Error Messages and Warning Lights in Mercedes Cars

When you own a Mercedes vehicle, you expect it to be reliable, durable, and problem-free. But things are not going your way all the time. And sooner or later you will see a dreadful warning light or error message on the dash of your car.

I've been writing about warning lights of all types for almost two years now, and I want to generalize the information in this article. Here, I will tell you about the most common error messages and warning lights you can see in your Mercedes vehicle.

Also, I will give you links to investigate the problems and find the proper solution for your issue. It's important to know what you can do on your own and when it's better to ask for professional help.

Vehicle Rising message in Mercedes

At times, Mercedes error messages may be pretty misleading and hard to understand. The "Vehicle Rising" message is most commonly seen in the process of rising the body when you press the button to rise your air suspension.

Also, this message may be seen when there are issues with the air lines in the suspension system or in the compressor seals. So, there is an air leak in the system and the compressor has to turn on from time to time to compensate for the pressure loss.

This problem is hard to diagnose, so sometimes it will be easier to go to the repair shop and ask for help.

Vehicle rising message highlights:

• Common reasons:air leak in air suspension, vehicle is in the process of rising
• How to fix:stop changing suspension height, check suspension for air leaks
• Possible consequences:air leak may kill the suspension compressor quickly
• Priority level:High
• Can you drive?Yes
• DIY repair:Impossible
• Repair price range:$150-$450

"Auxiliary Battery Malfunction" message in Mercedes

Your Mercedes obviously has two batteries - the main one and also the auxiliary battery. The latter usually serves as the start-stop battery or has some other functions. If it's low or dying, the "Auxiliary Battery Malfunction" error message will pop up.

But you should also check if the main battery is OK and if the alternator is working properly and charging the batteries. If you don't do that, it's very possible that the vehicle will eventually kill the new battery.

If your auxiliary battery is over 4 years old when you see this message, this is a clear sign the battery needs replacement.

Auxiliary battery malfunction message highlights:

• Common reasons:AUX battery has low voltage, alternator problems, main battery problems
• How to fix:check both batteries, check alternator, charge the batteries
• Possible consequences:no start-stop system, various glitches
• Priority level:Medium
• Can you drive?Yes
• DIY repair:Possible
• Repair price range:$0-$200

"Air Suspension Malfunction" message in Mercedes

When you see the "Air Suspension Malfunction" message in a Mercedes car, chances are that your air suspension will require service. The most common culprits are leaky air lines or faulty compressor. Other than that, there could be some electrical issues.

If your air suspension malfunctions and the message pops up on the dash, you should check for air leaks first. Also, make sure that all the electronic controls for the air suspension work well. If they don't respond but the car keeps the air in its air springs, the problem may be with one of the control modules.

Anyway, proper inspection is needed, this is not a DIY fix.

Air suspension malfunction message highlights:

• Common reasons:air leak, electronic problem
• How to fix:check for air leaks, take the car in for inspection
• Possible consequences:suspension may drop any moment
• Priority level:High
• Can you drive?Yes
• DIY repair:Impossible
• Repair price range:$300-$2,000

"Airbag Malfunction" message in Mercedes

The safety system in your Mercedes is extremely important, so ignoring the "Airbag Malfunction" error message is not a good choice.

When your car says that your airbags aren't OK, it's time to carefully drive to the dealership. In most cases, there is a problem with electronics. But I know about cases when the airbag unit was affected by water and corrosion developed on electrical connections. This may also lead to this message.

There is no way you can fix this without proper knowledge and tools, so there are no DIY fixes. I strongly recommend going directly to professionals.

Pay attention that this problem may have other wording: "SRS Malfunction, Service Required", in some Mercedes vehicles.

Airbag malfunction message highlights:

• Common reasons:one of the airbags requires service
• How to fix:take it in for inspection
• Possible consequences:safety system may not work properly
• Priority level:High
• Can you drive?Carefully
• DIY repair:Impossible
• Repair price range:$250-$550

"Front Left Malfunction" message in Mercedes

Sometimes, when your Mercedes throws some error messages, it seems that the car plays jokes with us or makes up some riddles. The "Front Left Malfunction" is one of such messages.

But actually, this always means that there is a problem with the air suspension. The computer detected that one of the air springs was leaking or there were electrical issues with it. By saying "front left" your Mercedes saves you some time for inspection.

There were cases when this message popped up wrongly because of issues with the battery or alternator. Low voltage can lead to air suspension problems, so this is another important factor you should check.

Front left malfunction message highlights:

• Common reasons:front left air spring malfunctions
• How to fix:inspection is needed
• Possible consequences:suspension may drop anytime
• Priority level:High
• Can you drive?Carefully
• DIY repair:Impossible
• Repair price range:$300-$1,200

"Power Steering Malfunction" message in Mercedes

If your Mercedes shows the "Power Steering Malfunction" message, it means that the electronic controls for electric power steering registered suspicious behavior in the system.

