What Does a Red Exclamation Mark on the Car Dashboard Mean?

[Terrence]

A red exclamation mark on the car dashboard indicates an abnormality or malfunction in the corresponding system. There are many dashboard indicator lights with exclamation marks, such as the tire pressure indicator, lighting fault indicator, steering system fault indicator, brake system fault light, transmission fault indicator, and wiper fault indicator. Below is a detailed explanation of the exclamation mark warning lights: General Fault: A triangle with an exclamation mark inside indicates a general performance or component malfunction in the vehicle. Common issues include parking sensor faults, fuel cutoff system intervention or failure, external light faults, or engine oil pressure sensor faults. It is recommended to visit a 4S shop for inspection to identify the source of the fault. Automatic Transmission Fault: A yellow gear with an exclamation mark inside is the automatic transmission fault warning light, indicating a transmission malfunction or low transmission fluid level. The transmission fluid should be replaced promptly. Brake System Fault: A circle with parentheses and an exclamation mark in the middle represents a brake system warning, indicating a brake system malfunction or low brake fluid level. Immediate inspection of the brake system is necessary to avoid accidents. Tire Pressure Abnormality: A horizontal line with parentheses and an exclamation mark below represents the tire pressure monitoring warning light. This light illuminates when the tire pressure is too low. Check the tire pressure and restore it to the normal range. Lighting Fault: A yellow bulb with an exclamation mark is the lighting fault indicator, signaling a malfunction in one of the vehicle's lights. Solution: Visit a 4S shop for inspection as soon as possible, or check the commonly used bulbs such as turn signals, fog lights, and interior lights yourself to identify the issue. Additionally, during daily vehicle use, the dashboard warning lights are divided into two colors—yellow and red—to indicate different levels of severity: Yellow indicates a fault in the corresponding system that is not critical but requires slowing down and proceeding to a repair facility to eliminate potential safety hazards. Red indicates a severe problem in the corresponding system. In such cases, do not continue driving. Pull over immediately and seek professional assistance to prevent unpredictable risks to the vehicle and personal safety. Note: When the car is started, all dashboard lights will illuminate for a system self-check and then turn off automatically after the check is complete. If a light does not illuminate when the ignition is turned on, remains lit, or lights up while driving, it indicates a fault in the related system. In such cases, seek professional help promptly for inspection and troubleshooting to ensure safety.