Dashboard Warning Lights Guide: All Common Symbols Explained
Your dashboard is your car’s early warning system. When a symbol lights up, your car is trying to tell you something important about safety, reliability, or potential damage. This dashboard warning lights guide explains the most common symbols, what they mean, how serious they are, and what you should do.
Use this as a quick reference so you know when it’s okay to keep driving, when to slow down and get checked soon, and when you should safely pull over right away.
For a color-based breakdown (red vs. yellow vs. green), also see our main dashboard warning lights overview.
How to Read Dashboard Warning Lights at a Glance
Most vehicles follow the same basic rule:
- Red lights = Stop soon or immediately. Possible safety risk or serious damage.
- Yellow/amber lights = Caution. Something needs attention soon; car may still drive normally.
- Green/blue/white lights = Information only. A system is turned on or active.
If several lights come on together, start by checking any red lights first. If you’re ever unsure, treat a new warning as serious until you can confirm what it is.
Engine & Emissions Warning Lights
Check Engine Light (CEL / Malfunction Indicator Lamp)
Symbol: Outline of an engine, sometimes with the word “CHECK”.
Color: Usually yellow/amber.
This light means the engine computer has detected a problem with the engine, fuel system, or emissions system. It can be triggered by something minor (like a loose gas cap) or something serious (like a misfire that can damage the catalytic converter).
Common causes include:
- Loose or faulty gas cap
- Faulty oxygen (O2) sensor or mass airflow sensor
- Engine misfires, ignition coil or spark plug issues
- Vacuum leaks or fuel system problems
What to do: If the light is steady and the car feels normal, you can usually continue driving but schedule a diagnosis soon. Many drivers keep an inexpensive code reader in the glove box for quick checks. For more detail, see our dedicated check engine light guide.
Flashing Check Engine Light
Symbol: Same as the check engine light, but blinking.
Color: Yellow/amber, flashing.
A flashing check engine light usually means a severe misfire, which can quickly damage the catalytic converter and cause rough running or loss of power.
What to do: Ease off the throttle immediately. If the flashing continues, safely pull over and shut the engine off. Have the vehicle towed or inspected as soon as possible. Driving hard with a flashing light can get expensive fast. For more in-depth advice, see flashing check engine light explained.
Diesel Glow Plug / Preheat Light (Diesel Only)
Symbol: Coil or zig-zag shaped wire.
Color: Usually yellow/amber.
On diesel engines, this light comes on before you start the engine, indicating the glow plugs are warming the combustion chambers. Normally it turns off after a few seconds and you start the car.
If it blinks or stays on while driving, there may be a fault in the glow plug system or another diesel management issue.
What to do: If the car starts and runs normally, schedule service when possible. If the light flashes and you notice loss of power, rough running, or limp mode, have it checked sooner. Learn more in our glow plug warning light guide.
DPF (Diesel Particulate Filter) Warning Light (Diesel Only)
Symbol: Usually a box with dots inside and a pipe or wave through it.
Color: Yellow/amber.
This light means the diesel particulate filter is clogged or not regenerating properly. The DPF traps soot from the exhaust to reduce emissions.
What to do: In some cases, driving on the highway at steady speed for a period can help the car complete a regeneration cycle. Always follow your owner’s manual. If the light stays on or you notice poor performance, have a shop inspect it; forcing the issue can lead to costly DPF damage. See our full DPF warning light explainer for more detail.
EPC Light (Electronic Power Control – Common on VW/Audi)
Symbol: The letters “EPC”.
Color: Yellow/amber.
The EPC light indicates a problem with the drive-by-wire throttle system or related electronics. You may feel reduced power, a high idle, or the car may go into “limp” mode.
What to do: Reduce speed and avoid hard acceleration. Schedule a diagnostic as soon as possible since this can affect both performance and safety.
Critical Engine Health Lights
Oil Pressure Warning Light
Symbol: Oil can or oil can with a drip.
Color: Red.
This light means the engine’s oil pressure is low. That can be due to low oil level, a failed oil pump, or internal engine problems. Low oil pressure can destroy an engine in minutes.
What to do:
- Safely pull over and shut the engine off immediately.
- Check the oil level with the dipstick if it’s safe and you know how.
- If oil is very low, adding the correct oil may allow you to drive a very short distance to a shop, but persistent red oil light = tow it.
Do not continue driving with this light on. See our detailed oil pressure warning light guide for more scenarios.
Engine Temperature / Coolant Temperature Warning
Symbol: Thermometer in liquid, or the word “TEMP”.
Color: Usually red for overheating; some cars use blue for “engine still cold”.
