Brake system warning
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
This is the service-brake warning, not the lamp that only shows the parking brake is applied. It comes on when brake fluid is low or the service brakes have a fault. A brief light during the start-up check can be normal. If it stays on, or it comes on while driving, the car may not stop as it should.
What to do
Stop in a safe place and do not continue the trip. If the pedal feels soft, sinks, or the car pulls to one side, wait for a tow. Have the fluid level and the brake system checked before you drive again. If this lamp and the ABS lamp are on together, stop: anti-lock and the balance of braking between the axles may both be out.
Related lamps
Common questions
- Is this the same as the electric parking brake lamp?
- No. The electric parking brake uses a (P) lamp and means the brake is holding the car. This lamp means the service brakes need attention, including low brake fluid.
- It lit for a moment when I powered the car on. Is that a fault?
- Many lamps light for a self-check and then go out. Treat this one as a fault if it stays on, returns while driving, or comes on together with the ABS lamp.