Car Dashboard Lights: 15 Symbols and What to Do
The three-colour rule every driver needs to know
Dashboard warning lights follow a universal colour system. Red means stop: pull over safely and do not drive further until the fault is fixed. Amber means service soon: the car is safe to drive to a garage but do not ignore the light for days. Green or blue is informational: a system is active and working normally, such as high-beam headlights or cruise control. The 15 lights below are the ones drivers encounter most often. Every entry gives the symbol shape, what it signals, and your precise first action. As of October 2026, these descriptions apply to the vast majority of petrol, diesel, and electric vehicles sold since 2010.
Red lights: stop the car
Five red lights indicate faults serious enough to destroy an engine, fail your brakes, or leave you stranded mid-journey if ignored. In each case the right action is to pull off the road safely, turn off the engine, and address the problem before driving again.
Oil pressure
Shape: oil can with a drip. Means: oil pressure is too low to lubricate the engine. Action: stop imm
Engine temperature
Shape: thermometer in liquid. Means: coolant is too hot; engine overheating. Action: stop, switch he
Brake system
Shape: exclamation mark in circle, or the letter P. Means: parking brake left on, brake fluid low, o
Battery / charging
Shape: battery with plus and minus. Means: alternator or serpentine belt fault; car is running on ba
Airbag / SRS
Shape: seated figure with a circle in front. Means: airbag system has a fault; bags may not deploy i
What to do when a red light appears
Move to a safe place off the road. Switch on hazard lights. Turn the engine off once stationary. Do not restart and drive on hoping the light clears: a few minutes of driving without oil pressure or with an overheating engine can cause permanent damage costing thousands to repair. Call your breakdown provider or a tow.
Amber lights: service soon
Seven amber lights signal faults where the car is generally safe to drive to a repair shop, but ignoring them risks an expensive failure later. The exception is a flashing check engine light: see the note below.
Check engine (MIL)
Shape: outline of an engine. Steady amber: fault in the engine management, emissions, or fuel system
ABS
Shape: the letters ABS in a circle. Means: anti-lock braking system fault. Normal brakes still work,
Tyre pressure (TPMS)
Shape: exclamation mark in a horseshoe. Means: at least one tyre is 25% or more below the recommende
Low fuel
Shape: petrol pump outline. Means: approximately 50 to 80 km of range remaining (varies by car). Act
Traction / stability control
Shape: car with wavy lines beneath. Flashing: system is working normally on a slippery surface. Stea
Power steering
Shape: steering wheel with an exclamation mark. Means: electric power steering fault. Steering becom
Service due
Shape: spanner / wrench, or a clock icon. Means: scheduled maintenance interval has been reached (oi
Flashing check engine light A steady amber check engine light means book a diagnostic scan soon. A flashing check engine light is more urgent: it indicates a misfire severe enough to damage the catalytic converter. Reduce speed, avoid hard acceleration, and get to a garage or home the same day. If the flashing continues or the car feels rough, stop and call for a tow.
Green and blue lights: informational
These three lights confirm that a system is active, not that something is wrong. No action is needed unless you did not intentionally turn the feature on.
High-beam headlights
Shape: horizontal lines with arrows pointing left. Blue. Means: full-beam headlights are on. Dip the
Door ajar
Shape: car outline with an open door. Amber. Means: at least one door, bonnet, or boot is not fully
Seatbelt reminder
Shape: seated figure with a diagonal strap. Red or amber. Means: one or more occupants have not fast
