Mazda Warning Lights
Mazda Models
(click your model)
Mazda CX-3
Mazda CX-30
Mazda CX-5
Mazda CX-50
Mazda CX-7
Mazda CX-9
Mazda Mazda2
Mazda Mazda3
Mazda Mazda5
Mazda Mazda6
Mazda MPV
Mazda MX-5
Mazda Tribute
Warning Lights Explained
Low Fuel Warning
If you have an orange/yellow warning light of what looks like an old-fashioned fuel pump then it's most probably because your fuel is low.
If filling your Mazda with fuel does not rectify this then seek a trained mechanic.
Low Washer Fluid Warning
A yellow/orange warning light showing what looks like a fountain over an open book suggests that the windscreen washing fluid is low.
Top this up under the bonnet by looking for a cap that has a similar (if not the same) looking symbol on top with water mixed with anti-freeze (or a ready-mixed solution).
If the warning light remains on even after you top the fluid up and you have restarted the car check with a trained mechanic.
Gas Cap Warning
An orange/yellow warning light showing what looks like a screw being taken out of the side of a car will most probably mean your Mazda believes the gas cap is loose.
Pull over and tighten this cap and if this does not fix this (even after a complete restart of the car) seek help from a trained mechanic.
A loose gas cap warning could also be caused by a leak in the fuel line system and on some higher pressure fuel systems can cause the engine to act erratically.
High Beam Control Warning
The high beam control system diverts the high-powered lights away from oncoming traffic and if you see an "A" in a semi-circle with lines coming from it then the system has detected a fault.
Seeking help from a trained mechanic if the problem continues even after switching the car off is wise as this can be dangerous for other road users if not fixed.
4WD Warning
This is a pretty self-explanatory warning light as it tells you the problem is with the four-wheel-drive (or all-wheel drive) system.
If your model of Mazda allows it then it may disengage the rear wheels and continue to drive on the front until it's fixed (or vice-versa).
If it is an orange light then it should be safe to continue to drive for a short period but with caution. Seek professional help as soon as possible.
ABS Warning
If the letters "ABS" light up orange on your dashboard persistently and do not go away after restarting the car then you may have an issue with the brake-assist system.
Continuing to drive while the ABS system is not fully functioning is not advised but possible.
You will have lost the added benefit that ABS brings in potential accidents due to a loss of traction while braking.
Seek help from a trained mechanic or Mazda dealership as soon as possible.
i-stop Warning
If the words "i-stop" continue to flash while driving your Mazda then the system has detected a fault in your start-stop system.
If the orange/yellow warning light remains switched on when you try to switch it off then that could also signal that a fault is plaguing the system.
Seek help from a trained mechanic or Mazda dealership.
Automatic Transaxle Warning
A simple warning that shows the letters "AT" on your dashboard is most probably a warning that your automatic transaxle is faulty.
The automatic transaxle is the combination of an automatic transmission and axle which connects directly to the differential driving the wheels.
Continuing to drive while this warning is present is not advised as it can damage the transmission leading to a large repair bill.
Lane Keep Assist Warning
A symbol of what appears to be a car straying away from between two lines (solid or broken) represents that your lane-keep assist system is faulty.
If a restart of the car does not fix this then the system is most probably faulty and needs to be seen by a technician.
Continuing to drive without this system is possible but it can't be relied on while this warning light is illuminated.
Blind Spot Warning
A warning light consisting of 2 cars side by side with a radar effect between them is most probably your blind-spot warning system informing you it has detected something.
The blind spot is commonly known as the area of vision that is missing from most drivers' field of view.
Seeing this warning flash-up should prompt you to double-check your blind spot before merging lanes or turning.
Power Steering Warning
A steering wheel with an exclamation mark next to it illuminated orange/yellow or even red suggest a problem with the power steering in your Mazda.
If the warning light remains after you have restarted the car then seek help from a trained mechanic.
LED Headlight Warning
A downward-facing light-bulb with an exclamation mark inside lighting up on the dashboard of your Mazda represents that the LED headlight system is faulty.
The danger of this is that as soon as you require your lights (at night or in a tunnel) you may find that they don't work, seek help from a trained mechanic or Mazda Repairer.
Smart Brake Warning
A series of cars with a star and an exclamation mark next to them could be a sign that the smart brake system is faulty.
This is the name of the Mazda braking system that uses radar to detect an obstacle in front of the car and applies the brakes automatically.
Driving without this safety aid is not recommended and the cause could be down to a dirty radar sensor.
Tire Pressure Warning
A warning that looks like the cutaway of a tire (or maybe a cooking pot) with an exclamation mark in the center is to let you know that one or more tires are experiencing low pressure.
Check that the pressure is correct in all tires yourself or at a mechanics garage. If the warning light remains then you may have a fault in the system.
If the warning flashes rather than stays solid then this may be because the pressure drop is rapid.
Traction Control Warning
A solid yellow/orange illuminating warning on the dashboard showing a car with wavy lines below is a fault in the traction control system.
The indicator will light up for a small amount of time if it detects a loss of traction and it interferes with the control of the car.
If the symbol remains on constantly then it is important that a trained Mazda mechanic checks it out.
Traction Control OFF
A warning light showing a car with waves underneath but including the word "OFF" suggests that the traction control system has been turned off.
