What does that Mercedes-Benz warning light mean? Please take a look at the most common Mercedes dashboard lights and what they mean.
Table of Contents
Check Engine Light This is the engine malfunction warning light. This light comes on when the On-Board Diagnostic (OBD) system indicates a problem with the way the engine is running. It could be something as simple as a loose gas cap or even a transmission problem. Use an OBD-II scanner to read the fault codes via the OBD-II port located under the dashboard on the driver's side. Don't ignore the check engine light, or your vehicle may go into limp mode. |
Airbag Warning Light The airbag light, also known as the SRS light, lets the driver know that the airbag system has malfunctioned. When the airbag light stays on all the time, it means the airbags may not deploy if you get in an accident. The airbag light may come on due to a defective seat mat sensor on the passenger seat, a defective clock spring, a stuck seat belt buckle, etc. |
 TPMS
Tire Pressure Monitoring System. Check the tire pressure and add air if one or more tires have low tire pressure. Find a space place to park and check that you don't have a flat tire. Check tire pressure and add air to any tires that may become low. The recommended tire pressure is found on a black sticker on the driver's door frame or behind the fuel gas cap door. If the light remains on, the system has malfunctioned, or one of the sensors in your rim has failed. |
Battery Warning Light The battery symbol will come on if your battery is not getting charged or the alternator is not working properly. This light will come on if the battery is not getting charged, the serpentine belt is broken, the alternator is defective, the voltage regulator is malfunctioning. |
 Seat Belt
This light is reminding you that you or your passengers need to use the seat belt. |
 DEF/AdBlue Indicator
This warning light means that you are low on Diesel Exhaust Fluid or also known as DEF. Add DEF fluid as soon as possible. The AdBlue indicator is found in 2010 and newer Mercedes-Benz models with BlueTec technology. The main purpose of the AdBlue fluid is to remove the harmful particles from the exhaust. |
 Distance Warning
The distance warning lamp will light up if you are getting too close to the vehicle in front of you. Distance warning may come to stay if there is a problem with the autonomous braking function COLLISION PREVENTION ASSIST PLUS. |
 ESP / ESC
This is the warning light for the electronic stability control. Try restarting the car, turning the steering wheel all the way to the left and then all the way to the right. In some cases, this procedure will reset the ESP warning. This warning may come on if you recently replaced the battery. It can also come on if you have a bad wheel speed sensor. If the light says ESP Off or ESP Off, it could be because you have pressed the ESP button on the dashboard. |
 Light Bulb Out
The light bulb symbol means that one or more of the light bulbs is burned out. You should see a warning message in the center of the instrument cluster. If all your lights work, but you are still getting this warning, it could be due to one of the bulbs having been replaced with a bulb that has the wrong wattage. |
 Low Fuel Level
It means that you are running out of fuel. Stop at the closest gas station and add fuel. |
Brake Light In most cases, it comes on because you either forgot to release the parking brake or the parking brake is not fully released. The light could also mean brake system failure. Your brakes may stop working. Stop carefully and check that the brakes are working properly. The brake light may come on because of a leak from the brake line, low brake fluid level, or even a defective brake light switch. Get your Mercedes-Benz diagnosed as soon as possible, and keep in mind that your brakes may stop working as you are driving. |
 ABS Light
This warning light means the Anti Lock Brake System is not working. This doesn't mean your brakes are not functioning. It means the vehicle may skid or take longer to bring to a complete stop. If the ABS fails, ESP (Electronic Stability Program), BAS (Brake Assist), EBD (Electronic Brake-force Distribution) will most likely be deactivated as well. All these systems depend on the ABS to function. Common problems that trigger Mercedes-Benz ABS light are brake light switch, ABS wheel speed sensor, and defective clock spring. Use a multi-system OBD-II scanner to read fault codes from the ABS module.
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 Glow Plug
The spiral symbol that looks like a spring is the glow plug light. When you first turn on the ignition on diesel models, you need to wait a few seconds for the glow plug to turn off. Once the glow plug light turns off, you are good to start the engine. The glow plugs are installed to warm up the cylinders so that you can easily start the engine. |
Power Steering This symbol means that the power assist is a malfunction. When that happens, the steering wheel may be difficult to turn. The problem could be the power steering pump, or in the case of electronic power steering, it could be a defective power steering motor. On older Mercedes-Benz models steering symbol will also come on if you have released the steering column lever to adjust the steering wheel and haven't locked it again.
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Engine Overheating The temperature means the engine is overheating. Don't drive your car if it is overheating. Find a safe location and turn off the car to allow the engine to cool down. Once the engine is cooled down, you should check the coolant level. Problems that can cause Mercedes temperature light to come on include a bad water pump, stuck thermostat, low coolant, defective temperature sensor, etc. |
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Attention Assist
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 Brake Wear
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These are some of the most common Mercedes lights that you will see on A-Class, B Class, C Class, E Class, CLK Class, CLS Class, ML-Class, GL Class, R Class, GLA, GLS, GLC, GLE, and other models.
Did we forget to explain a Mercedes-Benz dashboard warning light? Describe a Mercedes warning light in the comments below, and we will add it to the list.
About Author
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Rushit Hila, ASE Certified Mechanic I have been working on vehicles for over 20 years. In 2016, I decided to start YOUCANIC so that I can empower vehicle owners all over the world. Currently, I hold an ASE certification on G1 Automotive Maintenance and Light Repair. ⏵ Read More |
