Ford Dashboard Warning Lights Guide

Picture this. It’s a typical weekday and you’re on your usual commute to work when all of a sudden, a warning light appears on your dashboard. It’s not the low-fuel warning light, the fasten seatbelt indicator, or another type of warning that you recognize. Sounds like a confusing and frustrating situation right? Fortunately, there’s a handy trick that we recommend using when determining the severity of a dashboard warning light or indicator. All you need to do is treat the color of the warning light just as you would a traffic light. .

• Green (or Blue) Icon - Drive as you normally would. There’s no reason to panic since these colors are usually informational messages that don’t indicate a problem or issue with your vehicle.
• Yellow (or Orange) Icon - Use some caution as you drive. These types of alerts are potential warning signs of a possible problem that should be addressed at your earliest convenience. In most cases, these won’t require you to stop driving the vehicle immediately.
• Red Icon - Stop driving the vehicle as quickly as possible to do so safely. Find a safe spot to pull over and shut off the engine. Red indicator lights are often signs of a serious problem or major issue that requires an authorized Ford service facility for assistance.

	Brake System Failure A serious fault has been detected in your brake system. If you’re behind the wheel and you see this light appear, we recommend pulling safely off the road and contacting roadside assistance to tow your vehicle to the closest authorized Ford service center for proper diagnosis.
	Emergency Brake Engaged Is your parking brake engaged? Take a look and be sure to disengage the e-brake before continuing to drive to avoid any unnecessary wear and tear on this safety component.
	Low Oil Pressure This is an indication that your oil level has dropped below the minimum required threshold to keep your engine protected from heat and friction. It could also be a sign that your oil pressure sensor is malfunctioning or has failed. To prevent internal damage to critical engine components, pull safely to the side of the road and have the vehicle towed to the nearest repair facility.
	Charging System A failure or malfunction has been detected in the charging system. Without any electrical power, your vehicle may suddenly shut off and leave you stranded. Pull over safely, park the vehicle, and contact roadside assistance.
	Supplemental Restraint System An SRS fault is a sign that an issue has been detected with your airbags. This could cause them to fail to deploy properly in the event of a collision, putting your safety at risk. Call roadside assistance and have your vehicle towed to the dealership for closer inspection.
	High Coolant Temperature Overheating your engine can cause major damage. Engine coolant is engineered to not exceed a certain maximum temperature. If exceeded, your engine won’t be protected from heat. Shut off the engine and pull over as quickly as possible to do so safely.
	Seat Belt Reminder Always wear your seat belt! Until you buckle up, this warning light will remain on your dashboard. It’s one of the easiest ways to keep you and your loved ones safe in the event of an accident.
	Door Ajar Check that all of your vehicle’s doors are fully shut. Once closed, this warning light should disappear.
	Trunk Open Don’t let your cargo or other personal belongings spill out into the roadway! Make sure your trunk lid or liftgate is fully shut before continuing to drive.
	Adaptive Cruise Control If equipped with Adaptive Cruise Control, this system offers plenty of convenience and an extra level of safety. Remain focused on the road ahead and exercise the same caution you normally would when driving. This light indicates that the feature is engaged and active.
	All-Wheel Drive The all-wheel drive system of your vehicle is engaged and active. All four wheels are being powered.
	Anti-Lock Brake System This light will appear in the event that there’s a problem with the ABS system on your brakes. ABS technology helps to safely slow the vehicle in the event of a panic stop to avoid locking up the wheels. Have an expert Ford technician inspect your brake system.
	Auto Idle Stop Auto Idle Stop intermittently shuts off your engine when you’re at a standstill with the goal of minimizing fuel consumption and reducing emissions. This light is a sign that the engine is temporarily shut off and the system is operating correctly.
	Blind Spot Warning Another vehicle or object has entered your vehicle’s blind spot and the system has triggered an alert to notify you. This safety feature encourages you to use additional care when changing lanes or merging.
	Check Engine Light One of the most familiar dashboard warning lights, the check engine light can point to many different potential problems with your vehicle including its emissions, ignition, fuel, or exhaust systems. Often a “catch-all” warning light, we suggest bringing the vehicle in for service in order to correctly pinpoint and correct the problem.
	Collision Mitigation Braking System The CMBS safety feature is working and responding to a possible collision situation by applying the brakes on your behalf.

	Daytime Running Lights Since they’re switched on each time you turn the key, it’s easy to forget about your DRLs. This light could indicate that one or both of the bulbs has malfunctioned or burnt out, requiring a replacement.
	Electric Power Steering Power steering issues can be both inconvenient and potentially dangerous. A sudden loss in the electric assist can put you in danger. Have a trained technician inspect your power steering system as soon as possible.
	Lane Keeping Assist System If your vehicle begins to stray from its intended path, LKAS can intervene and provide corrective action by guiding you safely back into your lane. Use extra caution if this safety feature has been engaged.
	Low Fuel Here’s another warning light you’re likely already familiar with. This light means that it’s time to stop and refuel your vehicle soon to avoid being stranded with an empty gas tank.
	Maintenance Reminder If equipped, your vehicle can issue helpful reminders and alerts that indicate that it’s time for routine maintenance like an oil change or tire rotation. This gives you plenty of advance notice to schedule an appointment with your Ford dealership.
	Road Departure Mitigation RDM can automatically detect if your vehicle has started to leave the road and take corrective action to guide you safely back to where you should be. Drive with caution.
	Smart Entry System Having the ability to enter your vehicle without having to remove your key fob from your pocket or purse is a great convenience feature. This warning light could be a sign that it’s time to change your keyfob battery or that it’s having trouble detecting the fob itself. See your dealer for a more thorough inspection.
	Vehicle Stability Assist System A loss of traction is usually what causes this warning light to appear on your dash. The VSA system can detect wheel slippage and adjust power accordingly.
	Washer Fluid Level Low Visibility is essential in both dry and wet conditions. This warning light provides a helpful reminder that it’s time to refill the reservoir that contains your windshield wiper fluid. Usually located under the hood, you’ll find a matching icon on top of the lid for the fluid reservoir as well.
	Automatic High Beam Headlights Your high-beam headlights are operational and working as they should. Use extra care to not blind other motorists if driving in extremely dark conditions.
	Cruise Control The Cruise Control feature is active and your vehicle is correctly maintaining its pre-set speed. Please use the same care and caution as you normally would.
	Exterior Lights The exterior lights of your vehicle are engaged. Make sure to turn them off to avoid any unnecessary drain on the battery.
	Fog Lights On If equipped, your vehicle’s fog lights are switched on.
	Low Coolant Temperature The most common time for this warning light to appear is first thing in the morning when you start your vehicle. It’s an indication that your engine coolant has not reached the suggested operating temperature just yet. You should minimize heavy acceleration until proper operating temps have been reached and you’ll notice this light disappear once it has.
	Turn Signals One or both of your turn signals are switched on.

Preferred Ford of Grand Haven – Your Top Destination for Expert Automotive Service

Don’t let a minor issue turn into a big problem by ignoring a potentially serious dashboard warning light. Our team at Preferred Ford of Grand Haven is standing by to diagnose your vehicle using the latest tools and equipment. Better still, we’re proud to use Genuine Ford parts and components designed for an exact fit and unrivaled longevity on your Ford vehicle. There’s no need to let a dashboard warning light ruin your day! Let the professionals at Preferred Ford of Grand Haven take a look at your vehicle today.