It doesn't automatically mean that the power steering is bad and will require repairs. Sometimes, the message may be just triggered by the low battery or some other issue. It's obvious that the battery is easier to check and replace, so you should be doing this at first.

In the power steering system, there is not much that can break down or cause problems. But still, in a high-mileage Mercedes car, the issues with power steering are more than possible. Professional help will be needed to diagnose the issue.

Power steering malfunction message highlights:

• Common reasons:power steering problems, battery problems
• How to fix:check the battery, read the codes
• Possible consequences:power steering may refuse to work
• Priority level:High
• Can you drive?Carefully
• DIY repair:Impossible
• Repair price range:$200-$1,750

"SOS Inoperative" message in Mercedes

Originally, the "SOS Inoperative" message in your Mercedes was aimed to display when there is a problem with the Emergency Call System. This system aims to call for emergency services when the vehicle is badly damaged in the accident and it can actually save your life.

But the message usually pops up because of two possible things: a bad battery or a burned telecommunication module. The module, by the way, has its own battery and it can also be bad, so it's worth replacing it before you agree to pay for any more expensive repairs.

The batteries in your Mercedes (the main and the auxiliary ones) are AGM, so you won't be able to check them properly with just a multimeter.

SOS inoperative message highlights:

• Common reasons:battery problems, telecommunication module issues
• How to fix:check the 12V batteries, replace the battery in the tele module
• Possible consequences:no SOS calls available
• Priority level:High
• Can you drive?Yes
• DIY repair:Impossible
• Repair price range:$200-$600

"EBD, ABS, ESP Inoperative, See Owner's Manual" message in Mercedes

While the high number of various warning lights and error messages is really scary, it may not be the reason for serious expenses. If you see the "EBD, ABS, ESP Inoperative" error message, you will most likely have a low battery in your vehicle. Of course, the culprit may be more complicated.

For example, the problem may also be caused by a malfunctioning wheel-speed sensor, ABS module, or ECU problems. While the battery problem is a completely DIY repair, the ABS problem or some other technical issues will require professional help.

If you choose to continue driving with this message on the dash, be careful. The majority of the safety systems may not be working. At least, disconnect the battery for 5-10 minutes and let the systems reset.

EBD, ABS, ESP inoperative message highlights:

• Common reasons:battery problems, wheel-speed sensor, ECU problems
• How to fix:check the 12V batteries, have the vehicle inspected
• Possible consequences:no safety features available
• Priority level:High
• Can you drive?Carefully
• DIY repair:Impossible
• Repair price range:$200-$450

"ESP Malfunction, Visit Workshop" message in Mercedes

While ESP stands for Electronic Stability Program which is basically the stability control feature, the "ESP Malfunction" message may tell you about a huge load of different problems.

Among the most common culprits of this message in a Mercedes vehicle, I can think of steering angle sensor, wheel-speed sensors, ABS control module, electronic throttle control issues, ECU problems, low 12V battery, etc.

So, you may try checking the most obvious and easy ones. For example, confirm that the battery has optimal voltage and it doesn't drop when you start the car. If you can't find the culprit, you may want to use an OBD2 scanner or just take the vehicle in for s good inspection.

ESP malfunction message highlights:

• Common reasons:failure inany feature connected to the operation of ESP
• How to fix:check the 12V battery, read codes
• Possible consequences:some safety features may not be working
• Priority level:High
• Can you drive?Carefully
• DIY repair:Impossible
• Repair price range:$200-$350

"Do Not Change Gears" message in Mercedes

If you see your Mercedes saying "Do Not Change Gears", chances are the vehicle is in trouble. The main culprit of this error message is the transmission itself. If you are driving in D at this moment, keep driving till you have a safe place to park your car.

It's not recommended to drive any further because you can eventually kill the transmission. The best option is to call your dealer or call the tow truck and get your car towed to a place where it can be inspected and repaired.

In most cases, the problem is not fatal. It may be a minor mechanical issue with your transmission or an electronic glitch. But risking and driving further is a bad idea.

Do not change gears message highlights:

• Common reasons:problems with the transmission
• How to fix:just take the car in ASAP
• Possible consequences:transmission may die quickly
• Priority level:High
• Can you drive?Not recommended
• DIY repair:Impossible
• Repair price range:$250-$4,000

"Take Your Key from Ignition" message in Mercedes

If I had to rank car brands according to the mysteriousness of their error messages wording, Mercedes would become an absolute champion.

When you see the "Take Your Key from Ignition" warning message, it means that your electronic steering lock is not working. It may have stuck locked and now the vehicle can't unlock the steering wheel, so it just advises you to take your key out of the ignition switch and go away.

