It can be a bit jarring when you see a light flashing on your dashboard while driving. If we’ve ever been taught anything about nature, it’s that bright, flashing things are never good. However, the warning lights on your dashboard are meant to be more helpful than scary, and they can save you a lot of money and frustration down the line if you learn what they mean.
Many things are going on underneath the hood of your car that can be tough to keep track of. Luckily, vehicles have built-in sensors that detect issues before they become bigger problems than they need to be. Breathe in, breathe out, and check out this guide on the most common warning lights you’ll see while driving.
The Warning Signs Are There
While looking at lists online of warning lights found on vehicle dashboards, I checked out what each one could indicate, as well as how to get it to turn off.
This research led me to the most common and important warning lights. Learning what these symbols mean can ensure your car is properly taken care of and that you’re safe while driving.
ABS Failure
The ABS warning light turns on when there’s an issue with your vehicle’s anti-lock braking system. According to CBAC, this can spell trouble since it can lead to you not braking properly.
The ABS light turns on for a number of reasons. One possibility is interference from your traction control, since both systems are connected. Other issues include low brake fluid levels, broken wheel speed sensors, or the ABS being turned off. A mechanic should check out the issue if the light turns on.
Air Bag Warning
This warning light most commonly looks like a stick figure man getting knocked back by an airbag, which is quite literal, although some vehicles also have “AIR BAG” written out instead. This light will often appear when you turn your car on, so don’t worry if that’s the case. It could also be a simple connection issue — check to ensure the connection jacks under the driver and passenger seats are plugged in.
However, if you still see the airbag warning symbol as you continue driving, there could be an issue with your airbag. This isn’t an emergency that needs immediate attention, but it’s not something to be ignored. Air bags have saved over 50,000 lives in the past 30 years, reports the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Battery
Similar to the engine warning, the battery symbol looks like the outline of a car battery, making it easy to identify. This light is most often seen when you attempt to go for a drive and your car engine won’t start. At this point, you’ll need to get your car jumped.
However, the battery warning can also pop up when you are driving — this doesn’t mean you’re in the clear. Instead, it could mean there’s a problem with your alternator or your car’s charging ability. One of the ways you can establish if you have a problem is by hooking up your battery to a voltmeter, where the correct reading is between 12 and 14 volts — if it’s under 10, you may have an issue with your battery or alternator.
Cold Outside
If you see a snowflake-like light pop up on your dashboard, that means that the temperature outside is cold enough to cause dangerous driving conditions. Usually, the light turns on when it’s 37 degrees or lower, which is when ice can start forming on the road.
When this warning light comes on, drive with caution and awareness. Make sure you have the appropriate tires and emergency gear you need for the drive ahead.
Check Engine
This is probably the most dreaded of all the dashboard warnings. This warning is usually in the shape of an engine, although some cars also include “CHECK ENGINE” written out. What makes this symbol one of the most concerning is that it can mean so many different things.
From a loose wire to possible engine failure, this symbol could really point to a wide range of issues. However, don’t panic when it turns on — it’s best to just drive to the nearest mechanic. If you feel something is off with your car, pull over and call for a tow. A mechanic can run an On-Board Diagnostic (OBD) scan to find out what the issue is. There are also apps available if you want to run a scan yourself.
Coolant Temperature
This symbol features a thermometer that seems to be caught in some ocean waves. If you see this pop up on the dashboard, it means your car is running hot.
There are a few reasons why a car could overheat, including simply being low on coolant. If topping it off doesn’t shut off the light, it could be a broken water pump or damage to the radiator components. Driving an overheated car can be dangerous, leading to permanent damage to your vehicle if it isn’t checked.
Cruise Control
The cruise control light will come on whenever you turn it on. The best time to use cruise control is when you’re on the highway for a long stretch of time.
However, just because the cruise control light is on doesn’t mean it’s active. You will need to set the cruise control speed first.
DPF Warning
The DPF warning light looks like a gust of wind flying through a barrier. If you see this light, it means there’s a problem with your vehicle’s exhaust system, usually the diesel particulate filter.
The DPF is meant to trap soot to reduce emissions. The most common reason the light turns on is if it gets clogged, which can happen if it can’t reach the temperature it requires to self-clean, according to Tracey Road. Other common issues include faulty sensors or a lack of maintenance. You’ll need to address the issue pretty quickly if you see this light, which could be as simple as driving a bit faster to burn off the soot or reaching out to a mechanic for a proper diagnosis.
Hill Assist Not Working
Hill assist is a safety feature that will prevent your car from rolling backward on an incline by holding the brakes after they’re released. If you see a car on an upward wedge light up on the dash, that could mean there’s an issue with your hill assist.
There are a few commonly reported things that can cause the hill assist light to turn on, including an issue with your ABS sensors, a loose gas cap, and a loose brake pedal connector. If the light won’t turn off, you’ll need to find a mechanic to properly diagnose your car.
Lamp Out
If you see a light turn on that looks like a sun with an exclamation inside, this means that one of your lights is out — either a headlamp, taillight, or even a license plate bulb.
