In the event that the conventional brake system fails or locks.
If you pull the switch and hold it above a speed of about 5 mph (8 km/h), the emergency braking function is initiated. The vehicle is braked at all four wheels by activating the hydraulic brake system. The brake performance is similar to making an emergency stop.
In order not to activate the emergency braking by mistake, an audible warning tone (buzzer) sounds when the switch is pulled. As soon as the switch is released, or the accelerator pedal is depressed, emergency braking stops.
WARNING
Emergency braking should only be used in an emergency, when the normal foot brake has failed or the brake pedal is obstructed. Using the parking brake to perform emergency braking will slow your vehicle down as if you had made a full brake application. The laws of physics cannot be suspended even with ESC and its associated components (ABS, ASR, EDS). In corners and when road or weather conditions are bad, a full brake application can cause the vehicle to skid or the rear end to break away - risking an accident.
Driver messages in the instrument cluster
Caution: Vehicle parked too steep
This message appears when the parking brake is applied on an incline that exceeds about 30%.
In this case the braking power of the parking brake may not be adequate to prevent the vehicle from rolling unintentionally.
Press brake pedal to release parking brake
This driver message appears when the switch to release the parking brake was pressed. The parking brake can only be released if you step on the brake pedal and at the same time press the switch or you automatically release the parking brake with the starting assist.
Parking brake malfunction!
This driver message appears together with the yellow symbol when there is a parking brake malfunction.