Models where it applies: Solis / Solis Air
It’s important to know what car dashboard warning lights mean because you might be able to avoid a car breakdown or full-on failure.
This guide will give you the know how you need to understand what the different yellow and red warning lights on your dashboard mean, why they come on, how urgent the problem is and what you should do when you see them.
The car warning lights on your dashboard follow a traffic light color system:
- Green: The system is functioning properly or is actively in use.
- Yellow: There’s a malfunction - exercise caution and have it checked promptly.
- Red: A serious and potentially dangerous issue - stop driving as soon as it’s safe to do so
- Gray: Indication that the system is available.
Warning light |
Name |
Description |
Airbag Warning Light |
Also known as the supplemental restraint system (SRS) warning light. This light will turn on for four to eight seconds as a bulb check when the ignition is placed in the ON/RUN or MAR/ON/RUN position. If the light is either NOT ON during startup, stays ON, or turns ON while driving, have the system checked as soon as possible. This light will illuminate with a single chime when a fault with the Air Bag Warning Light has been detected, and it will stay on until the fault is cleared. If the light comes on intermittently or remains on while driving, have the system checked immediately.
Check below potential faults related to the Airbag system:
Can I still drive with my Airbag Warning Light ON? If this light comes on please get in touch with roadside assistance. |
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ABS Warning Light |
Also know as ABS (Anti-lock Braking system) is an add-on safety system to the van’s regular brakes. ABS helps to prevent the wheels from locking when under hard braking. If ABS fails, normal brakes are unaffected, though they operate without ABS. The light will turn on when the ignition is placed in the ON/RUN or MAR/ON/RUN position and may stay on for as long as four seconds. The most common cause for ABS warning light is a damaged wheel speed sensor. Diagnostics and fault code scanning should determine the malfunction. If the ABS light remains on or turns on while driving, then the Anti-Lock portion of the brake system is not functioning and service is required. However, the conventional brake system will continue to operate normally if the brake warning light is not on. Vehicles equipped with the Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) are also equipped with Electronic Brake Force Distribution (EBD). In the event of an EBD failure, the Brake Warning Light will turn on along with the ABS Light. Can I still drive with my ABS Warning Light ON? If the ABS light comes on by itself you should still have normal, unassisted braking, so it's safe to continue your journey – but keep your distance, take extra care, and get it checked as soon as possible. If it comes on with the brake warning light (see below), it could indicate that the brake system is failing and you should stop straight away and get in touch with roadside assistance.
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BRAKE |
Brake Warning Light |
Also known as brake system warning light, parking brake warning light. This warning light monitors various brake functions, including brake fluid level and parking brake application. If the brake light turns on it may indicate that the parking brake is applied, that the brake fluid level is low, or that there is a problem with the Anti-Lock Brake System reservoir. The light may flash momentarily during sharp cornering maneuvers, which change fluid level conditions. In the event of an EBD failure, the Brake Warning Light will turn on along with the ABS Light. The light also will turn on when the parking brake Can I drive with the Brake Warning Light ON? You should stop driving and contact roadside assistance as soon as possible. |
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Electric Power Steering (EPS) Fault
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Also known as the Power steering or EPAS warning light. The steering wheel and exclamation mark indicate a problem with the power steering. Excessive usage of the steering when the vehicle is stationary, or leaving the steering on full lock while the engine is running can cause the power steering motor to overheat. If the light appears in red you should address the issue immediately. If the light appears in yellow you should address the issue as soon as possible. Can I drive with my EPS Warning Light ON? If you keep driving, you will notice that the car is harder to maneuver. You should stop driving. Please get in touch with Roadside assistance.
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Battery Charging System Warning Light |
Also known as the battery charge light or 12-volt battery charging system light. This warning light will illuminate when the battery is not charging properly. If it stays on while the engine is running, there may be a malfunction with the charging system. This could be due to a problem with your car’s electrical system and it could have several causes, such as a faulty alternator, faulty battery, bad electrical connection or damaged cabling. Can I still drive with my Battery Charging System Warning Light ON? Your car will run as normal until the battery is dead but once it is drained your vehicle will not start. If you do run out of charge, get in touch with roadside assistance.
