Safety February 25, 2022
We’ve all been there: You’re driving along, enjoying the views, and all of a sudden you hear a beep—you look down, and a symbol has appeared on your dashboard. You start to wonder what could be wrong with your car.
Some symbols on your car’s dashboard are easier to figure out than others. However, it’s important to know exactly what these warning lights mean in case you need to pull over and call for help.
Types of Car Dashboard Symbols
Not every symbol that appears on your dashboard is a warning light. Some have to do with vehicle features (like lights and cruise control) or safety (like blind-spot monitoring and lane departure warnings) or mechanical issues (like low tire pressure and engine temperature warnings).
When it comes to dashboard lights, colors matter! 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! Some red dashboard lights are safety warnings (like a seat belt reminder) and others are mechanical (like the engine overheating). If a red mechanical light appears, pull over as soon as possible and figure out what’s going on. Your vehicle will likely stop working or become damaged if you continue to drive.
As you read through this list, here are two things to keep in mind:
1. Every car is different, so the symbols on your dashboard may vary slightly from the ones on our list. If in doubt, consult your vehicle’s owner’s manual!
2. Many of these dashboard lights will illuminate briefly when you turn on your vehicle and performs a system check. As long as the lights turn off within a few seconds, everything is operating normally.
18 Common Warning Lights on Your Car’s Dashboard
1. Oil Pressure Warning Light
2. Tire Pressure Warning Light
3. Engine Temperature Warning Light
4. Traction Control Alert Light
5. Anti-lock Brake System Warning Light
6. Traction Control Malfunction Light
7. Engine Warning Light (Check Engine Light)
8. Battery Alert Light
9. Low Fuel Indicator Light
10. Automatic Shift Lock or Engine Start Indicator Light
11. Seat Belt Reminder Light
12. Airbag Warning Light 13. Security Indicator Light 14. Fog Lamp Indicator Light
15. Washer Fluid Indicator Light
16. Brake Warning Light
17. Lane Departure Warning Light
18. Transmission Temperature Warning Light
1. Oil Pressure Warning Light
What It Means: This old-fashioned oil can symbol indicates that there is an issue with your car’s oil pressure system. Either you’re running low on oil or your oil pump isn’t circulating enough fluid to properly lubricate the surfaces inside your engine. (NOTE: Some car dashboards will display the word “OIL” instead of this symbol.)
What To Do: Poor engine lubrication can cause major engine damage, so this is an important warning to pay attention to! Pull over as soon as it is safe, turn off the vehicle, and check the oil! Look around the engine bay for obvious oil leaks, and then pull out the oil dipstick to check the fluid level.
If the oil level is low, then the light may go off when you add oil. If it has enough oil but the engine is running noisy, it might an issue with the oil pump. If the oil level is okay and the engine is running smoothly, your oil pressure sensor may be malfunctioning. In any case, it’s important to bring your vehicle in ASAP to let a mechanic take a look and address whatever is causing the low oil/low oil pressure.
Read: How Long Can You Go Without an Oil Change?
2. Tire Pressure Warning Light
What It Means: Also known as the Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) symbol, this image signals an issue with your tire pressure or the TPMS.
If the TPMS symbol is solid, then the pressure in one or more of your tires is too low or too high. If the TPMS symbol flashes for 60-90 seconds when you turn on your vehicle and then stays illuminated, even if your tires are properly inflated, then something is wrong with your TPMS sensors.
What To Do: Driving on low- or high-pressure tires is unsafe and can cause damage to your tires. We recommend stopping as soon as possible to inflate or deflate your tires to the correct pressure.
If your light turns on when you’re near a , drop on by! We have free air available at all our stores, or one of our team members can repair or replace your tire in no time.
We can also look at your TPMS sensors to find any issues and provide a quote for repair. A malfunctioning TPMS will not affect your tires’ performance, but it will keep the system from alerting you when your tires are low.
Read: My TPMS Light Is On: What Does It Mean?
3. Engine Temperature Warning Light
What It Means: If you see this symbol pop up, it means that your engine is overheating. This most likely has to do with your coolant (also called antifreeze), but it can happen for a variety of reasons.
What To Do: First, try turning off the A/C and turning the heater on to redistribute heat to the passenger compartment. If that doesn’t work after a couple of minutes, pull over as soon as it is safe and turn off the vehicle. Allow the engine to cool for at least 15 minutes, and do not pop the hood! Opening the hood while the engine is hot could result in burns/injuries from spewing steam or smoke.
While you wait for the car to cool down, you should figure out a plan for what to do next. It’s a good time to call a roadside assistance service to get your coolant topped off or to get a tow to a nearby repair shop.
(All Virginia Tire & Auto car care services come with 365 days of complimentary Roadside Assistance coverage of up to $200.)
Read: What Happens When a Car Overheats?
4. Traction Control Light
What It Means: This car symbol indicates that your vehicle’s traction control system is activated. The traction control system uses your anti-lock brake system (ABS) to determine if one wheel is spinning faster than the others. If it detects that a wheel is slipping, it applies the brakes until the car regains traction. This is most helpful if you’re driving in rain or snow.
What To Do: Continue driving, but be aware of slippery conditions.
5. Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) Warning Light
What It Means: When you brake hard, like on slick roads, the ABS pulses the brakes to prevent your wheels from locking up. If the ABS warning light is illuminated, it means that something is wrong with the system.
What To Do: Since this is such an important safety feature, it’s important to have a mechanic diagnose the issue as soon as possible.
Read: How Does the Anti-Lock Braking System Work?
