Dashboard Warning Lights Explained: Which Ones Mean Stop

Stand-in photo

Red: stop

• Oil pressure (oil can): stop immediately; the engine is not being lubricated.
• Engine temperature (thermometer): pull over, switch off, let it cool.
• Brake (circle with "!" or BRAKE): low fluid or a hydraulic fault; stop and check.
• Battery/charging (red on many cars): the alternator has stopped; you have limited driving time.
• Power steering (red on some models): steering will be heavy; stop safely.

Amber: check soon

• Check engine: see our dedicated guide; flashing means stop.
• ABS: the anti-lock system is off; brakes still work but without ABS.
• Traction / stability (car with wavy lines): system off or faulty; often shares a cause with ABS.
• Airbag / SRS: airbags may not deploy in a crash; have it read.
• Tyre pressure: check pressures cold; on many cars a reset is needed after inflating.
• Glow plug (diesel coil symbol) flashing: engine-management fault on a diesel.
• Low washer fluid, bulb failure, service due: routine.

European-specific messages

• "Drivetrain malfunction" (BMW): many causes from a coil to a boost fault; scan it.
• "Brake pad wear": the sensor has worn through; pads need replacing soon.
• "Suspension fault" / "vehicle lowering" (Range Rover, Mercedes, Audi, Porsche): air-suspension diagnosis.
• "Electrical consumers switched off" / "increased battery discharge": battery or charging weakness.
• "Special programs off" (JLR) / cascades of unrelated warnings: usually low voltage.
• "Gearbox malfunction" / "transmission in emergency mode": limp mode; diagnose before driving far.

What to do

Do not ignore a light because the car "seems fine". Note when it happened, do not clear it, and have it read properly, especially on a European car where a generic reader misses most of the picture.

Questions