Learn About the Warning Lights and Informational Icons in Your Vehicle

Driver Seat Belt Reminder 

You’ll see this light if your seat belt is unbuckled when you start the vehicle. It’ll flash when you turn the vehicle on and stay lit if you don’t buckle up.

Buckle your seat belt.

Front Passenger Seat Belt Reminder

This is the Front Passenger Seat Belt Reminder. 

If your vehicle has this light, you’ll see it in the overhead console if the front passenger’s seat belt is unbuckled when you start the vehicle. It’ll flash when you turn the vehicle on and stay lit if they don’t buckle up. 

Rear Seat Passenger Seat Belt Reminder 

If your vehicle has this light, you’ll see it if a rear passenger’s seat belt is unbuckled when you start the vehicle. It’ll flash when you turn the vehicle on and stay lit if they don’t buckle up.

Have your rear seat passengers buckle up.

Learn more about the Rear Seat Belt Indicator.

Airbag Readiness Light

This light will automatically flash when you turn your vehicle on. If it stays on, that means there’s a problem with your airbag system and it needs service immediately. You may see a message in your instrument panel if the airbag system needs service.

Take your vehicle in for service at your Dealer. 

Passenger Airbag Status Light

If your vehicle has this light, it will flash when you turn your vehicle on. It lets you know if the front passenger airbag is on or off. If both the On and Off icon are lit, that means the passenger airbag system may need service. 

If both the On and Off buttons stay lit, take your vehicle to your Dealer for service.

Lane Keep Assist (LKA) Icon

• If your vehicle has Lane Keep Assist, you’ll see this icon when you start your vehicle. If it lights up white, the system isn’t active.
• If the light is green, it means LKA is active and can assist you if it detects you may be unintentionally leaving your lane.
• If the light is orange/amber, that means the system has detected you may have unintentionally crossed lane lines.
  

• You can turn LKA off in the Settings menu or using your steering wheel controls (on some vehicles) if you don’t want these alerts.
• The orange/amber icon will go away once the system detects you aren’t crossing lane lines any more.

Learn more about Lane Keep Assist.

This is the Lane Departure Warning (LDW) Icon

• You’ll see this icon if your vehicle has the Lane Departure Warning feature.
• If the icon is green, it means the Lane Departure Warning system is active.
• If the icon is orange/amber and flashing, that means you crossed a detected lane line without using your turn signal in the direction your vehicle moved.
  

• Keep your attention on the road and maintain proper vehicle position within the lane.
  

Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) Disabled Light

• You’ll only see this icon if your vehicle has Automatic Emergency Braking or Enhanced Automatic Emergency Braking.
• If you’ve turned your Forward Collision Alert/AEB/Enhanced AEB settings to “Alert Only” or “Off,” this icon will show up in your instrument cluster so you know automatic braking is turned off.

• Turn automatic braking back on by changing your Forward Collision Alert/AEB/EAEB settings to “Alert and Brake.”

Learn how to troubleshoot automatic braking features.

Forward Collision Alert Vehicle Ahead Indicator

• You’ll only see this icon if your vehicle has Forward Collision Alert.
• If the light is green, it means Forward Collision Alert detects a vehicle is ahead of you.
• If the light is orange/amber, it means you may be tailgating the vehicle ahead.

• If the light is orange/amber, slow down and allow some distance between you and the vehicle ahead and the light will flash green.
• If you don’t want to see these alerts, you can turn Forward Collision Alert off in your Settings menu or using your steering wheel controls, depending on your vehicle.

Learn more about Forward Collision Alert.

Pedestrian Ahead Indicator

• You’ll see this if your vehicle has the Front Pedestrian Braking or Front Pedestrian and Bicyclist Braking features. It will light up when one of those features has detected a pedestrian ahead of your vehicle.
  

• Be alert for pedestrians ahead. When your vehicle’s driver assistance features no longer detect any pedestrians ahead, the icon will go away.

Learn how to troubleshoot automatic braking features.

Cruise Control Icon

• If you see this in white, it means cruise control is on, but you haven’t set a speed yet.
• If you see it in green, it means cruise control is on and you’ve set a speed.
  

• You can turn cruise control off using your steering wheel controls.
  

Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) Light

• You’ll only see this icon if your vehicle has Adaptive Cruise Control.
• If you see this icon in white, it means ACC is on, but you haven’t set a following gap (the distance between you and the vehicle ahead of you that you want ACC to maintain for you).
• If you see it in green, it means ACC is active and maintaining a following gap for you.
  

• Nothing. You can turn ACC off using your steering wheel controls to make the icon go away. 

Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) Curve Speed Control Light

• You’ll only see this icon if your vehicle has Adaptive Cruise Control.
• If you see this icon in green, it means ACC is actively controlling your vehicle’s speed and detects a sharp curve on the road ahead.
• ACC will automatically slow your vehicle down while going through the curve and may accelerate out of the curve, but it won’t go faster than your ACC set speed.
  

• Continue to be ready to take control of steering as you would when using ACC.
  

Super Cruise Light

• You’ll only see this icon if your vehicle has the Super Cruise^† driver assistance technology.
• This light and the steering wheel light bar show you the status of Super Cruise.
  

• Solid Green Bar and Solid Green Symbol: Super Cruise is active and automatically steering your vehicle.
• Flashing Green Bar and Solid Green Symbol (1st Alert): Super Cruise is active, but the system detects that you need to pay attention to the road.
• Pulsing Blue Bar and Solid Blue Symbol: Super Cruise is active, but the system detects that you are manually steering. To engage Super Cruise, position your vehicle in the center of the lane and hold the steering wheel steady until you see the green indicators.
• Flashing Red Bar, Solid Red Symbol and Beeps Sound (2nd Alert): You need to take steering control immediately. The system cannot operate properly under current conditions. Your vehicle will begin to coast until you take steering control. You will have to turn Super Cruise back on to use the system again.
• Flashing Red Bar, Solid Red Symbol, Beeps Sound and Voice Prompt (3rd Alert): You need to take steering control immediately. A voice prompt will tell you to take over steering control. If you do not take steering control, your vehicle will steer and brake gradually to a stop in its current lane.
• If this occurs, an OnStar Emergency-Certified Advisor^† will contact you to ensure that you are safe and are paying attention to the road.
• Super Cruise will not be available until you turn your vehicle off and ignition cycle your vehicle again.  

Driver Attention Assist Light

• You’ll only see this icon if your vehicle has the Driver Attention Assist feature.
• Depending on how drowsy the system detects you are, you may get these alerts:
  • Level 1: You’re aware you’re tired and need some effort to keep awake (e.g., by playing music, rolling down the windows, etc.).
    • You’ll see a yellow coffee cup icon in your cluster display and hear a chime (or feel a Safety Alert seat pulse).
  • Level 2: You’re showing signs of severe exhaustion and are fighting to stay awake or drifting in and out of sleep.
    • You’ll see a red coffee cup icon in your cluster display and hear several chimes (or feel Safety Alert seat pulses).
    • You’ll see options asking you if you’d like to take a break, call a friend or navigate to a nearby point of interest (e.g., coffee shop, hotel, gas station, etc.). You can also call an OnStar Advisor.
  • You may also see this icon that looks like a pair of closed eyes. This means you’ve turned the system off or it’s not working properly.
    

• Follow the system prompts to take a break, call a friend or navigate to a place to rest.
• If you see the icon that looks like a pair of closed eyes, turn the Driver Attention Assist system back on. Go to your Settings menu, then select Vehicle>Driver Attention Assist>Drowsiness Detection.
  • If the system is on and you still see this icon, clean the steering wheel camera with a soft cloth and glass cleaner.
  • If the icon doesn’t go away after cleaning the camera, contact your Dealer for maintenance.
    

Automatic Vehicle Hold (AVH) icon

• You’ll only see this icon if your vehicle has the Automatic Vehicle Hold feature.
• This icon lights up green when AVH is actively holding your vehicle in place. It will turn on if you press the Auto Hold button in your vehicle or center display.
  

• If you pressed the Auto Hold button, nothing.
• If you didn’t mean to press that button, press it again. The icon will disappear and the feature will stop holding your vehicle in place. Be ready for your vehicle to move.
  

Brake System Warning Light

• This light will flash when you turn your vehicle on to show you that the light is working.
• If the light comes on and stays on, there’s a problem with your vehicle’s brakes.
• This light can also come on if your brake fluid is low.

• If you’re driving when the light comes on, pull over as soon as it’s safe to do so and stop carefully. Your vehicle speed may be limited when this light is on and the brake pedal may be harder to push. It may also take longer to stop. If the light stays on once you stop, have the vehicle towed to your Dealer for service.

Electric Parking Brake Light

• You’ll only see this icon if your vehicle has the Electric Parking Brake and it’s turned on. 

• If you meant to turn the Electric Parking Brake on, nothing.
• If the light stays on or flashes after you turn the Electric Parking Brake off, that means there’s a problem with the system. See your Dealer for service.
  

Service Electric Parking Brake Light 

• If your vehicle has the Electric Parking Brake feature, this light will flash when you turn your vehicle on.
• If it stays on, that means there’s a problem with the Electric Parking Brake.
  

