What Do Mercedes-Benz Dashboard Warning Symbols Mean?

Some of the warning lights that flash up on your dashboard, may be a cause for alarm and require immediate attention, such as the check engine light, but others such as the fog lamp indicator, are not as grave. Nonetheless, understanding the various Mercedes-Benz dashboard warning symbols is maintaining your vehicle’s condition, and to protecting your safety. As such, find your most common Mercedes-Benz dashboard warning symbols explained below.

Traffic Light System

Regardless of the model of your Mercedes-Benz, the warning lights on your Mercedes-Benz dashboard all obey a traffic light colour system. Green signifies that your system is working correctly or currently in use, while yellow signifies that something is working incorrectly, and you should take extra precaution, and check your vehicle out as soon as possible. Most importantly, red signifies that there is a grave problem that could potentially cause harm. As such, you should stop your vehicle as soon as it is safe to do so.

Parking Brake and Brake Fluid Warning Light

This red warning symbol indicates that your brake fluid level is low. If the ABS warning light is also illuminated, this indicates that the braking system has malfunctioned and may be working incorrectly. As your brakes are one of the most critical safety features of your Mercedes-Benz, it is vital that you stop driving as soon as it is safe to do so, and have your brake fluid levels checked out by a service team immediately.

Check Engine Warning Light

This yellow warning symbol can indicate a variety of faults, such as your engine facing issues with fuel or exhaust. Continuing to drive could cause your vehicle to run the risk of exacerbating the damage to your engine. As such, you should have your engine checked as soon as you can.

Power Steering Warning Light

This red warning symbol signifies that the power steering is impaired. You should drive to your nearest showroom to have it checked out. Otherwise, your vehicle would become increasingly difficult to manoeuvre, thereby requiring more force to operate the steering wheel. Hence, you should take precaution. 

Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) Warning Light

This yellow warning symbol indicates that the Anti-Lock Brake System is deactivated. Although it is safe to continue driving, you will not get the response of emergency braking or traction control. As such, you should proceed with caution and have your braking system checked. However, if your ABS warning light is illuminated together with  the brake warning light, it could indicate that the brake system is failing you, and thus, should stop driving immediately.

Airbag / Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) Warning Light

This red light indicates that the SRS is malfunctioning. This light should not be ignored, as if the airbag system is malfunctioning, it may not deploy in the event of an accident, or may even be deployed at any point and lead to  a crash. Given that the SRS is a safety feature that is of paramount importance, it is advisable that you have your vehicle checked immediately.

Now that you have seen and understood some of the most common Mercedes-Benz dashboard warning lights, we hope that you will be on your way to a safer driving experience, and to be more aware of the vital actions to take in the event that the warning symbols are illuminated.