ESP MERCEDES-BENZ GLA SUV 2017 Owner's Manual

Driving safety systems
Driving safety systems overview
In this section, you will find information about
the following driving safety systems:
R ABS (Anti-lock BrakingSystem)
(Y page 68)
R BAS (Brake AssistSystem) (Y page 69)
R Active Brake Assist (Y page 69)
R Adaptive brake lights (Y page 71)
R ESP ®
(E lectronic StabilityProgram)
(Y page 72)
R EBD (electronic brake forcedistribution)
(Y page 75)
R ADAPTIVE BRAKE (Y page 75)
R STEER CONTROL (Y page 75)Important safety notes
If you fail to adapt your driving style or if you are
inattentive, the driving safety systems can nei-
ther reduce the risk of an accident nor override
the laws of physics. Driving safety systems are
merely aids designed to assist driving. You are
responsible for maintaining the distance to the
vehicle in front, for vehicle speed, for braking in
good time, and for staying in lane. Always adapt your driving style to suit the prevailing road and weather conditions and maintain a safe distance
from the vehicle in front. Drive carefully.
The driving safety systems described work as
effectively as possible only when there is ade-
quate contact between the tyres and the road
surface. Please pay special attention to the
notes on tyres, recommended minimum tyre
tread depths etc. (Y page 335).
In wintry driving conditions, always use winter
tyres (M+S tyres) and, if necessary, snow
chains. Only in this way will the driving safety
systems described in this section work as effec-
tively as possible. ABS (Anti-lock Braking System)
General information ABS regulates brake pressure in such a way that
the wheels do not lock when you brake. This
allows you to continue steering the vehicle when braking. The
! ABS warning lamp on the instrument
cluster lights up when the ignition is switched
on. It goes out when the engine is running.
ABS works from a speed of about 8 km/h,
regardless of road-surface conditions. ABS
works on slippery surfaces, even when you
brake only gently.
Important safety notes i
Observe the "Important safety notes" sec-
tion (Y page 68). G
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.
If ABS is malfunctioning, other systems, includ-
ing driving safety systems, will also become
inoperative. Observe the information on the ABS warning lamp (Y page 267) and display mes-
sages that may be shown on the instrument
cluster (Y page 235).
Brakes X
If ABS intervenes: continue to depress the
brake pedal with force until the braking sit-
uation is over.
X To make a full brake application: depress
the brake pedal with full force.
If ABS intervenes when braking, you will feel a
pulsing in the brake pedal.
The pulsating brake pedal can be an indication
of hazardous road conditions; this serves 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 192).
At speeds below 30 km/h, the front wheels lock
cyclically during braking. The digging-in effect
achieved in the process reduces the stopping 68
Driving safety syste
msSafety

brakes are applied again, the brake lamps light
up continuously. The hazard warning lamps
switch off automatically if you travel faster than
10 km/ h.You can also switch off the hazard
warning lamps using the hazard warning button (Y page 118). ESP
®
(Electronic Stability Program)
General notes i
Observe the "Important safety notes" sec-
tion (Y page 68).
ESP ®
monitors driving stability and traction, i.e.
power transmission between the tyres 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 stabilise the vehicle. The
engine output is also modified to keep the vehi- cle on the desired course within physical limits.
ESP ®
assists the driver when pulling away on
wet or slippery roads. ESP ®
can also stabilise
the vehicle during braking.
ETS/4ETS (Electronic Traction System) i
Observe the "Important safety notes" sec-
tion (Y page 68).
ETS traction control is part of ESP ®
. On vehicles
with 4MATIC, 4ETS is part of ESP ®
.
Traction control brakes the drive wheels indi-
vidually if they spin. This enables you to pull
away and accelerate on slippery surfaces, e.g. if the road surface is slippery on one side. In addi-
tion, more drive torque is transferred to the
wheel or wheels with traction.
Traction control remains active if 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 192).
Important safety notes i
Observe the "Important safety notes" sec-
tion (Y page 68). G
WARNING
If ESP ®
is malfunctioning, ESP ®
is unable to
stabilise the vehicle. In addition, other driving
safety systems are switched off. This increa-
ses the risk of skidding and an accident.
