What does the yellow exclamation mark in Tesla mean?
2 Answers
There are four situations when a yellow exclamation mark appears on the car dashboard: general faults, automatic transmission faults, abnormal tire pressure, and lighting faults. The following is a detailed analysis of these four situations: General Faults: A triangle with an exclamation mark inside. If this symbol lights up, it indicates a fault in the car's general performance or components and functions. Mainly includes parking sensor faults, fuel cut-off system intervention or faults, external light faults, engine oil pressure sensor faults, etc. It is necessary to go to a 4S shop for inspection to identify the source of the fault. Automatic Transmission Faults: A yellow gear with an exclamation mark inside. This is the automatic transmission fault warning light, indicating that there is a fault in the transmission or the transmission lubricant is below the normal range. The transmission oil needs to be replaced in time. Abnormal Tire Pressure: A horizontal line under a bracket with an exclamation mark in the middle. This represents the tire pressure monitoring warning light. When the car's tire pressure is too low, this warning light will come on. It is necessary to check the car's tire pressure and restore it to the normal range. Lighting Faults: A yellow bulb with an exclamation mark. This is the lighting fault indicator light, indicating that there is a fault with the car lights. Solution: Go to a 4S shop for inspection and treatment as soon as possible, or you can check it yourself. Focus on checking commonly used bulbs such as turn signals, fog lights, and interior lighting to see where the problem is. There is also a red exclamation mark with a bracket and a circle in the middle. This represents a warning of the braking system, mainly including braking system faults and low brake fluid level. It is necessary to immediately inspect and repair the braking system to avoid accidents.
Last time I drove my Tesla, this yellow triangle exclamation mark also popped up, and I almost panicked. Later, I figured out that this kind of alert is like a pop-up on your phone—it means the car's system has detected an abnormality in a certain component, but it's not serious enough to stop the car immediately. Common issues include low brake fluid, abnormal tire pressure, or the assisted driving camera being blocked—for example, if your windshield is dirty, it will also complain. I recommend pulling over and tapping the triangle icon on the central control screen; it will specifically tell you which module is triggering the alert. If it shows that automatic emergency braking is limited, it’s likely that the camera is covered in mud splashes. Remember not to push your luck—these electronic systems are quite delicate. If a warning appears, it’s best to visit a service center the same day to run a computer diagnostic.