Turning the traction control off in most cars is harder than accidentally flicking a switch and usually resets itself shortly afterward anyway.
If you experience this warning constantly then there may be a fault in the system and you should get it checked out.
Radar Cruise Control Warning
A speedometer with a car and arrow hovering above it would suggest that there is a problem with your radar cruise control system in your Mazda.
If the light remains on even after switching the car off seek help from a Mazda dealership.
Driver Attention Alert
An orange coffee cup lighting up on your Mazda dashboard is most probably the car telling you that the driver's attention alert system is faulty.
This system that monitors driving patterns to detect a driver that is less attentive is important for safety so get the car check out by a professional.
Electronic Parking Brake Warning
A letter "P" in a circle with an exclamation mark and 2 brake pads on the outside signals that your Mazda's electronic parking brake system is faulty.
This is a serious issue that needs to get sorted as quickly as possible, not being able to apply the parking brake can be dangerous during driving and when parking your car.
Check Engine Light
If the words "check engine" or an outline of a transmission flashes up persistently in orange (or red) on your Mazda's dashboard then that means your engine has detected a fault.
Try switching your car off and then on again and see if the problem persists (as random fluctuations on the sensors can set it off), if it does then seek help from a trained mechanic.
Master Warning Light
If your Mazda is displaying a solid (or the outline of a) triangle with an exclamation mark inside as a solid illumination of yellow/orange or even red then this is a master warning.
This is a serious fault that means your car is suffering from a fault and should be accompanied by a message - if not check with a trained mechanic to find out what is causing this.
Air-Bag Warning
A red side-on view of a passenger with a circle above them represents that there is a fault with one or more air-bags in your Mazda.
Seek assistance from a trained mechanic or Mazda dealership as soon as possible as you will have most probably lost the use of them in the case of a collision.
Brake Pedal Operation Warning
A red shoe pushing on a brake pedal in a Mazda would signal that the auto-hold brake function has stopped working and is usually followed by an audio alert.
If an audio alert is not accompanying the flashing at the same time then it could mean that the brake auto-hold system is struggling to hold the vehicle in place.
The brake auto-hold system is used to hold the car in place even if you take your foot off the brake pedal and is canceled when you touch the accelerator.
Brake Warning
If you see the words "BRAKE" in red with an exclamation mark in a circle with brake pads around it then there is probably something wrong with your Mazda's brakes.
This is most likely down to low brake fluid but could signify that all sorts of things could be wrong with your brakes.
Seek the help of a trained mechanic or Mazda dealership.
Battery Charging Warning
A symbol that looks like a battery (or a piece of Lego) with a positive and negative symbol inside of it suggests that there is a problem with the battery charging.
Pull over immediately and seek help as any of the vital systems in the car could fail due to a loss of power available to them.
Engine Overheating Warning
A thermometer sat on some waves lit up red on the dashboard is a sign that the engine is currently overheating.
The coolant in the engine may be responsible or if you have been accelerating hard that could be the culprit too.
Pull over to cool the engine down and if the problem persists then seek a trained mechanic or Mazda dealership.
Key Warning
If you see a red key with an exclamation mark through it stay on solidly then a fault has been detected in the key-less entry system.
This will most probably affect the key-less start system too if the key is not detected so keep that in mind.
Seek help from a Mazda dealership as soon as possible.
Oil Pressure Light
A solid oil can with a dripping oil symbol on your Mazda dashboard would suggest that the car is experiencing low oil pressure.
This could be due to a leak or burning of the oil but is also likely to be a fault in the engine somewhere.
After checking the oil level and restarting the car the warning should go away - if not contact a Mazda Repairer.
Seat Belt Reminder
A red light showing a passenger with bands across them is to let you know that an occupant has not fastened their seat-belt.
The system measures weight on each seat in the car to detect a passenger sat there so any cargo/luggage could be considered as a passenger.
If the warning light persists even without any weight on the seats and/or seat-belts fasted seek a trained mechanic.
About Mazda
Before they produced automobiles, Mazda (known at the time as Toyo Cork Kogyo Co) was producing cork.
They started out in 1920 in Hiroshima, Japan and quickly moved into producing factory machinery for other companies.
By 1931 the company created its first powered vehicle, a rickshaw called the Mazda-Go.
During World War 2 they produced weaponry for the Japanese military but quickly got back to automobiles and motorcycles after the war ended.
They expanded their line of vehicles and specialized in smaller models that sold well in their local market.
In the 1960s they refined the Wankel rotary engine as a way of pushing themselves apart from the other Japanese automakers.
This helped Mazda stand out with their lightweight cars sporting new lightweight Wankel engines that could achieve the same amount of power as their heavier competitors.
During the 1970s the company partnered with American automaker Ford, this fizzled out by 2015 as the company sold off its stock due to troubles in its home market.
You can see this partnership in work as the Mazda 121 in some markets is actually the Ford Fiesta.
In 2015 Mazda partnered up with Toyota instead in order to share alternative-fuel technology and invest together in new assembly plants around the world.
You can find many of the same warning lights across the Mazda and Ford range of models due to the sharing of technology during these popular decades.
You can even find similarities in the other Ford brands that have been owned by the American giant such as Land Rover and Jaguar at various times too – sporting similar dashboard symbols in the instrument cluster.
- Models: 13