All About Car Warning Lights

Every driver has experienced having a warning light illuminate on the instrument panel and wondered what it meant. All vehicles have dozens of warning lights to alert the driver when a system is experiencing problems, when the vehicle needs service, or simply when the driver needs to know something. These warning lights can signal issues as mild as needing to close a door, or as serious as needing to have the brake pads replaced.

When you first turn on your vehicle, some of the lights might illuminate as the systems are checked. The lights will then disappear, and only illuminate again when an issue is detected. When a warning light comes on, you’ll want to familiarize yourself with the light before driving much further. This will allow you to figure out just how severe the problem is, and what can be done to fix it. To learn more about any of your vehicle’s warning lights, check out our guide below.

All about each warning light

• What Does the ABS Warning Light Mean?

• What Does the Adaptive Cruise Control Warning Light Mean?

• What Does the Adaptive Lighting Indicator Warning Light Mean?

• What Does the AdBlue Warning (Low Level, No Restart, Malfunction) Warning Light Mean?

• What Does the Airbag Warning Light Mean?

• What Does the Air Suspension Warning Light Mean?

• What Does the Alternator Warning Light (Battery Warning Light) Mean?

• What Does the Attention Assist Warning Light Mean?

• What Does the Automatic Transmission/Automatic Gearbox Warning Light Mean?

• What Does the Brake Pad Wear Indicator Warning Light Mean?

• What Does the Brake System (Hand Brake, Parking Brake) Warning Light Mean?

• What Does the Bulb Failure (Exterior Light Fault, License Plate Bulb, Brake Light Bulb) Warning Light Mean?

• What Does the Catalytic Converter Warning Light Mean?

• What Does the Check Engine Warning Light Mean?

• What Does the Convertible Roof Warning Light Mean?

• What Does the Coolant Temperature Mean?

• What Does the Cruise Control Warning Light Mean?

• What Does the Defrost Indicator (Front and Rear) Warning Light Mean?

• What Does the Diesel Engine Pre-Glow Warning Light Mean?

• What Does the Diesel Particulate Filter Warning Light Mean?

• What Do the Direction Indicator Warning Lights Mean?

• What Does the Dirty Air Filter Warning Light Mean?

• What Does the Distance Warning Light Mean?

• What Does the Door Open Warning Light Mean?

• What Does the DRL Warning Light Mean?

• What Does the DSG Transmission Too Hot Light Warning Light Mean?

• What Does the ECO Driving Warning Light Mean?

• What Does the Electronic Power Control (EPC) Warning Light Mean?

• What Does the Electronic Stability Control (ESC) Warning Light Mean?

• What Do Fog Indicator Warning Lights Mean?

• What Does the Four Wheel Drive Warning Light Mean?

• What Does the Frost Warning Light Mean?

• What Does the Fuel Cap Warning Light Mean?

• What Does the Fuel Filter Warning Light Mean?

• What Does the Headlight Range Control Warning Light Mean?

• What Do the Headlight Warning Lights Mean?

• What Does the Hill Descent Control Warning Light Mean?

• What Does the Hood Open Warning Light Mean?

• What Does the Hybrid Drive System Malfunction Warning Light Mean?

• What Does the Ignition Switch Warning Light Mean?

• What Do the Immobilizer Warning Lights Mean?

• What Does the Jack Mode Warning Light Mean?

• What Does the Key Fob Battery Low Warning Light Mean?

• What Does the Key Not in Vehicle Warning Light Mean?

• What Does the Lane Departure Warning Light Mean?

• What Does the Low Fuel Level Warning Light Mean?

• What Does the Oil Pressure Warning Light Mean?

• What Does the Parking Assist Warning Light Mean?

• What Do the Press Clutch or Press Brake Pedal Warning Lights Mean?

• What Does the Rain and Light Sensor Warning Light Mean?

• What Does the Rear Spoiler Warning Light Mean?

• What Does the Seat Belt Not On Warning Light Mean?

• What Does the Service Required Warning Light Mean?

• What Does the Steering Lock Warning Light Mean?

• What Does the Steering System Warning Light Mean?

• What Does the Tire Pressure Warning Light Mean?

• What Does the Trailer Tow Hitch Warning Light Mean?

• What Does the Trunk Open Warning Light Mean?

• What Does the Washer Fluid Low Warning Light Mean?

• What Does the Winter Mode Warning Light Mean?

Warning lights often represent simple issues, like needing to refill the washer fluid or put the gas cap on. The lights can often represent issues that need repairs, though. If you have a warning light that requires an inspection or repair, or simply don’t understand what the warning light means, you should schedule an inspection with a reputable technician, such as the ones from YourMechanic.