The red engine temperature light means the engine is overheating or coolant temperature is too high. Overheating can warp the cylinder head, blow the head gasket, and cause severe damage.
What to do:
- Turn off A/C, turn the heater on full hot, and carefully pull over as soon as it’s safe.
- Shut the engine off and allow it to cool completely before opening the hood.
- Never open a hot radiator or coolant reservoir – pressurized coolant can cause serious burns.
Once cooled, you can visually check coolant level if you’re comfortable. If the level is low or the light comes back, have the cooling system inspected. For more details, see our engine temperature warning light breakdown.
Battery & Charging System Lights
Battery / Charging System Warning Light
Symbol: Car battery shape with plus and minus signs.
Color: Red.
This light doesn’t always mean the battery itself is bad. It indicates the electrical system isn’t charging properly. Often it’s an alternator, wiring, or belt issue. Once this light is on, your car is running mostly on battery power and may soon stall when the battery drains.
What to do:
- Turn off non-essential electrical loads (A/C, heated seats, stereo, etc.).
- Drive directly to a shop if it’s close and safe; otherwise, consider a tow. Don’t shut the engine off unless you’re at your destination.
Driving until the car dies can leave you stranded in a dangerous location. Learn more symptoms in our battery and charging system warning light guide.
Brake System & Traction Lights
Brake Warning Light
Symbol: Circle with an exclamation point or “P” inside, sometimes the word “BRAKE”.
Color: Red.
This light can mean several things, depending on the car:
- Parking brake is engaged (or not fully released)
- Low brake fluid level
- Serious hydraulic brake system issue
What to do:
- First, make sure the parking brake is fully released.
- If the light stays on, do not drive the vehicle until the brakes are checked.
If the pedal feels soft, sinks to the floor, or braking performance is reduced, have the car towed. Full details are in our brake warning light guide.
ABS (Anti-lock Braking System) Warning Light
Symbol: “ABS” inside a circle, sometimes with parentheses.
Color: Usually yellow/amber.
This light means there’s a problem with the ABS system. Regular braking usually still works, but anti-lock function (which helps prevent wheel lock-up in hard braking) may not be available.
What to do: Drive cautiously and avoid aggressive braking. Have the ABS system diagnosed soon. In certain conditions (wet roads, snow, emergency stops), losing ABS can make it harder to maintain control. See our ABS warning light guide for typical causes.
ESP / ESC / Traction Control Warning Light
Symbol: Car with squiggly lines underneath, or the word “ESP” or “ESC”.
Color: Yellow/amber.
This light may flash briefly when traction control or stability control is actively working (for example, when accelerating on a slippery road). That’s normal.
If the light stays on, it means there’s a fault in the traction or stability control system, or it has been switched off manually.
What to do: You can usually continue driving normally, but be extra cautious in wet, snowy, or icy conditions, since the car may not correct skids automatically. For more details, see our guide to ESP / ESC / traction control lights.
Tire & Steering Warning Lights
TPMS (Tire Pressure Monitoring System) Light
Symbol: Horseshoe or U-shaped icon with an exclamation mark inside; sometimes shows a top-down view of a car with highlighted tires.
Color: Yellow/amber.
This light indicates one or more tires may be significantly under-inflated, over-inflated, or there’s a fault in the TPMS itself.
What to do:
- As soon as it’s safe, visually inspect all tires for obvious damage or a flat.
- Use a tire gauge to check pressures and adjust to the values listed on your door jamb sticker.
- If the light flashes and then stays on, there may be a sensor fault.
Driving on under-inflated tires can cause blowouts and uneven wear. For deeper guidance, see our TPMS warning light guide.
Power Steering Warning Light
Symbol: Steering wheel icon, sometimes with an exclamation mark.
Color: Red or yellow, depending on severity.
On modern cars with electric power steering, this means the assist system has a fault. Steering may suddenly become very heavy, especially at low speeds. On older hydraulic systems, it might indicate low fluid level or pump issues.
What to do: If the light is yellow and the steering still feels normal, schedule service. If it turns red or steering becomes very hard, pull over safely; driving in that state can be dangerous, especially at parking-lot speeds or for smaller drivers. More scenarios are covered in our power steering light guide.
Airbag & Seatbelt Warning Lights
Airbag / SRS Warning Light
Symbol: Person with a circle in front (representing an airbag) or “SRS”.
Color: Usually red or amber.
This light means there’s a fault in the Supplemental Restraint System (airbags, seatbelt pre-tensioners, or related sensors). In a crash, some or all airbags may not deploy correctly.
What to do: While the car may drive normally, your safety systems may not work as designed. Schedule a diagnosis soon and avoid ignoring this light long-term. Read more in our airbag warning light guide.
