Toyota Warning Lights
Toyota Models
(click your model)
Toyota 4Runner
Toyota 86
Toyota Avalon
Toyota Aygo
Toyota Aygo X
Toyota bZ4X
Toyota C-HR
Toyota Camry
Toyota Corolla
Toyota Corolla Cross
Toyota Crown
Toyota FJ Cruiser
Toyota Highlander/Kluger
Toyota Hilux
Toyota Land Cruiser
Toyota Matrix
Toyota Mirai
Mazda MX-30
Toyota Prado
Toyota Prius
Toyota RAV4
Toyota Sequoia
Toyota Sienna
Toyota Tacoma
Toyota Tundra
Toyota Yaris
Warning Lights Explained
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 Toyota 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.
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 Toyota.
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 Toyota 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 Toyota 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 Toyota 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 after reinflating the tires then you may have a fault in the system, or need to reset it (which you can find a guide for Toyota models here).
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 Toyota 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 car.
If the light remains on even after switching the car off seek help from a Toyota dealership.
Driver Attention Alert
An orange coffee cup lighting up on your Toyota's 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 Toyota'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 Toyota'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 Toyota 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.
Brake Pedal Operation Warning
A red shoe pushing on a brake pedal in a Toyota 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.
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 Toyota dealership as soon as possible.
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 Toyota car with fuel does not rectify this then seek 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 Toyota car believes the gas cap is loose.
Pullover 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.
Security Warning
An icon showing the front of a car with a lock overlapping it represents the security warning indicator in a Toyota.
This warning can be quite vague as it can cover various security systems in different Toyota models.
It could be as simple as a low battery in your keyfob all the way through to a fault in your immobilizer.
Seat Belt Reminder
A simple reminder icon that appears as a passenger with a set of seat belts around them is telling you that an occupant isn’t wearing their safety belt.
The car knows this by detecting weight on one or more car seats using a pressure pad underneath the seat.
If this light persists with no one sat on any of the seats and you have no cargo resting on them either then you may have a fault somewhere.
Airbag Warning
Seeing an icon featuring the side-profile of an occupant with a large circle in front of them signifies a problem with the airbags.
It will illuminate red to show the significance of this issue and requires immediate attention from the driver.
Seek help from a Toyota dealership as several of the safety systems built into your car may not work in the event of an accident.
Power Steering Warning
What looks like a steering wheel with an exclamation mark next to it is probably a power steering alert.
You may have a faulty power steering pump or an issue with the fluids that transfer the power.
Try turning the car off and then on to see if the error remains, if it does seek professional help for your Toyota.
Engine Temperature Warning
A red illuminated icon showing a thermometer floating in a liquid is evidence of an overheating engine.
This may be temporary and by stopping and letting your Toyota cool down you could get rid of it.
If it persists then it is best to stop driving your car and let a mechanic look at it to avoid further damage.
Oil Warning
What looks like an old-fashioned oil lamp with a drip of oil coming from it could be a warning that you have an issue with the oil level in the engine or it needs replacing.
The severity of this can range from a temporary low pressure at the point of the sensor all the way through to a broken pump.
Try turning the car off and then on again to see if it persists, if it does then seek a trained Toyota mechanic.
Sometimes the car is simply telling you to change the oil in the engine because you have passed a certain number of miles since the last service.
Once you have changed the oil in the engine you will need to reset this light, which you can learn how to do here.
Brake Warning
An icon showing the word BRAKE in capital letters illuminated red signifies a problem with the brakes.
It could be as simple as the parking brake (or handbrake as it’s known in some regions) being left on while attempting to drive off.
On the other end of the spectrum, it could be suggesting that a problem with the brake system has occurred and if this is the case seek professional help.
Charge System Warning
If your Toyota has detected an issue with the power from the battery not making it to the electrical system this warning will appear.
It looks like a battery from the side with the positive and negative icons inside of it, most likely illuminated red.
The cause of this can range from a dying (or not sufficiently charged) battery through to a faulty alternator or even a problem with the wiring.
About Toyota
Toyota has a wide range of warning lights that are designed to alert the driver when there is an issue with the vehicle.
These lights are divided into two groups, those that illuminate when there is an engine problem and those that indicate a problem with other parts of the car.
For example, if your battery or alternator needs to be replaced you will see dashboard warning lights come on with an icon that looks like those parts.
If the warning lights are for your engine, they may indicate that there is a problem with one of its components – indicated by what looks like a transmission.
These warning symbols can sometimes be hard to understand but luckily on this page, you can find them listed alongside their meanings.
History of Toyota
In 1933, Toyota started as a spinoff from a business called Toyoda Automatic Loom Works which was founded by Sakichi Toyoda.
The company initially produced automatic looms but soon started to introduce other products such as steam engines and automobiles.
In 1937, the founder’s son Kiichiro Toyoda, took over his father’s position as president of the company and emphasized quality.
Under Kiichiro Toyoda’s leadership, Toyota Motor Company grew to become one of the largest automobile manufacturers in the world.
Best-Selling Toyota Car
The best-selling Toyota car right now is the Camry. It was the top-selling car in America for three years in a row.
Camrys are practical, reliable, safe and affordable family cars.
The Camry also has great performance and fuel economy.
- Models: 26