What does the exclamation mark inside a triangle mean?

[TheoDella]

The exclamation mark inside a triangle is the "General Fault Indicator Light", which may indicate issues such as dry dual-clutch transmission clutch overheating, fuel cut-off system intervention or malfunction, parking sensor failure, exterior light bulb failure, engine oil pressure sensor failure, traction control system warning or malfunction, etc. There are various warning or indicator lights with exclamation marks on the dashboard. The eight common types include: handbrake warning light, brake system fault warning light, steering system fault warning light, abnormal tire pressure warning light, lighting system fault warning light, transmission fault warning light, wiper fault warning light, and general fault indicator light. If an indicator light with an exclamation mark illuminates on the dashboard, it signifies an abnormality or malfunction in the corresponding vehicle component. This should not be taken lightly, and the root cause should be identified and addressed promptly.

[PaigeAnn]

Having driven for over a decade, I've seen that yellow triangle with an exclamation mark on the dashboard way too many times. It's basically a universal warning light, like your car sounding the alarm. The most common triggers are doors not fully closed, a slightly open trunk, or a nearly empty fuel tank. But if it's glowing red and beeping, that's absolutely serious—it could indicate brake system failure or an airbag alert, requiring immediate pull-over and engine shutdown. Last time my colleague kept driving with this light on, only to lose power steering midway, nearly hitting the guardrail. Always keep a maintenance manual in your car—flipping to the warning lights page is far more reliable than searching online.

[PeytonRose]

Don't panic when you see this light as a beginner, first check its color. Yellow usually indicates reminder-type faults: low tire pressure, insufficient washer fluid, or service due - it loves to alert these. My old Bora had this light on last time, turned out the washer fluid sensor was just blocked by leaves. But if it's a red triangle light with beeping, don't hesitate - pull over immediately and call a tow truck. Once on a midnight highway, this light suddenly flashed red with 'Check Brake System' on the dashboard, sending chills down my spine. Now I've developed a habit of glancing at the dashboard before every start, as natural as fastening the seatbelt.

[AryaFitz]

This symbol is like a health alarm for your car. Last week, while helping a neighbor check their car, the triangle warning light was on without any other alerts. After plugging in a diagnostic tool, we found out the rear radar sensor was faulty. Some car models also use it to indicate failures in intelligent systems, such as lane-keeping or automatic high beam malfunctions. It's advisable to keep an OBD scanner in your car; plugging it in for just 10 minutes can reveal the trouble codes. Last time, my car displayed code U0121, which turned out to be a communication interruption with the radar module. Going straight to the repair shop for a precise fix saved me 300 yuan in diagnostic fees.