Do the brakes still work if only the ABS lamp is on?

This lamp does not mean the service brakes have been checked. It reports that anti-lock braking is unavailable, so a hard stop can lock the wheels and lengthen the stop, especially on a wet or loose surface. If the pedal feels wrong, or the red brake lamp is on, stop somewhere safe and have the car checked.

ABS and the red brake lamp are both on. What changes?

Stop. Together they can mean brake-force distribution has failed as well, so the car can become unstable when you brake. Do not continue the trip.

Anti-lock braking system

Atto 3

Color: Amber
Urgency: Check soon

Most lamps light for a few seconds when you power the car on. That check is not a fault by itself. This page does not replace the owner’s manual for your model year and market. Icons are schematic illustrations used on this site. They are not offered as the vehicle maker’s artwork, and they have not been checked against it. They may not match the lamp on your cluster. Urgency levels are this site’s classification, not the maker’s. If they differ from the manual, follow the manual.

What it means

ABS stops the wheels locking in a hard stop so you can still steer. The lamp lights in the start-up check and should go out. If it stays on while the red brake-system lamp is off, this lamp reports that anti-lock braking is unavailable, and it does not mean the service brakes have been checked. In an emergency stop the wheels can lock. If this lamp and the red brake-system lamp are both on, brake-force distribution between the axles may have failed as well.

What to do

If the pedal feels normal and the red brake lamp is off, you can usually move the car slowly to a safe place. Leave extra room and brake early. Book a check soon. If the red brake lamp is also on, or the pedal feels wrong, stop and do not continue.

Related lamps

Common questions

Do the brakes still work if only the ABS lamp is on?: This lamp does not mean the service brakes have been checked. It reports that anti-lock braking is unavailable, so a hard stop can lock the wheels and lengthen the stop, especially on a wet or loose surface. If the pedal feels wrong, or the red brake lamp is on, stop somewhere safe and have the car checked.
ABS and the red brake lamp are both on. What changes?: Stop. Together they can mean brake-force distribution has failed as well, so the car can become unstable when you brake. Do not continue the trip.