Mercedes “SOS Inoperative” - What to Do and Can You Drive?

Mercedes-Benz is unquestionably one of the most well-known luxury automobile manufacturers around the globe. Having an incredible reputation for quality and durability, they definitely set the standards when it comes to efficiency, sustainability, and safety. With their services such as the Mercedes-Benz Emergency Call System, help is just one press of an SOS button away.       

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

What Does "SOS Inoperative" Message Mean?

The "SOS Inoperative" warning message is displayed when there is a problem with the Mercedes-Benz Emergency Call System establishing the connection with their service center. SOS, which means "Save Our Ship", is an international code for extreme distress mainly used by ancient sailors when their ships were in trouble at sea.

Apparently, Mercedes-Benz used that same technique with their built-in Mercedes Benz SOS service in their effort to significantly improve their response time for sending help to their customers in case of an accident or an emergency.   

Although the Mercedes-Benz Emergency Call System was established in 2012, it became a standard feature in all of their models/series after the introduction of Mercedes Me in September 2014. This system automatically triggers an emergency call to the local Mercedes-Benz call center in case of an accident or if the SOS button is manually pressed from within the vehicle.

Once the vehicle establishes a voice connection and the driver doesn't answer the call made from the emergency center, rescue services are automatically notified with all necessary information and dispatched to the exact location of that vehicle.   

However, if the "SOS Inoperative" warning message is displayed when you turn on your engine, your vehicle is letting you know that the SOS module is not functional.

Therefore, the Mercedes-Benz Emergency Call System will not be able to establish any connection with its service network automatically or manually. So, if you are in an accident or faced with an emergency while the "SOS Inoperative" warning message is on display, your vehicle may not be able to alert the emergency call center for immediate assistance.    

Therefore, if the "SOS Inoperative" warning message is coming on in your vehicle, it is better to get to a Mercedes-Benz dealership immediately. The "SOS Inoperative" message can come on due to a number of problems and ignoring the warning message will not solve the issue.

With a fault code in the system, the dealership will need to diagnose your vehicle with a scanner that is Mercedes-Benz compatible.      

Common Causes of "SOS Inoperative" Warning Message

With the Mercedes-Benz Emergency Call System, you always have a partner at your side while driving on the road. So, in case of an emergency, just press the SOS button and you will be connected to an expert who knows the details of your vehicle inside-out along with your exact location.

However, there are several issues that can trigger the "SOS Inoperative" warning message to appear on your Mercedes-Benz when the vehicle will not be able to establish a connection with the Mercedes-Benz Service Center.      

There has already been a recall of around 234,862 vehicles across their entire lineup due to a glitch that can cause the Mercedes-Benz Emergency System to become inoperative.

The glitch was related to the SIM card module that is included in the vehicle in order to connect with its wireless network. According to Mercedes-Benz, in such a situation, the communication module will fail to initiate a proper connection with the mobile phone network.    

As a result, the arrival of the emergency responders to the location of the vehicle in case of an emergency may be delayed. Hence, possibly increasing the consequences of any injuries from an emergency situation or an accident.

To assist owners to identify the root of the problem, below are some of the most common reasons that can possibly trigger the "SOS Inoperative" warning message to display in your Mercedes.   

• Low Battery Voltage

One of the most common reasons for your "SOS Inoperative" message to pop up is due to your vehicle having a low battery voltage. If the battery in your Mercedes is possibly too old and provides below 12 volts when starting the engine, it will trigger the "SOS Inoperative" warning message to appear on the screen.

Although the battery in your vehicle may have enough juice to start the engine, order to power up and operate the SOS module requires the voltage to be above 11 volts.      

• Restraint System Malfunction

The "SOS Inoperative" warning message can also be triggered due to the airbag system having a problem. The SOS inoperative is normally related to the SRS system. Therefore, any issues with the airbag system will cause the "SOS Inoperative" warning message to appear as well as the airbag indicator to illuminate on your screen.    

• Issues with the Wiring Harness

The SOS module is located in the back of the Mercedes-Benz, typically in the trunk area of the vehicle. Therefore, the SOS system's wiring harness can possibly get damaged. If there are any issues with the wiring harness of the SOS module, it will trigger the "SOS Inoperative" due to the damages.        

• Outdated Phone Module

Even though your "SOS Inoperative" warning message may not appear due to this reason, you will be up for a very rude awakening if your phone module is outdated. If your Phone module is not properly updated, when you press the SOS button in your vehicle, it will fail to establish any connection.

Although your vehicle will attempt to make a call, unfortunately, the call will not go anywhere and no one will be able to respond to that failed call.  

Many of the older Mercedes-Benz vehicles are equipped with analog systems, whereas most of the cellular towers everywhere are now using digital systems. Working side by side with the latest digital phone towers, the mbrace module is the newest upgrade for the telecom hardware module in your Mercedes-Benz.

Since the Mercedes-Benz mbrace requires a hardware update, you will need to physically take your vehicle to a Mercedes-Benz dealership in order to subscribe to the Mercedes-Benz mbrace services.        

What to Do and Can You Drive?

The Mercedes-Benz emergency call system is there to establish communication and assist you in an emergency situation only. Therefore, even if the "SOS Inoperative" warning message appears, you can still drive your Mercedes safely on the road.

Although it will reappear every time you restart the engine, you can press the OK button on your steering wheel to temporarily clear the "SOS Inoperative" warning message from the display screen until you have the time to visit your nearest Mercedes dealer.  

However, the Mercedes-Benz Emergency Call System is without a doubt a lifesaver and everyone with the opportunity should definitely take full advantage of this service for their own safety.

Aside from an actual accident, there can be so many different emergency situations, including serious health issues. Simply by pressing the SOS button in your Mercedes, you will be immediately connected to a specially qualified staff to aid you with your emergency and send help if necessary.                

Conclusion

We all fear traffic accidents or having to deal with life-threatening situations when behind the wheel. Since every second is vital to our well-being after a serious accident, it is important to be discovered as quickly as possible and get the necessary help.

Having an effective rescue and recovery team reach the vehicle within a short time can make the difference between life and death in an emergency situation.        

Thanks to the Mercedes-Benz emergency call system, owners of a Mercedes have the option to always be linked to their 24 hours emergency service team. When it comes to safety, security, and convenience, the Mercedes-Benz mbrace has a variety of services and features available for their customers to keep them safe on the road.

Mercedes-Benz has a dense service network with specially qualified staff always ready to assist their customers in case of any emergencies.  

The emergency call system not only enables your vehicle to automatically establish a connection with their service center in case of an accident, but you also have the option to manually press the SOS button for any other emergency situations.

So although you can drive your vehicle safely with the "SOS Inoperative" warning message on your screen, remember that you will not get the benefits of the emergency call system in case you are in need of emergency assistance.

Therefore, for your own safety and others, it is important to make sure that your emergency call system along with the SOS button is fully functional and working properly at all times.