Seeing a dashboard warning light appear while you’re driving can feel alarming, but knowing what each symbol means can help you stay calm and know exactly what to do next.
A simple way to remember what to do: treat Honda dashboard warning lights like a stoplight.
Hendrick Honda Charleston built this guide to help you understand what each dashboard warning light means. The symbols below appear on the vast majority of Honda vehicles built after 1995, including the Accord, Civic, CR-V, and HR-V.
When one of these warning lights appears, the Honda Certified technicians at Hendrick Honda Charleston are ready to diagnose and repair the issue. Our ASE Master Technicians are trained specifically on Honda vehicles and use Genuine Honda Parts on every repair, which helps protect your vehicle’s manufacturer warranty. With Honda-specific diagnostic tools, ongoing factory training, and hands-on experience, our team works to get the job done right the first time — so you can get back on the road with confidence.
The red engine oil pressure light means your Honda has lost oil pressure. If this light comes on while driving, safely pull over and turn off the engine as soon as possible — continuing to run the engine without oil pressure can cause severe, costly damage in a short amount of time.
The red battery charge warning light means your Honda’s charging system isn’t keeping the battery charged, often due to a failing alternator or battery. If this light comes on, have the charging system inspected as soon as possible to avoid getting stranded with a dead battery.
The yellow ABS warning light means there’s an issue with your Honda’s Anti-lock Braking System. As long as your regular brake warning light isn’t also on, it’s safe to keep driving — but you should have the ABS system inspected soon to restore full braking performance during a hard or emergency stop.
The green key warning light is your Honda’s Immobilizer System Indicator. It means the vehicle’s computer doesn’t recognize the signal from your key, so the engine won’t start. Try your spare key first; if the light keeps flashing, contact a certified Honda service center to have the key reprogrammed.
The orange low fuel warning light means your Honda’s fuel tank is running low and should be refilled soon. Driving on a very low tank for too long can allow sediment to be drawn into the fuel system, so it’s best to refuel at your next opportunity.
This guide is for general reference only. Always consult your owner’s manual or a certified Honda service center for an accurate diagnosis if a warning light appears on your dashboard.
