What is the difference between a steady lamp and a flashing one?

Steady means the battery is too hot and the car should be stopped to cool. This site has not checked a separate flashing rule against the handbook. If there is smoke, an unusual smell, an unusual noise, or flame, leave the vehicle at once and call the local emergency number.

Should I open the bonnet and look at the battery?

No. The traction battery is not a part to inspect at the roadside. Keep away from orange high-voltage cables and wait for someone equipped to handle the car.

High-voltage battery overheating

Atto 3

Color: Red
Urgency: Immediate

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

The traction battery is too hot. A steady lamp means you should stop and let it cool. This site has not checked a separate flashing-lamp rule against the handbook for your year. Long climbs in hot weather, and long spells of stop-start traffic with hard acceleration and braking, are conditions that can bring this warning on.

What to do

Park clear of other vehicles and of anything that can burn. Do not open high-voltage parts or touch orange cables. If there is smoke, an unusual smell, an unusual noise, or flame, leave the vehicle at once and call the local emergency number. Wait until the pack has cooled before anyone moves it.

Related lamps

Common questions

What is the difference between a steady lamp and a flashing one?: Steady means the battery is too hot and the car should be stopped to cool. This site has not checked a separate flashing rule against the handbook. If there is smoke, an unusual smell, an unusual noise, or flame, leave the vehicle at once and call the local emergency number.
Should I open the bonnet and look at the battery?: No. The traction battery is not a part to inspect at the roadside. Keep away from orange high-voltage cables and wait for someone equipped to handle the car.