When a light pops up on your dashboard, it’s easy to feel a little panicked, especially if you’re not sure what it means. But these symbols aren’t just there to stress you out; they’re your car’s way of communicating with you. 

Here’s our breakdown of the most common dashboard lights, what they indicate, and what you should do when one comes on.

 

What Do Car Dashboard Symbols Mean?

Dashboard symbols are basically your vehicle’s communication system. They alert you to the status of different systems and let you know when something isn’t working correctly. Most of these lights fall into three main categories: 

Warning lights signal potential problems like low oil pressure or an overheating engine. Indicator lights let you know when a system is active, such as your high beams or cruise control, and notification lights remind you about routine maintenance.

 

What About the Colors?

The color of the light tells you how urgent the issue is. For example, red usually means stop right away, yellow or orange means something needs attention soon, and green or blue generally just means a feature is on.

 

Common Dashboard Lights and Meanings

 

Oil Pressure Warning Light

When the old-fashioned oil can lights up, it means your engine isn’t getting enough oil, possibly due to low oil or a faulty pump. 

What to Do: Low oil pressure can damage your engine, so pull over, turn off the engine, and check your oil level. Check the oil with the dipstick and add more if it’s low. If the light stays on, it’s best to call a mechanic.

 

Tire Pressure Warning Light

A yellow horseshoe-shaped icon with an exclamation point usually means one or more tires are low on air. 

What to Do: Find a place to stop and check your tire pressure. Inflate any that are low to the recommended level (usually found on a sticker inside the driver’s door), and if the light doesn’t turn off, have your tires checked for leaks.

 

Engine Temperature Warning Light

This light shows a thermometer, usually red, in water. It means the engine is getting too hot. 

What to Do: Turn off your A/C and turn on the heat to pull heat away from the engine. If the light stays on, pull over, shut off the car, and let it cool down before checking the coolant.

 

Check Engine Light

The check engine light is typically shown as a yellow outline of an engine. It can indicate anything from a loose gas cap to serious engine problems. 

What to Do: If it’s just lit up (not flashing), you can drive to a mechanic. If it’s flashing, pull over and get help as soon as possible. 

 

Brake Warning Light

A red exclamation mark inside a circle, often accompanied by the word “BRAKE,” may mean your parking brake is engaged or could signal a problem with your braking system.

What to Do: First, check that the parking brake is fully released. If it is and the light is still on, have your brakes looked at right away. 

 

ABS Warning Light

This light looks like a yellow circle with the letters “ABS” in the middle. It means there’s an issue with your anti-lock braking system. 

What to Do: Your brakes will still work, but the ABS may not engage properly in slippery conditions. Have a mechanic take a look. 

 

Battery Warning Light

Your car’s battery warning light will likely be a red battery icon with a plus and minus sign. It means there might be an issue with your vehicle’s charging system, possibly related to the battery or alternator. 

What to Do: Check that the battery connections are tight. If that doesn’t seem to be the issue, get the battery and charging system tested.

 

Traction Control Light

Often shown as a car with squiggly lines behind it, this light means the traction control system is either active or there’s a malfunction. 

What to Do: If the light is flashing, it means it’s working to keep you stable on slippery roads. If it stays on, it’s best to have it checked.

 

Low Fuel Light

A small yellow gas pump icon is pretty straightforward — you’re running low on gas.  

What to Do: It’s time to find the nearest gas station.  

 

Airbag Warning Light

A light of a seated person with a circle (representing the airbag) in front of them could indicate a potential issue with the airbag system. 

What to Do: If this light stays on, your airbags may not deploy in a crash, so have your vehicle inspected as soon as possible. 

 

Coolant Temperature Warning Light

If you see a blue or red thermometer in liquid that looks similar to the engine temperature light, your engine’s coolant is too hot, which could lead to overheating. 

What to Do: Pull over and turn off the engine. Let the car cool before checking the coolant level. Don’t open the radiator cap while it’s hot.   

 

Security Indicator Light

This light will either appear as a car with a key symbol or a flashing red light on the dashboard. It tends to mean your vehicle’s anti-theft system is armed, or it’s having trouble recognizing your key. 

What to Do: A flashing light just means your car is armed. If the vehicle won’t start and the light stays on, check your key or consult the owner’s manual. 

 

What Do Flashing Dashboard Lights Mean?

If a dashboard light flashes instead of staying on, it usually (not always) means the issue is serious and needs immediate attention. While most solid warning lights signal that something should be checked soon, a flashing light is your car’s way of saying, “Stop what you’re doing and take care of this now.” 

The bottom line is that if you see a flashing light on your dashboard, it’s best to pull over and call a mechanic or roadside assistance. Ignoring it could lead to more expensive problems down the road.

 

What Is the Most Serious Warning Light?

While all warning lights are important, the most serious one tends to be the check engine light, especially when it’s flashing. A flashing check engine light usually means there’s a severe engine misfire, which can quickly damage expensive parts like the catalytic converter if you keep driving.

Additionally, if either the oil pressure warning light or the engine temperature warning light comes on, it could mean your engine isn’t getting enough oil or it’s overheating, both of which can lead to serious engine damage if you don’t address it right away.

 

Has Your Car Experienced Repeated Warranty Issues?

Do you have a 2020 or newer vehicle that keeps having problems? You might have a lemon on your hands, and California’s Lemon Law may be able to help if the issue affects how it runs, its value, or your safety. 

Not sure if your car qualifies? Call our California lemon law attorneys at 818-244-3905 or contact us online to schedule your FREE consultation today!