Dashboard warning lights are the most common lights used by auto manufacturers. Not all warning lights are universal, some have different meanings. Always refer to your owner’s manual when you’re not 100% sure what the light indicates.

All vehicles have slightly different warning lights, but most cars use a similar color system to indicate the type or the severity of the warning.

Red Warning Light

A red warning light is usually a sign of an immediate problem that needs your attention right away. In some cases, it might not be safe to keep driving if you see a red warning light. Some of the most common warnings to appear in red include the hood or trunk open warning, the air bag warning, the brake warning, and the engine temperature warning.

Automobile dashboard RED warnings lights symbols list

Yellow or Orange Warning Light

Yellow and orange lights are usually advisories. They aren’t as urgent as red lights, but they still provide important information. For example, in most cars, the tire pressure sign, the low fuel sign, and the engine check sign are all yellow or orange. You can probably still drive the car safely for the time being, but something will require your attention soon.

Automobile dashboard YELLOW or ORANGE warnings lights symbols list

Green or Blue Warning Light

Green and blue warning lights are typically the least urgent signs. In most cases, they just appear for your information, and they don’t indicate that you need to do any work on your car. Most green and blue lights simply tell you that a feature is activated. For example, they may tell you that your high beams are on or that your car is in ECO mode. Check out below car warning light to see more detailed information.

Automobile dashboard GREEN or BLUE warnings lights symbols list

Many warning lights indicate that a fault has occurred inside the vehicle’s system, but it doesn’t pinpoint the item or system that has failed. In these cases, a code reader or scan tool can help determine the part that needs to be replaced. If an indicator light on your dash is on, visit your local mechanic workshop or ask a certified technician to get the best information to help keep your vehicle running in top condition.