A growing number of Mercedes-Benz owners in South Korea are voicing frustration over certain functions in the automaker’s latest models, saying features designed around safety and security are proving inconvenient in the country’s unique parking environment.
Among the most frequently cited complaints are the inability to leave the vehicle in neutral for double parking and the way the remote-start system operates. The issues have reportedly been particularly noticeable in newer models, including the latest E-Class.
Double parking is relatively common in apartment complexes and officetels across South Korea, where parking spaces can be limited. In such situations, drivers traditionally leave their vehicles in neutral so that other residents can push them out of the way when necessary.
However, newer Mercedes-Benz models employ a safety logic that automatically shifts the transmission into Park (P) when the driver switches off the vehicle or exits it. As a result, keeping the vehicle in neutral while unattended can be difficult, effectively preventing the conventional form of double parking.
Some Mercedes-Benz owners have expressed frustration over the issue, saying they have no practical way to leave their cars in a movable state when double parking is unavoidable.
“I have to double-park at my apartment, but there seems to be no way to do it,” one owner reportedly said. Others have complained that even apartment management offices find the situation difficult to handle.
Another source of dissatisfaction is the remote-start function. Mercedes-Benz provides a smartphone-based feature that allows owners to start the vehicle remotely to pre-condition the cabin for heating or cooling.
However, when the owner opens the vehicle door after remotely starting the engine, the engine automatically shuts off. The driver must then press the brake pedal and restart the vehicle using the start button before driving away.
Some owners say this diminishes the convenience of remote start.
“Why do I have to restart the engine?” one driver complained. Others questioned whether the system could be changed through the vehicle settings and argued that the feature feels unnecessarily restrictive.
One driver who recently switched from a Korean premium sedan to a Mercedes-Benz said the behavior was particularly inconvenient.
“I was told that the engine shutting off when the door is opened is normal operation, but it is very inconvenient,” the driver said. “Is there no way to change the setting?”
The driver also expressed disappointment that the Mercedes-Benz system does not offer some of the cabin pre-conditioning functions available in the driver’s previous vehicle, such as adjusting the desired interior temperature through a smartphone app.
The behavior of these systems is believed to be related to the manufacturer’s safety and security philosophy. Automatically engaging Park is intended to prevent unintended vehicle movement, while shutting off the engine when a door is opened after remote start can reduce the risk of vehicle theft or unauthorized operation.
Some other automakers, however, use a different approach. Their systems allow the engine to remain running after the door is opened while requiring smart-key authentication and additional driver input, such as pressing the brake pedal or operating the transmission, before the vehicle can be driven.
This approach can provide greater convenience while still requiring authentication before the vehicle moves.
Industry experts point to a gap between global vehicle safety standards and South Korea’s parking culture. Double parking is relatively uncommon in many European and North American markets, while it remains widespread in Korean residential complexes.
As a result, safety functions developed primarily around overseas driving and parking environments can sometimes be perceived as inconvenient in South Korea.
“Strengthening safety is certainly the right direction, but automakers should also consider providing software settings or optional functions that take into account parking environments and usage patterns in different countries,” an automotive industry official said.
Meanwhile, this publication contacted Mercedes-Benz Korea for comment regarding the complaints but had not received a response at the time of publication.