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Door Open Warning Light
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Also known as Door(s) Ajar warning lamp It illuminates when you switch the ignition on and remains on if any door is open. It is a safety indicator on your vehicle's dashboard that alerts you when one or more doors are not fully closed. It may illuminate when any door, including the driver's side and passenger side is slightly ajar. If the vehicle is moving and a door is opened, there Can I still drive with the Door Ajar Warning Light ON? Even if the door seems closed, it might not be fully engaged, which can lead to safety concerns such as the door opening while the vehicle is in motion or the car's security system being compromised. If the light is on while you're driving, you should pull over and check all doors to ensure they are properly shut. |
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Electronic Throttle Control (ETC) Warning Light |
This warning light will illuminate to inform of a problem with the ETC system. If a problem is detected while the vehicle is running, the light will either stay on or flash depending on the nature of the problem. Cycle the ignition when the vehicle is safely and completely stopped and the transmission is placed in the PARK (P) position. The light should turn off. If the light remains on with the vehicle running, your vehicle will usually be drivable. If the light continues to flash when the vehicle is running, immediate service is required and you may experience reduced performance, an elevated/rough idle, or engine stall and your The light will come on when the ignition is placed in the ON/RUN or MAR/ON/RUN position and remain on briefly as a bulb check. If the light does not come on during starting, have the system checked. |
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Engine Temperature Warning Light |
Also known as the coolant temperature car warning light. This light will come on when the engine is overheating. This could mean that coolant levels are running low, perhaps due to a leak in the system, or it could be a sign of a larger problem, like a head gasket failure. This symbol could also indicate a fault in the high-voltage circuit. Can I still drive with my Engine Coolant Overheating Warning Light ON? If this light is red you should stop straight away, as without enough coolant your engine will have irreparable damage. Check that coolant levels are not below the MIN. mark on the reservoir tank. If topping up, allow time for the coolant to cool before removing the cap. While you’re under the hood, have a look to see if there are any obvious leaks. If you can’t see any and the light goes off after topping up then you should be fine to continue your journey. If the light comes back on again after topping up please stop the vehicle and get in touch with roadside assistance. |
Transmission Fault Warning Light |
This light will illuminate (together with a message in the instrument cluster display and a buzzer) to indicate a transmission fault. Can I still drive with my Transmission Fault Warning Lamp ON? If you see this warning, and it doesn't disappear after restarting the engine, it's essential to stop driving as soon as possible to prevent further damage to the transmission. |
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Transmission Temperature Warning Light |
This warning light will illuminate to warn of a high transmission fluid temperature. Can I still drive with my Transmission Temperature Warning Lamp ON? Stop the vehicle and run the engine at idle or slightly faster, with the transmission in PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N), until the light turns off. Once the light turns off, you may continue to drive normally. If the light does not go off, you should stop driving, since continuous driving with the Transmission Temperature Warning Light illuminated will eventually cause severe transmission damage or transmission failure. |
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Oil Pressure Warning Light |
Also known as the low engine oil or low oil pressure light. This warning light will illuminate to indicate low engine oil pressure. If the light turns on while driving, stop the vehicle, shut off the engine as soon as possible, and contact roadside assistance If the oil is not lubricating the engine effectively it could lead to expensive or even irreparable engine damage, so it’s important to act quickly. Can I still drive with the Engine Oil Pressure Warning Lamp ON? When this light comes on you should stop as soon as possible and turn off the engine. Have a look for any obvious oil leaks under the car, and then check the oil levels, topping up if necessary. If the oil levels are fine, then the oil pump may be faulty. In this case get in touch with Roadside assistance. While you’re under the hood, have a look to see if there are any obvious leaks. If you can’t see any and the light goes off after topping up then you should be fine to continue your journey. |
Fasten Seatbelt Warning Light |
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Vehicle Security Warning Light
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Engine Management Warning Lamp / Malfunction Indicator |
Also known as the check engine or ECU warning light. The Engine Check/Malfunction Indicator Light (MIL) is a part of an Onboard Diagnostic System that monitors engine and automatic transmission control systems. This warning light will illuminate when the ignition is in the ON/RUN position before engine start. If the bulb does not come on when turning the ignition switch from OFF to ON/RUN, have the condition checked promptly. When the engine management light is illuminated it’s often accompanied by tell-tale signs that the engine is not working properly, such as a lack of power or stuttering as you press the accelerator. This light could indicate a number of faults, such as a loose or missing gas cap, poor quality fuel, among others. If it illuminates when the engine is running this indicates a malfunction. If it flashes, engine misfire may be occurring.
