Jeep Dashboard Symbols & Warning Lights Explained

You're driving down the highway when one of your Jeep dashboard symbols suddenly turns on. The problems indicated by these lights can range from mild to severe. However, it's always important to pay attention to them. After all, being low on gas or engine oil can become a much more expensive and time-consuming problem if the matter isn't addressed relatively quickly. That being said, it helps to know what your dashboard is trying to tell you so you can take the appropriate action. The following page dives into Jeep dashboard symbols' meaning.

Jeep Dashboard Symbols and Warnings Cheat Sheet

A warning light is cause for concern, but figuring out what that light means shouldn't have to be difficult. To help you quickly diagnose your warning light signal and know what steps to take to fix the problem, we've developed this handy Jeep warning light cheat sheet. Once you've cracked the code, make an appointment with the Matt Bowers CDJR service department to get back on the road in no time. From check engine lights to tire pressure monitoring alerts, our highly trained service staff can find and fix any issues with your Jeep vehicle.

A Brief Guide to Jeep Warning Lights1

Master Warning Light

If you see a triangle with an exclamation point in its center glowing, one or more problems have been detected. Usually, you will see another warning light illuminated to help give you context. For example, this and the battery symbol might be on at once, suggesting a charging issue. However, get your car looked over soon to identify and treat the faulty components.

Oil Warning

This picture of a dripping oil can will light up if you have low engine oil pressure. This can result from a leak, the use of the wrong engine oil, or an old oil filter that is too clogged to let oil pass through the system correctly. Oil issues can severely damage your engine, which is why most owner's manuals recommend getting a synthetic oil change every 7,500 miles or so. If this light comes on, you should visit a service department sooner to avoid shortening the life span of one of your vehicle's most essential components through overheating or poor lubrication.

Tire Pressure Warning

Your tires are the parts of your car to endure direct contact with the road. They help you move along smoothly, and their treads provide traction on slick surfaces. They can also assist with bringing you to a safe stop. When they experience low pressure, it makes it harder for you to control your car's movements, increases your stopping response time, and can boost your chance of blowouts. To prevent this, don't ignore a steadily shining light; stop and assess a flashing one, which may indicate a more serious issue. You can often restore tire pressure on your own. However, you may need to see a professional if there is a tire leak or your car needs new tires altogether.

Check Engine Light

A variety of problems could result in this light illuminating - from failing spark plugs to sensor issues to a worn-down catalytic converter. Visit our service department to find out what's wrong and to get it repaired before it can jeopardize your safety on the road or your vehicle's longevity. Pull over to the side of the road if this light is blinking.

Loose Gas Cap Warning

While leaving your gas cap loose after filling up might not seem like a big deal, it can cause fuel to evaporate, dirt to enter your gas, or trigger false warnings in your emissions systems. Therefore, if you see this light, which looks like either a standalone gas cap or a gas cap pictured with a car, tighten it up. If your Check Engine light has also been blazing, fixing this issue could also cause that light to turn off.

Brake Warning

Your brakes help you stop ahead of obstacles and intersections, making them essential for keeping your family safe. A warning sign reading "BRAKE" in all capital letters will come on if they are wearing down too thin or are compromised in some other way, so you can get replacements. Similarly, the letters ABS will light up if you have a problem with your anti-lock braking system.

Battery Warning

Daily life is full of charging things - from your phone to your laptop. Usually, your car battery does a good job of charging itself during your drives. However, some circumstances, like a faulty alternator, can cause an issue. You might also drain your battery if you don't drive your car consistently enough. When you see a Jeep dashboard warning that looks like a battery with positive and negative symbols, turn to our team for help. In some cases, you might just need the battery to be cleaned or topped up. In others, a replacement may be necessary.

Low Fuel Warning

This alert that looks like a gas pump should tell you it's time to start hunting for a gas station. While this is often a frustrating situation, the warning will help you avoid coming to a stop in the middle of the road. The Jeep brand is also conceptualizing all-electric vehicles that can help you avoid this problem altogether in the future.

Fuel Shut-Off Alert

This is a very similar-looking symbol to the last one but usually has a slash through it, an exclamation mark beside it, or both. It means that something has happened which has cut off your vehicle's supply of fuel for reaching the areas it needs to get to. This can be the result of an accident. However, whether you got into a collision or it happened spontaneously, it's something that shouldn't be ignored.

