Nissan Dashboard Warning Lights: Meanings and Symbols

When one of your Nissan’s dashboard warning lights turns on suddenly, it might be aggravating. In case you see a light on your Nissan’s dash and can’t tell what the symbol means, or aren’t sure what could potentially cause it, we’ve got you covered. Here’s a list of Nissan’s warning dashboard lights and what they indicate.

Yellow vs. Red Dashboard Warning Lights

Examining the color of the warning light helps give some guidance as to how serious the problem could be. The most critical warning lights are red and indicate that your model needs to be worked on by a Nissan-certified service center. Yellow lights, such as the check engine symbol, could be a minor or major problem. In some cases, a certain light might be orange or yellow, or orange or red, just depending on the car in question. Let’s get more specific about which yellow and red warning lights might appear on your dash.

Common Nissan Dashboard Warning Light Symbols & Meanings

Here are the most common dashboard lights you may see while driving your Nissan around Streetsboro.

Maintenance Lights

Tire pressure: Tires need a certain amount of air for proper traction and efficiency. If your tire pressure is too low, you might see a symbol that looks like an orange exclamation point in a bowl.
Check engine: This light will either say “Check Engine” or show a blocky yellow symbol that looks like part of an engine. This can turn on for many reasons, some as serious as engine failure, so it’s wise to visit a service center or get a code reader plugged in.
Battery charge warning: This yellow or red indicator resembles a car battery. It means that yours has a dangerously low charge, and if it comes on even after charging your battery, it may be time for a new one.
Engine oil pressure: The engine oil pressure warning light indicates that you are low on oil or your sensor is not working properly. It resembles a red oil can.
Engine temperature: This light looks like a red thermostat and means the engine is overheating, so stop driving immediately.
Windshield wiper: This light, which resembles a yellow or orange windshield with a wiper, indicates that your windshield washer fluid level is low.
Transmission warning: This light is usually a red exclamation point in a gear-like circle. It indicates serious issues with the transmission, usually overheating, and it may be accompanied by the engine temperature light. Driving a car that overheats will usually just make the problem worse, so get your Nissan towed, if need be, to a service center in Streetsboro.

Braking and Steering Lights

ABS: This yellow indicator shows that your anti-lock braking system is turned off or not working properly.
Brake: This red or yellow light, which is labeled “BRAKE” or a circle with an exclamation point, indicates that your braking system requires servicing.
Master Warning: The master warning light, which looks like a yellow exclamation point within a triangle, indicates that one or more of the automatic warning systems are malfunctioning.
Power Steering: This symbol contains a yellow “PS,” or a symbol of a steering wheel with an exclamation point, and it indicates issues with the power steering system.

Other Warning Lights

Fuel Warning Light: If you’ve reached very low gasoline levels, a red gas pump icon will appear. This means you have anywhere from 30 to 60 miles left before you run completely dry and the vehicle stops. You should try to keep at least a quarter of your tank full at all times, as a rule.
Seat Belt Warning: This yellow symbol of a person wearing a seat belt shows that one of the car’s occupants is not wearing theirs.
Supplemental air bag warning: This red or yellow symbol resembles a person with their seat belt on and a sphere in front of their lap. It indicates that your supplemental air bags might not be able to deploy properly in an impact.
Front passenger airbag warning: This symbol looks like the supplemental air bag light, only with the sphere crossed out and a number two in the corner. It means the same thing, just for one or more of the front passenger airbags.

Each of these lights is pretty straightforward about what’s going on and how to respond. Even if you just get a mild warning that shouldn’t be there, like a low fuel warning despite being on a full tank, we recommend taking your Nissan in to our service center and getting the full story.

Why You Shouldn’t Ignore Nissan Dashboard Warning Lights

They Save You Money

Warning indicators are designed to detect and alert you to potential problems that might require expensive repairs down the line. Pay attention to these lights and you’ll catch a potentially expensive issue, like a transmission replacement, before it ever has a chance to occur. Regular brake fluid checks and pad replacements, as another example, help you avoid crashes and save you from having to pay for brake repairs.

They Keep You Protected

Lights indicating issues with safety features like the airbags or driver assistance technology will help you keep your Nissan safe. Your vehicle’s condition and resale value, not to mention your health, are better protected when every safety feature is working.

Nissan Has Good Warranties

New Nissans come with a three-year/36,000-mile limited warranty, plus a five-year limited powertrain warranty. Even a used Nissan or certified pre-owned model will have a portion of the warranty coverage remaining, so why not make use of it? If you see a warning light indicating a problem that your warranty covers, you can get it fixed at no charge.

Enjoy free Wi-Fi, cable TV, and self-serve coffee in our air-conditioned waiting area when you visit Nissan of Streetsboro. Apart from a wider range of services compared to other Streestboro dealerships, we can provide quality loaner vehicles and offer other benefits like free car washes. If you’re facing a sudden roadside breakdown, call us and our towing trucks will be at your side in minutes. Consider Nissan of Streetsboro the singular place to not only buy a new Nissan, but also protect and enjoy it.