Drive on carefully. Have ESP ®
checked at a
qualified specialist workshop.
Vehicles without 4MATIC: when towing your
vehicle with the front axle raised, it is important
that you observe the notes on ESP ®
(Y page 329).
If the å ESP®
OFF warning lamp lights up
continuously, ESP ®
is deactivated.
If the ÷ ESP®
warning lamp and the å
warning lamp are lit continuously, ESP ®
is not
available due to a malfunction.
Read the information on warning lamps
(Y page 269) and display messages that may be
shown in the instrument cluster (Y page 235).
Use only wheels with the recommended tyre
sizes. Only then will ESP ®
function properly.
Characteristics of ESP ® General information
If the ÷ ESP warning lamp goes out before
you begin the journey, ESP ®
is automatically
active.
If ESP ®
intervenes, the ÷ESP®
warning lamp
flashes on the instrument cluster.
If ESP ®
intervenes:
X Do not deactivate ESP ®
under any circum-
stances.
X When pulling away, depress the accelerator
pedal only as far as is necessary.
X Adapt your driving style to suit the prevailing
road and weather conditions.
ECO start/stop function
The ECO start/stop function switches the
engine off automatically if the vehicle stops
moving. When pulling away again, the engine
starts automatically. ESP ®
remains in its previ-
ously selected status. Example:if ESP®
was
deactivated before the engine was switched off,
ESP ®
remains deactivated when the engine is
switched on again. 72
Driving safety systemsSafety

Activating/deactivating ESP
®
(except
Mercedes ‑AMG vehicles) Important safety notes
i Observe the "Important safety notes" sec-
tion (Y page 68).
You can select between the following ESP ®
sta-
tuses:
R ESP ®
is activated
R ESP ®
is deactivated. G
WARNING
If you deactivate ESP ®
, ESP ®
no longer sta-
bilises the vehicle. There is an increased risk
of skidding and an accident.
Only deactivate ESP ®
in the situations descri-
bed in the following.
The spinning of the wheels results in a cut for
better traction on loose surfaces.
It may be best to deactivate ESP ®
in the follow-
ing situations:
R when snow chains are used
R in deep snow
R on sand or gravel
i Activate ESP ®
as soon as the situations
described above no longer apply. ESP ®
will
otherwise not be able to stabilise the vehicle
if the vehicle starts to skid or a wheel starts to
spin.
Deactivating/activating ESP ®
You can deactivate or activate ESP ®
via the on-
board computer(Y page 227) .
ESP ®
deactivated:
The å ESP®
OFF warning lamp on the instru-
ment cluster lights up.
ESP ®
activated:
The å ESP®
OFF warning lamp on the instru-
ment cluster goes out.
Characteristics when ESP ®
is deactivated
If ESP ®
is deactivated and one or more wheels
start to spin, the ÷ESP®
warning lamp in the
instrument cluster flashes. In such situations,
ESP ®
will not stabilise the vehicle. If you deactivate ESP
®
:
R ESP ®
no longer improves driving stability
R engine torque is no longer limited and the
drive wheels may start to spin
R traction control is still activated
R Active Brake Assist is not available; it is not
activated even if you brake firmly with assis-
tance from ESP ®
R PRE-SAFE ®
is not available; it is not activated
even if you brake firmly with assistance from
ESP ®
R STEER CONTROL is no longer active
R ESP ®
still provides support when you brake
firmly
Deactivating/activating ESP ®
(Mercedes ‑AMG vehicles) Important safety notes
i Observe the "Important safety notes" sec-
tion (Y page 68).
You can select between the following ESP ®
sta-
tuses:
R ESP ®
is activated
R SPORT handling mode is activated
R ESP ®
is deactivated
ESP ®
is activated every time the engine is star-
ted, regardless of whether ESP ®
was deactiva-
ted before the engine was switched off. G
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. G
WARNING
If you deactivate ESP ®
, ESP ®
no longer sta-
bilises the vehicle. There is an increased risk
of skidding and an accident.
