Dashboard Warning Lights Explained | UK Driver’s Guide 2025

Everyone has noticed dashboard warning lights while driving a car. Some give attention, while many ignore it, and these lights are there for a purpose. It shouldn’t be ignored; otherwise, you face a major car breakdown. Though some warning lights need your immediate attention, some are for extra information.

In this blog, we will explain each warning light in detail that you should be aware.

Key Takeaways: Dashboard Warning Lights Explained

Dashboard warning lights show how urgent a problem is red means stop, amber needs checking soon, green or blue are information only, and flashing lights mean serious faults needing attention.

• Red lights mean stop immediately. Pull over safely and switch off the engine. These lights signal urgent faults like overheating or low oil pressure.
• Amber or yellow lights mean check soon. They point to maintenance issues or sensor alerts that need attention before your next MOT.
• Green or blue lights are information only. They confirm that systems such as headlights or indicators are working correctly.
• A flashing light means an active fault. Stop driving straight away. It often means something serious, like an engine misfire or overheating.
• Common culprits include tyres, oil, and coolant. Regular checks of fluid levels and pressures prevent most warning lights from appearing.
• Always fix the cause, not just the light. Resetting the dashboard without solving the fault will only make the problem return and could cause MOT failure.

Understanding Dashboard Warning Light Colours 

It is hard to remember every warning light. Let’s learn the basic thumb rule for which colour of light is most important, least important, and informational.

Red Lights – Stop Immediately

A red warning light is serious. It usually means there’s a safety issue or a system failure that needs urgent attention.

If you see a red light, pull over as soon as it’s safe and switch off the engine. Common examples include the oil pressure, engine temperature, or brake system lights. Driving any further could cause costly damage or put you in danger.

Amber/Yellow Lights – Check Soon

An amber or yellow light means something needs checking soon. It’s not usually an emergency, but it does mean your car isn’t working perfectly.

You can keep driving for now, but you should get the issue diagnosed as soon as possible. It should be especially checked before your next MOT. Examples include the engine management light, ABS, or tyre pressure warning.

Green or Blue Lights – Information Only

These lights aren’t warnings. They simply tell you a system is switched on and working properly.

You’ll often see a green light when your cruise control is active, or a blue light when your main beam headlights are on. Nothing to worry about here.

Comparison Table of Different Dashboard Warning Light Colours

Light Colour	Meaning	Driver Action	Common Examples
Red🔴	Serious fault or safety risk	Stop the vehicle immediately	Oil pressure, brake system, engine temperature
Amber🟠/ Yellow🟡	Advisory or maintenance alert	Check the issue soon	Engine management, ABS, tyre pressure
Green🟢/ Blue🔵	System active or information only	No action required	Headlights, indicators, cruise control

 

Common Dashboard Warning Lights and Their Meanings

Common Dashboard Warning Lights & Their Causes

Warning Light Symbol	System Affected	Likely Cause	Recommended Action
Engine icon	Engine management	Faulty sensor, emissions issue	Book a diagnostic check
Circle with !	Brake system	Low fluid, worn pads	Stop and check fluid
Battery symbol	Charging system	Faulty alternator, snapped belt	Stop and seek help
Oil can	Engine lubrication	Low oil level or pump fault	Stop immediately
Tyre symbol	Tyre pressure	Leak or low inflation	Inflate or inspect tyres
Thermometer	Cooling system	Overheating, low coolant	Stop and cool engine

 

Below, we break down the most common lights in detail that you might encounter on your car dashboard.

1. Check Engine Light

 

The check engine light looks like an outline of an engine. This is the dreaded one. It means your car’s Engine Management System (EMS) has detected a fault. It could be minor (like a loose fuel cap or a faulty sensor) or serious (like an issue with your emissions or catalytic converter). 

If it’s amber, Get your car booked into a garage for a diagnostic check as soon as you can. Continuing to drive may cause your car to go into ‘limp mode’

If Red or Flashing: Stop safely as soon as possible. Driving may be causing major damage or be unsafe. Call your breakdown cover. 

2. Safety & Braking Lights

It looks like a circle with “( ! )” and a flush red light. This light is a high-priority warning about your brake system. First, check your handbrake! If the handbrake is fully off and the light is still on, it almost certainly means your brake fluid level is dangerously low.

Then you have to stop the car immediately. Do not risk driving with a brake system fault. Low brake fluid means you could lose all braking power. Call a professional and fix it as soon as possible. This one is more critical and should never be ignored.

3. Battery & Charging Lights

This one usually looks like a little battery with a ‘+’ and ‘-’ sign and flushes in red. This is not just a warning that your battery is flat. It means the battery is not being charged while the engine is running. 

