Warning lights
Electric parking brake warning light on: what to do
The yellow electric parking brake light warns of a fault in the system: the brake may not apply, may not release or may work on one wheel only. It is usually down to the battery voltage, a caliper motor or the switch.
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Reviewed by Daniel Morales, founder of Reprorace SL, on
Is it serious? Can I keep driving?
Carefully, and only as far as the garage. If the brake has released and the car stops normally with the pedal, you can drive carefully to a shop. Parking is the tricky part: do not rely on the parking brake, leave it in gear or in P and look for a level spot. If the brake stays applied, do not force the car to move.
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
- Low battery voltage: the caliper motors draw a lot of current and the system protects itself if the voltage drops.
- Rear caliper motor: a worn or damp motor stops clamping or releasing one wheel.
- Parking brake switch: a failing or sticking button sends inconsistent commands.
- Pads or caliper after a brake job: if the system was not put in service mode to change the pads, it can be left out of adjustment.
- Rear wheel wiring: connectors near the wheel suffer from water, salt and movement.
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: How can you tell if the 12 V battery is failing? What does a pending, stored or permanent code mean?
Car system: Brakes, ABS and ESC
What you can check yourself
Check whether the battery light also came on or the car was slow to start.
With the car stopped on level ground, apply and release the brake and listen for both rear wheels working.
If the rear pads or rotors were changed recently, tell the shop.
Park on level ground, in gear or in P, with the wheels turned toward the curb on a slope.
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.
Related fault codes
- C0609Park brake switch, circuit: malfunction
- C060ELeft park brake actuator: performance or stuck off
- C0613Right park brake actuator: performance or stuck off
- C0616Park brake control module, control circuit: performance
- P0562System voltage: too low
Generic codes that often come with this symptom. Seeing one does not confirm the cause: it is where the diagnosis starts.
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: battery voltage, codes from the parking brake control unit (caliper motors and switch) and network codes.
Frequently asked questions
Can I release the electric parking brake if it does not respond?
Many cars have an emergency release procedure described in the owner's manual. If you do not know it, call for assistance rather than forcing it.
Why does it fail after changing the pads?
On many cars the calipers have to be retracted with a service function before the job and set up afterward. If that was skipped, the system can report a fault.
Will the car pass inspection with this light on?
A brake warning light that stays on is usually a defect at the inspection (the MOT in the UK). Fix it beforehand.
Keep reading
- Brakes, ABS and ESC: how they work and what fails
- Red brake warning light on: what it means and what to do
- ABS or ESP warning light on: what it means and what to do
- Battery warning light on: what it means and what to do
- 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