• Take the vehicle to your Dealer for service as soon as possible.
• Other features that use the Electric Parking Brake, such as Automatic Vehicle Hold, may not work if this light is on.

Hill Descent Control Light

• If your vehicle has this feature, this light will flash when the Hill Descent Control system is on.
• If the light is blinking, that means the system is actively applying the brakes to maintain your vehicle’s speed on a hill.
  

• If you pressed the Hill Descent Control button, nothing.
• If you didn’t mean to press that button, press it again to turn the feature off. 

Antilock Brake System (ABS) Warning Light

• This light will flash when you turn your vehicle on.
• If this light comes on when you’re driving, your vehicle needs service.
• If the ABS light is the only light in your instrument panel, your vehicle’s regular brakes are working, but not the ABS.
• If both the ABS warning light and the brake system warning light are on, ABS is not working and there is a problem with the regular brakes. See your Dealer for service.
• You’ll see this light if you turn your 4WD front axle lock on, since that disables ABS.
  

• Take your vehicle in for service at your Dealer.

Traction Off Light

• You’ll see this light flash when you turn your vehicle on.
• You’ll see this light if you turn the Traction Control System (TCS) off. If you turn off StabiliTrak/Electronic Stability Control (ESC), it will also turn TCS off.
  

• If you meant to turn TCS/ESC off, nothing.
• If you didn’t mean to turn those features off, press the TCS/ESC button in your vehicle. You may have to turn them back on through the infotainment system.
  

Traction Control System/Electronic Stability Control (TCS/ESC) Light

• This light will flash when you turn your vehicle on.
• If the light is flashing, it means the TCS/ESC system is actively working.
  

• If the light is on and not flashing, there may be a problem with the TCS/ESC systems and they may not be able to help you maintain control of the vehicle. See your Dealer for service as soon as possible. 

Trailer Sway Control Light 

• If your vehicle has this feature, you’ll see this light when Trailer Sway Control is active.
• Trailer Sway Control will use your vehicle’s brakes to help reduce the side-to-side motion of a trailer you’re pulling.
  

• If the trailer begins to sway, reduce vehicle speed by gradually removing your foot from the accelerator. Then pull over to check the trailer and vehicle to help correct possible causes, including an improperly or overloaded trailer, unrestrained cargo, improper trailer hitch configuration, or improperly inflated or incorrect vehicle or trailer tires.
• See your Owner’s Manual for more information.
  

Electronic Stability Control (ESC) Off Light

• This light will flash when you turn your vehicle on.
• If the light comes on while you’re driving, it means the ESC system and the Traction Control System (TCS) are both off.
  

• You should only see this light if you’ve turned the ESC and TCS systems off.
• If you didn’t mean to turn those features off, press the TCS/ESC button in your vehicle. You may have to turn them back on through the infotainment system.

Tire Pressure Light

• If your vehicle has the Tire Pressure Monitor System, this light will flash when you start your vehicle. 

• If the light stays on, it means one of your tires is significantly underinflated.
• If the light keeps flashing when you turn your vehicle on, the Tire Pressure Monitor System might need service. Check your Owner’s Manual for help troubleshooting this feature.
  

Security Light

• If your vehicle has a theft-deterrent system, this light will flash when you start your vehicle. It lets you know the system is working. If you don’t see it, see your Dealer for service. 

• If this light stays on and the engine doesn’t start, there could be a problem with the theft-deterrent system. See your Owner’s Manual for troubleshooting. The system may need service at your Dealer.
  

Vehicle Ready Light 

• This light lets you know your vehicle is ready to be driven. 

• Enjoy your drive!
  

Door Ajar Light

• This light comes on when a door is open or not fully latched closed.
  

• Before driving, make sure all the doors are fully closed. 

Check Engine Light, also known as the Malfunction Indicator Lamp 

• You’ll see this light if your vehicle has detected a malfunction with the engine or propulsion system.
• If you have an EV, you may see this light when experiencing charging problems. Learn how to troubleshoot charging interruptions.

• You should get your vehicle serviced as soon as possible when you see this light.
• You may see this light before any problems with the engine or propulsion system is noticeable while driving. However, the light means your vehicle has detected an issue that may be a problem in the future.

Engine Coolant Temperature Warning Light

• This light will briefly come on when you start the vehicle and then turn off. If it doesn’t come on when you start your vehicle, get your vehicle serviced by your Dealer.
• The engine coolant temperature warning light indicates that the vehicle has overheated. Driving with this light on can damage the engine and it may not be covered by the vehicle warranty.
  

• If you see this light, pull over and turn off the engine as soon as possible. Plan for your vehicle to be towed for service. 

