Patent ID: 7683765

Claim:
A system for a motor vehicle comprising: at least one operator control unit of the motor vehicle having a functionality that is free of a fault condition; and a monitoring unit monitors the fault-free functionality of the at least one operator control unit and generates signals to notify the operator of a need to service the control unit so that fault-free functionality is maintained; the monitoring unit generates tactile signals when limit-value functions of the at least one operator control unit occur so the status of the at least one operator control unit can be communicated haptically to a driver of the motor vehicle, the tactile signal is generated with a time offset such that the driver does not become aware of the haptic communication until the motor vehicle is in a non-critical driving situation as determined by an electronic stability program, the tactile signal is communicated continuously after the motor vehicle has reached the non-critical driving situation until a time in which the monitoring unit is reset.