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Mercedes E-300 (2013) Automatic Transmission Error P170900 and U012600 - Causes, Fixes & Weather Impact

Model: Mercedes Fault Code: P1709 Posted: 2019-05-09 07:52

Hi, I started my 2013 Mercedes-Benz E-300 Wagon this morning and after just 3 kilometers, a red error message appeared on the dashboard indicating an automatic transmission malfunction. The car then shut off completely and no gears were responsive. After waiting one minute and restarting the engine, everything functioned normally—no issues with gear shifting or driving during the initial run. I completed a test drive of approximately 50 km and took the vehicle to a mechanic who used an Autologic diagnostic tool. The results showed two error codes: - P170900 (VGS4): Communication malfunction with the Intelligent Servo Module (ISM). The actuator motor position specified by the control unit was not reached. - U012600 (C12600): Communication failure with the steering column module. Question: Could these errors have been triggered solely due to cold, rainy weather yesterday? Is this a temporary electrical issue or a wiring fault? Is this a serious problem or just a minor system glitch? Any real-world experiences from owners of similar models? Thanks for your insights.

Related fault codes
P1709U0126
Comments (2)
Anonymous 2021-05-19 18:20

I'm new to this forum and wanted to check if anyone has resolved the P170900 and U012600 errors on their Mercedes GL 300 4Matic (2016 model). I recently bought a code reader and found identical faults related to the steering column module. Any advice or fixes available?

Anonymous 2022-12-26 06:28

Hi there, I own a 2013 Mercedes E-300 2.2 Diesel Hybrid and am experiencing the same error: P170900 — 'Specified position of CP45 (Fully Integrated Transmission Control Unit) not reached' and U012600 — communication failure with steering column module. My car drives smoothly in all gears from D1 to D7 under normal conditions. However, when I reach my destination and attempt to shift from D1 to R on a motorway, the vehicle stays in N or P instead of engaging into D1 or R. The system displays 'Transmission Malfunction - Stop' when I turn off the engine, but after 4–5 seconds it resets automatically. After that, all functions return to normal. I'm wondering if this is a known issue and whether anyone has found a permanent fix or workaround. Any experience with similar symptoms? Regards, Rao