Only deactivate ESP ®
in the situations descri-
bed in the following. Driving safety systems
73Safety Z

In the following situations, it may be better to
activate SPORT handling mode or deactivate
ESP ®
:
R when snow chains are used
R in deep snow
R on sand or gravel
R on specially designated roads when the vehi-
cle's own oversteering and understeering
characteristics are desired
Driving in SPORT handling mode or without
ESP ®
requires a highly qualified and experi-
enced driver.
i Activate ESP ®
as soon as the situations
described above no longer apply. ESP ®
will
otherwise not be able to stabilise the vehicle
if the vehicle starts to skid or a wheel starts to
spin.
Deactivating/activating ESP ®X
To activate SPORT handling mode: briefly
press button :.
The M SPORT handling mode warning
lamp on the instrument cluster lights up. The
SPORT handling mode SPORT handling mode message appears in
the multifunction display.
X To deactivate SPORT handling mode:
briefly press button
:.
The M SPORT handling mode warning
lamp on the instrument cluster goes out.
X To deactivate ESP ®
:press button :until
the å ESP®
OFF warning lamp lights up in
the instrument cluster.
The ÷ OFF
OFF message appears in the multi-
function display.
X To activate ESP ®
:briefly press button :.
The å ESP®
OFF warning lamp on the
instrument cluster goes out. The ÷ESP® ON
ON message appears in the multifunction dis-
play.
Characteristics when SPORT handling
mode is activated
If SPORT handling mode is activated and one or more wheels start to spin, the ÷ESP®
warn-
ing lamp on the instrument cluster flashes. In
such situations, ESP ®
will stabilise the vehicle
only to a limited degree.
When SPORT handling mode is activated:
R ESP ®
improves driving stability only to a limi-
ted degree
R traction control is still activated
R the engine's torque is only restricted to a limi-
ted degree and the drive wheels may start to spin
The spinning of the wheels results in a cut for better traction on loose surfaces.
R ESP ®
still provides support when you brake
firmly
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 situa-
tions, ESP ®
will not stabilise the vehicle.
If you deactivate ESP ®
:
R ESP ®
no longer improves driving stability
R engine torque is no longer limited and the
drive wheels may start to spin
The spinning of the wheels results in a cut for
better traction on loose surfaces.
R traction control is still activated
R Active Brake Assist is no longer available; it is
not activated even if you brake firmly with
assistance from ESP ®
R PRE-SAFE ®
is no longer available; it is not
activated even if you brake firmly with assis-
tance from ESP ®
R ESP ®
still provides support when you brake
firmly
Off-road ESP ® An ESP
®
system specifically suited to off-road
terrain is activated automatically once the off-
road program is activated (Y page 192).74
Driving safety systemsSafety

Off-road ESP
®
intervenes with a delay if there is
oversteering or understeering, thus improving
traction.
ESP ®
trailer stabilisation General notes
If your vehicle/trailer combination begins to
lurch, ESP ®
assists you in this situation. ESP ®
slows the vehicle down by braking and limiting
the engine output until the vehicle/trailer com- bination has stabilised.
Important safety notes G
WARNING
If road and weather conditions are poor,
trailer stabilisation will not be able to prevent the vehicle/trailer combination from swerv-
ing. Trailers with a high centre of gravity can
tip over before ESP ®
can detect this. There is
a risk of an accident.
Always adapt your driving style to the prevail-
ing road and weather conditions.
If your vehicle/trailer combination begins to
lurch, you can only stabilise the vehicle/trailer
combination by depressing the brake firmly.
ESP ®
trailer stabilisation is active above speeds
of approximately 65 km/h.
ESP ®
trailer stabilisation does not work if ESP ®
is deactivated or disabled because of a malfunc- tion. EBD (electronic brake force distribu-
tion)
General information EBD monitors and controls the brake pressure
on the rear wheels to improve driving stability
while braking.