How long can I drive with my Engine Management Warning Lamp ON? Prolonged driving with the Malfunction Indicator Light (MIL) on could cause damage to the vehicle control system. It also could affect fuel economy and drive ability. If the MIL is flashing, severe catalytic converter damage and power loss will soon occur. |
Generic Warning Light |
It's a generic warning where no dedicated alternative warning light is used. The general failure triangle light comes on due to one or more of the following reasons:
The telltale will remain on fixed in case of swivel seat failure and on blinking in case of Air Bag Warning Light Failure. Get this issue checked immediately. |
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Check the Brake Pad Wear Warning Light |
If this symbol appears, it means that a sensor has detected that the brake pads are too thin. Can I drive with the Brake Pad Wear Warning Light ON? This car warning light should come on before the brake pads become dangerously thin. You will be able to see the outer pad by looking through the spokes of the wheel - the outer pad will be pressed against the brake disk. There should be at least 3 mm of pad visible. Keep your speed down and avoid braking sharply, contact roadside assistance. |
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Immobilizer Fail / VPS Electrical Alarm
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Also known as the anti-theft warning light. This light should flash once when the ignition is set to MAR. If the warning light illuminates constantly, it indicates a possible failure in the engine immobilizer / anti-theft system. If the light consistently flashes with the engine running, it means the van is not protected by the engine immobilizer. How long can I drive with my check engine light on? It’s essential that the electronic key is operational so that the engine control module can communicate with the powertrain control module to deactivate the immobilizer. Each key has its own code stored. Please get in touch with Roadside assistance. |
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Service Forward Collision Warning (FCW)
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It illuminates if your vehicle rapidly approaches another vehicle, to warn you of the risk of a crash with the vehicle in front of you. It illuminates yellow with an exclamation point to indicate a fault in the FCW System. It illuminates yellow with the word OFF when you switch FCW off or when driving conditions obscure the sensor with snow, heavy rain, or sun. Can I still drive with the Pre-Collision Assist Warning Lamp ON? If the light stays on, it is still possible to drive the vehicle, but the safety features related to collision avoidance may not be active, leaving you without automatic braking or collision warning functions. While the car can still be driven, it is still important to address the issue, especially since the pre-collision system is designed to help avoid or mitigate accidents. |
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TOW/ HAUL |
Tow / Haul Indicator |
You should activate Tow/Haul Mode when you're towing a trailer or carrying a heavy load, especially when driving in conditions like steep hills, heavy traffic, or when you need better control of the vehicle's speed. It helps to reduce the potential of automatic transmission overheating.
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Towing Hook Breakdown Warning Light
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This light may appear on the dashboard when the vehicle's towing hooks or related components are not functioning properly, or if there's a malfunction that could affect the vehicle's ability to be towed safely. It can also be a warning that the vehicle may be experiencing an issue that could impair its towing capacity, such as problems with the transmission, brakes, or suspension. If this warning light illuminates, it's important to have the vehicle inspected |
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Keyless System Failure Light |
The telltale will illuminate in the event of keyless system failure. |
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Rain Sensor Failure Light |
Also known as Automatic Wiper and Headlight Sensor Malfunction. The Rain and Light Sensor Fault warning indicates a problem with the vehicle’s automatic wiper or headlight control system. These systems rely on sensors to detect rain on the windshield and changes in light levels (such as transitioning from daylight to darkness or when driving through tunnels), automatically adjusting the wipers or headlights accordingly. A fault in the sensor could mean the wipers don’t activate in the rain or the headlights don't turn on at dusk or in low-visibility conditions. Can I still drive with the Rain and Light Sensor Fault Warning Lamp ON? Yes, you can still drive with this warning light on, but you may need to manually control your wipers or headlights until the issue is fixed. |
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Service Active Lane Management Warning (If Equipped) |
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Low Fuel Level Warning Lamp |
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Fuel Cutoff Failure Light(If Equipped) |
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OFF |
Stability Control and Traction Control Indicator |
Also known as Electronic Stability Control (ESC) The ESC Indicator Light in the instrument cluster will come on when the ignition is placed in the ON/RUN or MAR (ACC/ON/ RUN) position, and when ESC is activated. This warning light indicates a problem with traction control. It should turn off with the engine running. If the ESC Indicator Light comes on continuously with the engine running, a malfunction has been detected in the ESC system. If this light remains on after several ignition cycles, and the vehicle has been driven several miles (kilometers) at speeds greater than 30 mph (48 km/h).