Seat Belt Reminder Light
Symbol: Person sitting with a belt across, often with a chime.
Color: Red.
This simply reminds you or your passengers to fasten seat belts. It may flash or chime if a seat is occupied and the belt isn’t latched.
What to do: Buckle up. If the light stays on even with all belts fastened, there may be a fault in the seat sensor or buckle switch.
Service & Inspection Lights
Service / Maintenance Reminder Light
Symbol: Wrench icon, spanner, or the word “SERVICE”.
Color: Yellow/amber.
This is usually a mileage- or time-based reminder for routine service such as oil changes, inspections, or filter replacements. It’s not an emergency, but it shouldn’t be ignored indefinitely.
What to do: Schedule the recommended maintenance. Many vehicles allow resetting this reminder through the dashboard menu after service. Learn more about common triggers in our service reminder light guide.
Inspection / Emissions Readiness Lights
Symbol: Varies widely by manufacturer; sometimes overlaps with the check engine or service lights.
Some cars show separate indicators when an inspection is due or when emissions monitors aren’t ready (often relevant for state inspection tests).
What to do: Plan inspection or emissions testing after the car’s monitors are ready and no major warning lights are lit. For more, see our guide to inspection and emissions-related warning lights.
Other Common Dashboard Symbols
Headlight & High Beam Indicators
Symbol: Headlight with lines, or a blue light with rays pointing forward for high beams.
Color: Green for headlights; blue for high beams.
These lights simply tell you when your headlights, parking lights, fog lights, or high beams are on. If an exterior bulb is out, some cars show a separate bulb-out warning.
Door, Hood, Trunk Open Indicators
Symbol: Car with doors/hood/trunk highlighted or separate icons for each.
Color: Usually red.
These mean a door, hood, or trunk is not fully closed. Driving with them open can be unsafe and may let exhaust or water into the vehicle.
Fuel Level Warning Light
Symbol: Gas pump icon, sometimes with an arrow pointing to the fuel door side.
Color: Yellow/amber.
This warns you that your fuel level is low. How much range you have left varies by vehicle and driving conditions. Don’t rely on it regularly; fuel pumps are better cooled and lubricated with more fuel in the tank.
Washer Fluid Level Warning
Symbol: Windshield with water spray.
Color: Yellow/amber or blue.
This means your windshield washer fluid is low. It doesn’t affect engine operation but can affect visibility when you need to clean the windshield.
Red vs. Yellow vs. Green: How Serious Is It?
If you remember nothing else from this guide, remember this:
- Red warning light: Stop as soon as it’s safe. Many red lights indicate a safety or severe mechanical issue.
- Yellow/amber warning light: Caution. Drive gently and schedule service soon.
- Green/blue information light: Normal operation indicator (system is on or active).
For a deeper breakdown of what each color typically means across systems, see our article on dashboard warning light colors.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I keep driving with a warning light on?
It depends on the color and which symbol is lit. As a general rule, red lights mean stop as soon as it’s safe, especially for oil pressure, engine temperature, and brake warnings. A steady yellow light often means you can drive carefully to a shop, but you shouldn’t ignore it for long. When in doubt, reduce speed, avoid hard acceleration, and have the car inspected as soon as possible.
Why do so many warning lights come on when I start the car?
When you turn the key to “ON” or press the start button (without starting the engine yet), most modern cars run a self-test of the warning lamps and control modules. Many symbols will light up for a few seconds and then go out. That’s normal. A problem is indicated when a light stays on after the engine starts or lights up while driving.
What should I do if multiple warning lights come on at once?
If several lights appear at the same time, focus on any red ones first (oil pressure, temperature, brake). Safely pull over if a red light is on or the car feels different (loss of power, odd noises, steering or braking changes). Sometimes a single failure, like a charging system problem, can trigger extra lights because multiple systems share power or data. In that case, checking the root cause usually clears the rest.
Do I really need a mechanic, or can I clear the warning light myself?
Some reminders, like basic service intervals, can be reset through dashboard menus after maintenance. But clearing a warning without fixing the cause can lead to more expensive damage or safety risks. For engine, brake, airbag, or steering-related lights, it’s wise to have a professional diagnose the underlying issue, even if the car seems to drive normally.
Will disconnecting the battery turn off warning lights?
Disconnecting the battery may temporarily clear some stored codes and lights, but it doesn’t fix the underlying problem. In many modern vehicles, it can also cause side effects such as radio code requests, window relearning, or emissions monitors resetting, which can affect inspection readiness. It’s better to treat warning lights as a request for diagnosis, not just something to erase.