Engine Oil Pressure Light 

• This light will come on when you turn your engine on. If the vehicle is turned on but the engine isn’t, this light will stay lit.

• If this light comes on while you’re driving, pull over and turn the engine off as soon as it’s safe to do so. Check the oil and add oil if the oil level is below normal operating range.
   

Learn how to check and add oil to your vehicle’s engine.
 

• Restart the vehicle. If the light stays on for more than 10 seconds, turn your vehicle back off. Do not restart the vehicle.
• If you don’t see the light when your vehicle turns on, contact your Dealer for service.

Low Fuel Warning Light

• This light will flash when you turn your vehicle on.
• It will also come on when your vehicle is low on fuel.
  

• Refuel your vehicle when possible.
• If the light stays on once you refuel, take your vehicle in for service.

Charging System Light

• This light comes on briefly when you turn your vehicle on.
• If this light stays on or you see this light when you’re driving, it means there may be a problem with your vehicle’s electrical system.

• Get your vehicle serviced by your Dealer.
• Driving while this light is on can drain your vehicle’s 12-volt battery. If you have to drive a short distance while this light is on, turn off vehicle features using electrical power like the radio.

Low State of Charge Light

• This light shows up when your electric vehicle is low on charge. 

• Charge your electric vehicle.

Learn about charging your electric vehicle.

Charge Cord Connected Light

• You’ll see this light to confirm you’ve plugged a charge cord into your electric vehicle.
  

• Nothing.
  

Battery Fault Light

• This light means your vehicle has detected a problem with the high voltage battery system. 

• Take your vehicle to the Dealer for service immediately.
• If you have an EV, you may see this light when experiencing charging problems. Learn how to troubleshoot charging interruptions.
  

Propulsion Power Limited Lights

• One of these lights will show up if your vehicle detects a fault in the propulsion system.
  

• You can still drive your vehicle if you see these lights, but your maximum acceleration and speed may be limited. Bring your vehicle to your Dealer for service if the light stays on.
• If you have an EV, you may see this light when experiencing charging problems. Learn how to troubleshoot charging interruptions.
  

Service Vehicle Soon/Propulsion System Failure Light 

• These messages can mean there potentially is a problem with your battery and that your vehicle needs service. When they’re active, your electric vehicle will reduce its power consumption to protect the battery. You’ll notice it driving much slower and regenerative braking features like One-Pedal Driving will be disabled. 

• Follow these troubleshooting steps and be prepared to take your vehicle into the Dealership for service. Learn how to troubleshoot Propulsion System Failures.
• Before trying to reset your vehicle, make sure your vehicle is parked in a safe and accessible location. Depending on the error, you may not be able to restart your vehicle after turning it off and may need to have it towed to a Dealer for service.

IntelliBeam Auto High Beams Icons. You may see one of these icons depending on your vehicle

• If your vehicle has IntelliBeam and the feature is turned on, you’ll see this icon in green or white in your instrument panel.
• If you see this icon turn blue, it means IntelliBeam has turned on your high beams

• You can turn IntelliBeam off in the Vehicle Controls app or by pressing the IntelliBeam button on your turn signal stalk, depending on your vehicle.

Learn more about IntelliBeam.

High-beam Light Icon

• You’ll see this icon on your instrument panel when your headlights have changed from low-beam to high-beam lights. Your high beams are turned on when you push your turn signal lever away from yourself.
  

• You can turn off your high beams by either pushing the turn signal lever away again or pulling the lever back toward the steering wheel.
  

Lamps On Reminder light

• You’ll see this light when your exterior lamps (including both your headlights and taillights) are turned on.
  

• You should turn off all lamps when you’re not using your vehicle. You can set your exterior lamps to turn off and on automatically, or you can change the lamps manually.
• Depending on your vehicle, you can adjust your exterior lamps settings with a knob to the left of your steering wheel or turn them off using your turn signal lever. For other vehicles, you can access these settings digitally using the Infotainment system.
• AUTO will automatically turn your exterior lamps off and on depending on outside lighting.
• The power button icon can turn the exterior lamps on or off.
• The lamp icon will turn on all exterior lamps except the headlights.
• The headlight icon will turn on all exterior lamps including headlights. 

Adaptive Forward Lighting Light

• If your vehicle has this feature, you’ll see this icon light up when there is an issue with the Adaptive Forward Lighting system.

• Take your vehicle in for service at your Dealer.
  

Front Fog Lamp Light

• You’ll see this icon if your vehicle has fog lamps and they are turned on.
• When you turn on your high beams, your fog lamps should turn off automatically.

• If you want to turn your fog lamps off, you can find the fog lamp button on the control panel to the left of your steering wheel. The button will be marked by the same icon as the warning light.