Mercedes-Benz bulletin LI46.10-P-078012

Complaint Hand detection system – malfunction / vehicles with code 266 Fault message in instrument cluster: "Active Emergency Stop Assist not available" "Active Lane Keeping Assist not available" "Active steering assist not available" Cause Possible causes: Hand detection mat, hand detection control unit, contacts, and electrical feed line. Remedy In the event of a customer complaint and fault code in IDC control unit: U186B29 in IDC223 or fault code U0429E0, U042941, U042929, U042902, U0429E1 in IDC213 or fault code in HOSWD control unit: B1E7614 Check: Please do not replace the HOSWD control unit. Please flash the new SW and perform the SCN coding for the HOSWD control unit (N179/1) (available from July 2026). The software can be flashed onto all HOSWD213 with HW number A0009011522 and all HOSWD223 with HW number A0009011422. Please also flash the SW for the IDC control unit (N62/4), if possible (only applies to HOSWD223). Erase fault memory Remedy: Turn on the ignition or start the engine without touching the steering wheel. If, after 10 seconds without touching the steering wheel, one of the three fault messages appears on the instrument cluster: Check the contacts and feed lines in the steering wheel by means of a visual inspection for damage, crimp connections, loose connections, etc. (example in picture 2 and 3). If there is visible damage -> replace the steering wheel electronics or the feed lines. If there is not any visible damage -> replace the steering wheel rim. If a yellow message does not appear on the instrument cluster within 10 seconds: Grasp the steering wheel fully with both hands, including the chrome molding at the 6 o'clock position (see picture 1). If the fault is triggered by grasping the steering wheel rim or pressing the clip at the 6 o'clock position, check the contacts and feed lines in the steering wheel by means of a visual inspection for damage, kinked connections, loose connections, etc. (example in picture 2 and 3). Check the ground connections (screw connections and cables to the steering wheel rim); if necessary, retighten the screws/bolts and check for corrosion (picture 4). If there is visible damage -> replace the steering wheel electronics or the feed lines. If there is not any visible damage: Replace the steering wheel rim. Please do not replace the HOSWD control unit. A TIPS case should be created if fault profile is

Owners of the 82 model years this bulletin names have filed 1,984 complaints with NHTSA since 2015. 1,016 of them name Electrical System, Forward Collision Avoidance, Service Brakes — the same broad component group this bulletin is filed under. NHTSA groups complaints coarsely, so that means the same area of the vehicle, not necessarily the same fault.

On the 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class, the 13 owners who gave an odometer reading for Electrical System reported it at a median of 6,615 miles. That figure is one model year’s, not the whole range this bulletin covers — medians from different model years are not averaged.