Engine Temperature Indicator

This picture is of a thermometer but can resemble a sailboat out at sea. Alternatively, it may appear as a sign that says "Hot Coolant Temp." Coolant is supposed to help leach heat from your hard-working engine. If your engine temperature gets too hot, regardless, this light will turn on as an indication to pull over and let the system cool down. Taking a break at this junction can protect you from serious engine repairs.

Low Coolant Indicator

This box-like symbol may or may not have a downward arrow contained within it. This indicates that you need more coolant to prevent similar problems to those described in the last section. Coolant is supposed to flow as part of a closed system. Therefore, if your levels are low, you likely have a leak that should be addressed immediately.

Transmission Fault Warning

This exclamation mark inside a circle or sun is a general warning that there is something wrong with your transmission. Have our team investigate its meaning ASAP.

Transmission Oil Temperature Indicator

This symbol can look like a thermometer inside a sun or read "A/T OIL TEMP." Overheating is a problem that can affect your transmission as well. Pull over and give your car time to cool down. This warning is especially likely to pop up if you are doing some heavy towing, which is one reason not to tow more than your vehicle's specified limit. If this symbol does not disappear after a break, come see our team.

Air Bag Warning

Your car's airbags are one of its most crucial safety components, and you should never take the risk of driving if there is something wrong with them. Therefore, take your car into an automotive shop immediately if you see this symbol - which looks like a giant balloon in front of a sitting figure's face - turn red or orange.

Electric Power Steering Error

This image of a steering wheel with an exclamation mark next to it indicates a problem with your electric power steering system. Pull over, turn off your car, and then restart it again to see if it goes away on its own. If not, drive your vehicle to a professional. You might notice you have a harder time steering until this problem is attended to.

Immobilizer Fault Indicator

This symbol most often looks like a key inside of a car. There are security measures in place to protect your car from theft. When this symbol is lit, it is telling you that the ignition switch is locked. Usually, this is easy to rectify. Turning off the vehicle and then restarting it with your keyfob should get you back on the road.

Electric Park Brake Warning

This symbol can take many different forms, including a lightning bolt inside a circle, a P inside of a circle inside of another partial circle, and an exclamation point inside a circle with a wrench beside it, among others. If this vehicle flashes or remains lit while your car is in motion, there is something wrong with your electric park brakes. You will be able to drive safely even under these circumstances, but with a faulty parking brake you should avoid parking on hills or other uneven areas until you can see our team.

Low Washer Fluid Indicator

The importance of washer fluid can be easily underestimated, but it helps you maintain visibility, whether you need to wipe bugs off of your windshield in summer or road salt off your windscreen in winter. When this light turns on - looking like a fan with a spray of water bursting out of it - make sure to top up at your next opportunity.

Electric Throttle Control Warning

This symbol appears as a lightning bolt framed on both sides by outward-facing curves, letting you know that there is a problem with this system, which is what reads the pressure you apply to your car's accelerator and is, thus, tied to many other crucial systems. Sometimes, turning the car off and back on again can reset the system and get rid of the light, but if it persists, have it investigated.

What To Know About Jeep Dashboard Lights

These are just a few of the Jeep dashboard lights you may see when you get behind the wheel of one of these impressive vehicles. Some of the symbols may look a little different or not be there at all, depending on what model and year of the vehicle you're driving. In addition, many new cars will have additional warnings based on their advanced safety or driver-assistance features. These symbols include:

Driver Attention Alert

You might have a symbol that looks like a cup of coffee. Your Jeep vehicle may have a Driver Attention system in place that's supposed to monitor your driving patterns to assess how actively you are responding to the road. If there's a problem with this technology, this warning will let you know.

Forward Collision Alert

Your car can use sensors to calculate how close you are to another vehicle and warn you of an imminent collision, usually by making a noise. If a symbol that looks like a car about to bump into another car with the word "OFF" below it lights up, it is letting you know that your forward-collision monitoring system is turned off. If you see a crashing-car symbol with an exclamation by it, this could mean that this system is on the fritz.

Lane Sense Indicators

A picture of a vehicle drifting into another lane, especially when accompanied by a repetitive noise, likely means you are drifting out of your lane and have not turned on your turning signal to indicate a legal merge. However, if a version of this symbol with an exclamation mark beside it turns out, it may be warning you that your lane-keep assist system isn't working.

4WD Alert

This symbol will say "4WD" and typically light up gold. Read your owner's manual to determine its precise meaning. In some cases, it could just mean that your 4WD system is in use. In others, it represents a malfunction. If the light says "SERV 4WD," then this means you need car service.