The most common culprits are a failing alternator or a snapped alternator belt. Keep driving only if you are very close to a safe stop. Your car is running purely on battery power, and when that runs out, the engine will cut out entirely, which is dangerous.

4. Oil Pressure Warning

This warning light looks like a little dripping oil can in red colour. It is critical and the worst light to see. It means your engine has dangerously low oil pressure. As oil is the engine’s lifeblood, and without pressure, the engine will be destroyed.

So you have to stop the car immediately. Pull over safely and switch the engine off. Do not attempt to drive even a short distance. Check the engine oil level with the dipstick. If it’s low, top it up with the correct oil. 

However, If the light stays on, or if the level is fine, you have a more serious mechanical issue, like a faulty oil pump and need to call for recovery.

5. Tyres & Suspension Lights

The symbol looks like a tyre cross-section with an exclamation mark inside in amber colour. This is the Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) light. It means the pressure in at least one of your tyres is significantly low. This could be due to a slow puncture or just natural pressure loss.

So you check the pressure as soon as possible and find out whether it’s a puncture or just needs to be filled with the appropriate fluid.

6. Temperature & Fluids

This light looks like a thermometer dipped in liquid and appears red. This means your engine is overheating because the engine coolant temperature is too high. Continuing to drive will cause a major engine failure, such as a blown head gasket.

So you have to stop the car immediately and turn off the engine. Do not open the bonnet or the radiator cap while the engine is hot, as the pressure can release scalding steam. Let the engine cool down completely before checking the coolant level.

7. Doors, Seats & Safety Belts

If you see a car symbol showing open doors or a person with a seatbelt, your car is telling you something isn’t fully secured. It looks like a person sitting in a seat with a large circle. If it is red, this is a warning for the airbag for your safety. 

8. Seat Belt Indicator

It is a simple outline of a person wearing a seatbelt. This is straightforward, and it’s a reminder that a passenger has not fastened their seat belt. However, in some cars it makes a pinging sound.

9. ABS Sensor Warning

The ABS (Anti-lock Braking System) light looks like the letters ABS inside a circle. This signals a problem with your Anti-lock Braking System (ABS). Your regular brakes will still work, but the ABS safety feature, which stops your wheels from locking up during emergency braking, is disabled.

You might notice the car feels less stable under sudden stops or on slippery roads. Get it fixed as soon as possible, and especially before the MOT test. 

10. Unlock Gear Light

This light usually appears in automatic cars and looks like a small gear symbol or a key inside a gear. It means you need to press the brake pedal before shifting out of ‘Park’ or into ‘Drive’. It’s a safety feature to stop the car from moving unexpectedly. 

So then you have to gently wiggle the steering wheel back and forth while starting the car or trying to change gears. If it’s keyless, try holding the key fob right next to the start button. If it persists, the locking mechanism itself may be faulty and will require a mechanic.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does a red triangle warning light mean in the UK?

The red triangle warning light is typically the car’s master warning light. It doesn’t point to a single issue but acts as a highly urgent, general alert. When it comes on, it means there is a serious fault in one of your car’s core systems.

How to turn off dashboard warning lights

In most cases, it cannot be turned off by yourself. You have to fix the problem for that. Still, if the light stays on, restart the car or check the sensor, or you use a diagnostic tool, the OBD reader, to clear the minor warnings.

What do Peugeot dashboard warning lights symbols meaning?

While most dashboard lights follow a global standard, like the engine outline or battery shape, manufacturers like Peugeot often use unique symbols or combine alerts:

• Red Triangle (often with a ‘STOP’ message): Peugeot uses this as a critical master warning. It means you must stop driving immediately and safely.
• Engine Light (Service Light): Often called the ‘Service Light’ or ‘Engine Management Light’ in European models. If it’s a steady amber, it means get it checked soon.
• Brake/Handbrake Light: Remains the familiar circle with the exclamation mark

Will a warning light cause my car to fail its MOT?

Yes, absolutely. Here are the lights that most probably lead to an MOT failure.

• Red Brake System Warning Light
• Amber or Red Engine Management Light (EML)
• Amber or Red Airbag Warning Light
• Amber ABS Warning Light
• Amber Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) Light

Why do some warning lights flash?

These warning lights are signals from your car. It identifies faults for you and makes you aware of fixing them before they get worse. For example, flashing the check engine light means a serious misfire, stop the car and call for assistance. And a flashing temperature light means the engine is overheating.

Final Thoughts: Dashboard Warning Lights

The purpose of dashboard warning lights is to protect your vehicle from a major breakdown. If a light ever appears and you’re unsure what it means, don’t guess. You can check in car’s manual, or you can use a reliable online guide. It is important to note act proactively and never get late.