ChicagoX

Returning from the airport Tuesday, I was jarred out of massage-seat bliss by a bleating warning from the center display.

"KEYLESS GO NOT RECOGNIZED !!!.....KEYLESS GO NOT RECOGNIZED !!!"

Fumbling for the key in my briefcase, I attempted to insert it in the normal slot. Since the car was still on, the attempt was futile. About ten seconds later, the FREAKING CAR SHUTS OFF WHILE MOVING, locking up the rear wheels. The gentleman behind me, swerving to avoid yet another application of Bondo to his Sentra, hurled a few choice epithets my way.

Finally realizing that I need to put the car in PARK to do anything with the key, I managed to start the car - just in time to see the blue lights from the Chicago Police officer who was five cars back from the whole incident.

I could see he was bemused by the failure of this high-dollar sedan, but a squawk from his radio diverted his attention enough for him to bark something like "move along" before he took off rapidly.

The tele-aid rep indicated that he hadn't seen a similar failure in his three years there......anyone else have any input?

vraa

Holy ****, did the car really lock up?
That's horrible man, that could've caused some serious issues, from what I've read in the owners manual the car should keep going (be it a Lexus, Mercedes, BMW, or Infiniti) resulting in the inability to turn the car back on (duh you don't have the key) only if you turn it off manually. Not locking up the car!

Cylinder Head

iTrader: (1)

Was there another benz near you at the time? Its possible someone else's signal screwed with your car for a second. Other than that, maybe its just those damn gremlins.

MiamiAMG

That is not good. Thankfully you weren't driving on a highway, that would have been bad. I assume you're taking it in to the shop, let us know what they find.


Good Luck!

Kev04C320

Happened to me once in July. After a spirited ride on the pike, I was approaching a stop light, when the car suddenly shut down completely. Since the light was red, I scrambled to get the car started again. So, this is not an isolated incident.

vraa

Was it the same message?
I've had an issue on my X5 where after driving hard and I come to a stop (stop sign, red light, whatever) the car stalls and the engine shuts down. I have to put the car into park and crank the key again to get it going. No error messages what so ever on the dash.

ChicagoX

It's in the shop (day 2). I'll post updates as I receive them. CLK500 loaner, not bad.

Ricky: I had stopped for traffic, was moving ahead at idle (3-5mph) and the thing LOCKED UP!

CH: No other MB products around that I was aware of.

Kev: Has this happened again or just the once?

MBH

Thanks for this post. I have an '05 E55 with Keyless Go and this so fare has never happend to me. Please keep us posted as to what you dealer finds. My car goes in the shop next week to fix the CD Changer, I will ask them if they have ever heard of such problems with Keyless Go. BTW my dealer is the second largest Mercedes Dealer in the USA( Ray Catena ).

Kev04C320

I didn't get the Keyless Go not regonized message BEFORE the shutdown. However, when I scramble to get the car started again, that message appeared on my dash saying that key not recognized. I put the car in park and then restarted the car by inserting the key into the ignition.

This has been the only incident so far (knock on wood_

blazinginder

thats really strange...my guess its something to do with the sensors in the car and/or the key...hope everything works out for ya

jangy

Why would the wheels lock up even if the car shuts off? Please let us know what they say. there will definitely be fault codes they can track, so insist on details.

Jakpro1

Wow, imagine that happening at 65, or 95, or 135.....SCARY!!!

ChicagoX

All I can think of is the brake-by-wire system.

I will attempt to extract as many details as possible for our collective edification.

xraymd

There was a post a year or two ago from a guy who was dropping his wife off at the mall. She got out and he drove away not realizing he didn't have his key on him. The car started evidently because his wife had her key in her purse which of course she took with her into the mall.

Anyway, he drives off only to have the thing die in traffic a few miles away. The way he described it, the car wouldn't turn off until he had slowed down to like under 20. It's not supposed to shut off at higher speeds.

FlyByNight

This happened to me in Yosemite! I'm driving along and it flashes "key not recognized'. I'm doing 60 about 20 miles outside of the park in the middle of nowhere, so I get a little nervous. I'm thinking battery, who knows what... I put it in the ignition switch, no change. I pull over, turn the thing off, it goes back to normal... only to do it again an hour later.

Key battery right? Nope... went to the dealer... my key was actually messed up transmitter wise... they replaced the key... took a while to get a new one for my VIN.

NEVER had it lock up or turn off though.... that's nuts... and a lawsuit waiting to happen.

Very curious about the outcome... glad you're ok,

Loren

FlyByNight

Completely separate incident... pre-Jeep for my wife, she would take the E55 on errands. I would often back the car out of the garage and warm it up for her. One day I did this, left it running, and she went on her way... only I had kept the keys in my pocket (double-edged sword keyless is).

She calls me after a 20 mile drive asking me where the keys were so she could lock it. That was a whole other project... just go and try and lock that car without the key... you have to do it by having the front doors closed and sit in the back seat, lock them there, then exit the locked doors in the rear.

But the odd thing was that it ran the whole time without a problem... I thought they WERE supposed to shut down after a certain time / distance for car jacking reasons, etc... but mine never did.

weird cars...

Loren

franklee168

did any of you guys that this condition happened to remember if the key was dropped? i hear that dropping the key can erase the memory.

ChicagoX

According to the SM, the key was indeed not communicating with the car. This comm error is what he alleges caused the shut-down condition.

Since I had already ordered a spare key (I purchased the car with only one) they will program that one and order another one on their dime.

I am curious to see what error codes were stored.

2MANYCARS

Really scary stuff, glad you are ok. Now I am having second thoughts about keyless go for my ML63.

2MANYCARS

Really scary stuff, glad you are ok. Now I am having second thoughts about keyless go for my ML63.

RENNTECH36

yup, happened to me this past weekend. car completely shut off. scary as ****

L8Apex

The same thing happened to my friends S500 at the airport. Had it towed to Fletcher Jones and it took 2 days to sort it out.

sly55

wow, no probs with my keyless go on my 05 so far (its been telling me to check key battery for a few weeks, and after hearing this i will definitly be changing the battery!!) personally i quite enjoy the convenience of the feature (how lazy are we getting that we cant be bothered to use a key? lol)

VERY surprised about the lockup!! as you say, must be some computer brake by wire thingy, as when you shut down an auto in gear it keeps rolling in my experience!! either way its pretty wrong!