Important safety notes i
Observe the "Important safety notes" sec-
tion (Y page 68). G
WARNING
If EBD is malfunctioning, the rear wheels can
lock, e.g. under full braking. This increases the risk of skidding and an accident.
You should therefore adapt your driving style
to the different handling characteristics. Have the brake system checked at a qualified spe-
cialist workshop.
Please observe the information on warning and
indicator lamps (Y page 267)
(Y page 267) as well as on display messages
(Y page 237). ADAPTIVE BRAKE
ADAPTIVE BRAKE enhances braking safety and
offers increased braking comfort. In addition to
the braking function, ADAPTIVE BRAKE also has the HOLD function (Y page 186) and hill start
assist (Y page 147). STEER CONTROL
General information STEER CONTROL helps you by transmitting a
noticeable steering force to the steering wheel
in the direction required for vehicle stabilisation.
This steering support is provided in particular if:
R both right wheels or both left wheels are on a
wet or slippery road surface when you brake
R the vehicle begins to skid
Important safety notes i
Read the "Important safety notes" section
(Y page 68).
No steering support is provided from STEER
CONTROL, if:
R ESP ®
is malfunctioning
R the steering is malfunctioning
If ESP ®
is malfunctioning, you will be assisted
further by the electrical power steering. Driving safety systems
75Safety Z

If you do not open the vehicle within approx-
imately 40 seconds of unlocking:
R the vehicle locks again
R protection against theft is reactivated
X To lock: press the &button.
The key centrally locks/unlocks:
R the doors
R the tailgate
R the fuel filler flap
During unlocking, the turn signals flash once.
During locking, they flash three times.
When the locator lighting is activated via the
multimedia system, it lights up when it is dark
after the vehicle is unlocked with the remote
control; see the separate operating instructions.
You can also set an audible signal to confirm
that the vehicle has been locked. The audible
signal can be activated or deactivated using the
on-board computer (Y page 229).
X To open the tailgate automatically from
outside the vehicle: press and hold theF
button until the tailgate opens (Y page 95).
Vehicles with KEYLESS-GO or KEYLESS-GO
start function: X To close the tailgate automatically from
outside the vehicle:
if the key is located in
the immediate vicinity of the vehicle, press
the F button on the key (Y page 90).
When the tailgate closes, you can then
release the button. KEYLESS-GO
General notes Bear in mind that the engine can be started by
any of the vehicle occupants if there is a key in
the vehicle.
Locking and unlocking You can start, lock or unlock the vehicle using
KEYLESS-GO. To do this, you need to carry the
key with you. You can combine the KEYLESS-GO
functions with the functions of a conventional
key. Unlock the vehicle using KEYLESS-GO, for
instance, and lock it using the &button on
the key.
The driver's door and the door on which the
handle is used must both be closed. The key must be outside the vehicle. When locking or
unlocking with KEYLESS-GO, the distance
between the key and the corresponding door
handle must not be greater than one metre.
A check that periodically establishes a radio
connection between the vehicle and the key
determines whether a valid key is in or in the
direct vicinity of the vehicle. This occurs, for
example:
R while starting the engine
R while driving
R when the external door handles are touched
R during convenience closing X
To unlock the vehicle: touch the inner sur-
face of the door handle.
X To lock the vehicle: touch sensor surface :
or ;.
Make sure that you do not touch the inner
surface of the door handle.
X Convenience closing feature: touch
recessed sensor surface ;for an extended
period.
Further information on the convenience clos-
ing feature (Y page 99). X
To unlock the tailgate: pull tailgate han-
dle :. 80
KeyOpening and closing

Removing the emergency key element
X
Push release catch :in the direction of the
arrow and, at the same time, remove emer-
gency key element ;from the key.
Further information about:
R Unlocking the driver's door (Y page 88)
R Unlocking the luggage compartment
(Y page 94)
R Locking the vehicle (Y page 88)
Inserting the emergency key element X
Push emergency key element ;completely
into the key until it engages and release
catch :is back in its basic position. Key battery
Important safety notes G
WARNING
Batteries contain toxic and corrosive substan- ces. If batteries are swallowed, it can result in
severe health problems. There is a risk of fatal injury.
