How To Understand Toyota Dashboard Warning Lights

Are you a Toyota owner and are you trying to understand the dashboard warning lights for your vehicle? Toyota’s dashboard indicators vary for each model and cover everything from engine issues to safety to fuel level.  

Color Codes for Toyota Dashboard Indicators

The icons that appear on the dashboard come in a variety of colors, depending on the system and its status in a specific vehicle. The most critical are in red, indicating that immediate action must be taken, such as an open door or low engine oil pressure. Yellow icons indicate an item of importance — such as low fuel — but are not necessarily a warning. Also, the absence of “routine” indicators, such as a safety system warning light, indicates a potential problem. For example, should a safety system light such as the ABS and SRS airbag warning lights not come on when you start the car, this could mean that these systems are not available to help protect you in an accident.

READ MORE: How Far Can You Drive Your Toyota Camry with the Gas Light On? 

Engine and Maintenance Warning Lights

Many of Toyota’s dashboard warning lights are related to engine and maintenance issues. For example, the engine malfunction light indicates a malfunction in the electronic engine control system, electronic throttle control system or electronic automatic transmission control system. The brake system warning light indicates a problem in the brake system or a low brake fluid level. The tire pressure warning light indicates a low tire inflation pressure, while the windshield washer warning light indicates a low level of washer fluid.

Toyota Safety Warning Lights

As mentioned earlier, some of the dashboard warning lights are for safety. For example, the Lane Departure Light icon appears to alert the driver that the vehicle has deviated from its lane. The Dynamic Radar Cruise Control indicator is for the Dynamic Radar Cruise Control system, which supplements conventional cruise control with a vehicle-to-vehicle distance control. In vehicle-to-vehicle distance control mode, the vehicle automatically accelerates or decelerates in order to maintain a set following distance from vehicles ahead.

Get Your Toyota Serviced in Hattiesburg MS

Every Toyota vehicle has a different arrangement of dashboard warning lights, so ideally you should check the owner’s manual for your vehicle to pinpoint the exact problem, and get it serviced if necessary. If you live in Hattiesburg or elsewhere in Mississippi and you need some dashboard warning light-related service for your Toyota, then be sure to contact us at Toyota of Hattiesburg!