Brake defective Stop Vehicle! SBC Brake Failure Error CODE C249F Fault

Last updated: October 27, 2026

In this guide (7 sections)

1. Understanding SBC Drive by Wire Brakes
2. Get a New SBC Pump Installed Free by the Dealer
3. How to Disable the Brake Defective Stop Vehicle Warning
4. Affected Bosch Part Numbers
5. SBC Hydraulic Pump Error Codes
6. How to Reset SBC Malfunction
7. Diagnose Mercedes SBC Faults with the UCAN-II Pro

Mercedes-Benz vehicles equipped with Sensotronic Brake Control, also known as an electrohydraulic brake-by-wire system, may have been greeted with the “Brakes Defective Stop Vehicle” error message in your instrument cluster. Several faults can trigger brake warnings on Mercedes-Benz vehicles equipped with SBC.

1. The operating time of Component A7/3 is exceeded.
2. Complete failure of the SBC/Electro-Hydraulic Brake System Hydraulic Pump
3. A defective brake switch could cause the same error message in a few cases. You can buy one on Amazon for less than $20. The switch is above the brake pedal and can easily be replaced by anyone.
   

The SBC control unit monitors the service life of the hydraulic unit. The SBC module counts braking cycles, and once the count passes roughly 300000, an error message occurs. Some of the errors reported are:

• SBC Control module failure
• STOP VEHICLE displayed on the instrument cluster
• BRAKE DEFECTIVE STOP VEHICLE
• REDUCED BRAKING POWER – VISIT WORKSHOP (Replace brake light switch first.)

Your SBC pump is defective, and you lose all the braking or have reduced braking power. The SBC pump, which creates pressure and applies that pressure to the brakes when you push the brake pedal, is not working correctly. This fault is commonly found on SBC-equipped W211 E-Class, R230 SL-Class, and C219 CLS-Class models. After so many operation cycles, the SBC loses efficiency or can fail while driving. Mercedes-Benz specifies diagnosis and appropriate service of the SBC hydraulic unit when its service life limit is reached.

Understanding SBC Drive by Wire Brakes

Mercedes-Benz published a PDF explaining how the SBC brakes work. The copy that used to be hosted on the Benzworld forum is no longer online. You can also read this article from the 500sec.com website.

Get a New SBC Pump Installed Free by the Dealer

Mercedes-Benz extended the warranty on the SBC hydraulic unit to 25 years with no mileage limit. It does not matter how many owners the car has had or whether any other warranty has run out. The covered cars are model year 2003 to 2006 Model 211, model year 2006 Model 219, model year 2003 to 2012 Model 230 and 231, model year 2004 to 2012 Model 240, and model year 2005 to 2009 Model 199. If your car is on that list, find a local Mercedes-Benz dealer and take it in. Enter your zip code in the Mercedes-Benz dealer locator to find the one nearest to you. They will tell you that they need to diagnose it first. Let them do that, as they have to send a request for repair to MBUSA and get approval.

Here is a copy of the Warranty Coverage Extension that Mercedes-Benz issued for the SBC and Electro-Hydraulic Brake System hydraulic pump.

How to Disable the Brake Defective Stop Vehicle Warning

Reset the operation time/cycle of the SBC Hydraulic Pump.

It is possible to reset the SBC Hydraulic Pump using Star Diagnostics. Please be aware that if you do this, a serious SBC fault can cause reduced braking assistance and activate hydraulic backup mode. Here are the instructions.
Use at your own risk.
RESET SBC SERVICE LIGHT:
1st: make sure that the engine is running!!! In SD Developer mode, you need to go to:
Entwicklungsdaten (development data) > Ansteuerungen (actuations) > Gesamtliste aller Ansteuerungen (complete list of all actuations).

See how many times the brake has been pressed.
Bremsenzähler (DJ_GetBrLive), which is the brake cycle counter.

Then below you see:
Bremsenzähler aktualisieren und Lebensdauerzähler F neu berechnen, which updates the brake counter and recalculates service life counter F. Click it. Parameter uINBR = 0 then click F3

1 line down, you see (or search for this line):
Bremsenzähler auf beliebigen Wert setzen (DJ_SetNBr) -> click it Parameter uINBR = 0 then click F3

Then scroll down until you see the line’s:

Lebensdauerzahler F neu berechnen (DJ_CalcLiveTime) Parameter uINBR = 0 then click F3

Lebensdauerzahler F neu berechnen und schreiben (DJ_BuildAndWriteF) Parameter uINBR = 0 then click F3

Log out of SBC !! Log out of vehicle!!

Potentially catastrophic. The SBC hydraulic system can retain brake fluid under high pressure. Before disconnecting hydraulic components, the SBC system must be properly deactivated using the correct Mercedes service procedure. Wear eye and skin protection.

Affected Bosch Part Numbers

These are the Bosch SBC hydraulic units that fault code C249F applies to on the W211 E-Class and R230 SL-Class.

• 0 265 960 012 (0265960012)
• 0 265 960 013 (0265960013)
• 0 265 960 015 (0265960015)
• 0 265 960 018 (0265960018)
• 0 265 960 019 (0265960019)
• 0 265 960 020 (0265960020)
• 0 265 960 023 (0265960023)
• 0 265 960 025 (0265960025)

SBC Hydraulic Pump Error Codes

SBC: MB Number 0044314212 HW Version 11.2002 SW Version 17.2004
Code
C25D6 This fault can be ignored and erased
C26DE Hydraulic fault: Malfunction in pressure supply
C26BB Hydraulic fault: Malfunction in pressure supply

ESP Error Code
C14BE System faults: Test control module A7/3n1 (SBC control module)

How to Reset SBC Malfunction

Diagnose Mercedes SBC Faults with the UCAN-II Pro

Use the UCAN-II Pro to scan the SBC control module before replacing parts. It can read Mercedes brake system fault codes, display live data, and perform bidirectional tests. The UCAN-II Pro also includes full AI Diagnosis, built-in TPMS sensor programming, a rear VIN scanning camera, coverage for 140+ makes, 3,500+ active tests, 1,000+ special functions, no subscription, and no AutoAuth required.