Red dashboard lights
Red usually means a serious warning. Oil pressure, brake, battery charging, and coolant temperature warnings should be treated as urgent.
50 symbols
Color
System
How to read warning lights
Dashboard light colors usually tell you how urgent the problem is
Most dashboard warning symbols use color to show urgency. The exact meaning can vary by vehicle, but color is a useful first clue when you need to decide whether to stop, drive carefully, or simply note that a feature is switched on.
Amber or yellow dashboard lights
Amber means the vehicle needs attention soon. Common examples include check engine, ABS, tyre pressure, airbag, and traction control warnings.
Green dashboard lights
Green usually means a system is active, such as turn signals, low beam headlights, cruise control, or hill descent control.
Blue dashboard lights
Blue is most often used for high beam headlights. It is normally informational, but you should dip the beams for oncoming traffic.
Detailed guides
Start with the most common warning lights
These five dashboard warning lights have the clearest standalone search intent and the highest safety value. Each guide explains meaning, urgency, common causes, and what to check first.
Most urgent symbols
Stop safely for these warning lights
Some symbols can indicate damage or unsafe driving conditions. If a red oil pressure light, brake warning, coolant temperature light, or battery charging light appears while driving, pull over when safe and check the vehicle before continuing.
Oil pressure: stop the engine and check oil level. Do not keep driving if the warning remains.
Brake warning: check the parking brake and brake fluid. Stop if the pedal feels soft or braking feels abnormal.
Coolant temperature: let the engine cool before opening the coolant system or continuing.
Battery warning: reduce electrical load and get the charging system checked before the car loses power.
Can I keep driving?
Use the warning light to decide your next move
A dashboard light does not always mean the car must stop immediately. The safest decision depends on the symbol, the color, whether the light is flashing, and whether the car feels, sounds, or smells unusual.
Red oil pressure, red brake warning, coolant temperature, heavy smoke, burning smell, or loss of braking.
ABS, traction control, airbag, power steering, or steady check engine light when the car still drives normally.
Tyre/tire pressure, washer fluid, service due, key battery, DPF, AdBlue/DEF, or other amber maintenance warnings.
Green or blue indicators such as turn signal, low beam, high beam, fog light, cruise control, or hill descent control.
Warning light combinations
When two dashboard lights appear together
Multiple lights can point to a shared system fault. These combinations are common starting points, not a diagnosis, but they help you decide how urgently to inspect the car.
Check engine + traction control
The engine fault may cause traction or stability control to be limited. Scan for engine codes first.
ABS + brake warning
This can be more serious than ABS alone. Check brake fluid and stop if braking feels weak or the pedal feels soft.
Battery + power steering
Low system voltage can affect electric steering. The alternator, belt, or battery may need urgent attention.
Oil pressure + engine noise
Stop the engine. Continuing to drive with low oil pressure and engine noise can cause severe engine damage.
Coolant temperature + steam or sweet smell
Pull over safely and let the engine cool. Do not open a hot coolant cap.
Tyre pressure + steering pull
One tyre may be very low or damaged. Slow down, avoid sharp steering, and inspect the tyres as soon as safe.
Common dashboard symbols
Popular warning lights covered in this guide
These are the dashboard symbols drivers most often need to identify quickly. Use the finder above to filter by color or vehicle system, then open a symbol for the first checks and driving advice.
Check Engine Light: engine or emissions fault; scan diagnostic trouble codes if it stays on.
Oil Pressure Warning: low oil pressure risk; stop safely and check oil level.
Battery Warning Light: charging system fault; the alternator or battery may need attention.
Brake Warning Light: parking brake, low brake fluid, or brake system fault.
ABS Warning Light: anti-lock braking may be unavailable, though normal braking may remain.
Tire Pressure Warning: also called TPMS or tyre pressure light; check all tyre/tire pressures.
Airbag Warning Light: SRS or restraint system fault; airbag protection may be reduced.
Coolant Temperature Warning: engine overheating risk; stop and let the engine cool.
Low Fuel Warning: refuel soon to avoid running the tank dry.
Seat Belt Reminder: a seat belt is not fastened or a seat sensor detects weight.
Door, Hood, or Trunk Open: close the door, bonnet/hood, boot/trunk before driving.
Washer Fluid Low: refill windscreen or windshield washer fluid.
High Beam, Low Beam, Fog Light, and Turn Signal Indicators: lighting indicators usually show a feature is active.
Power Steering Warning: steering assistance may be reduced; drive carefully and inspect the system.
By car system
Dashboard symbols grouped by vehicle system
If you know which part of the car the warning might relate to, use these system groups to narrow it down. Engine, brake, tyre, battery, light, safety, diesel, and EV warnings often have different urgency levels.
Engine, oil, and temperature
Check engine, oil pressure, low oil level, coolant temperature, start-stop, and engine management lights.
Brakes and ABS
Brake warning, parking brake, low brake fluid, ABS, and brake system faults need careful attention.
Tyres, steering, and stability
Tyre pressure, traction control, stability control, power steering, and car with squiggly lines symbols.
Battery and electrical
Battery warning, charging system, alternator, key fob battery, immobilizer, and low voltage related lights.
Lights and visibility
High beam, low beam, fog lights, turn signals, hazard lights, washer fluid, and windscreen/windshield warnings.
Safety and driver assist
Airbag, seat belt, lane departure, blind spot monitoring, adaptive cruise, collision warning, and parking sensors.
Diesel and emissions
Glow plug, DPF, AdBlue/DEF, catalytic converter, emissions system, and water in fuel warnings.
EV and hybrid
EV battery low, hybrid system warning, charge port open, regenerative braking limited, and electric drive faults.
Search terms people use
Common names for the same dashboard symbols
Drivers often search by description because they do not know the official name of the symbol. This guide includes common US and UK wording such as tire and tyre, hood and bonnet, trunk and boot, windshield and windscreen, gas and petrol.
red oil can lightyellow engine lightcar with squiggly lineshorseshoe exclamation markbattery symbol on dashboardengine management lighttyre pressure warningbonnet open lightboot open warningblue headlight symbol
Editorial note
How this guide should be used
This site is a general reference for common car dashboard symbols and warning light meanings. It is designed to help drivers identify a symbol quickly, understand urgency, and decide what to check first.
Not brand-specific: symbols, colors, and wording can vary by make, model, year, and market.
Illustrations: the icons are simplified reference drawings, not copied OEM symbols.
Safety: red warnings and unusual vehicle behavior should be treated conservatively.
Final source: your vehicle owner's manual and a qualified mechanic are the best sources for exact diagnosis.
Quick answers
Car dashboard symbols FAQ
What should I check first when a dashboard light comes on?
First check the color and whether the car feels different. If the light is red, stop safely. If it is amber, read the symbol, check obvious causes such as fuel cap or tyre pressure, and arrange inspection if it stays on.
Is a flashing check engine light worse than a steady one?
Yes. A flashing check engine light can indicate a misfire that may damage the catalytic converter. Reduce speed, avoid hard acceleration, and get the car checked as soon as possible.
Why does the same warning light have different names?
Names vary by country and manufacturer. For example, check engine light is also called engine management light or MIL, while tyre pressure warning may be written as tire pressure warning in US English.
Can I use this guide for any car brand?
Use it as a general dashboard symbol guide. Symbols can vary by make, model, year, and market, so your owner's manual is the final source for the exact meaning on your vehicle.
Dashboard symbols vary by make and model. This guide explains common warning light meanings and first checks, but it is not a substitute for your owner's manual or a qualified mechanic's diagnosis.