Warning lights of the Fiat Tipo: what each light means
In the Fiat Tipo, the documented faults light up 4 warning lights on the dashboard. The most frequent: engine warning light (6 faults), DPF warning light (2 faults) and oil warning light (1 fault). Oil warning light calls for stopping as soon as possible.
Which warning lights the faults of the Fiat Tipo trigger
Red ones first, and those that call for stopping. Below each warning light, the documented faults that trigger it, with their pages.
Oil pressure warning light on
Urgency: As soon as possibleRedSymbol: oil can (an oil can with a drop)
The red oil-can warning light means the engine is not getting the oil pressure it needs. The cause may be a low oil level, a failing oil pump or a blocked oil circuit. With low pressure, parts such as the turbo, the bearings or the timing drive can wear out within minutes.
What to do: Stop the car as soon as it is safe and switch the engine off. Check the level with the dipstick and do not drive on if the light stays on: call a recovery truck.
1 documented fault that triggers it in the Fiat Tipo
- Critical severity: Timing chain stretch and tensioner failure · 1.3 Multijet engine
Airbag warning light on
Urgency: Garage soonRedSymbol: a seated person wearing a seat belt with a circle (the inflated airbag) in front; in some cars, the letters SRS or AIRBAG
The airbag warning light means the system has detected a fault and an airbag or seatbelt pretensioner may not deploy in a crash. Causes range from a connector under the seat to the control unit or the airbag itself.
What to do: Have it diagnosed as soon as possible and check with the VIN whether the car has any outstanding airbag recall.
1 documented fault that triggers it in the Fiat Tipo
- Critical severity: Steering wheel airbag wiring badly routed on the Fiat Tipo (2015-2016 campaign) · outside the engine
Engine fault warning light (check engine)
Urgency: Garage soonYellow or amberSymbol: outline of an engine seen from the side, in yellow or orange
The orange engine-shaped warning light comes on when the ECU detects a fault affecting combustion or emissions. If it flashes, it usually points to misfires that can damage the catalytic converter.
What to do: If it stays on steadily, you can drive gently to a garage and ask for a fault code read-out. If it flashes or you notice a loss of power, slow down and get to a garage as soon as possible.
6 documented faults that trigger it in the Fiat Tipo
- High severity: Premature turbocharger failure or wear · 1.4 T-Jet engine
- High severity: Injector and high-pressure pump wear from contaminated fuel · 1.3 Multijet engine
- Medium severity: EGR valve blocked by soot · 1.3 Multijet engine
- Medium severity: EGR valve blocked by soot in urban use · 1.6 and 2.0 MultiJet II engine
- Medium severity: Injector faults and DPF particulate sensor failure · 1.6 and 2.0 MultiJet II engine
- Medium severity: Jerking and MultiAir block failures on the 1.0 T3 · 1.0 T3 and 1.3 T4 FireFly Turbo engine
Particulate filter warning light (DPF)
Urgency: Garage soonYellow or amberSymbol: particulate filter symbol on the dashboard, normally amber; its design varies by manufacturer
On modern diesels it means the particulate filter is clogged with soot and has not been able to regenerate. It is common in cars used mostly for short town journeys, although it can also be caused by a sensor or by an injection or EGR fault.
What to do: If the handbook allows it, a 20-minute drive on a motorway at a steady speed can complete the regeneration. If the light stays on or you lose power, go to a garage.
2 documented faults that trigger it in the Fiat Tipo
- High severity: Incomplete particulate filter regenerations and oil dilution · 1.3 Multijet engine
- High severity: Saturated diesel particulate filter (DPF) from incomplete regenerations · 1.6 and 2.0 MultiJet II engine
Frequently asked questions
Which warning lights come on most in the Fiat Tipo?
Engine warning light: 6 documented faults, such as premature turbocharger failure or wear. DPF warning light: 2 documented faults, such as incomplete particulate filter regenerations and oil dilution. Oil warning light: 1 documented fault, such as timing chain stretch and tensioner failure.
Which warning light of the Fiat Tipo is the most serious?
Oil warning light: its urgency is “as soon as possible”. Stop the car as soon as it is safe and switch the engine off. Check the level with the dipstick and do not drive on if the light stays on: call a recovery truck.
A warning light has come on in the Fiat Tipo: what should I do?
Find which warning light it is on this page and check its urgency. With oil warning light, stop as soon as possible somewhere safe. For the others, book an appointment at a garage and have them read the fault code with an OBD reader: it shows which system has failed.