the kicking movement too
slowly.
= The kicking movement must be towards the
vehicle and back again. 1
Detection range of the sensors
If several consecutive kicking movements are not
successful, w
ait ten seconds.
System limits
The system may be impaired or may not function
in the following cases:
= The sensors are dirty, e.g. due to road salt or
snow.
= The kicking movement is made using a pros-
thetic leg. The tailgate can open or close unintentionally in
t
he following situations:
= A person's arms or legs are moving in the sen-
sor detection range, e.g. when polishing the
vehicle or picking up objects.
= Objects are moved or placed behind the vehi-
cle, e.g. the hose of a fuel dispenser, a charg-
ing cable or luggage
= Clamping straps, tarpaulins or other coverings
are pulled over the bumper.
= A protective mat with a length reaching over
the boot sill down into the detection range of
the sensors is used.
= The protective mat is not secured correctly.
= Work is being done on the trailer hitch, trailers
or rear bicycle racks.
Deactivate the function of the key (  page 83) or
do not carry the key about your person in such
situations. Opening and closing
95

Limiting the opening angle of the tailgate
Activating the opening angle limiter
Y
ou can limit the opening angle of the tailgate in
the top half of its opening range up to a point
shortly before the end position. 
Stop the opening procedure of the tailgate at
t

he desired position. 
Press and hold the closing button on the tail-
g

ate until you hear a short acoustic signal.
The opening angle limiter will be activated. The
tailgate will then stop in the stored position
when opened.
To open the tailgate fully, pull the handle on the
outside of t
he tailgate again aser it has stopped
automatically.
Deactivating the opening angle limiter 
Press and hold the closing button on the tail-
g

ate until two short acoustic signals sound. Releasing the tailgate in an emergency
Requirements:
= Onl

y for Mercedes-Maybach vehicles. 
Remove cover 1. 
Pull lever 2 in t
he direction of the arrow until
the tailgate unlocks. Unlocking the tailgate with the emergency key
Requirements:
= N

ot for Mercedes-Maybach vehicles.
= The rear seat backrest has been folded
forward. 96
Opening and closing

=
The load com partment cover has been
removed. 
Remove the emergency key (  pag
e 84).
Insert emergency key 2 int
o opening 1 in
the trim and push it in.
The tailgate will be unlocked. Side windows
Opening and closing the side windows
&
WARNING Risk of becoming tr
apped when
opening a side window
When you open a side window, parts of the
body could be dr
awn in or become trapped
between the side window and window frame. 
When opening, make sure that nobody is
t
ouching the side window. 
If someone is trapped, release the but-
t
on immediately or pull it in order to
close the side window again. &
WARNING Risk of becoming tr
apped when
closing a side window
When closing a side window, body parts could
be tr
apped in the closing area in the process. 
When closing, make sure that no body
par

ts are in the closing area. 
If someone is trapped, release the but-
t
on immediately or press the button in
order to reopen the side window. &
WARNING Risk of becoming tr
apped when
children operate the side windows
Children could become trapped if they operate
t
he side windows, particularly when unatten-
ded. 
Activate the child safety lock for the rear
side windo
ws. 
When leaving the vehicle, always take the
k
ey with you and lock the vehicle. 
Never leave children unattended in the
v
ehicle. Requirements:
= The po

wer supply or the vehicle has been
switched on. Opening and closing
97