Fiat warning lights: what each light means

Battery warning light on

Urgency: As soon as possibleRedSymbol: outline of a car battery

It is the red battery symbol on the dashboard. Even though it shows a battery, it usually warns of a charging system fault (alternator, belt, connections) rather than the battery itself: the battery stops recharging and the car runs on whatever energy it has left.

What to do: Switch off non-essential electrical consumers (air conditioning, radio), find a safe place to stop and call roadside assistance rather than trying to finish the journey.

1 documented fault that triggers it in the Fiat

• Medium severity: Infotainment system faults and electronic warnings (screen, Start&Stop, alternator) · outside the engine · 500X

• Battery light: general guide

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

• Critical severity: Timing chain stretch and tensioner failure · 1.3 Multijet engine · 500, 500L, 500X and 5 more

• Oil warning light: general guide

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.

7 documented faults that trigger it in the Fiat

• Critical severity: Faulty deactivation of the front passenger airbag · outside the engine · Punto III
• Medium severity: Electrical and electronic faults in the multiplex system · outside the engine · Stilo
• Critical severity: Limited airbag and seat belt pretensioner function because of the ORC control unit (2017-2019 build) · outside the engine · 500X
• Critical severity: Corrosion in the passenger airbag gas generator housing · outside the engine · Talento
• Critical severity: Steering wheel airbag wiring badly routed on the Fiat Tipo (2015-2016 campaign) · outside the engine · Tipo
• High severity: Incorrect passenger airbag deactivation warning (April 2021 campaign) · outside the engine · 500e

And 1 more fault on the linked pages.

• Airbag light on Fiat: by model
• Airbag light: general guide

Electric parking brake warning

Urgency: Garage soonRedSymbol: letter P inside a circle in brackets, sometimes with an exclamation mark

Cars with an electric parking brake show a warning light or message when the caliper motor, its wiring or the control unit fails. The brake may not release or may not apply.

What to do: Do not rely on the handbrake if the warning appears: park on level ground and leave the car in gear. Have the system diagnosed.

1 documented fault that triggers it in the Fiat

• High severity: Brake recall campaigns: brake servo connectors and handbrake (2013) · outside the engine · Punto III

• Parking brake warning: general guide

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.

21 documented faults that trigger it in the Fiat

• Critical severity: Wear and breakage of the 7 mm chain between the camshafts · 1.5 BlueHDi engine · Doblò III and Scudo III
• High severity: Premature turbocharger failure or wear · 1.4 T-Jet engine · 500L, 500X, Bravo and 3 more
• High severity: Intake manifold flap failure (swirl effect) · 1.9 JTD/Multijet and 2.4 JTD engine · Bravo, Croma, Doblò I and 3 more
• High severity: Injector and high-pressure pump wear from contaminated fuel · 1.3 Multijet engine · 500, 500L, 500X and 5 more
• Medium severity: EGR valve blocked by soot · 1.3 Multijet engine · 500, 500L, 500X and 5 more
• Medium severity: EGR valve blocked by soot in urban use · 1.6 and 2.0 MultiJet II engine · 500L, 500X, Bravo and 3 more

And 15 more faults on the linked pages.

• Engine warning light on Fiat: by model
• Engine warning light: general guide

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.

4 documented faults that trigger it in the Fiat

• High severity: Incomplete particulate filter regenerations and oil dilution · 1.3 Multijet engine · 500, 500L, 500X and 5 more
• High severity: Saturated diesel particulate filter (DPF) from incomplete regenerations · 1.6 and 2.0 MultiJet II engine · 500L, 500X, Bravo and 3 more
• Medium severity: Particulate filter (DPF) clogging in urban use · 1.9 JTD/Multijet and 2.4 JTD engine · Bravo, Croma, Doblò I and 2 more
• Medium severity: AdBlue (SCR) system faults and a saturated particulate filter on the Euro 6 · 2.3 MultiJet engine · Ducato III

• DPF warning light on Fiat: by model
• DPF warning light: general guide

AdBlue system warning

Urgency: Garage soonYellow or amberSymbol: AdBlue system warning in the instrument cluster, yellow or orange at first, usually accompanied by a text message and, later on, a countdown in kilometres

Diesels with selective catalytic reduction (SCR) use AdBlue to cut NOx emissions. A warning with a countdown ("engine will not restart in X km") indicates a low level or a fault in the AdBlue tank, pump, heater or injector. When the countdown reaches zero, the car will not start again.

