When a warning light comes on in your Audi, they can indicate various issues or malfunctions with your car. Some have easy fixes, others will need a professional mechanic to be able to resolve. It's important that you understand what they mean so you can ensure you respond appropriately for each light that comes on.
Consequently, we have put this warning light guide together, to give you some common warning lights you may see on your Audi dashboard. What they mean, and what are some fixes you may be able to try to stop the light from coming on.
| Warning Light Name |
Warning Light Short Description |
More Information |
| ABS Warning Light |
This light indicates a problem with the anti lock braking system, which could be due to a faulty sensor or pump. |
How to fix this |
| Adaptive Air Suspension Warning Light |
This light indicates a problem with the car's adaptive air suspension system, which adjusts the ride height and stiffness based on driving conditions and the driver's preferences. |
How to fix this |
| Adaptive Cruise Control Warning Light |
This light indicates a problem with the adaptive cruise control system, which uses radar or sensors to maintain a safe following distance from the car in front. |
How to fix this |
| Adaptive Damping System Warning Light |
This light indicates a problem with your car's adaptive damping system, which adjusts the shock absorber stiffness based on driving conditions and your driving preferences. |
How to fix this |
| Adaptive Headlights Warning Light |
This light indicates a problem with the adaptive headlights system, which adjusts the angle and intensity of the headlights based on the car's speed and driving conditions. |
How to fix this |
| AdBlue Warning Light |
This light is specific to diesel powered Audi models with selective catalytic reduction (SCR) technology and indicates that the AdBlue tank is low and needs to be refilled. |
How to fix this |
| Airbag Warning Light |
This light indicates a problem with the car's airbag system, which could be due to a faulty sensor or module. |
How to fix this |
| Battery Warning Light |
This light indicates a problem with the car's charging system, such as a failing battery, alternator, or wiring. |
How to fix this |
| Blind Spot Monitoring Warning Light |
This light indicates a problem with the blind spot monitoring system, which uses sensors or cameras to alert you when there is a vehicle in your blind spot. |
How to fix this |
| Brake Warning Light |
This light indicates that there is a problem with the braking system, such as low brake fluid levels or worn brake pads. |
How to fix this |
| Check Engine Light |
This light indicates that there is a problem with the engine or emissions control system. It could be something as simple as a loose fuel cap or a more serious issue like a malfunctioning sensor or an issue with your catalytic converter. |
How to fix this |
| Coolant Temperature Warning Light |
This light indicates that the engine is overheating, which could be due to low coolant levels, a faulty thermostat, or a malfunctioning cooling system. |
How to fix this |
| Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) Warning Light |
This light is specific to the diesel powered Audi models and indicates a problem with the diesel particulate filter, which helps reduce emissions by trapping soot particles. |
How to fix this |
| Electronic Stability Control (ESC) Warning Light |
This light indicates a problem with the car's Electronic Stability Control system, which helps prevent skidding and loss of control during sudden manoeuvres. |
How to fix this |
| Fuel Level Warning Light |
This light indicates that the fuel level is low and that it's time to refuel the car. |
How to fix this |
| Lane Departure Warning Light |
This light indicates a problem with the lane departure warning system, which uses cameras or sensors to alert the driver when the car is drifting out of its lane. |
How to fix this |
| Oil Pressure Warning Light |
This light indicates low oil pressure, which could be due to low oil levels, a faulty oil pump, or a clogged oil filter. |
How to fix this |
| Parking Brake Warning Light |
This light indicates that the hand brake is engaged or that there is a problem with the braking system. |
How to fix this |
| Rear Fog Light Warning Light |
This light indicates that the rear fog lights are on. |
How to fix this |
| Start Stop System Warning Light |
This light indicates a problem with the car's start stop system, which automatically turns off the engine when the car is idling to save fuel. |
How to fix this |
| Steering System Warning Light |
This light indicates a problem with the steering system, such as low power steering fluid levels or a malfunctioning power steering pump. |
How to fix this |
| Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) Warning Light |
This light indicates that there is a problem with the car's TPMS, such as low tyre pressure or a faulty sensor. |
How to fix this |
How to fix these warning lights?
ABS Warning Light
What does it look like?
The ABS (Anti Lock Braking System) warning light on a car dashboard typically looks like the letters ABS inside a circle or possibly a triangle. It may also be labelled ANTI LOCK or "ANTISKID." The light will usually be yellow or amber.
