10 Vital Car Dashboard Symbols Explained & When to Take Action

All the warning lights come on when you start your vehicle. Don’t panic – that’s just a system self-check and they quickly go out. Here’s what you need to know if they come on while you’re driving.

What does it look like?

A thermometer floating on water. Some vehicles have a temperature gauge.

How important/critical is this alert/symbol?

High.

What does it mean?

If the symbol illuminates, or if the gauge needle moves into the red zone, your engine is getting too hot. It’s usually a lack of coolant that’s leaked out of a damaged radiator, broken hose, or faulty head gasket. It can also be a malfunctioning water pump that isn’t pumping coolant through the engine.

What to do if the light comes on?

Pull over as soon as it’s safe to do so, and immediately turn the engine off. An overheated engine can suffer catastrophic damage. Have the vehicle towed to a shop for repair.

What does it look like?

A red oil can. 

How important/critical is this alert/symbol?

High.

What does it mean?

Your engine either doesn’t have enough oil, or the oil pump isn’t pumping oil through the engine. 

What to do if the light comes on?

Pull over and turn the engine off as quickly as you can. Running without oil can cause irreparable engine damage. Have the vehicle towed to a shop. Some vehicles also have a “low oil” indicator which may be an amber oil can. If it comes on, it isn’t an emergency, but you need to add oil as soon as possible.

What does it look like?

An icon of a battery. On some vehicles it may be a volt gauge.

How important/critical is this alert/symbol?

High.

What does it mean?

The battery’s primary task is to start the engine. After that, the charging system provides electricity for the ignition, lights, and other functions, and recharges the battery. If the warning light comes on, or the gauge goes below 13 volts, the charging system isn’t working properly. This could mean a malfunctioning alternator.

What to do if the light comes on?

If the charging system fails, the vehicle runs on its battery but it won’t last long. Turn off anything that isn’t required, such as the climate fan or phone charging, and drive to the closest repair shop. If the vehicle stops running, there isn’t any point in boosting the battery; it’ll just run for a short period and quit again. You need a tow.

Also read - Ultimate Car Battery Guide: How to Charge, Maintain, Replace, and more

What does it look like?

An engine, illuminated in amber, flashing amber, or red.

How important/critical is this alert/symbol?

Medium to high.

What does it mean?

This indicates a problem with the vehicle’s emissions system, which can include fuel, ignition, and pollution control. It can be as minor as a loose fuel cap – some vehicles even have a separate “tighten cap” light – or issues with the catalytic converter, oxygen sensor, fuel injectors or other components.

What to do if the light comes on?

If the light is solid amber but the vehicle is running fine, schedule a service appointment to have it checked. If the vehicle is running rough or losing power, or the light is flashing amber or red, keep your speed down and take it for service right away. It could be a problem that can damage your expensive catalytic converter.

Also read - Check Engine Light is On: 6 Reasons Why & How to Fix It

What does it look like?

A cross-section of a tire with an exclamation mark. Some vehicles have a display that shows the pressure in each tire. Most but not all vehicles have TPMS.

How important/critical is this alert/symbol?

Medium.

What does it mean?

The TPMS warning illuminates when a tire drops to about 25 to 30 per cent below its recommended pressure. 

What to do if the light comes on?

If you have a readout, it will tell you which tire is low, but if it’s just a light, you’ll have to check each to see which one it is. Fill the tire to its recommended pressure, found in a chart on the driver’s door jamb or the owner’s manual. 

What does it look like?

Both are circles with half-circles on either side. The brake warning is red and has an exclamation mark in the circle, sometimes with BRAKE under it. The anti-lock brake warning is amber and has ABS (anti-lock braking system, which comes on in a panic stop to help you stay in control) in the circle.

How important/critical is this alert/symbol?

Medium to high.

What does it mean?

The brake light warns of issues like dangerously-worn brake pads or insufficient brake fluid. In some vehicles, the brake warning light may include the parking brake; it will come on when the brake is set and go off when it’s released (there’s a problem if the light comes on otherwise). The ABS warning means something’s wrong with the anti-lock brakes. The ABS light will also temporarily come on in a panic stop, but this indicates it’s working and is not a malfunction warning.

What to do if the light comes on?

Take the vehicle for repair right away, especially if the brake pedal feels spongy or goes farther down than usual, if the vehicle takes longer to stop, or the brakes make a squealing or grinding sound. 

What does it look like?

A car with swerving lines under the tires. 

How important/critical is this alert/symbol?

Low to medium.

What does it mean?

When one wheel is spinning on a slippery surface, traction control applies its brake to help provide more grip to the other wheel. Electric stability control brakes the appropriate wheels in a skid to help straighten out the vehicle.

What to do if the light comes on?

The light temporarily illuminates or flashes when either system is operating, primarily as a warning to the driver to slow down. You can temporarily turn off the traction control if you want the wheels to spin to help get out of deep snow. You’ll get a warning that the traction control is off, reminding you to turn it back on afterwards. If the traction or stability control warning lights up when you’re driving normally, there’s a problem with the system and it should be serviced.

Also read - Car Safety Features [Part 1]: Stopping Abilities, where we discuss more about the three safety features above (TPMS, ABS, ESC).

What does it look like?

A person wearing a seatbelt facing a circular airbag.

How important/critical is this alert/symbol?

Low to high.

What does it mean?

A red symbol indicates a problem with the airbag system. Some vehicles have an amber symbol that illuminates when no one is in the front passenger seat, indicating that the passenger airbag isn’t needed and won’t deploy in a crash.

What to do if the light comes on?

Have the vehicle checked as soon as possible if the light is red. The airbags may not deploy in a crash, or go off when you’re driving. The amber airbag isn’t a concern unless it stays on when someone’s in the seat. That could mean a malfunction and it might not deploy when needed in a crash.

What does it look like?

A steering wheel with an exclamation mark.

How important/critical is this alert/symbol?

High.

What does it mean?

This indicates a problem with the power steering. This could be low power steering fluid on a hydraulic system, or an electrical issue with electric power steering.

What to do if the light comes on?

Get to a repair shop as soon as possible. You’ll still be able to steer the vehicle if the power steering system fails, but it will be very difficult to do. 

What does it look like?

An amber fuel pump.

How important/critical is this alert/symbol?

Medium.

What does it mean?

Depending on the vehicle, you have about 10 to 15 per cent of fuel left in your tank when the light initially comes on.

What to do if the light comes on?

Stop and fill up, and not just because you don’t want to walk home. Most fuel pumps are inside the tank and the fuel keeps them cool. Running low is hard on the pump and could shorten its lifespan.