Warning lights
Red brake warning light on: what it means and what to do
The red brake warning light (a circle with an exclamation mark or a P) means the parking brake is on or there is a problem in the brake system, such as low fluid. If it is not the parking brake, stop as soon as it is safe.
Stop as soon as it is safeWarning lights
Reviewed by Daniel Morales, founder of Reprorace SL, on
Is it serious? Can I keep driving?
Do not keep driving. With low brake fluid or a distribution fault, braking can become longer or uneven without warning. Check the parking brake first; if it is fully off and the light stays on, do not drive and call for assistance.
A careful, general answer: only someone who inspects the car can say whether it is safe to drive. When in doubt, stop somewhere safe and call for assistance.
Most likely causes
- Parking brake: applied or not fully released, electronic ones included; its switch can fail too.
- Low brake fluid: from pad wear or from a leak, which is the dangerous case.
- Worn brake pads: on cars that use the same light for pad wear.
- Electronic brake force distribution fault: if it comes on with the ABS light, front-to-rear distribution may not work.
- Level or pressure sensor: a faulty sensor gives a false warning, but it has to be checked.
Listed from more to less common in general; on your car they may be different. A fault-code reading and a check at the garage confirm which one it is.
To understand it better: What does a yellow warning light mean compared with a red one? Can I diagnose my car myself? How often should you run diagnostics on your car?
Car system: Brakes, ABS and ESC
What you can check yourself
Make sure the parking brake is fully released.
With the car parked, check the brake fluid reservoir: the level should sit between the minimum and maximum marks.
Look for damp patches near the wheels or under the pedal.
Do not just top up: if the level has dropped, the garage has to find out why.
Safe checks only: with the engine off and cold whenever you look under the hood, without taking anything apart and without touching hot or moving parts.
How the ECO-LITE helps diagnose it
Plugged into the OBD socket, the ECO-LITE reads the fault codes of the control units that answer, with the freeze-frame data captured when the fault happened, and shows live data on your phone or computer. With your permission, your garage can see them remotely before you bring the car in.
What to look at here: codes from the ABS control unit (C and U), brake pedal switch status and brake pressure, if the car reports it.
Frequently asked questions
Can I drive if the pedal feels normal?
It is not advisable: a leak can get worse suddenly. If it is not the parking brake, call for assistance or have it checked before driving.
How is it different from the ABS light?
The amber ABS light means the anti-lock help is missing; the red brake light warns of a problem in the brake system itself. Both together are more serious.
How often should brake fluid be changed?
Your car's service schedule says so; over time it absorbs moisture and loses effectiveness even if the level is fine.
Keep reading
- Brakes, ABS and ESC: how they work and what fails
- Soft, long or sinking brake pedal: what to do
- ABS or ESP warning light on: what it means and what to do
- Noise when braking: what a squeal or a metallic grinding means
- Car symptoms: what they mean and what to do
- Check engine light on: what to do
- How to read and clear your car's fault codes
- OBD fault codes: what each one means