This may not need immediate attention, like when the engine light turns on, but it’s still important to have the best vision and be as visible as possible at night. You may also end up getting a ticket if a cop pulls you over for having a headlight out. Luckily, this one is pretty easy to fix!
Lane Assist
Featuring a car between two lines, the lane assist light means that you have this feature active, and it may change colors based on what’s going on. Many drivers find this feature irritating, but it can be helpful to understand it.
If the light turns green, it usually means that the system is active, and your vehicle is considered safely positioned in your lane. If it turns amber or yellow, it usually means a lane departure is coming up or that the system can’t detect lane markings due to poor visibility. A red light often means you’re not staying within the lane as requested. If there’s a malfunction, a warning message could appear on your dashboard near the car symbol. The system can change from vehicle to vehicle, so check your owner’s manual.
Low Fuel
If you see the dreaded gas pump outline light, that means you’re running out of gas. There’s no need to panic — you still have time to find a gas station. In fact, Your Mechanic put together a chart that lets you know how many miles you have left until you need to fill up once the low fuel light comes on.
For example, a Chevrolet Silverado has about 25 miles remaining when the low fuel light comes, and a Mazda 3 still has 67 to 91 miles left. Car makers don’t want to leave you stranded, so the low fuel light is meant to give you time to find the nearest gas station.
Low Tire Pressure
If you see a half-circle with an exclamation point inside, that means one or more of your tires has low pressure. If this symbol pops up on your dashboard, it’s not an immediate emergency, but it’s recommended that you find a way to check your tire pressure — we even bring along a portable tire inflator on long trips.
Low tire pressure can cause tires to lose traction and grip, possibly leading to accidents if the road is slippery or wet. Once the tire pressure is fixed, the light should automatically turn off.
Oil Pressure Warning
Some of the previous symbols seem a bit straightforward — an engine outline for “check engine,” a battery outline for “battery.” But what is this? If you don’t know, it’s okay — this is an old oil can, not a genie lamp.
If you see this dated oil can symbol on your dashcam, it may simply mean that you need to top off your engine oil. It’s very important to have the right amount of oil to keep your engine lubricated and avoid damage. If it’s already full or adding oil doesn’t turn the light off, however, it could mean there’s a bigger issue going on, like a leak in the engine or a broken oil pump. At this point, you may want to check with a mechanic to avoid further damage.
Parking Brake Warning
On older cars (if you think cars from the early 2000s are old… time flies), seeing an exclamation point inside a circle could mean your parking brake was left up. Before you start driving, make sure that your parking brake is not active and the light should turn off.
If you drive with your parking brake on, you can severely damage your braking system from wearing down your brake pads and rotors. This can lead to brake failure.
Seatbelt Indicator
If you or a passenger is not wearing a seatbelt, your car will desperately attempt to warn you in multiple ways. Along with an incessant beeping, you’ll also see a symbol that appears to be a stick figure with a seatbelt strapped over it.
The NHTSA reports that seatbelts have saved nearly 15,000 lives since 2017. In 2022 alone, 25,420 passengers were killed in car accidents, and half of those were not wearing seatbelts properly.
Traction Control
This symbol looks like a car driving down a very dangerous road, although those curvy lines are actually meant to symbolize your vehicle skidding out. This light turns on when the traction control system is activated, which is why you’ll often see it if you launch hard from a traffic light or drive on a slippery, snow-covered road.
This is one of the few lights that turns on when it’s working, not when there’s an issue. However, if you notice the traction control symbol turning on when it’s not required, something may have been knocked out of place, according to Kelley Blue Book, or the wheel speed sensor might have an issue.
Transmission Temperature
This warning also has a temperature, this time inside of a gear. When this light shows up, it means the gearbox is overheating. For example, when the coolant temperature light turns on, it’s best if you don’t keep driving at this point.
Your gearbox can overheat from a variety of things, including a strain while towing heavy loads, low transmission fluid, and excessive wear. All of these can spell danger if you continue to drive.
Trunk Not Closed
If you see an image of a car with its trunk open pop up on your dashboard, that essentially means that your trunk was left open, or it won’t close all the way. Sometimes, it’s as simple as getting out and shutting your trunk, but it could mean something else is up.
Just Answer covers some common issues that could lead to this light not shutting off, including trunk latch issues, a failed sensor, damaged or loose wiring, and other mechanical issues with the trunk or your car’s computer. If it won’t shut off after you close your trunk, you may need to reach out to an expert.
Washer Fluid
The washer fluid warning light looks exactly like two streams of washer fluid being blasted onto a windshield, so it’s very easy to identify. If you see this light, there’s also an easy fix in most cases.
This light usually indicates that your washer fluid is low. This isn’t an extreme emergency, but your vision could be limited if you ever need to clear your windshield and find yourself without any fluid. If refilling your fluid doesn’t fix the issue, it could mean a faulty sensor or a leak is at fault.
Not To Worry
From what I’ve researched, there’s no need to panic when you see one of these warning lights come on.
If one starts to flash on your dashboard, you have time to figure out the issue before there’s real trouble. Just don’t let any of these lights linger for long, and stay safe out there.