Brake system warning
Seal
- 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 red lamp is the service-brake warning. It is separate from the circled P, which only shows that the parking brake is applied. It comes on when brake fluid is low or the service brakes have a fault. A brief light in 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. On the Seal this red lamp is the service-brake warning, including low fluid. The circled P is only the parking brake.
What to do
Stop in a safe place and end 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 brakes checked before you drive again. If the ABS lamp is on as well, stop: anti-lock and the front-to-rear balance may both be out.
Related lamps
Common questions
- How is this different from the circled P?
- The circled P means the parking brake is applied or has a fault in that brake. This red lamp is about the brakes you use with the pedal. A steady circled P while parked is normal. This lamp staying on while you drive is not.
- The pedal still feels firm. Can I finish the trip?
- No. A low fluid level or a fault can get worse without much warning. Stop and have the brake system checked before you drive again.