Sometimes, the problem may be with your 12V battery or even the key fob battery. It's worth checking those and verifying they are both OK. I've seen people replacing the electronic steering lock on their own without paying the dealer, but the process seems a little too complicated to me.

Take your key from ignition message highlights:

• Common reasons:steering lock problem, 12V battery weak, key fob battery dead
• How to fix:check the batteries, replace the steering lock
• Possible consequences:car won't start
• Priority level:High
• Can you drive?No
• DIY repair:Possible but complicated
• Repair price range:$5-$750

"Key Not Detected" message in Mercedes

In 99% of cases, you will see the "Key Not Detected" message in a Mercedes vehicle when the key fob battery is dead. They may die once every 8-12 months depending on the battery strength.

Also, your 12V battery may contribute to this problem just by being pretty low and causing a glitch in the system. Check it, jump-start it, or maybe just replace it with a new one if it's older than 4 years when this message pops up.

And there is a slight chance that the message may have been caused by a problem with the keyless-entry antenna that communicates with the key fob. In this case, you will need professional help.

Key not detected message highlights:

• Common reasons:key fob battery dead, 12V battery problems, antenna issues
• How to fix:check and replace the batteries, try another key fob
• Possible consequences:car won't start
• Priority level:High
• Can you drive?No
• DIY repair:Possible
• Repair price range:$5-$300

"Reduce Oil Level" message in Mercedes

It's not uncommon for a Mercedes car to throw the message saying "Reduce Oil Level". The problem is that modern Mercedes cars just don't have the dipstick to check the level and you will need to use the infotainment system for this.

But the message may not only mean that the oil level is suddenly high. It may mean that the oil level sensor is faulty.

If you have the dipstick in your engine, verify the oil level is OK. If it's high, make sure the oil is pure and doesn't contain any white foam or other unnatural things in it. Also, have a look at the coolant level. There is a chance that the head gasket is broken and the coolant pours into the oil.

If no problems are noticed, you may carefully drive to your dealer for proper inspection.

Reduce oil level message highlights:

• Common reasons:high oil level, head gasket broken, fuel in oil
• How to fix:check the oil level, don't drive if you can't do this
• Possible consequences:engine may fail
• Priority level:High
• Can you drive?Not recommended
• DIY repair:Impossible
• Repair price range:$200-$900

Battery Light Warning in Mercedes

When you see the battery light in your Mercedes and some message with it, it means that the ECU noticed a significant drop in voltage. It may have been a glitch. But there is a high chance that the battery has little juice in it.

If you see the message when your battery is over 4-5 years old, just replace it with a new one. If it's younger than that, you may try using a tender to charge it. Jumping may help just for a couple of days or hours.

Also, the problem may be because of some other equipment in the electrical system in your vehicle. If you can't solve the problem on your own, just visit a good shop or dealership.

Battery warning lights highlights:

• Common reasons:low battery, electrical gremlin
• How to fix:check the battery voltage, replace the battery
• Possible consequences:when the battery is dead, you may get stranded
• Priority level:High
• Can you drive?Yes
• DIY repair:Possible
• Repair price range:$200-$450

Blue P Light in Mercedes

Whenever you see the Blue P light in your Mercedes, your Parktronic system is active and is seeking the place to park your car automatically.

Parktronic in a Mercedes car refers not only to the parking aid sensors but to the entire system of automatic parking. You may deactivate the system in the settings if you don't use it. And if you do use it, don't forget to keep your foot on the brake pedal at all times. Never rely purely on the sensors.

Blue P light highlights:

• Common reasons:Parktronic system is active
• How to fix:no need to fix
• Possible consequences:no consequences
• Priority level:Low
• Can you drive?Yes
• DIY repair:No repair needed
• Repair price range:$0

Eco Start/Stop Light yellow in Mercedes

If your Eco Start/Stop light is yellow in a Mercedes vehicle, it means that the conditions for applying the start-stop system aren't met. Or you may have just deactivated the system manually.

So, one possible solution is to press the start-stop button and see if the yellow light changes and the start-stop works again.

If it doesn't it only means that the vehicle is not ready to use the start-stop feature. Why? Because the engine is not warmed up yet, the AC hasn't reached the proper temperature in the interior of your car, the battery voltage is lower than needed, etc. If the light keeps illuminating yellow all the time, you will need to inspect the vehicle.

Eco Start/Stop yellow light highlights:

• Common reasons:start-stop can't be working, low battery, start-stop deactivated
• How to fix:wait for conditions to change, check the battery, activate start-stop manually
• Possible consequences:start-stop won't work
• Priority level:Low
• Can you drive?Yes
• DIY repair:Possible
• Repair price range:$0-$250