Guide to Ford Dashboard Warning Lights and Indicators

Your dashboard warning lights can tell you a lot about your vehicle’s health.

Dashboard warning lights and indicators can keep you informed on the function of systems like Adaptive Cruise Control, alert you when your tire pressure is low, indicate when a door is ajar, and much more. A clear understanding of the dashboard warning lights and their meanings can help a lot when you get behind the wheel of your 2025 Ford Explorer and we want to help at Brandon Ford with a guide to Ford dashboard warning lights and indicators.

It can be difficult to understand the many symbols that light up your Ford's dashboard. These symbols can be the key to safe driving, and the first step in understanding these dashboard warning lights and indicators is to recognize what the different colors mean.

Most automakers use a color system for warning lights and indicators to define the importance of the indicator light. Red lights are warning lights that demand immediate attention and may indicate a serious issue or safety hazard — like low oil pressure, high engine temperatures, or an issue with the brake system. These issues may require you to stop the vehicle and schedule a service appointment as soon as possible. Yellow or Orange lights typically indicate a less critical concern — like a check engine light, low tire pressure, or an issue with the ABS — suggesting that the vehicle needs to be checked or serviced soon but can still be driven.

Green or Blue lights are informational and will confirm that a system is active and operating correctly — like your headlights, high beams, or cruise control — and don't typically indicate an issue with your vehicle. When you see a dashboard warning light or indicator you do not understand, the first thing to do is to check your Ford owner's manual for the specific meaning of any dashboard light — but understanding the general colors of indicator lights can help you quickly assess the issue.

Here is a better look at common Ford dashboard warning lights and indicators that you should be familiar with:

The Malfunction Indicator Lamp — or Check Engine Light — is a general vehicle warning light that can indicate potential issues with your vehicle’s emissions control system. This may be caused by a loose gas cap or an issue with an oxygen sensor, spark plug, spark plug coil, or the catalytic converter. When the Check Engine Light comes on, check with your local service department or mechanic.

The Engine Oil Warning Light is another dashboard warning light you need to understand. The Yellow or Orange warning light indicates an issue with your vehicle’s engine oil system. The common issues that can cause this light to come on are low oil pressure, high oil temperature, or a bad oil pressure sensor. When your Engine Oil Warning Light is on, it is important that you check with your mechanic and schedule an appointment.

Low tire pressure can be dangerous for you and your passengers and the Low Tire Pressure Warning Light will indicate when you may need to add air to your tires. This symbol is straightforward and works in tandem with the Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) to indicate when one or more of your tires are underinflated.

The Electronic Stability Control System — known as AdvanceTrac in your Ford — is a safety system that monitors wheel speed, steering angle, and acceleration to prevent slides and skids when you get behind the wheel by reducing understeer and oversteer. The Stability Control Warning Light indicates an issue with the system, a lack of traction, a lack of stability, or a bad sensor. This light can be flashing or steady.

Knowing when your cruise control or adaptive cruise control is set is important to your safety. The Cruise Control Indicator Light in your Ford will indicate when the system is on and maintaining speed. When the system is on, the indicator light will be Green. When the light is White, it indicates that the system is on and the speed is ready to be set. Orange or Yellow indicates that there is a potential issue with your cruise control system.

Do you love to get a little mud on the tires? Ford Trail Control is an innovative system in 4WD vehicles that allows you to set a low speed when you are on the trail. This system will maintain speed like cruise control on the trail, allowing you to focus on navigating obstacles on the trail. Trail Control speeds can be set from 1 mph to 20 mph. The Trail Control Indicator Light will indicate when the Trail Control system is in operation.

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We hope this guide to Ford dashboard warning lights and indicators created by Brandon Ford has helped you build a better understanding of how your Ford car, truck, or SUV operates and avoid any issues in the future. Apply for credit approval today to get behind the wheel of a brand-new 2025 Ford F-150 in Tampa, FL!