Adaptive Cruise Control Indicators

A green image of a car and a dial or green text reading "ACC" means that your adaptive cruise control is in use. However, these symbols with an exclamation mark by them in orange mean that there is a problem with its functionality.

Tow/Haul Indicator Lights

If you have a symbol that looks like a picture of a trailer or the word "Tow" or "Tow/Haul," this just means your car is in tow mode. Often, these symbols will be in green or yellow. If you see an image of a towed trailer with an exclamation mark over it or the trailer is contained within a circle with a slash through it, there is a problem with your towing system. It could be an electrical issue or a problem with your Jeep vehicle's suspension. Regardless, it needs to get checked out.

Electronic Stability Control Indicator

If you see an image of a car with wavy lines spreading out from behind it flash, this is an indication that your vehicle's stability control system is in use. This often comes into play if you are driving on slick surfaces. If you see a similar symbol to this with an exclamation point or a wrench beside it or if the image of the car has a slash mark through it, the system needs to be inspected by a professional.

Green for Go: Miscellaneous Jeep Dashboard Lights

You might also have the following green Jeep dash lights indicating that certain systems are on:

  • Turn signal: This looks like two arrows, one pointing left and the other right.
  • Fog lamps: This symbol looks a bit like a slice of green apple or a potato chip with three lines emanating from it, with a squiggle running through the beams.
  • Auto high beams: This picture of a headlight has five beams coming out of it and an A symbol in the corner.
  • Park lamps: This symbol shows two half-circle lights facing away from each other with beams shining to the left and right.
  • Brake hold: This can look like an A in a circle, an H in a circle, an A in a circle with the word "Hold" below it, or several other variants.
  • Grade/Terrain assist: This looks like an image of an SUV either on a highly sloped or rough surface. Your car may feature both.

If your vehicle has an electronically controlled transmission, you might also have different driving modes available to you, allowing you to customize your car's responses to different circumstances. As such, words like "SNOW," "SPORT," "TRACK," or "CUSTOM" may light up green to confirm for you which mode you are actively using.

If you're not sure what a symbol means, you can often find pictures of various ones and their meanings in your vehicle's owner's manual. You can also ask a Jeep service technician for assistance with identifying them.

Visit Our Service Department Today

It's often a running gag on TV shows - for a character to notice one of their dashboard lights is on and to steadily ignore it for days or seasons. However, it's much less of a laughing matter in real life. Your car is an intricately designed machine that is meant to get you from Point A to Point B efficiently, comfortably, and safely. As reliable as Jeep vehicles are, they still require regular maintenance, and unexpected circumstances can also cause them to need repairs to operate at their best.

There is no appointment needed for oil changes, brake pad replacements, and tire rotations at recommended intervals. This will preserve your investment in your new or used car and help you avoid higher costs down the line. You should also stop by to see us if one of your dashboard lights goes off or if you notice your car is behaving strangely. Our team will use onboard diagnostics to read the code for the error.

We practice efficiency and transparency at our professional Jeep service center, meaning we will let you know what the problem is and the most convenient way of resolving it before resetting your dashboard lights. With our help, your vehicle could potentially go for 200,000-300,000 miles. In addition, getting help when your car lets you know that it needs it can keep you within the terms of your Jeep vehicle warranties, saving you money on the repairs in question.

Frequently Asked Questions About Jeep Dashboard Symbols

Why is my engine light on in my Jeep vehicle?

Your Check Engine light will illuminate if your car's diagnostic system detects a problem related to the engine or related components. For example, you might have a problem with your emissions systems or the catalytic converter. While a steady Check Engine light should be taken seriously, blinking means the problem is more severe or immediate. Pull over and call for assistance.

What does the ESP BAS warning mean on a Jeep vehicle?

Your Jeep vehicle can come with Electronic Stability Control, which actively assesses how well your car is going in the direction you're steering it and can try to compensate if there's a problem. It may also have a Brake Assist system to help you stop in the event of an imminent forward collision. If there is a problem with either of these systems, this dashboard light will turn on.

What does the lightning bolt warning indicate on a Jeep vehicle?

This symbol is used for the Electronic Throttle Control Warning Light. Your electronic throttle control system is tied into how your car utilizes fuel, helping regulate how much goes where. If there is a problem with it, it can jeopardize your fuel efficiency and overall safety on the road. Therefore, having it checked out as soon as possible saves you in the long term.

1Not all dashboard warning lights displayed apply to all models.