6. Traction Control Malfunction Light
What It Means: This light indicates that your vehicle’s traction control system might have a broken or damaged sensor or some other malfunction. In some cars, the same control module operates the ABS and the traction control system, so sometimes this dashboard light comes on when there are problems with your ABS.
What To Do: While this won’t affect your everyday driving, you should get it checked soon to make sure your vehicle will operate safely in inclement conditions.
7. Engine Warning Light (Check Engine Light)
What It Means: Your check engine light may appear for a variety of reasons. Sometimes it is triggered by an open, loose or cracked gas cap, which causes fuel to evaporate. But sometimes it indicates a serious issue, like low oil pressure or overheating! (NOTE: Some car dashboards will display the words “CHECK ENGINE” instead of this symbol.)
What To Do: If you haven’t noticed a change in the way the car drives and you don’t notice any unusual sounds or smells, you can continue driving a moderate distance (preferably back home or to your local Virginia Tire & Auto).
If the check engine light is red and/or flashing, you should stop driving immediately! In most vehicles, a flashing check engine light signals that you have a major problem that could cause serious damage to your engine if you ignore it.
In either case, make sure to get the light checked and the problem repaired as soon as possible.
Read: Is It Safe to Drive Your Car With the Check Engine Light On?
8. Battery Alert Light
What It Means: This light signifies a problem with the vehicle’s charging system. Possible culprits include a loose or damaged battery cable, a bad alternator, or another electrical fault. You may notice your clock light fading or your headlights dimming. Or, in some cases, your car may not start at all.
What To Do: Our experts can help diagnose any battery-related or electrical issues, and if you need a new battery, we offer America’s No. 1 battery replacement—Interstate Batteries. Don’t wait too long to get it checked out or you may have to jump-start your car to get it to the shop!
Read: Why Won’t My Car Start? Troubleshooting the Electrical System
9. Low Fuel Indicator Light
What It Means: You’re likely familiar with this dashboard light (maybe a little too familiar!). It simply means your vehicle is running low on fuel.
What To Do: If you still have a ways to go, don’t push your luck! You never know how weather or traffic patterns will play out, so it’s best to stop at the nearest gas station and fill up.
Bonus tip: Most vehicles have a triangle-shaped arrow next to the gas pump icon on your fuel gauge. This arrow indicates which side of the vehicle the fuel tank is on!
10. Automatic Shift Lock or Engine Start Indicator Light
What It Means: If you see this dashboard symbol, you’re most likely trying to shift gears or start your ignition without engaging the brake. The automatic shift lock will lock your vehicle in park or neutral until you engage the brake.
What To Do: Press the brake pedal, then shift gears or start the ignition, whichever you are wanting to do.
11. Seat Belt Reminder Light
What It Means: This car light simply reminds you or your passenger to fasten your seatbelts. It is usually accompanied by a repetitive dinging noise.
What To Do: Buckle up! According to the CDC, seat belts decrease serious crash-related injuries by about 50%.
12. Airbag Indicator Light
What It Means: The airbag warning light signals that something is wrong with one of your airbags or the entire airbag system.
What To Do: You should get your car checked out immediately! Your car’s airbags keep you safe during accidents, so it’s important to make sure they are working properly.
13. Security Indicator Light
What It Means: If your vehicle has an anti-theft system, then this symbol will blink steadily when the security system is armed. If it is solid and the car will not start, then the immobilization system has activated due to a security threat or malfunction. If it is solid and the car is running normally, then the security system is malfunctioning and needs to be fixed.
What To Do: If the vehicle is immobilized, follow your vehicle’s guidelines for how to deactivate the security system. If it’s a malfunction, your security system will not work correctly until you have it repaired.
14. Fog Lamp Indicator Light
What It Means: This symbol shows that your fog lights are on.
What To Do: Fog lights should only be used if your visibility is less than 100 yards. If you turn them on unnecessarily, they can make it difficult for other drivers on the road to see.
15. Washer Fluid Indicator Light
What It Means: Imitating the motion of your windshield wipers, this dashboard symbol means that you’re low on windshield washer fluid.
What To Do: Fill up the reservoir with fluid as soon as you can.
16. Brake Warning Light
What It Means: If you see this symbol on your dashboard or the word “BRAKE” in red, then either the parking brake is engaged or there’s a problem with your braking system.
What To Do: First, stop and check to see if your parking brake is engaged. Try setting and releasing the brake while your vehicle is in park. If the light is still on even when the parking brake is unengaged, have your car towed to the nearest Virginia Tire & Auto for service.
17. Lane Departure Warning Light
What It Means: Most cars produced today come with a lane departure warning safety feature. It activates this light on your dashboard and makes a beeping noise when it detects that your vehicle is drifting out of your lane.
What To Do: Correct your steering, if needed. (The light may come on when you are purposefully changing lanes.)
18. Transmission Temperature Warning Light
What It Means: If this symbol appears on your dashboard, it means that your transmission is overheating. This could be caused by low transmission fluid, worn transmission parts, heavy towing or something else.
What To Do: Pull over as soon as it’s safe and turn off the vehicle. Wait for the vehicle to cool down before attempting to drive again and get to a repair shop as soon as possible. If the light won’t go off and you have a ways to go, it’s best to call for a tow.
Car Trouble?
Whether you need a simple oil change or a more serious repair, bring your vehicle to Virginia Tire & Auto. Our expert technicians will diagnose and repair the issue so you can get back on the road safely. Schedule a visit at one of our 17 locations today!
