Audi warning lights

A quick guide for Audi car warning lights

It’s important to know what each car warning light symbol means so that you can take the right action.​​

Here are the main Audi warning lights that you need to be aware of:

Red Audi warning lights

The brake light 

The brake light typically indicates one of two things - there is a fault within your braking system, or your brake fluid level is low. 

The park light 

The park ​light will illuminate when your parking brake is set. If the park ​light is blinking, then reapply the break to secure your vehicle. 

The coolant temperature light

The coolant temperature light will illuminate if your coolant level is low or the coolant is getting too hot. Do not drive with this light on - check your coolant levels and seek assistance.

Oil lights

Audis have two main warning lights for oil levels - one for when the oil level is low and one for when the oil needs filling immediately. If either light is on and the oil levels are correct, then there could be a sensor fault. 

The battery light

The battery symbol light will appear to indicate an electrical system malfunction. Do not drive the vehicle and seek assistance. 

The seatbelt light

The seatbelt sign will illuminate if a passenger or the drive does not have their seatbelt on while the vehicle is on. 

The power steering light

This light will illuminate if there is a fault with your power steering system or the all-wheel steering system. Stop the vehicle when it is safe to do so and seek assistance. This light also appears as an amber warning if the fault is less severe

The power steering locked light

This light indicates that the electronic steering lock has malfunctioned. You may not be able to start your vehicle if you turn off the ignition. Seek assistance and do not tow your vehicle.  This light also appears as an amber warning if the fault is less severe. 

The key light

The key warning light indicates that there is a fault with your Audi’s engine start system. Do not turn the engine off as you may not be able to restart it and take your Audi for a service immediately.  This light also appears as an amber warning if the fault is less severe. 

The transmission light

The transmission light will illuminate if there is a fault within the transmission system. Do not continue driving and await roadside assistance

The bonnet light

The bonnet light will illuminate if the bonnet of your vehicle is open or not properly latched. 

The boot light

The boot light will illuminate if the boot of your car is open or not properly latched 

Driver assistance required

The driver assistance required light will illuminate if there is not sufficient braking distance for the adaptive cruise control to be effective. The driver must take control. 

The air suspension light

A red air suspension light indicates that there is a malfunction in the air suspension system. You may not have sufficient ground clearance to continue your journey. Seek assistance immediately. This light also appears as an amber warning if the fault is less severe. 

The red AdBlue light

A red AdBlue light means that you need to refill your AdBlue tank otherwise the engine may no longer start. 

The red AdBlue maintenance light 

The AdBlue maintenance light will only illuminate if there is a problem with the AdBlue tank or if there is a malfunction. Do not stop your car as you may not be able to restart it - seek assistance immediately. 

Worried about one of these lights that is illuminated? Book a service today​

​Amber Audi car warning light symbols

The Electronic Stabilization Control light

The ESC light will illuminate yellow when the ESC system is intervening. If the ESC light stays on permanently, then this indicates that ESC has been turned off manually. If the ESC light is on permanently, but ESC has not been turned off, then there may be a malfunction in the system. (Some vehicles have a separate ESC Off light). 

The brake temperature light

The brake temperature light will show if there is a heavy load on the brakes. The light will turn off when the temperature lowers. 

The ABS light

The ABS light will illuminate if there is a problem with the ABS system of your vehicle. Drive carefully and seek assistance. 

The safety system light

The safety system light will illuminate if the passenger airbag has been turned off, but will also illuminate if there is a fault with your safety systems. If the airbag is on and the warning light is lit, then seek assistance.

The brake wear light

If your brake pads have worn down to their limit, then the brake wear light will illuminate. You should have your vehicle serviced, and your brake pads changed as soon as possible. 

The no parking brake light

The no parking brake light will illuminate if there is a problem with your automatic parking brake system. You should be able to brake your vehicle manually. Seek assistance to rectify the error. 

