Vehicle warning lights and their meanings [Infographic] (2024)

FAQs

What are vehicle warning lights and their meanings? ›

Green: the system is working correctly or is currently in use. Yellow: something is not working correctly - take extra care and check it out as soon as possible. Red: there is a serious, and potentially dangerous problem - stop driving as soon as it is safe to do so.

Green or blue lights simply let you know that a system is on or operating. Orange/yellow warning lights generally signify that your vehicle needs to be serviced or repaired soon. These warnings are less urgent than if you have a red and/or flashing light. A red light means that you should take action immediately!

There are 3 different categories of warning lights; red, amber and green: Red warning lights mean you should stop the car as soon as it's safe. Yellow warning lights mean that action is required. Green warning lights are for information only.

There are 64 warning lights and symbols on a car's dashboard - but how many do you recognise? They are an everyday sight that could mean the difference between a smooth journey and a costly repair bill. But many of us have no idea what the lights and symbols on our car dashboards actually mean and when to take action.

Red is the equivalent of stop, and means the problem needs investigating immediately; orange or amber is an advisory signal, suggesting drivers will need to take action; and green says all is clear and serves as a helpful reminder.

Hazard lights are usually operated by a large, red triangle button on your vehicle's dashboard. Pressing that button will cause two lights on the front of the car and two lights on the rear to flash on and off, warning other road users of some kind of hazard or obstruction, caused either by yourself or something else.

Arguably the most notorious warning light, the engine management or check engine light indicates a potential issue with the vehicle's engine or emissions system. This light can be triggered by a range of issues, from minor issues such as a faulty electrical sensor to a more complex fault with your catalytic converter.

When all your dashboard lights turn on at once, it most commonly indicates an issue with the alternator or the charging system. It is common for all the dash lights to come on with no alternator output; low voltage can cause unusual electrical issues. The alternator should be tested at the time of battery replacement.

Parking Brake Light

A “P” with a circle around it indicates that the parking or emergency brake is engaged. You'll want to release it before putting the car in drive. If you've released the parking brake and the light remains on or is flashing, then there may be another issue.

What does the ABS light mean? ›

Four Reasons Your Anti-lock Brake System Light Can Come On

The four common reasons that typically cause this light to turn on include a malfunctioning ABS module, low levels in the fluid reservoir, broken wheel speed sensors, or the system is turned off. Malfunctioning ABS Module.

Traction or Stability Control Light

Most cars with traction or stability control allow you to turn these functions off. If you see what looks like the rear view of an old sedan followed by some squiggly lines on the road behind it, then that means your stability control system is either partially or fully off.

Some cars may warn of a transmission fault by flashing the overdrive light or displaying a string of text in the driver's information center. Others will display a symbol depicting a gear with an exclamation mark or a thermometer (for transmission over temperature) inside.

Transmission Warning Light

When this red or yellow transmission warning symbol is illuminated, your car is alerting you that your transmission is overheating. If this warning light turns on, you should immediately stop your vehicle and turn it off when it's safe to do so.

Electric Parking Brake System: This light consists of a yellow circle surrounding the letter P, and an exclamation point to the right of the circle. It means that your electric parking brake isn't working.

Check Engine light

An experienced mechanic will tell you that this warning light usually means something serious has gone wrong in your car's engine or transmission. Typically, this warning light remains on, and the check-engine indicator button will need to be turned off for a day to get it working normally again.

The check engine light is usually the most serious and feared warning because of the kind of damage it can signal. This warning often indicates the potential for serious engine damage. When ignored, your vehicle could suffer from a blown head gasket or a seized engine.

Most likely, this is a diagnostic signal sent by the car's self-testing regimen. Your vehicle is using the available power to send a big signal that service professionals know all too well: there is some kind of major electrical issue present in the vehicle.