How to fix it / turn it off?
If the ABS warning light comes on while you're driving, it means that there is a problem with the ABS system. The ABS system is designed to prevent the wheels from locking up during hard braking, which can cause skidding and loss of control when you need to. When the ABS warning light is on, the system may not function properly, which could affect your ability to brake effectively in an emergency situation.
To fix the issue, you can try checking your brake fluid levels, or brake pads for wear and tear. If you can't see anything, or if it makes no difference, you will need to get this into a mechanic.
What could happen if I don't do anything with this light?
Ignoring the ABS warning light can compromise your safety while driving, especially during emergency braking situations.
Adaptive Air Suspension Warning Light
What does it look like?
The adaptive air suspension warning light on a car dashboard typically looks like a car with an arrow pointing up or down, indicating the suspension is rising or lowering. It may also be labelled AIR SUSP, ADAPTIVE AIR SUSP, or AIR RIDE. The light will usually be yellow or amber.
How to fix it / turn it off?
If the adaptive air suspension warning light comes on while you're driving, it means that there is a problem with the air suspension system. The adaptive air suspension system is designed to automatically adjust the ride height of the vehicle for better handling and comfort. When the warning light is on, the system may not function properly, which could affect your ability to control the vehicle and cause damage to the suspension components.
To fix the issue, you should get the car booked in to see a mechanic.
What could happen if I don't do anything with this light?
Ignoring the adaptive air suspension warning light can cause additional damage to the suspension system and compromise your safety while driving.
Adaptive Cruise Control Warning Light
What does it look like?
The adaptive cruise control warning light on a car dashboard typically looks like a car with a radar signal in front of it. It may also be labelled ACC, ADAPTIVE CRUISE, or RADAR CRUISE. The light will usually be green, amber, or white.
How to fix it / turn it off?
Adaptive cruise control is designed to automatically adjust the speed of your car to maintain a safe distance from the vehicle in front of you. When the warning light is on, the system may not function properly, which could affect your ability to maintain a safe distance and increase the risk of a collision.
To fix the issue, you can try checking the front radar sensor for any signs of damage or obstruction; such as covered in dirt. The sensor is usually located behind the grille and can be affected by dirt or debris from the road. If you can't see anything obvious, then you should get the car booked in to see a mechanic.
What could happen if I don't do anything with this light?
Ignoring the adaptive cruise control warning light can compromise your safety when using this system.
Adaptive Damping System (ADS) Warning Light
What does it look like?
The Adaptive Damping System (ADS) Warning Light typically looks like a yellow or orange icon of a shock absorber with an exclamation mark in the centre.
How to fix it / turn it off?
The Adaptive Damping System is a suspension system that adjusts the damping rates of the shock absorbers in response to driving conditions. If the system detects a fault or malfunction, the warning light will illuminate to alert you. To fix this issue, you should get the car booked in to see a mechanic.
What could happen if I don't do anything with this light?
Ignoring this warning light can mean the system gets damaged further, and can make your drive less comfortable.
Adaptive Headlights Warning Light
What does it look like?
The Adaptive Headlights Warning Light typically looks like a yellow or orange icon of a headlight with an arrow or curved line pointing in a particular direction.
How to fix it / turn it off?
Adaptive headlights are designed to adjust the direction and intensity of the headlights in response to the vehicle's speed and steering angle, providing better visibility and safety when driving at night or in adverse weather conditions. To fix the issue, you should get the car booked in to see a mechanic.
What could happen if I don't do anything with this light?
Ignoring this warning light means the adaptive headlights won't work as expected and you, therefore, dazzle other drivers on the road.
AdBlue Warning Light
What does it look like?
The AdBlue warning light is typically a blue or green symbol on the dashboard.
How to fix it / turn it off?
The AdBlue warning lights appear on Audi cars that use selective catalytic reduction systems to reduce nitrogen oxide emissions from your exhaust. To fix the issue, you will need to add AdBlue solution to the tank.
What could happen if I don't do anything with this light?
Ignoring this warning light can mean that, over time, the engine power may be reduced.
Airbag Warning Light
What does it look like?
The Airbag Warning Light is a small illuminated icon, that typically looks like a seated person wearing a seatbelt, with a large circle in front of them that represents the airbag, and is red or amber in colour.
How to fix it / turn it off?
In most cases, the light indicates that there is a problem with the airbag system, which could mean that the airbags will not deploy properly in the event of an accident. To fix the issue, you will need to have the car reviewed by a mechanic.
