Kia Dashboard Warning Lights

Modern vehicles have more complex systems than ever before. Systems like electronic brake force distribution, electronic stability control, adaptive front lighting, and more all use advanced technology to run. They also have sensors built-in to help alert drivers when the systems malfunction, usually with a dashboard warning light. But, do you know what those warning lights mean?

Your Kia might have 60 or more warning and indicator lights, all telling you something. Some lights indicate an active system, others a potential problem, and some point to a severe issue. Understanding what your Kia lights mean will help you avoid potential breakdowns and costly repairs. That’s why we created this list of warning lights and what they mean, to help you keep your Kia operating at its peak.

What the Colors Mean

Your indicator lights have three colors: red, yellow, and green. Think of them as a traffic light. Red means stop. You have a severe problem that needs immediate attention. Your Kia illuminates a red indicator advising you a primary system has failed in some way. Ignoring a red warning light could result in a breakdown with very costly repairs.

Yellow lights refer to a system that has experienced a problem or a partial failure. In some way, a system has been compromised. So, as you would with a yellow stoplight, you should proceed with caution. If you get a red or yellow warning light, immediately bring your Kia into Kia of Streetsboro’s service center. Our service center technicians have the diagnostic tools to identify the problem and fix it quickly. 

Green lights typically mean you activated a system on your Kia. Go ahead and enjoy your ride and your day. Every warning indicator illuminates upon startup. Once the engine starts, the warning lights go out. If a warning or indicator light remains on, you could have a problem.

Engine Oil Pressure Warning Light

This light illuminates red and looks like an old-timey oil can or those genie lamps from children’s stories. When illuminated, your Kia’s engine oil pressure has dropped to an unsafe level. Continuing to drive with this light on will result in serious engine problems. You should bring your Kia in for service immediately. If you happen to be close to our Classic Drive service center in Streetsboro, you can try driving. Otherwise, we recommend you shut off your engine and call us to dispatch a tow truck.

Engine Oil Level Warning Light

This warning indicator looks like the oil described above, except it has wavy lines beneath it. This light means your oil has dropped to an unsafe level when activated. It could indicate your engine has an oil leak. You should stop immediately and check your oil level. If possible, add the recommended oil and fill to the fill line. The oil light should go off after driving approximately 50 miles if you don’t leak. If you aren’t sure, bring your Kia to our Streetsboro service center and have one of our technicians take a look.

Engine Coolant Temperature Warning Light

Another red light looks like a thermometer with wavy lines beneath it. This light indicates your engine has reached a high, unsafe operating temperature. You should shut off your Kia immediately and contact our service center or your roadside assistance provider. Continuing to drive with this light active could cause severe damage to your engine.

Charging System Warning Light

Your charging system warning light looks like a red battery with a plus and minus symbol on it. When the light illuminates, your charging system has malfunctioned. It could mean your battery no longer holds a charge, or it could indicate your alternator has stopped charging the battery. It would help if your battery and charging system were inspected immediately to determine the cause.

Electric Power Steering Warning Light

You could see one of two warning lights depending on your Kia model. One light looks like a red steering wheel with an exclamation point on the right. The other illuminates the letters “EPS” in red. This light will blink when working properly or stay solid when a problem occurs. You may not have the power to assist you in steering. We recommend you bring your Kia in for service immediately.

Parking Brake and Brake Fluid Warning Light

You also might see one of two red warning lights if you have a problem with your brake system. One light looks like parenthesis around a circle with an exclamation point inside. The other light looks like two smaller versions of the above with Brake illuminated beneath. Either way, your brake system has detected a problem. It could indicate your brake fluid level has dropped or something else has malfunctioned within the system. You should schedule service immediately to determine and fix the problem.

Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) Warning Light

Your ABS warning light represents one of the more critical yellow warning lights. This light has parenthesis around a circle with the letter “ABS” inside. Your ABS works by pulsating the brakes when it detects a potential locking of your brakes in emergency braking situations. The pulsating pressure keeps your Kia from going into a skid and losing control. When illuminated, this indicates a malfunction in your ABS. Your brakes will still work but without the ABS functionality. It would be best if you had our service center inspect your ABS immediately.

Electronic Stability Control (ESC) Warning Light

Another important yellow warning light is for the ESC system, which helps you maintain directional control under adverse driving conditions. The letters ESP illuminate in yellow and blink when actively working. If the light remains solid, the system has experienced a malfunction. It would help if the system were checked immediately to ensure safe operating conditions.

At Kia of Streetsboro, we understand the critical role warning lights play in the safe operation of your Kia. We hope you found this list informative. For a complete list of your Kia’s warning lights and what they mean, you should check your owner’s manual. If you have questions or have an active warning light, we encourage you to contact our service center right away. One of our friendly, knowledgeable technicians can explain the problem. In most cases, we can fix your issue in less than 30 minutes, getting you back to your busy life fast.