Keep batteries out of the reach of children. If
a battery is swallowed, seek medical attention immediately. H
Environmental note Batteries contain pollutants.
It is illegal to dispose of them with the household rubbish.
They must be collected sep-
arately and disposed of in an environmentally responsible
recycling system.
Dispose of batteries in an
environmentally responsible
manner. Take discharged
batteries to a qualified spe-
cialist workshop or to a col-
lection point for used batter-
ies.
Mercedes-Benz recommends that you have the
battery replaced at a qualified specialist work-
shop.
Checking the battery X
Press the &or% button.
The battery is working properly if battery
check lamp :lights up briefly.
The battery is discharged if battery check
lamp :does not light up briefly.
X Replace the battery (Y page 82).
i If the key battery is checked within the sig-
nal reception range of the vehicle, pressing
the & or% button:
R locks or
R unlocks the vehicle
i You can obtain a battery from any qualified
specialist workshop.
Replacing the battery You require a CR 2025 3 V button cell battery.
X Take the emergency key element out of the
key (Y page 81). 82
KeyOpening and closing

i
If you lock the vehicle as described above,
the fuel filler flap is not locked. The anti-theft
alarm system is not primed. Luggage compartment
Important safety notes
G
WARNING
Parts of the body could become trapped dur-
ing automatic closing of the tailgate. More-
over, people, e.g. children, may be standing in the closing area or may enter the closing area
during the closing process. There is a risk of
injury.
Make sure that nobody is in the vicinity of the closing area during the closing process.
Use one of the following options to stop the
closing process:
R press the Fbutton on the key.
R pull or press the remote operating switch
on the driver's door.
R press the close button or STOP button on
the tailgate.
R pull the handle on the tailgate. G
WARNING
Combustion engines emit poisonous exhaust
gases such as carbon monoxide. If the tailgate is open when the engine is running, particu-
larly if the vehicle is moving, exhaust fumes
could enter the passenger compartment.
There is a risk of poisoning.
Turn off the engine before opening the tail-
gate. Never drive with the tailgate open. G
WARNING
If objects, luggage or loads are not secured or not secured sufficiently, they could slip, tip
over or be flung around and thereby hit vehicle
occupants. There is a risk of injury, especially when braking or abruptly changing directions.
Always store objects so that they cannot be
flung around. Secure objects, luggage or loads against slipping or tipping before the
journey.
! The tailgate swings upwards and to the rear
when opened. Therefore, make sure that
there is sufficient clearance above and behind
the tailgate.
You will find details on the tailgate opening
dimensions in the "Vehicle data" section
(Y page 358).
Stow luggage or loads preferably in the luggage compartment. Observe the loading guidelines
(Y page 288).
Do not leave the key in the luggage compart-
ment. If you do so, you could lock yourself out.
The tailgate can be:
R opened and closed manually from outside
R vehicles with EASY-PACK tailgate:
opened/closed automatically from the out-
side
R vehicles with EASY-PACK tailgate:
opened/closed automatically from the inside
R vehicles with EASY-PACK tailgate and
KEYLESS-GO or KEYLESS-GO start func-
tion: closed with the remote operating switch
on the key
R emergency released from the inside. Tailgate obstruction detection with
reversing function
On vehicles with EASY-PACK tailgate, the tail-
gate is equipped with automatic obstacle rec-
ognition with a reversing feature. If a solid object
blocks or restricts the tailgate when automati-
cally opening or closing, the tailgate is stopped.
If the tailgate is stopped during the closing proc- ess, the tailgate automatically opens again
slightly. The automatic obstacle detection with
reversing function is only an aid. It is not a sub- stitute for your attention when opening and
closing the tailgate. G
WARNING
The reversing function does not react:
R to soft, light and thin objects, e.g. fingers
R over the last 8 mm of the closing path Luggage compartment
89Opening and closing
Z

Emergency release
General notes !
The tailgate swings upwards and to the rear
when opened. Therefore, make sure that
there is sufficient clearance above and behind
the tailgate.