What could happen if I don't do anything with this light?
Ignoring this warning light can mean putting yours and your passenger safety at risk.
Battery Warning Light
What does it look like?
The battery warning light on a car dashboard typically looks like a red or yellow battery icon, sometimes with a + sign. It may also look like a rectangle with wavy lines inside or simply display the word BATT or ALT.
How to fix it / turn it off?
If the battery warning light comes on it means that the vehicle's charging system is not functioning properly. There could be several reasons why this is happening, including a faulty alternator, a loose or damaged battery cable, or a dead battery.
To fix the issue, you can try turning off all unnecessary electrical components, such as the radio and air conditioning, to reduce the load on the battery. If that then doesn't work, it is advisable to get it looked at by a mechanic.
What could happen if I don't do anything with this light?
If you leave this light on, you can run the risk of your battery burning out and needing a full replacement.
Blind Spot Monitoring Warning Light
What does it look like?
The Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM) warning light is usually an amber coloured icon of a car with an exclamation mark inside it.
How to fix it / turn it off?
The BSM system uses sensors to monitor the driver's blind spots and alert them with a warning light - or sound - if another vehicle is detected in your blind spot. If the warning light illuminates, it could indicate a problem with the system.
To fix the issue, you can try checking the front radar sensor for any signs of damage or obstruction; such as, covered in dirt. The sensor is usually located behind the grille and can be affected by dirt or debris. If you can't see anything obvious then you should get the car booked in to see a mechanic.
What could happen if I don't do anything with this light?
If you leave this light on, you can run the risk of your blind spot detection system not working correctly.
Brake Warning Light
What does it look like?
The brake warning light in an Audi typically looks like an exclamation point inside a circle, with parentheses around it.
How to fix it / turn it off?
To fix the issue, you can try checking the brake fluid and checking the brake discs. If you can't see anything obvious though, a mechanic will be able to review and advise.
What could happen if I don't do anything with this light?
If you leave this light on, it can be dangerous and lead to brake failure.
Check Engine Warning Light
What does it look like?
The light looks like an engine symbol, often yellow or orange in colour. It may be a solid light, indicating a minor issue, or it could be flashing; indicating a more serious problem that needs immediate attention.
How to fix it / turn it off?
To fix the issue, you should get the car booked in to see a mechanic as they will be able to pinpoint the issue.
What could happen if I don't do anything with this light?
If you leave this light on, it could be indicating a serious problem which could lead to further damage, if left untreated.
Coolant Temperature Warning Light
What does it look like?
The light looks like a thermometer floating in liquid.
How to fix it / turn it off?
This symbol represents the engine's coolant system's warning light and indicates that the engine is overheating, or that the coolant level is low.
To fix the issue, you should check the coolant level and top up if required. If that isn't the problem, or comes on quickly thereafter you should get the car booked in to see a mechanic as this could either point to a leak or another problem to your coolant system.
What could happen if I don't do anything with this light?
If you leave this light on, you run the risk of causing severe engine damage.
Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) Warning Light
What does it look like?
The light looks like a yellow engine symbol with a curved line at the bottom, followed by a series of squares or dots.
How to fix it / turn it off?
This symbol represents the DPF warning light and indicates that the DPF is clogged and needs to be cleaned.
To fix the issue, you could try driving at higher speeds. Albeit this being within the speed limit and only under safe conditions where you will know you will have full control over the car at all times, following all road laws, and are well aware of the road ahead. As this can help to burn off any soot that accumulated on the filter. If that doesn't work, or you don't feel safe or have the ability near you to try the first option, you can try checking the engine oil level and topping this up if required. A low engine oil layer can trigger this light. Aside from that, you should get the car booked in to see a mechanic if those other options don't work.
What could happen if I don't do anything with this light?
If you leave this light on, you run the risk of causing severe engine damage.
Electronic Stability Control (ESC) Warning Light
What does it look like?
The light looks like a car with wavy lines behind it.
How to fix it / turn it off?
This symbol represents the ESC system's warning light and indicates that the system has detected a problem. To fix the issue, you can try checking your tyre pressure as sometimes this may trigger this light. Bar that, you should get the car booked in to see a mechanic.
What could happen if I don't do anything with this light?
If you leave this light on, you can compromise your safety while driving.
Fuel Level Warning Light
What does it look like?