The low tyre pressure light 

An amber low tyre pressure light will illuminate if you have low pressure in one or more of your tyres. Check your tyre pressures and adjust accordingly. If this light appears with the TPMS message, then there is a malfunction in the tyre pressure system.

The ignition light

The ignition light will turn on briefly when you first start the ignition of your vehicle. If the light remains on or blinks while the car is running, then there could be an engine control malfunction, and you should seek assistance as soon as possible. 

The malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) 

The MIL, also known as the engine warning light, will turn on when you first start your vehicle but should then turn off. If the light stays on when the car is running, then this indicates an engine malfunction, and you should seek help immediately. 

The diesel filter light

The diesel filter light will illuminate if the filter needs regeneration or if the filter has malfunctioned. Book your car in for a service as soon as possible to find and fix the cause. 

Amber oil lights

Three possible amber oil lights may appear on your dashboard. The oil MIN symbol requires you to fill your oil tank. The oil MAX symbol requires you to reduce the oil level. And the oil SENSOR symbol indicates that there is a fault with the oil level system and so your oil levels may not be accurate. 

The amber battery light

The amber battery light indicates that there is an electrical system malfunction, and you may not be able to restart your vehicle. The light will also illuminate if you have a low battery charge. Do not turn off your engine and seek assistance. 

The fuel light

The fuel light will illuminate when you reach your reserve fuel tank. If the light remains on when you have recently filled your car, then there may be a malfunction in the fuel system. 

The washer fluid light

The washer fluid light will illuminate when you need to refill your windscreen washer fluid. 

The windshield wiper light

The windshield wiper light will illuminate if there is a malfunction in your windshield washer system. Drive carefully to seek assistance. 

The remote key light

The remote key light will illuminate if the remote key has been taken out of the car while it is running or if the remote key cannot be recognised.

The remote key battery light

The remote key battery light will only illuminate when the battery of your remote key is low. Replace the battery immediately. 

The light bulb light

The light bulb light will illuminate if one or more of the external lights on your vehicle are faulty. Check to make sure that all external lights are working and change the bulbs where appropriate. 

The headlamp range control light

The headlamp range control light will flash yellow if the headlamp range control system has malfunctioned. This means that you could be dazzling other drivers. Have your headlamps seen to immediately

The automatic headlamp light

The automatic headlamp light will illuminate if there is an error in the automatic headlamp system. If the automatic headlamp system has malfunctioned then your headlamps may not turn on automatically, and you will need to control them manually. 

The Active Lane Assist light

The Active Lane Assist light will illuminate to indicate that Active Lane Assist is activated. The light will also illuminate accompanied by an error message if the Active Lane Assist has malfunctioned. 

The amber AdBlue light

An amber AdBlue light means that you only have enough AdBlue to drive the distance listed. Fill up your AdBlue tank or the light will turn red, and you may not be able to re-start your vehicle. 

The amber AdBlue maintenance light 

An amber AdBlue Maintenance light means that you need to have your AdBlue tank serviced and that you can only drive the distance displayed. If you continue to drive above the distance indicated then you might not be able to re-start your vehicle. 

Worried about one of these lights that is illuminated? Book a service today​

​Green and white Audi indicator lights

The green cruise light

The green cruise light will illuminate when cruise control is activated. 

Green adaptive cruise control lights

There are several green adaptive cruise control lights which are designed to indicate that cruise control is on and to notify the driver of any vehicles or bends up ahead and any changes of speed that are being made. 

The green Active Lane Assist light

The Active Lane Assist light will be green if Active Lane Assist is turned on and lanes can be detected by the system. 

The green Stop/Start system light

The green Stop/Start system light will illuminate when the engine has been switched off during a period of inactivity. 

The white air suspension light

The white air suspension light will illuminate if the air suspension of your vehicle is either too high or too low, and the level control is in progress. 

The white active cruise control light

The white active cruise control light will illuminate if ACC cannot be activated. There are several reasons why this may occur, including if Traffic Jam Assist is already turned on or if you are travelling at under 20 miles per hour.