The ESC / ASR system is reliant on wheel speed sensors and as these sensors are prone to damage The ESP light will light up with the word ‘OFF’ if the system has been deactivated, in which case you may have inadvertently turned it off. Can I still drive with my Stability Control and Traction Control Indicator ON? To check, try stopping and restarting the engine. If the light remains on after restarting get in touch with roadside assistance. |
Tire pressure Warning Lamp |
Tire pressure monitoring systems let you know when the pressure falls. This could happen over time or it could be because of a puncture. The warning light switches on and a message is displayed to indicate that the tire pressure is lower than the recommended value and / or that slow pressure loss is occurring. In these cases, optimal tire duration and fuel consumption may not be guaranteed. As an added safety feature, your vehicle has been equipped with a TPMS that illuminates a low tire pressure telltale when one or more of your tires is significantly underinflated. When the system detects a malfunction, the telltale will Can I still drive with my Tire Pressure Warning Lamp ON? Yes, but you should drive with extra care and aim to top up with air at the next opportunity. Low tire pressure can cause unsafe driving conditions so reduce your speed, and try to avoid braking suddenly or making any violent steering maneuvers. Most petrol stations and garages will have an air compressor you can use to check your tire pressure. Top up the air in the tires according to the vehicle manufacturer specification in your owner's manual. If you have a flat tire, please get in touch with Roadside assistance. |
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Service Required/Call For Service Warning
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This means your vehicle is due for servicing soon. You can still drive with this light on, since this is a warning that the service should be scheduled soon. This light alone does not affect the functioning of your system. |
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Exterior Lights Failure Light |
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Adaptive Cruise Control Indicator
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Also known as ACC. Keep in mind that the cruise control does not replace the driver and it is still important to be cautious and attentive to the surroundings when using the adaptive cruise control for speed adjustment. It illuminates in yellow when there is a fault in the adaptive cruise control system. Cruise control Indicator It illuminates when you switch the system on and define a cruise speed. Active Speed Limiter Set Indicator Light (Premium Instrument Cluster) The Speed Limiter Control If the ACC system is engaged and the driver also has a speed limiter set, the vehicle will follow both systems. The ACC will keep a safe distance from the car ahead and regulate speed accordingly, but if the vehicle tries to accelerate beyond the maximum speed set by the Speed Limiter, the system will prevent this. It illuminates when you switch the system on. It illuminates |
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Automatic High Beam Indicator Light |
It illuminates to confirm when the system is ready to assist. This system automatically adjusts the headlights between high and low beams depending on the lighting conditions and the presence of other vehicles. However, if you prefer to control the high beams manually, you can disable the automatic feature through your vehicle’s settings or controls. The color blue helps to distinguish the high beam status from other dashboard lights. |
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Front Fog Lamp Indicator |
It illuminates when you switch the front fog lamps on. Designed to illuminate the road immediately in front of you in foggy, rainy, or snowy conditions. They produce a wide, low beam of light that helps improve visibility in situations where regular headlights may cause glare or reflect off the fog, rain, or snow. |
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Direction Indicator |
Also known as Turn Signals. Direction indicator. It flashes when you switch the direction indicators on. If you notice that one or more direction indicator lights are not working, use hand signals to indicate turns and try to resolve the issue as soon as possible. |
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Hazard Flasher Indicator |
It flashes when you switch the hazard flashers on. Both the left and right turn signal lights will begin to blink simultaneously, alerting other drivers to your presence. This is particularly useful when your vehicle is stopped in a hazardous location, such as on the shoulder of the highway, in low-visibility conditions, or during a traffic stop. |
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Main Beam or Headlight Flasher Indicator |
Also known as High Beam Head bulb Indicator It illuminates when you switch the high beam headlamps on. High beams provide maximum illumination of the road ahead, making them particularly useful for driving at night or in poorly lit areas. However, they should be used responsibly, as they can blind other drivers if not adjusted properly or if used when there's oncoming traffic. The color blue helps to distinguish the high beam status from other dashboard lights. |
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Parking/Headlights On Indicator Light |
It illuminates when you switch the low beam headlamps or the side and rear lamps on. This light serves as a reminder that the vehicle’s lights are active, which is especially useful if you've left the headlights on after turning off the engine, helping to prevent the battery from draining. |
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Hood / Bonnet is Open |
While your front hood/bonnet may appear closed, it may show open on the sensor. Check if the hood is properly closed before driving. If the issue persists, there may be a problem with the sensor. |
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Rear Cargo Door Open Warning Light |
While your rear trunk/boot may appear closed, it may show open on the sensor. Check if the trunk is properly closed before driving. If the issue persists, there may be a problem with the sensor. This light will flash at a fast rate for approximately 15 seconds when the vehicle security system is arming, and then will flash slowly until the vehicle is disarmed. |