You will find details on the tailgate opening
dimensions in the "Vehicle data" section
(Y page 358).
If the tailgate can no longer be unlocked:
R using the key, or
R using the remote operating switch in the door
control panel:
Use the emergency release on the inside of the tailgate.
You can reach the emergency release via the
luggage compartment.
Opening X
Fold the rear seat backrest forwards
(Y page 292).
X Take the emergency key element out of the
key (Y page 82).
X Insert emergency key element ;into open-
ing :in the trim and push it in.
X Open the tailgate.
X Insert the emergency key element into the
key (Y page 82). Boot
Important safety notes
G
WARNING
Combustion engines emit poisonous exhaust
gases such as carbon monoxide. Exhaust
gases can enter the vehicle interior if the boot
lid is open when the engine is running, espe-
cially if the vehicle is in motion. There is a risk of poisoning.
Always switch off the engine before opening
the boot lid. Never drive with the boot lid
open. G
WARNING
If objects, luggage or loads are not secured or not secured sufficiently, they could slip, tip
over or be flung around and thereby hit vehicle
occupants. There is a risk of injury, especially when braking or abruptly changing directions.
Always store objects so that they cannot be
flung around. Secure objects, luggage or
loads against slipping or tipping before the
journey.
! The boot lid swings upwards when opened.
Therefore, make sure that there is sufficient
clearance above the boot lid.
You will find details on the boot lid opening
dimensions in the "Vehicle data" section
(Y page 358).
Stow luggage or loads preferably in the boot.
Observe the loading guidelines (Y page 288).
Do not leave the key in the boot. If you do so, you
could lock yourself out.
The boot lid can be:
R opened and closed manually from outside
R opened automatically from outside
R opened automatically from inside
R emergency released from the inside 94
BootOpening and closing

G
WARNING
If children operate the side windows they
could become trapped, particularly if they are left unsupervised. There is a risk of injury.
Activate the override feature for the rear side
windows. When leaving the vehicle, always
take the key with you and lock the vehicle.
Never leave children unattended in the vehi-
cle. Side window reversing feature
The side windows are equipped with an auto-
matic reversing feature. If a solid object blocks
or restricts a side window from travelling
upwards during the automatic closing process,
the side window opens again automatically. Dur-
ing the manual closing process, the side window
only opens again automatically after the corre-
sponding switch is released. The automatic
reversing feature is only an aid and is no substi- tute for your attention when closing a side win-
dow. G
WARNING
The reversing function does not react:
R to soft, light and thin objects, e.g. small fin-
gers
R while resetting
This means that the reversing feature cannot
prevent someone being trapped in these sit-
uations. There is a risk of injury.
When closing, make sure that no parts of the
body are in the closing area. If someone
becomes trapped, press the switch to open
the side window again. Opening and closing the side win-
dows
The switches for all side windows are located on
the driver's door. There is also a switch on each door for the corresponding side window.
The switches on the driver's door take prece-
dence. :
Front left
; Front right
= Rear right
? Rear left
X Turn the key to position 1or2 in the igni-
tion lock (Y page 144).
X To open manually: press and hold the cor-
responding switch.
X To open fully: press the button beyond the
pressure point and release it.
Automatic operation is started.
X To close manually: pull the corresponding
button and hold it.
X To close fully: pull the button beyond the
pressure point and release it.
Automatic operation is started.
X To interrupt automatic operation: press/
pull the corresponding switch again.
i If you press/pull the switch beyond the
pressure point, automatic operation is started
in the corresponding direction. You can stop
automatic operation by pressing/pulling
again.
i You can continue to operate the side win-
dows after switching off the engine or remov-
ing the key. This function remains active for
five minutes or until the driver's or front-
passenger door is opened.
i The side windows cannot be operated from
the rear when the override feature for the side
windows is activated (Y page 67). Convenience opening feature
Vehicles with KEYLESS-GO, the KEYLESS-
GO start function, Exclusive package or
AMG Exclusive package: you can ventilate the
vehicle before you start driving. 98
Side windowsOpening and closing