The light looks like a fuel pump symbol with an arrow pointing to the side of your pump filling station.
How to fix it / turn it off?
This symbol indicates that the fuel level is low. To fix the issue, try topping up with fuel.
What could happen if I don't do anything with this light?
If you leave this light on, you can run out of fuel and the engine then suddenly stops.
Lane Departure Warning Light
What does it look like?
The light looks like a vehicle with dotted lane markings on either side.
How to fix it / turn it off?
This symbol indicates that the system has detected that the vehicle is drifting out of its lane.
To fix the issue if it is coming on unexpectedly, try cleaning your windscreen, if it is dirty, as this could be blocking a sensor. Check the warning light camera's alignment hasn't unnecessarily moved as well, and also double check if the software doesn't need an update. Aside from those, if the light is still on unexpectedly, you should contact a mechanic.
What could happen if I don't do anything with this light?
If you leave this light on, you can run the risk of compromising your safety.
Oil Pressure Warning Light
What does it look like?
The light looks like an oil lamp with a drop of oil coming out of the spout.
How to fix it / turn it off?
This symbol represents the oil pressure warning light and indicates that the oil pressure is low, or there is an oil system malfunction.
To fix the issue, check your oil level and top this up where required; also check that the oil cap is on tightly. If this doesn't resolve it, you should contact a mechanic as it could be an issue with the oil pump or sensors that will need to be replaced.
What could happen if I don't do anything with this light?
If you leave this light on, you can run the risk of an expensive engine repair.
Parking Brake Warning Light
What does it look like?
The light looks like a red exclamation point inside a circle or parentheses.
How to fix it / turn it off?
This symbol shows that the parking brake is engaged or there is a problem with the parking brake system.
To fix the issue, you just need to release the hand brake when it is safe to do so. If it is coming on after that, this could indicate an issue with your braking system, brake fluids, or brake cables, and you should get this in to see a mechanic as soon as possible.
What could happen if I don't do anything with this light?
If you leave this light on, you can run the risk of the car not being able to remain parked safely.
Rear Fog Light Warning Light
What does it look like?
The light looks like a rear light with a zigzag arrow pointing downwards.
How to fix it / turn it off?
This symbol indicates that the rear fog lights are on, or there is a problem with the rear fog light system.
To fix the issue, you should try turning off your rear fog lights if it is safe to do so, check the rear fog light switch isn't stuck or blocked in any way, and check that the rear fog light bulb doesn't need replacing. If those don't fix this light you should get this in to see a mechanic as soon as possible as this could point more to an issue with the fog light relay, or fog light wiring that will need a professional to resolve.
What could happen if I don't do anything with this light?
If you leave this light on, you can run the risk of compromising your safety while driving.
Start Stop System Warning Light
What does it look like?
The light looks like the capital letter A with an arrow surrounding it in a circular shape.
How to fix it / turn it off?
This symbol represents the start stop system warning light and indicates that there is a problem with the start stop system. To fix the issue, you should take it to a mechanic as it could be an issue with the start / stop system, or the battery.
What could happen if I don't do anything with this light?
If you leave this light on, you can run the risk of causing more damage to your Audi.
Steering System Warning Light
What does it look like?
The light looks like a yellow or red steering wheel icon with an exclamation mark in the middle.
How to fix it / turn it off?
This symbol represents the steering system warning light and indicates that there is a problem with the steering system. To fix the issue, you should take it to a mechanic as it could be an issue with the power steering fluid, power steering pump, belt, hoses or a sensor.
What could happen if I don't do anything with this light?
If you leave this light on, you can run the risk of struggling to control your Audi.
Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) Warning Light
What does it look like?
The light looks like an exclamation point inside a tyre shape.
How to fix it / turn it off?
This symbol represents the TPMS warning light and indicates that one or more of your vehicle's tyres has a low pressure. To fix the issue, you should inflate your tyres to the correct PSI for your car.
What could happen if I don't do anything with this light?
If you leave this light on, you can run the risk of compromising your handling, making the fuel efficiency worse or ruining your tyres.
In conclusion
If you see any warning lights on your Audi, it's important to address them as quickly as you can. The first point of call should always be to check your owner's manual for specific instructions on what to do when a warning light comes on to see if there is any extra information to help resolve the light. Then to take your car to a qualified mechanic for diagnosis and repair if it isn't an easy fix. See our range of Servicing & Repairs services that we offer from our Audi garages.