What to do: If the tank is full and the warning persists, the problem lies with the system. Go to a garage before the countdown ends and keep your receipts in case the fault is covered by a manufacturer campaign.

2 documented faults that trigger it in the Fiat

• Medium severity: AdBlue (SCR) system faults and a saturated particulate filter on the Euro 6 · 2.3 MultiJet engine · Ducato III
• Low severity: AdBlue (SCR) system: the warning light may not come on if the urea doser fails · 2.2 MultiJet / BlueHDi (Stellantis) engine · Ducato III

• AdBlue warning: general guide

"Pollution control system faulty" message

Urgency: Garage soonYellow or amberSymbol: a text message on the dashboard ("anticontaminación defectuosa" or similar wording, in English "emissions system fault"), sometimes alongside an amber warning light

A common message on Peugeot, Citroën, DS and Opel cars from the Stellantis group. It appears when the ECU detects a fault in a component that controls emissions: the particulate filter, the EGR valve, the sensors, the AdBlue system or, on petrol engines, combustion problems.

What to do: It is not a specific fault but a generic warning. Have the car diagnosed with the right equipment to read the exact code before replacing any part.

2 documented faults that trigger it in the Fiat

• Medium severity: Faulty catalytic converter and lambda sensors on the 2005-2010 Swift (engine warning light) · 1.3, 1.5 and 1.6 gasolina (serie M) engine · Sedici
• Low severity: Loose catalytic converter substrate on the SX4 1.5 and 1.6 (2008 campaign) · 1.3, 1.5 and 1.6 gasolina (serie M) engine · Sedici

• Pollution control faulty: general guide

ABS or ESP warning light on

Urgency: Garage soonYellow or amberSymbol: the letters ABS, usually inside a circle, in amber or orange

It indicates a fault in the anti-lock braking or stability control system: often a dirty or damaged wheel speed sensor, its wiring or the hydraulic unit. The brakes still work, but without those aids.

What to do: Drive carefully, especially in the rain, and ask for a fault code read-out. It is often fixed with a wheel sensor.

1 documented fault that triggers it in the Fiat

• High severity: IBS module fault that can cause loss of ABS (September 2021 campaign) · outside the engine · 500e

• ABS/ESP light: general guide

Tyre pressure warning light

Urgency: MonitorYellow or amberSymbol: cross-section of a tyre with an exclamation mark inside; on some cars, the letters TPMS in orange

The tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS) light warns of a wheel with low pressure or, if it flashes, of a fault in the system itself, such as a sensor with a flat battery.

What to do: Check the pressures when the tyres are cold as soon as possible. If they are fine and the warning stays on, have the sensors checked and reset the system as described in the handbook.

1 documented fault that triggers it in the Fiat

• Medium severity: Inaccurate tyre pressure warning caused by incorrect ESC coding · outside the engine · Doblò III

• Tyre pressure light: general guide

Seatbelt fault warning light or message

Urgency: Garage soon

The dashboard shows a warning related to the seatbelt or its pretensioner, separate from the generic "fasten your seatbelt" reminder. It may be caused by a fault in the sensor, the pyrotechnic pretensioner or the control unit that manages them.

What to do: Ask for the seatbelt and pretensioner system to be checked at a garage with the right diagnostic equipment, and check whether any manufacturer campaign is outstanding for your vehicle.

1 documented fault that triggers it in the Fiat

• Critical severity: Seatbelt pretensioner with badly crimped gas generator on the Fiat Punto III (2017 campaign) · outside the engine · Punto III

• Seatbelt warning: general guide