Dashboard Warning Light Guide

Dashboard warning lights use a traffic-light color system to indicate urgency. Understanding what each color means — and what to do — can prevent minor issues from becoming major repairs, and could even save your life in serious situations.

The color system:

Red lights — Stop or act immediately: These indicate serious or dangerous conditions. Pull over safely and address the issue. Do not continue driving if possible. Common examples: Engine temperature (overheating), low oil pressure, brake system warning, battery warning.

Amber / Yellow / Orange lights — Attention needed: These indicate something needs to be serviced or monitored. You can usually drive to a mechanic soon, but shouldn’t ignore these. Common examples: Check engine light, traction control, ABS, low tire pressure (if no TPMS red), low fuel.

Blue / Green lights — Information only: These are status indicators, not warnings. They tell you what systems are active. Common examples: High beams (blue), turn signals (green), cruise control (green).

White / Gray lights — Status information: Similar to blue/green — informational. Some systems show white when active.

The Check Engine Light (CEL): This is the most misunderstood light. A steady CEL means an emissions or engine management fault — schedule service within a few days. A flashing CEL is more urgent: it typically means engine misfires are occurring, which can damage the catalytic converter — pull over and call a mechanic.

Oil Pressure Warning (Red): Do NOT drive with this light on. Continuing to drive with low oil pressure causes catastrophic engine damage within minutes. Pull over immediately, turn off the engine, and check the oil level.

Temperature Warning (Red): Overheating can cause permanent engine damage within minutes. Pull over, turn off the engine (or turn on the heater to draw heat away from the engine), and wait for it to cool before checking coolant.